Reply to The term orphan

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My mother used that term when her father died and we all shut her down. An orphan is a CHILD who’s lost both parents, not an adult. It’s being dramatic. A child can’t live in a home without an adult (parent). An adult can live in a home without their parent. It’s ridiculous. [/quote]

wow you sound... unkind.  I have heard a lot of adults who lose their parents use the word orphaned to explain how they feel almost in wonder or puzzlement.. like how is it that I am 50+ years old and feel utterly bereft and defenseless?  obviously its not the same as being actually orphaned, I lost both parents at a young age and I think once I heard my husband refer ro me as an orphan.. it was in relation to some shady thing regarding a business my parents owned and I still feel the physical recoil and was like "dont call me that!" and its definitely b/c im an adult but also b/c I think the word has connotations of being an object of pity and no-one wants that.

I think there is a writer.. maybe erma bombeck? who wrote that no matter at what age ones loses their parents they are orphaned.  I think this is describing an emotional state or experience. its not describing someone's social or economic situation which is a what is usually meant by an orphaned child.. socially we owe care. love and support to someone who is an orphaned child, we dont have that same obligation to adults who have lost there parents.

Its also different is you lose your parents when you are like 30 years old and when you are 65 b/c you still want your parents guidance at that age more than 65 but its the feeling that you dont have your natal home anymore, that there is no-one who loves you and will be in your corner unconditionally and also.. we are children our whole lives and suddenly we are children no longer. I think ppl who manage to transition to a more friend role with their kids probably set them up for less of this sense of losing the emotional roof over your head. No-one in the world cares for you and works to protect you the  way your parents do.

if someone is claiming this term for themselves to garner sympathy or attention I can see being offended or grossed out but if its just them describing an emotional state.. well that is a very real and common feeling and until you are in that position yourself.. you cant know. [/quote]

Oh, I can know.  I won't, but I could use the phrases "I feel orphaned" or "I feel like a orphan" or something similar if I wanted attention and was being dramatic.  More likely I'd say "I feel unmoored" or "I miss them" or something similar.  But I'd never say "I'm an orphan" because words have meaning and I'm not an idiot.[/quote]

In a conversation you would actually say I feel unmoored? That's so ridiculous and laughable. Now THAT is attention seeking. [/quote]

I guess it's laughable if you don't know what words mean.[/quote]

Good burn. It's pretnecious and you know it. You are mean and judgemental but I expect nothing less from this board. It's a bunch of bored b1tchy being mean to other women they feel better than. 
adjective
un·moored - (of a vessel) not or no longer attached to a mooring.
"an unmoored barge"
(of a person) insecure, confused, or lacking contact with reality.
"this freedom can make people feel unmoored"

That word doesn't described how it feels to loose both parents at any age. [/quote]

Not PP, but try Cambridge. It fits: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/unmoored

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