Debate; Pillock - would you happily tell you're child they were one?

'Eejit' is an Irish word too (although actually spelt just the same as idiot), I am always calling my son a silly eejit in a jokey way. I would never call him a pillock though.

I think it depends on their ages. I mean if I had teenagers I would have no problems with them using the word "crap" and I'd call them a hell of a lot worse than a mere "pillock" if they did something stupid or idiotic.

Bearing in mind the Osbournes and the affectionate way they banter with the F-word, I think "pillock" is pretty mild and when said affectionately with a laugh and a dig in the ribs? I can't see a problem with it.

We're currently expecting and the children in his family are ages 15 months to 8 years (which is where I hear it used)

Depends on the tone of the delivery, I would say. My family is Scottish and we regularly called each other eejit, bampot, pillock etc. If it's said in an affectionate way, it's not an insult. I don't think 'crap' was a common word during my childhood but it's a fairly mild word, in my opinion. Having heard the absolutely foul language some parents use around their children, 'crap' is positively polite.

I don't mind crap or crappy so much. We don't really use pillock or eejit so its not something I have given much thought to.

My bug bear is bugger. It is a term of affection in my H's family but I'm not happy with my daughter being called a little bugger! We've had to tell my dad of for calling her a little 'sod' in a joking way too.

Pillock is a pretty mild word in this house, so if it were being used gently, with a laugh, then we might. If it were used in anger, it wouldn't, but that's a different kettle of fish in many ways.

I think I'd probably prefer Clara didn't say crap as a child but given the frquency with which we say it, it's quite likely ?

I don't have a problem with either however I am Scottish. It's hard to think when edjit would be used in a non-affectionate way. I've never really heard pillock being used much but if used in the same way as edjit then I wouldn't have a problem.

I must admit I wouldn't really like my child to say crap or have the word crap used around them as it's just not nice!

To be honest, with any words it would depend on how and when they were used as to whether I had a problem with them. But around very young children I would personally be careful with what was said.

Pillock and eejit aren't swear words so I think it's more the tone and manner they're used in that would dictate whether i liked my son being called one.

To criticise a child's behaviour or seriously imply they are stupid, no. To laugh at some silly antic, in an affectionate way, then I don't see what the problem is.

WHazelS about crap - I think it's borderline swearing and I'd rather R didn't use it but it seems unlikely we'll stop him. I'm going to try and swap it for sharn, I think!

I'm scottish and the term eejit was used fairly often when i was growing up. I have used the word numpty a lot recently and call my wee nephew one. No-one sees it as a problem as i am not calling him this as an insult, but as an affectionate term for his silly behaviour.

Not keen on the word pillock tho!

Buttons x

No, I think "pillock" is a bit too rude for a little one. I happily call the 15 year old things like "dimwit" but nothing stronger than that. God knows how I have been tempted, but I resist.

Hmmm, really just saying what others have said really....

Eejit's ok for me, although only if being used in a good natured way (along the lines of 'silly billy' or something, I suppose). I may well use this sort of thing round Drew.

Pillock's not really a word I'd use at all, not for any great reason though. I'm not sure it's one I'd use to Drew though. Not as 'friendly' as eejit somehow.

Crap's a definite no for being suitable for Drew at the age he is, imo.

TBH, I'd probably be careful about using any words around Drew that I wouldn't be happy for him to repeat elsewhere. Until they're old enough to understand that certain words are unsuitable in certain situations, I think you have to be very careful what you say.

I wouldn't say pillock in front of children (I do say it though, particularly when driving). My 7 year old tells me off for swearing if I say crap or bugger.

We use numpty, wally and muppet as affectionate terms when one of us has been daft.

Hadn't really thought about it as pillock's not a word I use. But it's better than most of these alternatives!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pillock

No. I wouldn't use that word to be honest. I don't like any way of telling a child they're stupid even in jest, but that's just me. The furthest I'd go is probably silly.

I wouldn't like my child saying crap either. My parents were pretty firm on language, I was told off for saying knackered when I was about 8. We weren't allowed to say things like fart either.

It's hard when parents have different views on allowed language. I know I will be pretty strict, but I expect my husband will be more relaxed.

