Calling a spade a spade

IanH
IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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edited February 2017 in General Chat #1

With the recent change to the CC name, to more accurately reflect the demographic of the Club (as I'm sure they would say wink) and EasyT's recent post about visiting the Elderly Clinic, I was thinking about the names people give to things and how accurately they describe the thing in question.

Best example for me are those 'weightwatcher' type classes. I know a couple of people who attend them and always refer to it as "Fat Club". I think it came from the Little Britain series originally.

Of course, many names are no longer used, such as Old Age Pensioners. Were they inappropriate?

Any more?

Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2017 #2

    Your post Inspired me to reconsider the recent pioneering change to simplify the CC's message to seem more inclusive.

    I decided to not do so lest it be deemed off topic and the thread closed either without comment as seems currently in vogue or with a link to 'The same Club, just better...'

     

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited February 2017 #3

    About the spade thing I believe there are some folks who go further and call it an ******* shovel!  But I won't go so far as to mention which county I think  many of those come from!  What's wrong with OAP?   I am quite happy there!!  It's the PC thing gone mad isn't it!  Personally I don't like "seniors"  call me a recycled teenager smile.  

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited February 2017 #4

    Domestic Engineer instead of housewife and many more that I can't think of this early, It is so annoying watching a quiz show and hear them say something sounding so posh ending in operative to find they are cleaners, cooks, shelf stackers, there is nothing wrong with the work or workers, but as you say call a spade a spade.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,601 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #5

    MIL has a weekly visit on Wednesday afternoons to help out at a gathering of mostly OAPs. It's held in a centre now known as The Community Centre but everyone still calls it the "Darby and Joan Club"smile

     

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited February 2017 #6

    My OH has a weekly visit at the moment to the Chiropractor- how about The legal assault clinic! 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2017 #7

    Don't  really  mind  being  called  an  O A P,  but  I'm  not  quite  sure  if  "Concession"  is  quite  polite  undecidedembarassed

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,601 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #8

    The Americans never cease to amaze me at their ability to mangle the English language or find new ways, usually longer, to say simple things.

    For example Alternative Facts or Post Truth. A four letter word springs to mind, Lies.

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited February 2017 #9

    I once worked with someone who went to weightwatchers yet never seemed to slim down, her attitude was  - well I am watching it!

  • Rubytuesday
    Rubytuesday Forum Participant Posts: 952
    edited February 2017 #10

    There's many O A Ps I have come across who are more like the oldest swingers in town type ....just never grow up senior citizen would definatly not suit them 🤔😎😉

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #11

    I am not officially an OAP yet, as I don't get my state pension until later this year. However, I am old and get a pension, so I guess the name fits. The only time it seems to have any significance is with discounts, most give it for over 60 ( senior citizens)  A few for over 65 (OAP discount)

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,601 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #12

    I think I would swap OAP for the French way, namely descibing it as "The Third Age" (Le troisieme Âge). Seems about right and a bit more dignified.

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited February 2017 #13

    I think we use it already with the U3A don't we?  (University of the 3rd Age of course). 

    I have to admit a course at "the naughty driver's school" which seemed appropriate enough as almost all the students seemed either bolshy or guilt ridden!  I have never been to a gathering  where so few people talked to each other!  Very interesting course I found it.  My transgression was not realising I was in a 30 mph and thinking it was a 40 - obviously my fault - but sometimes in unfamiliar places the speed restrictions seem hard to keep up with they change so often.  I am very glad my sat nav is a quick reference to that in case of any doubt now. 

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited February 2017 #14

    You take the G/kids to the cinema and ask for the 'wrinkly' discount. Job done!

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