Parental unit: of american origin, used also within england(uk)and wales(uk); a parent or someone who plays the role of a parent; This term denotes the implied genetic keeper who may also support their dependents with overbearingly control and impead the living of their offspring Ever since I heard that term in a sci-fi movie as a young teenager, I liked it (though I did not understand at first). My friends, siblings, and my siblings' friends all use it. I am presently trying to convert my relations into using it. It is neutral and sounds better than "my mom and dad", "my moms", "my dads", ect.. Anybody else use this?
Kaylie, I take it you were watching Coneheads. I don't currently use this, but if that movie had come out when I was younger, I may have used it as a child. (I was already 11 when it came out)
Nope. I refer to them as "old farts". But then, they refer to themselves that way. Fortunately, we can play around like that. In all seriousness, they're "mom" and "dad" when we're not playing around.
Seems silly to me. No matter how I am feeling about them in any moment, they're always Mom and Dad to me.
Seems pretty stupid to me. As a parent myself, I'd find it pretty insulting to be referred to as that. I don't find it funny or clever. Happy days
to me my parents are always mum and dad. My grandparents on the other hand (who I think everybody has a slight loathing for) are always referred to as oldies, slowpokes, arseholes, etc.
Parental units doesn't make much sense in my opinion. We don't refer to individuals as units in common speech. We refer to groups of individuals who work collaboratively as units. A set of parents would compose a parental unit; not parental units. It is not different than how we refer to the family unit in society. You are referencing their place and connection to one another when you use the term unit; thus, it is not pluralized. I am not criticizing those who use the phrase; it is just the grammar that has always seemed odd to me. I prefer the term "parents" because it is both simple and gender neutral. Automatically using Mother and Father to reference parental figures is not only bias to gender, but to the assumption that everyone has both.
I don't use parental units, but my son does. Lol Edited to add that I find it amusing and I'm no easy insulting even when my child means it as such. No point in getting worked up over stuff like that.
The exact same thing went through my head. For those who don't know, it's a movie. An alien family with cone shaped heads land on planet earth, where they attempt to fit in. Their kids call their parents "parental units". It's been ages since I've seen it, but when I was a kid I found it hilarious.
It's quite dehumanising. I imagine a Dalek barking it: ALL PARENTAL UNITS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OFFSPRING FOR INTOXICATION. Because clearly Daleks love a night on the town.
Sounds robotic and takes the beauty out of it. I'm sorry, but it's stupid and shouldn't be used. At all. It sounds too mechanical and dry. In other words, it's dehumanizing. And if we're talking about genderneautral/whatever people, surely there are other terms that aren't as dry.
I heard it in "Battle for Terra". I usually use Mom and Dad, but with friends or siblings, sometimes I just say 'parental units'.
I don't use it or like it. I agree that it sounds robotic. "Parents" is both perfectly neutral and shorter.
I use 'parents' just as often as 'parental units'. But I know to many people with abnormal parent situations who seem more amused or comfortable with 'parents' or 'parental units'. Besides, my brother and sister don't care if I call them 'siblings'.