I think "pillock" is quite strong, even if it's not strictly swearing. I find it hard to imagine using it to anyone at all, in jest or otherwise.

I think "eejit" is probably ok if very clearly in jest. I have on occasion called my son a "silly billy" (he's very young) but more as part of a game than as a criticism.

"Crap" is definitely swearing. I'm quite strict about swearing in front of children, although I'm always effing and blinding generally.

This reminds me of AJ coming home from nursery and telling us solemnly "don't say stupid, say silly"

I wouldn't call a child a pillock or an idiot. It's possible my kids are going to grow up pottymouthed though, as I am revoltingly so.

The word 'pillock' isn't in our general vocabulary so I can't comment on that one, but we definitely use words like 'twonk', 'wally' or 'wombat' to our 7 year old. I agree that there's far more importance in the tone of how something is said than the actual terminology that's used.

When I was a child the word 'crap' was definitely a swear word and hence I don't like it for children, but I think it's been downgraded now as it's used on breakfast radio and pre-watershed telly, along with other words that I wouldn't have been allowed to say, such as '***'. My son is not allowed to use these words but lots of his friends do with impunity.

I also don't like the word 'fart' but my husband doesn't mind it and since our son has been learning German this now has hilarious connotations and is therefore pretty much a staple ?.

Personally, no. i wouldn't be comfortable wuth calling my child a pillock or an idiot, even in jest. i would be very unhappy if anyone used the word crap in front of a child, as well.

i'm going to need to sort my language out quick smart before cub gets any older ?

Having come back to this thread I think I have double standards on the word crap.

If someone told my child they were crap or said 'i'm going for a crap' I wouldn't be amused but I wouldn't think twice if they said 'I'm having a crappy day!' I'm not sure why though.

I guess I have a similar problem with bloody. I said something to my mum about something bloody in front of Sophia and she corrected me to 'blooming'. I was actually describing something blood stained ?

That reminds me. That Father Christmas cartoon where he says bloomin' all the time wont be shown in this house.

Mr BW is very much in the 'it's how it is said' camp where as I err on the side of hating calling children 'stupid' - although for some reason I'm ok with things like 'silly billy' - go figure.

I think there will be some regional terms of endearmnet from my family (Yorkshire) that fall into the same category as eejit does for me (little bugger / sod spring to mind). I guess it's going to be a case of if one of us finds it offensive then neither of us should say it.

Thanks guys

Blairwitch I see a child being called stupid as something that puts them down. They are stupid, full stop. Will Silly Billy it seems more in the moment, so I would call my daughter a silly Billy if she did something daft but I wouldn't say she was stupid because of it.

Hmmm I'm not even sure that makes sense! I know what I mean.

No-like others have said, the word isn't in my vocabulary. Similarly, I don't like it when kids are called "divs" either.

It my family Pillock was an affectionate way of calling someone silly. Funnily enough I've always thought of it as a very mild word.

I wouldn't be offended, if it was in jest. I call my 11 year old a 'donkey' or a 'doughnut' if he does something silly, it's lighthearted and he always laughs. I tend to call my 3 year old a "nana" (as in banana) if he's silly - but it's them acting daft first IYSWIM. e.g. Charlie will throw himself off the settee, or fall over in a comic way, and laugh - and look to me to laugh too. That's when I'd said "are you being a nana?" or something similar.

I am pottymouthed and I've got away with it with my oldest child. He never swears in front of us, because he knows that only adults are allowed to. My parents never swore, and I still knew all the swear words and their meanings.

I'd much rather he knew when it was not appropriate to swear, and when he can get away with it (i.e. with his mates) because I think that is a more important life skill. Also, I would rather duck under the barrier and stay close to him IYSWIM.

In the style of Amanda Holden, I say 'bloody' or 'bloody hell' all the time. I know it's very mild but I suppose I still wouldn't like my young children using it. I'm not going to stop saying it though, it's one of my favourites!

Clairy, my 3 year olf is a donught or a daft nana too!

Just to clarify, calling someone an eejit is like calling them a silly billy or a doughnut, it's not calling them stupid at all.

I agree; it's just not a word I think of or use. I have nothing against the word itself.