"Kids" (was Callum Home London)


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Posted by Jock on May 03, 2007 at 09:36:49 from 87.105.81.146 user Jock.

In Reply to: Re:Callum Home London posted by Peter Roche on May 03, 2007 at 09:07:21:

The OED defines 'kid' and 'kids' as "a child or young person"... . It's not in the least offensive.

I'm with you on this one Peter. In fact I would go so far as to say that the use of "kid" in its positive sense deserves to be stoutly defended. Many languages use diminutives as a form of affectionate address when addressing the young or close friends. Thus in Russian I might refer to you as "Petruszka" or in Polish as "Piotrus" or "Piotrek" and you would not be in the least bit offended. When you were the in the age range of the S & A's everybody would address you via your diminutive and you would not bat an eyelid. In fact if you heard someone using your adult name "Piotr" you would know that you were in deep trouble. This is very similar to AR's usage of "Nancy" and "Ruth".

In English we rarely use diminutives, "Peterkin what have you done to your knee?" doesn't work, but we can use name substitution in such a situation. "Poor kid what have you done to your knee?" works perfectly. In a similar vein the junior ranks of the scouting movement are populated by beavers and cubs. It's true that "kids" can be used in a derogatory way, but only when coupled to a derogatory adjective.


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