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'Feral' seems like an odd choice of word, given the activities you're describing. It sounds like they're just out and about doing totally normal stuff. I bet yo
by foldr 6mo ago
'Feral' seems like an odd choice of word, given the activities you're describing. It sounds like they're just out and about doing totally normal stuff. I bet you wouldn't appreciate someone describing you as 'feral' if they saw you in public walking to the store or getting on a train.
- amoss 6mo ago"in a wild or unsupervised state" seems like a particularly apt description of children. it does not seem to be derogatory: language really should be evocative as often as literal.
- foldr 6mo agoThat seems like a slightly off definition to me: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feral https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feral And feral certainly is a term with negative connotations in English. Are you in a "wild and unsupervised" state when you leave your house and go to work?
- rkagerer 6mo agoI think it was the perfect adjective in the context of their comment. The poster clearly meant it with a flavor of whimsy to it, not in a derogatory way. Maybe also as a tongue in cheek jab at how people they perceived as overly concerned about supervision would describe such kids. I'll put my hand up as having been a joyfully feral kid once upon a time.
- mikestew 6mo ago'Feral' seems like an odd choice of word, given the activities you're describing. I never said the feral kids were participating in those activities. :-) Look, it was loose use of the word, you're placing way more judgement on the term than was ever intended. Yes, the children have homes and parent, of course they're not feral.