# "Excuse me miss, but my baby is NOT a 'half'."
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [May 12, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675 "2002-05-12T20:24:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/41 "2002-05-14T04:53:41Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fenris \*
> \*\*Please, **Redboss** : tell me you haven’t joined the dark-side: the “It’s only a rant, it doesn’t need to be accurate.” crowd! :eek: \*\*
Well, one of them is my father. Sorry. And the uniforms are Really Nice.
Lukeboss
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### Author:  [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/42 "2002-05-14T12:11:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Redboss \*
> \*\*
>
> Well, one of them is my father. Sorry. And the uniforms are Really Nice.
>
> Lukeboss \*\*
“Growf!”
Fenrisbacca
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### Author:  [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/43 "2002-05-14T14:12:17Z")
Yeah, I’m with Buck. That line was hilarious, and even fitting for a lot of threads. But not this one. I don’t agree with Redboss’ application of it to this thread.
Oddly, I’ve never worked as a waitress or in food service, yet I myself have used the “half” term for Cranky Jr. Who knew?
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### Author:  [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/44 "2002-05-14T14:13:40Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by stofsky \*
> \*\*
>
> 26 minutes. Damn, **'sprix** , how often do you look for yourself anyhow? 😉 \*\*
Nah, when you are a member of the SDMB clique[sup]TM[/sup], the board staff calls you on your SDMB issued Cecil Adams signiture edition cell phone, and lets you know when someone uses your name in vain, or posts a subject you might be interested in. That way, you can connect through your SDMB issued Laptop with its cellular modem, and respond before while the topic is still current.
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### Author:  [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/45 "2002-05-14T14:29:02Z")
If three parents come to a restaurant with three small children, is that a party of four and a half? 😕
😉
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### Author:  [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/46 "2002-05-14T16:29:51Z")
**bdgr** , what color is your phone? Mine’s pink! 😃
Esprix
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### Author:  [@cunnelatio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cunnelatio)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/47 "2002-05-14T21:09:15Z")
Um, wow. You guys freak out over the most trivial stuff. Seriously, calm down and take your meds.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/48 "2002-05-14T21:33:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bdgr \*
> \*\*Nah, when you are a member of the SDMB clique[sup]TM[/sup], the board staff calls you on your SDMB issued Cecil Adams signiture edition cell phone, and lets you know when someone uses your name in vain, or posts a subject you might be interested in. That way, you can connect through your SDMB issued Laptop with its cellular modem, and respond before while the topic is still current. \*\*
And the SDMB staff are each issued a combination coffee mug/beeper. 🙂 Of course, my beeper’s been disabled until my status as a staff member is reactivated.
---
### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/49 "2002-05-14T22:30:54Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by cunnelatio \*
> \*\*Um, wow. You guys freak out over the most trivial stuff. Seriously, calm down and take your meds. \*\*
ur probably a parent…u ppl w/kids have no sence of humor!!!
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### Author:  [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/50 "2002-05-14T23:49:41Z")
> [@](#):
>
> If three parents come to a restaurant with three small children, is that a party of four and a half?
three parents? What the hell kind of wedding night would THAT have been? :):)🙂
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### Author:  [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/51 "2002-05-15T04:36:03Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Bren\_Cameron \*
> \*\ ***Lynn** is entirely correct. However, back in the days when I was working in restaurants, I would never have said this to a customer, just because they wouldn’t have understood it. I might have asked, “Two and a high-chair, sir?” \*\*
And then the OP would be here saying, “My baby is NOT a high chair!” You can’t win.
Think of the number as referring to the number of seats/place settings needed (with “half” being code for “high chair”) rather than the number of people present. It’s half a chair (or a smaller chair, at least), not half a person. Feel better now? Good.
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### Author:  [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2002, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/52 "2002-05-15T04:54:56Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Esprix \*
> \*\ ***bdgr** , what color is your phone? Mine’s pink! 😃
>
> Esprix \*\*
It was camo, but I dropped it in the yard, and it just sorta dissapeared. I keep waiting for my name to be mentioned while I’m out back working on the bdgr-glide, but it hasnt happened so far. I hope I didnt leave it set on vibrate…
I’m sure I’ll find it when I mow…
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### Author:  [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2002, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/53 "2002-05-15T08:06:48Z")
Well I still think that as this is the Pit, a feller’s entitled to come in here and complain.
Then we can all say things about the quality of the rant (eg “too bland”), or that he’s wrong (eg “you’re wrong”) .
I suppose it’s fair also to say “why are you getting so worked up about something so unimportant.”
But when that point has been made, to add one post after another that all say this is too trivial to bother posting about seems particularly pointless.
Like, “your post is too pointless to merit any discussion , and I couldn’t wait to write this post to tell you so. For another three paragraphs.”
Ah, let him have his rave, and just walk away and join a funner thread somewhere else, where you can say something incisive and positive and witty, and have people fall in love with you sight unseen, because of your smarts.
Am I right? Half.
Redboss
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### Author:  [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2002, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/54 "2002-05-15T08:14:11Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tamex \*
> \*\*
>
> And then the OP would be here saying, “My baby is NOT a high chair!” You can’t win.
>
> Think of the number as referring to the number of seats/place settings needed (with “half” being code for “high chair”) rather than the number of people present. It’s half a chair (or a smaller chair, at least), not half a person. Feel better now? Good. \*\*
I’m still wondering where the OP has gone after this was pointed out.
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### Author:  [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2002, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/55 "2002-05-15T08:15:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tamex \*
> \*\*
>
> And then the OP would be here saying, “My baby is NOT a high chair!” You can’t win.
>
> Think of the number as referring to the number of seats/place settings needed (with “half” being code for “high chair”) rather than the number of people present. It’s half a chair (or a smaller chair, at least), not half a person. Feel better now? Good. \*\*
I’m still wondering where the OP has gone after this was pointed out (in the first reply).
---
### Author:  [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/56 "2002-05-15T23:04:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by stofsky \*
> After all, since the OP has a kid and a wife, therefore this is a “gay” rant, right? And “gay” is an insult, right? Tell ya what, why don’t you go back in the high-school locker room and flip towels at the latest faggot-of-the-month and let the grownups talk.
>
> Speaking of half-a-human…:rolleyes: \*\*
The word “gay” was being used as a derogatory term long before it became associated exclusively with homosexuality.
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### Author:  [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/57 "2002-05-15T23:47:50Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by The Ryan \*
> \*\*
> The word “gay” was being used as a derogatory term long before it became associated exclusively with homosexuality. \*\*
Huh? Gay meant happy. That’s derogatory?
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### Author:  [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/58 "2002-05-16T03:06:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The word “gay” was being used as a derogatory term long before it became associated exclusively with homosexuality.
Well, if it is currently being associated exclusively with homosexuality, wouldn’t it be incorrect to use it as a derogatory term?
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### Author:  [@Avumede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avumede)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/59 "2002-05-16T05:04:32Z")
Half? Isn’t that a little much? Seems to me a tenth is more realistic.
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### Author:  [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2002, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me-miss-but-my-baby-is-not-a-half/108675/60 "2002-05-19T21:24:27Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bnorton \*
> \*\*
> Huh? Gay meant happy. That’s derogatory? \*\*
OED:
gay A 2 a
Addicted to social pleasures and dissipations. Often euphemistically: Of loose or immoral life.
Cites for this go back to 1637, as opposed to the “homosexual” meaning, for which the first cite is 1935.
waterj2: Yes, suppose I should have said “primarily” rather than “exclusively”.
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