'The thug in police uniform'. (Daily Mail today)

gj , and I don't suppose mine have even noticed.

Oh, snap Bags!

I did Jane. Only just noticed this or I would have commented earlier. Thank you

Not at all Jane! It doesn't happen very often.

Hello, jane, and welcome to GN! Och! We have our little shadowy outbursts every now and then, but they blow over like clouds on a blustery day.

My (adult) kids and grand-kids don't mind at all

Well I must be naive as I assumed whenim64 meant PC fascists at her former place of work, not other people on this forum.
I have only just joined and didn't expect it to be fully of petty bickering and umbrage-taking.
There, I expect I've offended everyone now

I'm with soop. Have read all the posts and am leaving it now.

I've never minded anyone calling my children kids but for some reason I really hate the term, grandkids. Don't ask me why but I think grandchildren is so much more respectful.

I thought I detected a subtle air of superiority from those saying they would never use the word 'kids'.

soop

It's nothing personal. It's the indignation against the word that's the problem.

Bloody hell, bells and spit-fire. This thread has made me feel decidedly queasy.

Thanks, when. Indignation, that's it. That's what I'm huffy about – people's apparent indignatiion at something so innocent.

Er... 'Lecture from PC fascists!' Excoose me! I'm out of here pretty damn quick. Must be something in the water. Lord help us all if a perfectly reasonable thread goes down the pan cos someone has an alternative point of view. Cheers! Enjoy your petty wotsits...

I suppose I don't understand what there is to dislike. It's just an alternative, inoffensive word, for child. If it was somehow derogatory or negative, I'd understand, but it isn't. [puzzled]

If I seem huffy it's because people who mind the word kid seem disapproving about perfectly respectable diction.

'Kids' isn't an insulting term for children. I use it in an affectionate way. After a career spent trying to keep up to date with PC references, i am glad to be able to relax and use such words without expecting a lecture from the PC fascists. Let's keep our indignation for the truly offensive words.

Bags Either one does like something, or not. Simples! I didn't say that the word was offensive. I really don't mind what other people think. I was just saying... I'm surprised that you [my pal] sound so huffy!

I usually say 'Hello, kids' and my grandchildren seem to like it.

I'm sure children don't mind being called 'kids'!

Well I use the word kid because I think it's a friendly word. It's from the Old Norse word for kith (as in "and kin"). So you can all disapprove heartily of me and I won't care [nyah boo emoticon]. For goodness's sake! there's nothing offensive about it . Sometimes I think people look for things to 'mind' about, as if there weren't enough things already that actually matter.

Yeesh! Chill, grans, chill!

(stomps off to make soothing hot in order to.... um... chill )

My DD has noted that I cannot abide the term "kids" and, I am delighted to report, always refers to the grandchildren as "children". Such a relief.

Ah well johanna those were not the days.

Must be in the genes then!!!!!

Bez My mother loathed the term...as did her mother.

I hate the word too when used as a word for a child - my mother couldn't abide it either.