feedback for "Taboo"

1. Get over it, Nanny is an acceptable word in the U.S. and I will not stop using it because a very small ethnic group finds it offensive.
   

   posted by : spartic99 on 8/27/2007 at 1:17 AM Flag For Abuse

2. Meh. I worked as a "nanny" during the summers when I was in university, and while the term didn't offend me, per se, I realized that people's fondness for using it generally rose in direct proportion to how pretentious they were.
   
   Unless the person providing your childcare has (1) an English accent, (2) a carpetbag, and (3) an umbrella that lets him/her fly away with the West Wind, it's BABYSITTING, people.

   posted by : Doppelganger on 8/27/2007 at 1:24 AM Flag For Abuse

3. Whatever these women want to be referred to, it is patently obvious that they are not doing their jobs! The photo at the top of the article says it all. There are 6 women pictured with 6 young children. Not a single one of these 'caregivers' is even looking at the children. They are clearly more interested in gossiping with each other. Look at their sight lines and you'll see what I mean.
   

   posted by : braisler on 8/27/2007 at 9:18 AM Flag For Abuse

4. braisler --- come to my hometown. they are too busy chatting w/each other and on their CELL PHONES ALL DAY while they ignore their charges. nice job if you can get it, clearly.
   

   posted by : arirang on 8/27/2007 at 2:01 PM Flag For Abuse

5. I find it laughable - and may just start referring to my mother who sits for me - or in American, acts as my Nanny - as Gramma Vagina.  I'm sure she'll get a kick out of it.  Talk about taboo - VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA.   I hope it's my daughter's first word - lol!

   posted by : loresmom on 8/27/2007 at 2:12 PM Flag For Abuse

6. But, there, with loresmom, we find an interesting thing. She says her mother would think it was hilarious to be referred to as "Gramma Vagina," and doesn't have qualms about using the term around her child (which, by the way, I think is completely healthy, and I'm not criticizing (just don't call me a vagina! *grin*)). However, another person who has American English as their native language might find it appalling to refer to anyone with that term. It depends on the way you look at it.
   
   And just because you're calling someone a vagina in another language, does that make it less offensive if they feel it is? How about NOT calling them a nanny if they don't like it, and not unnecessarily antagonize the person you're paying to spend the most time with your kid? Will it really matter if you call them the sitter or the caregiver instead? I mean, it doesn't change the duties of the roll if you call them the High Queen of All Sitting in All the Realm, it just makes you sound like an.....well, you know.
   
   On the subject of whether or not these women are doing their jobs, have you never met up with a friend while pushing a kid around in a stroller and chatted with your friend for most of the time? The kids aren't fussing, and you don't know what happens after the picture is over. Just because you think that they aren't paying attention at this moment, doesn't mean they don't after the flash goes off. Just because there are bad caregivers out there doesn't mean they all are. Although it is a strange picture to have every one of the women intent on anything but the kids. :)
   
   I never liked the word because it feels too much like having a butler, or a chambermaid. Too pompous. But then I've never had opportunity to employ a nanny, myself. :)
   

   posted by : shesanangel on 8/27/2007 at 3:13 PM Flag For Abuse

7. That is a linguistic misfortune. It reminds me of when Chevrolet introduced the Nova in Mexico and realized after poor sales that they had just introduced a new car called "doesn't go."
   
   I do think an alternative to the word "nanny" would be nice, both because the old british associations do make it sound a bit smug, and we'd rather not offend those from Trinidad. However if i started saying "full time babysitter" to friends in new york they would probably ask for clarification. Nanny is the accepted usage, like it or not.
   
   
   
   

   posted by : chattydaddy on 8/27/2007 at 3:34 PM Flag For Abuse

8. Welcome to life outside Trinidad and Tobago...
   
   Personally, I'm offended when fellow Trinidadians, who should know better, casually omit Tobago in their discussions about our country. It misrepresents who we are. Our country's name is Trinidad and Tobago. We should try our best not to misinform the global public.
   
   Secondly, some people may find that taking personal offense to uneducated, non-malicious terms or comments is laughable, somewhat immature, or offensive to people who don't know it's a slang. It's akin to spanking a 5 year old because they don't understand how to design 3500 ft buildings that can withstand hurricane-force winds.
   
   By the way, I use the term 'babysitter' instead of 'nanny' and it may well have something to with where I'm from but I don't feel offended by the word at all.

   posted by : trinidaian on 5/9/2008 at 4:46 PM Flag For Abuse

9. Eh, I thought babysitter and nanny were increasingly considered condescending and sexist and were going the way of secretary. CEOs do not have secretaries anymore, they have administrative assistants. To be honest, if someone prefers to be called one thing over another, I'm almost always willing to oblige. Whether it's a job title or a preferred name, or nickname - it's a word they use to define themselves. I think it's respectful to use the term they would prefer. That said, perhaps they should make it clear which term they prefer. One can't be held accountable for cultural mistakes, if they are never informed or their mistakes.

   posted by : mchaos on 1/15/2009 at 3:36 PM Flag For Abuse