What's wrong with 'pissing off the fairies'?

When I was working abroad about ninety percent of my English-speaking colleagues used 'shit' on a daily basis about small irritations. They thought it hilarious when, on realising my visa had run out, I simply said "Oh dear".

(the visa got sorted that same day)

I think language matters very much in context. So you can swear and use it to make a strong point, or you can swear in a violent setting - it does make a difference.

But Baggs if you wouldn't use such words in certain company do you mean not with children? You say grown up . Some have no problem with the language , others do . Yes the words are now acceptable on TVs after the watershed but there is no watershed here is there?

I've been reliably informed by DD's pagan friend that our
garden is full of fairies so, mindful of my responsibilities.....

I will try not to piss off a fairy
Coz my garden's not quite up to scratch
And I tread on a wand midst a green ferny frond
Whilst I'm weeding an unruly patch.

If the wind make the fairy lights flicker
And the leaves block a path to their door
They might cry with dismay and perhaps fly away
If our dog has just crapped on their floor

So I'll keep all these tiny folk happy
Then my garden will surely be blessed
With their magical spells, far off tinkling bells
And sweet scents that their wings have caressed.

Going back to the phrase 'give a toss' A very lovely headteacher I worked for, when making pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, announced to the assembled ranks of children in the school hall, 'I am not not much of a tosser' Staff all tries to suppress their laughter and it was me who was asked by her later why everyone was laughing. I am not offended by the phrase 'Don't piss off the fairies' but I know some people who would be so may not choose to adorn my garden with the phrase!

merlotgran
Love it

And are we allowed to toss our hair?
(Well, not me personally these days as it's too short to toss!)

Is that all your own work merlotgran?

It sounds a bit Pam Ayresish

How very dare you Jalima! Merlot's a wonderful poet!

Just had a thought about the title of this thread. Surely it's better than pissing on them?

Pam Ayres has nothing to fear

I love it!

Sorry merlotgran
Not doubting your talent

Round of applause for Merlotgran !

Merlot is a wonderful poet after a glass or two of Merlot! ??
Here is my own offering ( after a double gin at The Argy )

Never piss off the fairies,
Whatever else you do,
They'll drink your milk,
And steal your silk,
As soon as look at you!

Never piss off the fairies,
And do take this to heart,
Your souffles will sink,
And your soup will stink,
So will your apple tart!

Never piss off the fairies,
Their magic is too strong,
You will trip up on stairs,
Have no end of cares,
And rue it all day long!

both!

Yay! Two poets! You've been hiding your talent roses which is a change from when you're in the Argy with your "friends ".

Hic! poetry needs a wetted whistle.

Wonderful Merlot and roses! What talent we have here on GN...

Thanks, all. Being away with the fairies does help!

But Baggs if you wouldn't use such words in certain company do you mean not with children? You say grown up . Some have no problem with the language , others do . Yes the words are now acceptable on TVs after the watershed but there is no watershed here is there?

Been pondering this, Annie. Yes, I mean not children at least for fuck. Pissing is just pissing and nothing to be coy about in my opinion. As for grown ups who "have problems" with certain words, well they are the ones with the problem. It is not for me to solve it for them. So long as I am not being deliberately rude, it remains their problem and not mine. I do think adults (like all of us on gransnet) ought to be able to discuss dispassionately any words we come across.

As for TV watersheds, I have never had to think about that either because my kids were in bed before it or because we didn't have a telly so no 'problems' with words arose. Where 'problems' have arisen I've talked to them about meaning just the same as I do on here. None of the family use swear words rudely so it never has been a problem. I'm pretty sure all my daughters would have found a Don't piss off the fairies sign unproblematic even as kids because they knew to piss off (not Piss Off!) meant to annoy in the vernacular.

BTW, I don't know about my older two but Minibags learned the word fuck at school at about the age of seven or eight, from other kids. She needed a word that rhymed with muck (well, that's her story). She'd never heard it at home.

I'm amazed at how people think children are somehow living in a bubble and either don't know or would never use bad language. I had a conversation some time time ago with my GS (now 14) about words he knew and used. He was perfectly clear about when it was suitable to use some words and when it wasn't and absolutely certain that he wouldn't use words he did with his friends around me. My own DSs when teenagers were (and still are) very careful never to swear near my mum.
Buy the sign, your GS will appreciate it as a joke and know it isn't suitable for every day use. If your SIL says anything just claim it is GM being subversive and silly. We have a rich and varied language and children should be raised to appreciate and use it, not protected from it.

Just been watching a thing about Henry Normal the writer and poet, he was talking about a sentence that really impressed him using 'fuck'as a noun, and adjective and a verb- "The fucking fucker's fucked" Brilliant!

In the Harry Potter films, Ron Weasly's customary expletive is 'bloody hell' which is now frequently in use by my 9-year-old GS.

DD came out of school when she was about 6 and asked me what a 'twat' was, which is what a couple of the boys were calling everyone.
I had never heard of it, we had to ask DH.

Ohh Jalima it is one of my favourite terms to use as in ' you t--t or stop being a t--t, which kind of makes me a hypocrite because the other terms used (which also refer to our nether regions ) I find a bit offensive & crude