should I reprimand my son?

[user1481132670]

he is playing pirates, nothing wrong with that of course but he is going about with a plastic sword saying he is going to "rape and pillage" which is making me somewhat uncomfortable

it all does though doesn't it robbing the treasure taking over the fort carrying it back to sea all taking prisoners back to the base taking the crown firing the catapult all feature in children's play it's how it is and the words that go with that mean what they are doing plunder and pillage the question was should I reprimand my son for using the correct word in the correct context in play my answer is no

You really are talking nonsense now Nanny

the question was should I reprimand my son for using the correct word in the correct context in play my answer is no

We are talking about a child young enough to play pirates. We all know the word "rape" can be used to mean other things than sexual violation, particularly if used in a metaphorical , literary or historical sense.

But I would wager no one hearing the word thinks of anything other than its obvious modern day sense.

It's not appropriate for a child at the age of wanting to play pirates to be shouting it out.

Oh and before anyone points it out The Rape of the Lock is actually Pope not Goldsmith. Pope is using it in correct context too. I still recall being shocked studying it at school at 16/17.

That doesn't mean it's wrong to use you might find it distasteful or anything else but fact is right word right context