S/O Is "sucks" really a bad word for kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread reminds me of the French word “con”. It means “stupid” or “idiot” but the original word was a reference to female genitalia (the “c word”). French people use the word all the time as it seems to have lost its original vulgar meaning.

French person here. "Con" is still considered vulgar. It's usual in movies, etc, but most parents do not allow their kids to say it. The most frequent usage is when you roll down your window and hurl it at the other driver

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the one who told the story about my kid with the two "S" words.

I think it's a word that at this point has become so far divorced from the original meaning that kids using it aren't thinking anything vulgar. I don't use it myself, because I'm a teacher and I wouldn't want a student to go home and quote me, but it's not a word I would ban. Just like stupid (the other S word from my kid's point of view), whether or not I'd correct my kid for using it depends on how they use it. The following things would be considered rude in my house:

"You suck"

"You're stupid"

or if I've just told that you need to finish your math before playing legos

"That sucks"

"That's stupid"

or at the dinner table

"Your cooking sucks"

"I hate your stupid chicken"

On the other hand, if you tell me that the virus sucks, or you think that the rule about wearing white after Labor Day is stupid, I'd laugh and agree with you.

Agree context matters. We also talk a lot about knowing your audience. You can say things at home you wouldn’t say to a teacher or grandparent or friend’s parent, etc.

[Anonymous]

It’s an awful, crass, low-class word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess it depends on age. Over 6 probably say sucks, under say stinks

I wouldnt want my 4 year old daughter to say it

NP. 6 too young.

[Anonymous]

When I was a teen we used to say "You suck!" as in "You suck donkey d*cks!" If you think of it that way you might not want your kid to say it.

[Anonymous]

We don’t allow it. It isn’t a swear word, but it sounds trashy and low class.

[Anonymous]

My 12-year old doesn't really say any bad words but she does use "sucks" occasionally, not about a person but a situation. Like, this quarantine sucks.

[Anonymous]

I answered OP earlier, but this topic reminds me of two separate incidents from my youth. Both times I was chastised for using words that I thought were okay. What say you, DCUM?

crud - ex. This was really dirty, look at all the crud that came off.

screw - ex. I really screwed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. It’s from “go suck an egg” and originally had no sexual component in vernacular. “Sucks” means it’s awful. Nothing more.

This. It’s not a “bad word”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I answered OP earlier, but this topic reminds me of two separate incidents from my youth. Both times I was chastised for using words that I thought were okay. What say you, DCUM?

crud - ex. This was really dirty, look at all the crud that came off.

screw - ex. I really screwed up.

What’s wrong with crud? Or crudy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's vulgar and I don't say it to my kids

I don't even use it,!

[Anonymous]

I really don’t like the word stinks. Words have meanings and I don’t think things are smelly unless they are. Sucks just seems more appropriate.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't allowed to say it growing up. That's all you need to know.

-Random person on DCUM

[Anonymous]

We've taught the kids that they need to know their audience. They're more formal with older people, more formal with people in positions of power (the principal vs the after school counselor), etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don’t allow it. It isn’t a swear word, but it sounds trashy and low class.

Same here.