A Misunderstanding of Words

[Philagoofy]

My 28yo nephew put photos on his Facebook page of some wood items he made on a lathe. My cousin (his 2nd cousin) responded "You have a lathe? That is sweet." When my parents saw that comment they hit the roof. I tried to explain that sweet in this context means good, it was a nice thing. But my dad wouldn't have any of it. My cousin lives on the other side of the country & I don't think my parents are in contact with him much at all but I'd hate for them to think he meant anything other than that it's really cool that he has a lathe.

Have you ever misinterpreted or misheard something only to find out later they meant something totally different?

 

[Mermaid02]

My 28yo nephew put photos on his Facebook page of some wood items he made on a lathe. My cousin (his 2nd cousin) responded "You have a lathe? That is sweet." When my parents saw that comment they hit the roof. I tried to explain that sweet in this context means good, it was a nice thing. But my dad wouldn't have any of it. My cousin lives on the other side of the country & I don't think my parents are in contact with him much at all but I'd hate for them to think he meant anything other than that it's really cool that he has a lathe.

Have you ever misinterpreted or misheard something only to find out later they meant something totally different?

I'm confused. What does your father think "sweet" means?

 

[MushyMushy]

Wow, I want to know what they think sweet means too! I've never heard it in a negative context. No offense, but they need to get a grip.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I'm confused. What does your father think "sweet" means?

I'm trying to figure that out as well.

Give me a minute and I'm sure I'll think of something that I've confused!

 

[golfgal]

I don't get it either. Maybe the dad didn't know what a lathe was?

 

[mom2travel]

I reread the OP a few times to see if I missed something since not sure what bad context "sweet" could be. The only thing I came up with was that they thought he was making fun of the other guy - as in, "isn't that so cute"

 

[NHdisneylover]

I am completly confused as to what the negative connotation could be as well I have lived in a fair number of states in most regions of the US and not encountered that word meaning something negative (otehr than eating sweets which could negativly affect your health and waitline) anywhere.

 

[RitaE]

I can't figure out what negative connotation sweet could have either


But then again I also can't imagine anybody "hitting the roof" and major drama over a facebook comment made to a 28 year old man.

 

[JessicaR]

Add me to the confused. I also wonder what he misunderstood.

 

[Philagoofy]

 

[abdmom]

I must admit that I hadn't hear of "sweet" in this context until I started working with younger students a few years ago. Same with "my bad". Sounds like your father thought it meant something like "Isn't that precious"

Maybe find some other examples of the use of the term to show them.

 

[agnes!]

Nothing personal but if your parents can't even put into actual words what has made them so upset this one word?...they're being ridiculous. If the cousin that 'received' the comment isn't upset, it's really none of your parents business. They aren't even TELLING you WHAT they think 'sweet' means!

This might sound harsh but I think it sounds like your folks need to get a hobby or get themselves busy. Maybe all the cousins should consider unfriending your folks from their Facebook pages if Mom & Pop are getting their knickers in such a twist over this trivial matter. They're willing to risk a family-war over a single online comment? Are they serious?!?

And have they always been like this, with such hair-trigger getting-offendedness? This just all sounds so odd to me...

agnes!

 

[ndelaware]

When I was younger, if you used the word "sweet" in regards to a man or something a man owned, it was often said as a knock against his masculinity.

 

[MELSMICE]

When I was younger, if you used the word "sweet" in regards to a man or something a man owned, it was often said as a knock against his masculinity.

That's the only thing I could think of as to why the OP's parents thought "sweet" was offensive.

 

[FireDancer]

Why do your parents care what is on your grown adult nephew's Facebook page? As for "sweet" being an attack on masculinity, that is just ridiculous and sounds pretty outdated to me. Kind of along the lines that a man shouldn't change diapers or clean the toilet. It isn't 1930 any more.

 

[sbell111]

Perhaps homophobia was the basis for his angst as he may have thought that the other guy was calling the son son 'sweet', rather than he thought that having a lathe was 'sweet'. The dad should be sentenced to watching 'Dude, Where's My Car'.

"Dude what does mine say?"
"Sweet! What does mine say?"
"Dude! what does mine say?"
"Sweet! What does mine say?"

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

My 28yo nephew put photos on his Facebook page of some wood items he made on a lathe. My cousin (his 2nd cousin) responded "You have a lathe? That is sweet." When my parents saw that comment they hit the roof. I tried to explain that sweet in this context means good, it was a nice thing. But my dad wouldn't have any of it. My cousin lives on the other side of the country & I don't think my parents are in contact with him much at all but I'd hate for them to think he meant anything other than that it's really cool that he has a lathe.

Have you ever misinterpreted or misheard something only to find out later they meant something totally different?

Color me confused by both of these posts. Wish someone would have quoted the second one before it was edited!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Color me confused by both of these posts. Wish someone would have quoted the second one before it was edited!

It had to do with the Father thinking the comment meant the nephew was feminine (that was not the word--I do not remember what was). OP--that reactiojn of your father's is NOT a reflection on you so I would not worry about it at all. It sounds like your Father has a few issues to work out though (like why would he even care what is posted on his grown nephew's page, why does he interpret that word that way, and why does he feel that is a bad thing if he does). I also think the best thing you can do is to completly stay out of it--the last thing you need is for your dad to misunderstand something YOU say.

 

[Cornhusk]

Why do your parents care what is on your grown adult nephew's Facebook page? As for "sweet" being an attack on masculinity, that is just ridiculous and sounds pretty outdated to me. Kind of along the lines that a man shouldn't change diapers or clean the toilet. It isn't 1930 any more.

Thank you! Seriously, the fact that there is any negative words is pretty weak.

And I mean weak.

 

[lillygator]

Color me confused by both of these posts. Wish someone would have quoted the second one before it was edited!

mte!