I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's not the kids it's the parents.

Had an 9 year old boy in the ER the other night for a sore throat. As usual when I deal with peds, I'll get down on a knee or on a stool so I'm down at their level. I usually refer to the as Sweetheart or Bubba trying to set a friendlier tone for things. So I get down on a stool, start my assessment and ask,

"What's going on Bubba?"

"Don't call me Bubba asshole!"

Absolutely no reaction from mom, she couldn't be bothered looking up from her phone. I can understand that maybe he didn't want to be called Bubba and I could change how I address him. But, if I had ever talked to a nurse or doctor like that when I was 9, it would've been an instant attitude adjustment from either mom or dad.

Even though the kid has a mouth on him and no sense of respect. At 9 I really don't blame him, I blame the parents.

Absolutely agree. Piss poor parenting. First for those words to be coming out of the child's mouth in the first place and second, for not saying a word to the child.

Yeah the kid was rude and out of line. Change the terms of endearments to Asshole and Shitbag.

Seriously, drop the Bubba term, use Buddy instead. Some people equate the term with low class redneck.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Seriously, drop the Bubba term, use Buddy instead.

Yeah, I use "Bud" or "Buddy" with younger boys.

It's kinda hard to explain, but even here in the South, where "Bubba" is a term of endearment frequently used by parents for their sons, or sisters for their brothers, it's a bit odd for a stranger to use the term. It's a bit too familiar of a form of a address for use by anyone besides close family to use in a non-disparaging way. "Buddy" is much more... neutral.

(Unless you know that someone has specifically adopted the "Bubba" nickname.)


Kinda like Gramps. When your grandkid calls you Gramps, that's totally okay. When a stranger calls you Gramps, it's not okay.

Don't call him "Bubba."

Use the Russian / Jewish: "Boychik."

To these Yankee ears, that's like opening with 'how's it going, cracker?'

The kids a jerk, but possibly not the only one in the room. Might need to know your audience better.

If I had said that in front of my mother at 9 yr old a sore throat would have been the least of my problems...

Sometimes I think Alligators have the right idea.

When I was in Honduras, the little urchins would shout GRINGO at us.

I gladly gave out Piperazine and Albenozole to them.

The blood curdling screams that came with the night was deeply satisfying as the monsters came spewing from their behinds.

They weren't so cocky the next day as I would just grin at them.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
When I was in Honduras, the little urchins would shout GRINGO at us.

I gladly gave out Piperazine and Albenozole to them.

The blood curdling screams that came with the night was deeply satisfying as the monsters came spewing from their behinds.

They weren't so cocky the next day as I would just grin at them.

… You drugged little kids because they called you "gringo"?

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
When I was in Honduras, the little urchins would shout GRINGO at us.

I gladly gave out Piperazine and Albenozole to them.

The blood curdling screams that came with the night was deeply satisfying as the monsters came spewing from their behinds.

They weren't so cocky the next day as I would just grin at them.

… You drugged little kids because they called you "gringo"?

Sounds like he was simply treating them for worms.

Ah. Still, taking sadistic pleasure in the suffering of another like that, merely because they used some word towards you, is a whole different level. Especially if you're apparently there in some sort of medical care capacity.

We had orders to distribute the anti parasitics by the pharmacist. He told us what to expect.

And it happened.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
We had orders to distribute the anti parasitics by the pharmacist. He told us what to expect.

And it happened.

It happens.

I never claimed to be a saint.

Heck the parents KNEW what was going to happen and made sure their children got the anti-parasitics.

The pharmacist was giggling just as much during the purge.

We played futbol with the same kids during the week. They thought it was funny after the initial shock wore off, but they damn sure treated us with respect.

I tend to avoid calling anyone I dont know a nick name. Many people take offense to being called pal, chief, buddy, sport, boss etc.

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:
I tend to avoid calling anyone I dont know a nick name. Many people take offense to being called pal, chief, buddy, sport, boss etc.

Sometimes it's unavoidable. Depending on the situation (like law enforcement), you don't always have a way of knowing that person's name right off the bat. So you have to make do with what you've got, especially with kids.

Yeah, an adult might find a reason to get offended if you call them "buddy". But little boys don't take offense.

"Hey bud! Can I talk to you for a second?" is about as friendly and neutral as you can get when initiating a conversation with a young boy whose name you don't yet know. Certainly leagues better than "Hey you!" or "Approach, tiny citizen!"

And calling a little kid "sir" is just weird.

quote:

Originally posted by GregY:
To these Yankee ears, that's like opening with 'how's it going, cracker?'

Yeah, "Bubba" would not be my first choice, either. One would think "young man" and "young lady" would be more appropriate.

Nonetheless, that was a completely unacceptable response from the little asshole.

quote:

Approach, tiny citizen!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thanks for the laugh.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
"Hey bud! Can I talk to you for a second?" is about as friendly and neutral as you can get when initiating a conversation with a young boy whose name you don't yet know. Certainly leagues better than "Hey you!" or "Approach, tiny citizen!"

"Excuse me" would seem to be yet more friendly and polite.

RE:the OP. I would no more call someone I don't know "Bubba" than call them "Oglethorpe". If someone's not generally known as "Bubba", why would they answer to it? "Hey Bill' isn't going to get Bob's attention, why would "Hey Bubba"?

Which is NOT to say the little twerp was justified in his retort.