To just want to sob?

Just musing on the climate at the top of the moral high ground and how far the distance is from there to enable condescending comments to be dispensed.

Today we mourn the death of irony!

Really?

And the death of innocence?

Research to explore whether 'whelp' is offensive or not:

All who are willing, ask pregnant people when they are due to whelp.

Report back.

Blimey!

Aka I am so relieved by your response but I should point out that I never attempt humour. Other gransnetters will explain that I have no sense of humour.

petallus - in hunting, shooting circles it might be considered a compliment
I'm sure there was not suggestion that D of C was a "bitch". I always thought that the use of this as an insult is doggist. Most bitches I know are adorable.
How about "foal" as a verb for the impending event? I'm sure the queen would approve, massive horse fan as she is

JessM yes, hunters, shooters and horsey types might well use the term 'whelp'.

Okay, I am refining my experimental design. Please all record class of 'participant' as well as response.

Yes, aka, taking offence does depend a great deal on one's point of view.

That is exactly my point. The offence is not in what is said usually, but how what is said is interpreted. Some people seem to find an awful lot of things offensive. I can't help but wonder why they are so easily offendable. Sometimes I think perhaps they enjoy being offended in a weird sort of way. Perhaps it gives them a reason to feel superior. Perhaps they are just naturally grumpy. Perhaps they dislike certain people's style of expression as a sort of default.

Those are my wondering and wandering thoughts on the matter.

I went to bed early last night and missed all this rancour. For dogs sake, I have heard worse things said about the Royal Family than "whelp" and no-one turned a hair. Comparing them in all seriousness to leeches and bloodsuckers is OK, but a humorous reference to a natural animal process leads to horror and outrage? Get real.

It's not as if the royal family need protecting from remarks made by gransnetters, is it elegran? Nor do they need GN-ers to feel offended on their behalf.

Mind you, neither do gods, but you'd never know the way some people go on #siezinganopportunity (might as well since it's expected of me).

* Bag* there is another possibility surely, that some people are inclined to be insensitive and therefore offensive on occasions?

If I was going to object to the word 'whelp' it would be on feminist grounds not because of deference to royalty.

Yes, there is that possibility, but I don't think it applies to this case. In fact, I think it hardly ever applies because if you know someone has made a deliberate attempt to be offensive, you can shrug it off as their crudeness. It has more to do with them than with you so there's nothing to be gained from feeling offended.

In this case, I happen to know that the person who used the 'objectionable' word is not insensitive, which is another reason that possibility doesn't apply here.

I think I've gathered that she's not terribly pro-royalty as well. I expect the objecters on this thread have gathered that too. So she was just speaking as she does – not being insensitive (though why should one be sensitive about a constitutional matter anyway?), nor being offensive.

Of course, people who invest emotions in the royal fam will feel differently, but that is not the other poster's (or even posters') responsibility.

Hmm. I've just thunk myself into a realisation, writing this post: Do people who take offence easily hold the opinion (or feeling) that other people are responsible for their feelings about various topics? Discuss.

I'm not sure anybody "invests a lot of emotion" in them.

It isn't Prince William and Kate's fault that the media are 'using' their pregnancy to sell newsprint. I daresay they think the items are naff too and of course lets bear in mind it is that dreadful paper The Daily Whale.

Horrible to talk about any human being "whelping"!

I would imagine the Nazis might have referred to the Jews in those terms.

It is the same process for all mammals, JO and watching a lamb or a guineapig being born is almost as wonderful as watching a human birth. I've not watched a bitch whelping so can't comment on that, but if it is your own dog having pups it must be a pretty emotional experience.

I do wish this had been a face to face debate. I've thoroughly enjoyed it for the witty banter

Bags, absent, Greatnan you are on form this morning!

Yes!

* Bags* would you apply the same logic to other areas, say racism?

Godwin's Law - "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." or ""Any off-topic mention of Hitler or Nazis will cause the thread it is mentioned in to come to an irrelevant and off-topic end very soon"

I would n't have wanted any of my babies referred to as "whelps".

I think most people set humans apart from other animals.

My God Elegran. You are getting good at googling.