Is "Anlke-Biters' pejorative?

[barnacler]

A funny thing (I think) happened this morning. I went to the gym, and as I was going in there was a lady I have seen quite a few times, and who I have ever-so-briefly chatted with while working out, there with her two kids, maybe 7 and 9. I guess they are there for day programs during the summer.

anyhow, I said, "Ah, I see you've brought your ankle-biters with you today"

Well!

Did I ever get the glare of a lifetime from her!

WTF is wrong with ankle-biters?

 

[Mr Bret]

Not a term usually used for people. I can see how it would be taken as degrading.
Usually associated with tiny dogs who by virtue of their size would be likely to bite your ankles.

In other words, she may think you were referring to her kids as dogs.

 

[gcostanza]

A funny thing (I think) happened this morning. I went to the gym, and as I was going in there was a lady I have seen quite a few times, and who I have ever-so-briefly chatted with while working out, there with her two kids, maybe 7 and 9. I guess they are there for day programs during the summer.

anyhow, I said, "Ah, I see you've brought your ankle-biters with you today"

Well!

Did I ever get the glare of a lifetime from her!

WTF is wrong with ankle-biters?

Seven and 9 years old?

Those are Yard Apes.

 

[The Options Menu]

Not a term usually used for people. I can see how it would be taken as degrading.
Usually associated with tiny dogs who by virtue of their size would be likely to bite your ankles.

In other words, she may think you were referring to her kids as dogs.

It common to call kids ankle-biters where I came from (and small dogs. Though the two ARE basically interchangeable. )--

I suspect the woman may have been 'on guard' because she was afraid you'd make a stink about 'annoying, poorly supervised, kids' at the gym, or that you were being passive aggressive, or creepy. (As a white guy I keep the hell away from kids, and the immediate areas where they congregate, when I'm out alone. I'll sit in a park, I just won't sit near the play area in the park if I'm alone.)

The term is a little pejorative, but it cuts across lines of race, class, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and sexual practices. It is 'ageist'. So it's not targeting any identifiable group beyond 'all children'. Ultimately, it sounds like the woman just needs to chill out. 'Breeders' and 'children' aren't exactly discriminated against, in fact, for the most part people bend over to accommodate them. So, uhh, yeah...

 

[SkyRider]

Since this tread has appeared to run its course and I don't want to start a new thread I'll post it here.

I'm happy to report that random acts of kindness is alive and well. A few days ago I was standing next to a TTC turnstile waiting for a friend. A young lady said I could use her transit pass (don't tell Andy Byford) if I had forgotten mine. Yes, Virginia it actually happened and right here in Dodge City.

 

[Lenny Weinrib]

Slightly pejorative, but you'd need a very sensitive pejorascope to detect it. On the other hand, it speaks volumes about her. Stay away.

Besides the correct term is crotch fruit.

 

[SchlongConery]

A friend just opened a new restaurant called "Peace and Quiet" ​. Kids meals are $250

 

[oldjones]

A funny thing (I think) happened this morning. I went to the gym, and as I was going in there was a lady I have seen quite a few times, and who I have ever-so-briefly chatted with while working out, there with her two kids, maybe 7 and 9. I guess they are there for day programs during the summer.

anyhow, I said, "Ah, I see you've brought your ankle-biters with you today"

Well!

Did I ever get the glare of a lifetime from her!

WTF is wrong with ankle-biters?

Offhand 'humour' is personal. If you'd encountered her parking nearby and commented that she'd driven her 'disabled-scooter', or her 'winter-beater' to the gym would you still be asking why you got a look? 'Ankle-biter' is neither neutral, nor a compliment so you need more than to "…have ever-so-briefly chatted with" the person who brought her wee precious darlings, to be sure she'd share your humorous intent. We used to call that principle 'common courtesy', but it's not so common anymore. Like spelling.

<Sarcasm Font>'Rug-rats' has only positive connotations, try it next time and see. </Sarcasm Font>

 

[Mr Bret]

Like spelling.

LMAO Anlke?

 

[wilbur]

Did I ever get the glare of a lifetime from her!

She probably glared herself into a divorce. Not the type of person you want to associate with.

 

[GPIDEAL]

I would NEVER use that term 'ankle-biters' unless I knew the person (and her kids) well enough to say it as a joke in the right context.

Barnacle, you seem to be a smart guy, but I think you fucked up here. Also, she may have never heard that term before and was more sensitive and took it as an offence.

 

[DB123]

I would NEVER use that term 'ankle-biters' unless I knew the person (and her kids) well enough to say it as a joke in the right context.

Barnacle, you seem to be a smart guy, but I think you fucked up here. Also, she may have never heard that term before and was more sensitive and took it as an offence.

Maybe never heard and maybe thought you were trying to hit on her in front of her kids...Not a single fucking thing offensive about ankle biters though.

Litmus test for offensive: If a term was used regularly on "Full House", it is not offensive.

.

 

[barnacler]

I would NEVER use that term 'ankle-biters' unless I knew the person (and her kids) well enough to say it as a joke in the right context.

Barnacle, you seem to be a smart guy, but I think you fucked up here. Also, she may have never heard that term before and was more sensitive and took it as an offence.

Oh, I don't think I fucked up. From what I hear, its not a big deal, so if she didn't like it it's not my problem. I certainly don't intend to kowtow to anyone's super-sensitivities. Marriage hardened me up about that! Big time.

I don't give that kind of "I have one up on you' a foothold.

 

[barnacler]

LMAO Anlke?

yeah yeah, I cuaght it , but yew can't edite a titel.

And BTW, it is a TYPING issew, not SPELLING

 

[Fission]

A friend just opened a new restaurant called "Peace and Quiet" ​. Kids meals are $250

A resturant owner in the US was all over media for telling a kid that was yelling for 40 minutes to be quiet.

 

[wpgguy]

Besides the correct term is crotch fruit.

Is snot nosed little bastards still acceptable?

So hard to keep up with what is PC these days.

 

[DB123]

yeah yeah, I cuaght it , but yew can't edite a titel.

Yes you can...click edit, then "advanced". :thumb:

Yure welcum

 

[oldjones]

Oh, I don't think I fucked up. From what I hear, its not a big deal, so if she didn't like it it's not my problem. I certainly don't intend to kowtow to anyone's super-sensitivities. Marriage hardened me up about that! Big time.

I don't give that kind of "I have one up on you' a foothold.

So howcum you asked us for validation and reassurance then, if it's no big deal? Isn't she the one you needed to ask? Better you should have apologized to her for any inadvertent offence or accidental uncomfortableness you caused. At least that had a chance of going somewhere productive. Unlike this Forum. But congrats on a marriage that works for you, even if it's built on thickening up your rhino-hide armour rather than perfecting sensitivity to your chosen life partner.

Common courtesy has nothing to do with deals big or small. It's about not causing needless discomfort or inconvenience. Another word is 'consideration'; try a little next time, before some other original and clever witticism blows up in your face.

Since you asked

 

[rgkv]

My kids went from "Rug Rats" when they were too young to crawl, "Ankle Biters" once they walked. "Yard Apes" once I let them out and all the way to "Pocket Pickers" once I started giving allowance .
They turned out normal....got there own "yard Apes " now...:thumb:

 

[Mr Bret]

There's one thing the OP didn't mention in the original post.
I'm curious if the lady in question is fluent in English and/or from a culture in which that expression is known.
Given that TO has such a diverse population, it's very possible that she simply didn't understand what he was saying.