The swale is the lawn filled ditch (so makes a big dip in your front yard) that runs alongside the road. Made for water drainage.
It is usually more than a foot wide. Wide enough to plant trees - maybe 4 or 5 feet wide. However a few blocks away they are only a foot wide and it is hard to get good grass growing there and obviously no trees.
Folks = People.
Some people here have found it offensive.
Where in CC has someone said the use of the word folks is offensive?
That’s a good question, @Pizzagirl. Seem to recall some posters misreading “you people” (which, IIRC was referring to the posters in that thread, wherever it was) as some racist reference. Don’t recall people getting their panties in a wad over “folks”, but guess anything is possible!
And there’s another colloquialism: panties in a wad, knickers in a twist, etc. meaning getting all bent out of shape.
Waiting2exhale: I am not sure I understand your post. Do you find “folks” offensive? Is “here” on this thread, this board, or where you live? Who finds it offensive? Why?
Thanks in advance for your explanation.
My father used to address letters to his parents: “Dear Folks” and I did the same. My in-laws made fun of me, so I quit using that salutation for them.
It’s certainly a word I like (because my family used it) and use. I don’t want to use it if it offends. There are lots of words I can use instead.
@MotherOfDragons - didn’t “Cheese it, it’s the cops!” come from the Three Stooges? We used that all the time as kids.
While shopping today I saw a pillow with the saying “Bless your Heart” (with a red heart) on it.
Made me smile.
@alh: “Waiting2exhale: I am not sure I understand your post. Do you find ‘folks’ offensive? Is ‘here’ on this thread, this board, or where you live? Who finds it offensive? Why?”
I do not find folks offensive, no. I use it all the time. It simply means “people” to me. By ‘here’ I mean here at CC.
I do not know why or how it is offensive to some, but I thought I’d put it out there as it hadn’t been.
Interesting, I don’t find it offensive and I’ve never noticed anyone on CC comment that it was.
I think the folks here on CC are some of the nicest, most well read and well educated, most polite and careful users of words that I have ever encountered.
I haven’t used “folks” much lately, but I like it. Inclusive, gender neutral, friendly. I hope it doesn’t start getting a bad rep.
That is one strange article. I’ve never heard the term folks being offensive, either IRL or on CC.
Didn’t mean to derail…it’s fine. I haven’t stopped using it.
I’ve have used ‘folks’ often when referring to friends’ parents. How are your folks? I hope I haven’t offended anyone.
Our president uses “folks” quite often, and it has always seemed to be an intentionally inclusive term to me. Interesting that some are offended by it.
Unfortunately these days some are easily offended .
I use folks sometimes and have never been told it is offensive and have never meant it that way. Hmmmm.
Ooh, let’s all agree there is no offense and move back to this delightful discussion.
Knickers in a twist is a personal favorite. Particularly love it with the British accent.
The son of a friend of ours relocated to Australia. On a recent visit here with his family, his 6 yr old daughter rebuked her 5 yr old brother - “Don’t be cheeky”. All of us state side adults (most of us with Brooklyn roots) absolutely swooned with delight. It warms my heart remembering it. Americans, in general, in my opinion, do not do a good job with the English language.
I just remembered that I asked someone to sign a paper by saying I needed her John Hancock. She had no idea what I was asking for.