What makes a Black Sheep?

[pennine]

It's all in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?  Pennine, I certainly wouldn't class those you mentioned as black sheep!

MarieC

I totally agree with you but isn't it strange how so many families are prepared to miss out on what could be wonderful relationships because of petty snobbery, ignorance and misplaced pride?

Pennine

[MarieC]

Absolutely, pennine!  They have missed such an incredible amount!  I happily welcome anybody I find, no matter what they may have done.  It's all part of the rich fabric of my ancestry!

MarieC

[LizzieW]

A bit late in the day, but I've just been pointed in the direction of this topic

isn't it strange how so many families are prepared to miss out on what could be wonderful relationships because of petty snobbery, ignorance and misplaced pride?

I think that happened until the last 20 years or so, when families were happy to embrace, unmarried mothers, homosexual children etc.  So much unhappiness caused in earlier years, especially with the petty snobbery that occurred.

Liz

[Siamese Girl]

Our worst black sheep was in the OH's family - a crooked Solicitor who defrauded many of his clients in the 1870s, many of whom were lone women, widows and the unmarried, who lost their precious life savings to him. He died in jail, and good riddance!

I think he passed way beyond black sheep to just plain evil.

Carole

[LizzieW]

I've only found drunks and unmarried mothers in my family so far.  Not that the two are connected.

Liz

[Musicman]

Is having a "black sheep in the family" the same thing as / or similar to having a "skeleton in the cupboard"? 

[aghadowey]

Is having a "black sheep in the family" the same thing as / or similar to having a "skeleton in the cupboard"? 

Think black sheep is a person the family knows about but is ashamed/embarassed over but skeleton in cupboard is something that's not talked about and completely covered up (or so the family likes to think).

[Musicman]

Think black sheep is a person the family knows about but is ashamed/embarassed over but skeleton in cupboard is something that's not talked about and completely covered up (or so the family likes to think).

Ah, I see - so it's similar . . . .  but different! 

Sorry, will have to go as there's a skeleton a'rattling the cupboard door and wanting to be let out! 

[millymcb]

When I was trying to get my mother to concentrate and tell me all the names of the people she could remember to start the family tree it proved rather difficult as every few minutes she would say "oh you don't want him in the tree he was a bad'un" - usually because of gambling or drinking or womanizing. She appeared to have something against quite a few people and made me think our family was full of black sheep.   But then she started saying "oh you don't want them in - they are only related by marriage!"   

At which point I decided she hadn't really understood the concept of the family tree at all!!!

 
 

Milly