Don't like family gatherings

Would spastic or spaz be OK then? Or moron?

I think most of us on here do associate all those words with medical conditions, and they're all (including 'cretin') deemed to be offensive these days.

For once I don't agree with you at all, jingl. (No, I know you couldn't care less! )

[shrug].....not entering into this.

Rubbish. Total.

Who the hell really connects cretin with a medical condition these days?

I think we saw the intention to be humorous, but did not feel it was funny - as it would not be funny if someone took the username "mongol" or "nigger".

I seem to remember Cretin mentioning before the fact she lives on Crete.

I think people should stop taking things personally. It smacks of self pity. Or the need for others' sympathy.

Exactly, Galen. That was how it was described to us. I don't have a problem with it, jinglebellsfrocks. I just don't see the humour in it.

I think the humour in Cretin's name has passed you by. Dear posters.

The old name for congenital hypothyroidism

From Crete, a person would be Cretan, not cretin, surely?

I'm surprised the username cretin didn't break GN's rules, but as it obviously didn't we'll have to accept it.

There is a new thread on why we chose our usernames over on Chat.
I'm looking forward to reading the replies!

Wasn't too keen on the name, either - though of course, it's the choice of the person herself.
My eldest daughter was born without a thyroid gland and luckily she was diagnosed at 3 weeks old. The consultant said if she hadn't been diagnosed until much later, she would have been a 'cretin'......hence my feelings about the word (the consultant was of the 'old school', I think and this was 48 years ago). DD is perfectly fine, by the way.

Cretin I understand the play on words thing but it is quite startling to see the word in print.

If you lived in Mongolia would you style yourself Mong?

I remember going to Crete and being on a coach with an American guide. She talked about the Cretins, and could not understand why half the tourists laughed. It was her first talk.

User names are a choice.
made in a moment when signing up to use gransnet ,mine chosen as I live in Crete, Greece and is a play on the word ... Simply that alone , there's nothing wrong with my self esteem I can assure you of that .

Sometimes people make judgements without knowing all the details ... Chickenbrain,I do hope one day your adult children realise how badly they have treated you, until then be good to yourself and make yourself a priority . Big hugs x

jinglbellsfrocks

Yes. I guessed it was something like that Smileless.

I don't think it's good to randomly criticise posters' names.

I have of course no idea why posters have chosen the user names that they have but I can assure you Stansgran that mine has nothing to do with low self esteem.

Having been estranged from my son and disallowed from having any contact with my only grand child since September 2012, when he was 8 months old, I smile less.

I think my problem is getting my head round the fact that, from the minute they were born I have always put my children before everything but now their careers seem to be important and I'm now expected to put the grandchildren before everything to accommodate that. Which I do because I'd rather care for them than have them go to after school clubs etc. Yes, there is some gratitude but that is overshadowed by expectation. I do think that there is a huge difference when you're on your own rather than being part of a couple, even more so with younger members of the family that aren't in relationships.

absent. I've been trying to figure out what your post meant. (I appreciate you are most likely tucked up in bed now though)

Stansgran, I think you got the best of the bargain. I have winter tyres and it's sheet ice again today, so I will not even be going down to the village unless someone comes to pick me up. I cannot imagine how cold Hadrian's Wall will be today. As you say, it will still be there for us in the spring and summer.

stansgran
I would be heartbroken if my dc treated me this badly, it's a 'no win' situation.

And I agree with Jane 10 about choices of names ? Cretin Chickenbrain and Smileless?

I'm with some of these comments about the children taking advantage of making mock of the possibly aging parent. You can hear disparaging comments just in the shops. I wouldn't put up with it but if you're lonely perhaps you'll put up with anything.
I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself as we've made a lot of effort for a combined family Xmas(not our idea) and our SIL mentioned that as flights home were very expensive but cheaper on New Years Day so he had booked them then and would be staying with us til then! Of course they are made welcome BUT we stressed the need for a four wheel drive or similar rugged car given where we were staying in the Lakes and our own little microclimate in Durham . So the plan was to walk part of Hadrian's Wall today and guess what their super duper car can't be moved because of the icy road and as our car will only take three adults and two children I'm sitting here on Gransnet. No apology or regret from daughter just taken for granted that mum will not go. I've had a fragile relationship with her this last few years and don't want to rock the boat. I feel I'm being a good host giving up my seat in the car but DH is very very p* ed off. But Hadrian's Wall will be there next week I hope. Oh however well you think you've brought them up they can be awful b***ers. Started to sympathise with OP and ended up ranting. So sorry.

I can put my hand up as a bad daughter. I remember saying something to my dear (now departed) Dad that I thought was hilarious. Obviously from the look on his face he didn't think so. I felt so bad. Still do when I think about and cringe. Its possible that chickenbrain`s (what does that self chosen name say about her self esteem level?) children now feel that same on an individual basis. Maybe she should offer them the opportunity to apologise. They may be appalled that they caused her to be so upset.