Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Other subjects

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Does "bird" offend you?

40 replies

uwila · 15/12/2006 17:28

The other day at work a guy I work with referred to another guys fiance as his "bird". And I said (shocked) Bird??? Did you just call her a "bird"? Then he was all embarrassed because I made him look like the arse that he is.

I told my DH and he didn't understand what the big deal was. Is it me or do others take offense to term "bird"?

OP posts:

SantasFattymumma · 15/12/2006 23:33

it doesn't bother me.
when i was working at a print finishers (very male environment and i was the token female) my nickname was bigbird (im very tall) and i actually grew to kind of like it.

my younger sister answers the phone "yes bird" to all her freinds.

Gingerbear · 15/12/2006 23:47

'Women are called birds because of the worms they pick up'

QuootiepiesChristmasName · 15/12/2006 23:50

Bird offends me. Not alot does, but if I hear someone call a woman a "bird" it puts me off them ... forever. My DH said it once, I think he picked it up at work and thought it was cool - soon put a stop to that! Urgh, horrible word.

Monkeytrousers · 17/12/2006 11:56

I started working on a pub last night and there were a couple of blokes in, getting progressivly paraletic who started off with darlin', love, pet, bird, cunt. I was very angry that they weren't barred but told the manager I wouldn't be serving them anymore.

MamaG · 17/12/2006 11:59

bird doesn't bother me at all - my friends and I call each other it all the time.

MistleToo · 17/12/2006 12:06

Yes, and love and dear and I absolutely HATE with a very deep passion

THE wife

edam · 17/12/2006 12:14

Hate 'bird', it's so demeaning. Associations with dollybird and horrid 1970s sexists in flares and kipper ties who thought all women were either 'up for it' or frigid.

Don't mind 'love' as I come from Yorkshire. OK from proper Londoners too. Would object if it was from a posh southerner though as it would be deliberately patronising.

Original poster

uwila · 17/12/2006 16:13

Do you think there is a male equivolent in modern day English? I can't think of one, and I wonder if that is because our sexist society doesn't have such a term for men. Or perhaps "worm" is the equivolent?

OP posts:

ledodgychristmasjumper · 17/12/2006 16:19

It definately depends on who's saying it and in what context. For example I wouldn't mind one of my male friends greeting me with 'Alright bird' (not that any of them would) but would take offence to someone talking about his girlfriend as 'me bird'.

motherinfurrierfestivefrock · 17/12/2006 16:35

I used to, I think, but don't much mind these days.

It's not nearly as appalling as 'hubby'.

tommysmama · 15/01/2007 02:43

I dont mind bird at all, i call myself bird and my friends and we all refer to each other as bird. I think its kind of ironic postmodern humour.. you cant offend someone by saying something that they say themselves.

I think its cute. theres much worse things to be called!

NewMoonOnMonday · 15/01/2007 06:27

I think the male equivalent to 'bird' is 'bloke' so no, not offensive at all IMO.

3rdTriMossTer · 15/01/2007 06:43

It would depend on how it was said. If it was used simply as the female equivalent of "bloke" I wouldn't be fussed. But some men can say it in such a way it sounds like it's really putting you down.

sandcastles · 15/01/2007 06:45

I was once told

"we are only birds, because we atract worms"

Bucketsofdynomite · 15/01/2007 09:59

Nope, doesn't offend me.
I usually call women chicks and blokes cats for some reason (picked it up from Keith Richards once, made me laugh). Makes people do a double take as I'm only 30.

Flip

1 2