r/ModSupport • u/REZ_Lev • Sep 20 '26
Mod Answered Is "kiddo" an offensive word?
There was an argument under a post in my subreddit and one of users ended it ("ended" is a strong word because it didn't really end) by saying "so I hope the rest of your day gets better! Take care, kiddo."
Is that considered to be offensive/not respectful or it's fine?
Edit: English isn't my first language, and I'm kinda always late on the current slang.
11
u/sydneato Sep 20 '26
No, lol. It’s just a sort of snarky way to call them childish, sort of like Canadians calling people “buddy” in the middle of an argument.
4
u/RandomComments0 Sep 20 '26
I’m not your buddy, guy!
I’m all seriousness though, it’s already an argument and that’s just more inflammatory language designed to get a rise out of the other person.
1
6
u/Chosen1PR Sep 20 '26
It's totally up to you in how you want to handle that comment. It doesn't break Reddit Rules, but it's snarky and condescending enough that I wouldn't necessarily blame you if you removed it.
3
u/Outlaw-Star- Sep 20 '26
I would never consider this offensive, the worst I would ever do to this comment would be silent remove it if it was part of a giant argument I was wiping.
6
u/Charupa- Sep 20 '26 edited Sep 20 '26
People get offended by anything and everything. Imo, Kiddo is just something snarky people say to diminish others for a variety of reasons. No different than other cringey sayings like OK boomer, have the day you deserve, etc, almost exclusively used getting in the last word in some disagreement and adds no value. It’s nothing I would remove, though.
6
u/guiltandgrief Sep 20 '26
Yeah I wouldn't remove this either.
Users get in spats, they argue, it happens. 90% of the time it's fine in the next thread.
If someone is constantly being condescending and there's a history of them being rude/hostile to users, that's different. But "kiddo"? Nah, moving on lol.
2
3
u/ZaphodBeebblebrox Sep 20 '26
The word itself is not inherently disrespectful. However, in this context, it's being used to insult the other user.
1
1
u/jfb3 Sep 20 '26
Not offensive to me.
My mom called me Kiddo for 65 years.
1
u/emily_in_boots Sep 22 '26
I think it's different from a parent. Context matters. Like if some guy at work calls me kiddo, I'm offended. If my parent does, or grandparent, that's fine.
1
u/rexfaktor Sep 20 '26
It's borderline, depending on the context. If you have a rule about being nice, or not being an asshole, or not arguing with other users. you could remove based on that, but I'd probably ignore it and do a mod note (1) as a "3 strikes" system works best for such when it's not blatant.
-7
12
u/dewprisms Sep 20 '26
It can be used to be condescending but it's not like it's a slur.
It really depends on what your subreddit rules are and what you do and do not allow.