Dropping the Huxtables off at the pool...

[heloise32]

Euphemisms
I really hate that phrase. Making a vulgar comparison, because of skin color, should be acceptable because it's been around for awhile and other people of race haven't complained about it? That really pisses me off. I don't expect people to understand. I mean, even my husband has said that he and his sister have used that euphemism, so I

Comments

[porcupinebarb]

You will probably want to contribute to this pit thread.

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=258571

BTW, I'm sorry to hear you're still feeling so crappy.

[heloise32]

Thanks. I'm sorry to hear you've been feeling crappy, too.

[democritus]

Wow, I've never heard that one before. It's quite offensive. I am guilty of using :dropping the kids off at the pool".

Hey, do you think you'll make it to Jen and Bryan's BBQ? I'd love to hook up with you before you guys head out.

[heloise32]

Kind of depends on whether or not I'll need surgery, what kind of condition my back is in, things like that.

It sucks when health gets in the way of one's lifestyle, but what can one do?

[tir_tinuviel]

I've never thought of "dropping the kids off at the pool" as having anything to do with how shitty kids are, I always likened it to giving birth. ;)

First time I've ever heard the Cosby/Huxtable version though.

The problem is that the only possible reason to use Rudy Huxtable in this euphamism is that she is black, and therefore "the colour of shit", and as such it's an indefenceable racial insult.

[tir_tinuviel]

I guess it would depend who was saying it. If my bloke said to me "I'm going for a dump" I wouldn't bat an eyelid and in fact I'd probably be quite thankful, as at least I would know to let the bathroom air out before I went in. ;)

If he said "I'm going to drop the kids off at the pool" I'd give him a very strange look, and then probably make some joke about making sure he didn't stand to close to the edge when they jumped in at the deep end cos no-one likes splash-back.

If he said "I'm going to drop the Huxtables off at the pool" I would not be impressed at all.

If it was some other person, it would depend which phrase they used, but it's quite common for my circle of friends to announce "Gotta go dump, I'll get the round in on the way back".

Plus I think a lot of parents with potty training toddlers would quite like some sort of announcement, so I don't think the obnoxious/offensive bit necessarily applies in all situations.

:)

[gingy]

I've never heard that, and now that I know what it is, I will never ever use it. That's disgusting.

[whiskeytangofox]

Guilty party checking in