What is the rudest question...

[Catherinedana]

I mean, do they ask people "Don't you have enough kids?" to the people who have a baseball team in tow?

Maybe more like, "How can you live in a house with all those kids?" rather than dogs, cats or birds!!!!

MY kids go to sleep when it gets dark and are quiet all night!
MY kids get put in a cage with a door for a time-out when they misbehave!
MY kids don't beg me for things whenever I go into a store.
MY kids love me unconditionally no matter what I look like, how much money I have or what kind of car I drive and do not expect to be driven by limosine to the school prom.

OK - 'nough said.

[Twisterdog]

Maybe more like, "How can you live in a house with all those kids?" rather than dogs, cats or birds!!!!

MY kids go to sleep when it gets dark and are quiet all night!
MY kids get put in a cage with a door for a time-out when they misbehave!
MY kids don't beg me for things whenever I go into a store.
MY kids love me unconditionally no matter what I look like, how much money I have or what kind of car I drive and do not expect to be driven by limosine to the school prom.

OK - 'nough said.

Not trying to start a fight, really ... but I have to say I was a little surprised and disappointed by this post. This is a thread about the rude and hurtful things others have said to us, and IMO, this post is both of those things.

It is indeed rude and hurtful when someone says derogatory things about our dogs, cats, birds, etc. I can empathise with pet owners who do not have children, having to field rude questions about things that are none of their business. However, is it not exactly the same thing to ridicule and put down people who have children simply because you chose not to have them?

I don't own birds or cats, but I am interested in others' birds and cats, and happy for them because they have something they love. I wouldn't criticize you, or tell you all the reasons my dogs/children/snakes are better than your cats/rabbits/birds. Respect and empathy is a two-way street.

Just seems to be a case of the pot calling the kettle black. "It's rude when people say derogartory things about my birds/dogs/cats, but I feel no qualms about saying derogatory things about their children."

[Catherinedana]

Just seems to be a case of the pot calling the kettle black. "It's rude when people say derogartory things about my birds/dogs/cats, but I feel no qualms about saying derogatory things about their children."

You are absolutely right. . .I finally got the chance to vent about all the years of getting questioned about my choice to be childless. Since I did not personally attack you and was responding to a blog by Richard, I would hope that you do not take it personally. I was attempting to make a joke of the issue (although a rather sarcastic one)>

This is a safe place to discuss and I allowed myself to feel safe enough to say what was on my mind, but will watch my words in future.

Cheers!
Cathy

[Cataholic]

You are absolutely right. . .I finally got the chance to vent about all the years of getting questioned about my choice to be childless. Since I did not personally attack you and was responding to a blog by Richard, I would hope that you do not take it personally. I was attempting to make a joke of the issue (although a rather sarcastic one)>

This is a safe place to discuss and I allowed myself to feel safe enough to say what was on my mind, but will watch my words in future.

Cheers!
Cathy

I might not have on the right glasses. I missed the apology.

It has NOTHING to do with potentially or allegedly insulting someone. It has to do with rude comments, be them about children or pets (or anything else).

I am not trying to 'start' anything. I was just clearing up the difference between what you had said, and what Redbird had said.

[Catherinedana]

I'm not going to get into something over this. We can start a thread about the rudest response that you ever received and put my answer first.

Cheers!

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I had a very rude comment made to me over the weekend and I remembered this thread...


We saw my husband's boss and his wife over the weekend. I've only met them a couple times, but I don't like them at all. The FIRST thing the wife said to me was "how far along are you?", as she pat her belly (referring to my pregnancy). I said "almost half way". To which she replied "oh! You're big, you must eat too much". Now, I'm not a skinny girl to begin with and yes I have a little baby belling showing, but the way she said it made me seem like I was gigantic. The look on my husband's face when was one of pure shock. She caught us totally off guard and neither of us knew how to respond.

[gini]

I had a very rude comment made to me over the weekend and I remembered this thread...


We saw my husband's boss and his wife over the weekend. I've only met them a couple times, but I don't like them at all. The FIRST thing the wife said to me was "how far along are you?", as she pat her belly (referring to my pregnancy). I said "almost half way". To which she replied "oh! You're big, you must eat too much". Now, I'm not a skinny girl to begin with and yes I have a little baby belling showing, but the way she said it made me seem like I was gigantic. The look on my husband's face when was one of pure shock. She caught us totally off guard and neither of us knew how to respond.

Well, isn't she precious?

[beeniesmom]

I had a very rude comment made to me over the weekend and I remembered this thread...


We saw my husband's boss and his wife over the weekend. I've only met them a couple times, but I don't like them at all. The FIRST thing the wife said to me was "how far along are you?", as she pat her belly (referring to my pregnancy). I said "almost half way". To which she replied "oh! You're big, you must eat too much". Now, I'm not a skinny girl to begin with and yes I have a little baby belling showing, but the way she said it made me seem like I was gigantic. The look on my husband's face when was one of pure shock. She caught us totally off guard and neither of us knew how to respond.

It's always something!

When shopping for Laura late in the pregnancy, cashiers would ask, who I was shopping for, when I'd say "my little one who will be here in less than a month", they'd look at me and first ask if I was adopting..... when I'd tell them no and that I was expecting and ready to pop they would look at me shocked and say "You don't look pregnant at all".

[Cincy'sMom]

About 2 years ago, I lost a good del of weight. One of my co-workers asked,

"Now that you have lost weight, are you going to have babies?"

Huh?

[smokey the elder]

Over 20 years ago, I liked to wear baggy peasant blouses, because they were cool (I had undiagnosed hyperthyroidism.) This jerk at work asked me more than once if I were pregnant. The 3rd time I told him the next time he harassed me we would have a visit with Human Resources. He shut his face after that.

The other one that sticks in my mind was when Smokey the Elder was diagnosed with cancer. When I shared this someone said, "So you're going to have her put to sleep?" I said, "Um...no. My pets are not disposable items." She apologized for her faux pas.

[momcat]

When hearing that I'm divorced the very first thing people would say is "Did he get married again?" To this day I cannot understand why anyone would ask such an insensitive, rude question! My responses varied between "Why do you ask?" "It's none of your d..n business!" and "He stays out of my personal life and I stay out of his. You need to do the same!" I found the last to be the most effective and started using it exclusively.

[Karen]

When hearing that I'm divorced the very first thing people would say is "Did he get married again?"

Wow, I cannot imagine asking that question, or even wondering that! You've gotta wonder what goes on in some people's brains!

[Catty1]

"Did he get married again?" "Why? Do you want his phone number?"

[momcat]

Wow, I cannot imagine asking that question, or even wondering that! You've gotta wonder what goes on in some people's brains!

I guess there are too many ignorant people running around loose. This thread certainly proves it

[redbird]

Maybe more like, "How can you live in a house with all those kids?" rather than dogs, cats or birds!!!!

MY kids go to sleep when it gets dark and are quiet all night!
MY kids get put in a cage with a door for a time-out when they misbehave!
MY kids don't beg me for things whenever I go into a store.
MY kids love me unconditionally no matter what I look like, how much money I have or what kind of car I drive and do not expect to be driven by limosine to the school prom.

OK - 'nough said.

Oh I agree with you so much. I can hardly stand being around kids in my family, it's just the way I have always been. I am very uncomfortable around kids and certainly wouldn't want any of my own. I don't want to hurt any mother's feelings here but I am more attached to the four legged kids and always have been.