When Kids say "Duh!"?

Question

for those who're parents who allow your kids to say "Duuh" when they're asked a question- *Why* do you allow that?

I think in recent years, it's been "cool" to say it & generally accepted, but I happen to think it is Such a rude, disrespectful thing to say to adults.

What gives??

I would love to know how the 1st 2 replies would feel if their own kids said it to them. Esp. in front of others...

Well aware that it isn't a "bad word". We're talking about *respect* here...

Answer 1

kids do not mean it as an offencive term. its more their way of stating the obvious.

Answer 2

I say it all the time even though I'm almost 21 now...I still remember using it when I was younger to my parents and I didn't and other kids probably don't see it as rude or disrespectful. They're just saying "You know this already so why are you asking me?" With one word, or sound rather.

My reasoning is this. Would you rather them rant and yell at you being all dramatic saying: YES that's what I want, you should know this already you're because you're the adult and you know EVERYTHING! Why am I even telling you any way?! You're just going to forget again! ...Or something to that effect. Personally I would rather take the word.

Teenagers have always been like this to their elders. They think they know everything and in this day in age where families aren't as close as they used to be due to cell phones, tv and computers, it's gotten worse than when you were a kid. Families just don't spend any time together.

Teenagers grow up in their own little worlds and don't like it when parents or other adults break into those worlds to tell them what to do, when for the past few years, no one has cared.

You can't honestly tell me that when you were a teenager that you didn't want to give your parents an eyeroll for something that they said that wasn't cool, or gave them attitude for not knowing something that you thought they should.

You probably got in trouble for it yes...but that doesn't mean you didn't do it. Or think it in your head.

And most of all remember they're TEENAGERS! They have NO social graces, nor want any, because they don't even know who they are. We forget what it was like when we were younger, and it's harder now with everything in the world. Put yourself in their shoes. They have 4 million types of drugs and whatever else out the plus all this SEX thrown in their faces, plus technology from EVERY direction to learn, plus maths, scienes, religions, friends, clothes, money, guns, and jobs!

They're trying to learn to be themselves...to be people...through ALL of that and it's in their faces every day. Adults already know who they are...they don't change much...So think of a Duh here and there as their way of also saying just let me think! I have more to worry about than your question of if I had a bad day at school or not.

Answer 3

This is SUCH an issue in my house right now...In fact, my kids have enhanced the whole "duh" expression to include "duh, duh-duh, duh, DUMMMMB!"

Duh is dumb without the mmmm(b) on the end. So if it's okay for a parent that their kid is calling someone else dumb then it's not an issue...but since this really should be an issue I would correct it immediately.

In fact, I've been trying...but my husband has a different view on the issue and just thinks it's funny so it's been difficult to enforce anything. I've been accused of being "too strict" and "overly fanatical of rules" just because I don't think this is appropriate. It seems that common decency and respect has taken a backseat to just about everything these days...

Answer 4

I think I have only heard my kid say the Duh word once just trying it out. I told her it wasn't a very nice thing to say. That it makes people look unintelligent.
There are many new trends in kids these days that are becoming acceptable because of TV. I think its all in how you talk to your kids about what is ok and not. They are going to try out what they hear in an attempt to be socially accepted, but it is up to the parent to correct and enforce what is ok.

Answer 5

My kids know when to joke and when to be serious. If we're all joking aroudn they may say it, but when we get serious the know that saying "duh" will get them in trouble. I think it's ok to say if everyone is messing around and being silly, but when the adults are serious, the children should answer properly.
Also, I think a lot of kids say it because there parents say it to them when they have a serious question and the kids really doesn't know and the parents think it's something simple so they reply to the kids "duh" well then those kids learn that that is how you answer a question they know the answer to already.

Answer 6

Kids have no respect today. I will admit that I used term...however, when I used it with my parents it was always joking, never to be disrespectful. Parents today rely too much on parenting magazines, TV, etc. Raise your kids how you think is right, not how some hack thinks you should. When the term is used to imply that the parent is somehow lacking in the intelligence department, I definitely disagree with that.

Answer 7

I say the same thing to my my kids Duh,well mine are teens now,I respect my kids and they respect me,Im glad I have them in my life to learn their views,times are changing,its up to our kids to deal with our crazy world,its not as simple as do chores and everything will work out,its about what are they fighting for just to have their own identity.

Answer 8

Perhaps it's generational, but I agree that it's disrespectful for kids to say it to their parents. I also think that respect for elders has gone way out the window overall. It's amazing what kids get away with saying to their parents in this day and age.

Answer 9

Many kids have very little respect for others these days, and what is worse is that parents don't teach them to have any. It is very disrespectful.

Answer 10

I think for the most part parents just don't discipline their kids. My grandparents bordered on abuse so I don't think that is good either. All I can say is when/if my kids start that mess they will get a verbal warning that I don't like that, and that I find it disrespectful. After that it's a pop in the mouth. I have no Patience for disrespecting anyone.

Answer 11

I think each generation is getting more and more rude because people are allowing this kind of behavior. Even the SMALLEST thing like allowing your children to say "duh" leads to kids getting ruder and ruder. In my opinion, kids shouldn't say things like, "shut up" and "I hate you" and they should be punished for saying things like this.

Even my generation has issues (I'm 20). My parents didn't even allow me to say "stupid" or "dumb" under their roof which I thought was pretty drastic, and for lack of a better word STUPID, but I never told them to "shut up" or said "duh" to them. That's just plain disrespectful. Maybe you should ask the child how they would like it if you said "duh" to them. Chances are they wouldn't like it very much.