To think the term Schemie is even more reprehensible than Chav?

[ComposHat]

After reading another thread where baby names are being declared Chav or schemie by the op and a few others my blood is boiling a bit.

I live in Scotland and the phrase schemie gets used interchangeably with ned and chav.

I think schemie is by far the worst of the three. Chav and ned are nasty terms of abuse, but refer to a type of behaviour/manner of dress /lifestyle that the (ignorant) speaker is describing.

Schemie goes a step further (a housing scheme is the term used in Scotland for council estate) implies that an undesirable person or behaviour in type of behaviour is exclusive to and representive of people who live in local authority housing. My mother, grandparents and a lot of my friends grew up in council homes and not a single one of them display behaviour which could be described as 'schemie'

[marmitecat]

[Bowlersarm]

I don't know the term ned, but the other two sound exactly the same insultingness to me. (But what do I know)

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

I always thought that Chav came from "Council Housed and Violent", so IMO, they're equally vile. I've never heard the word schemie though.

[AngelaDaviesHair]

It's horrid, but then I think that was the point behind it (baby name bunfighting), and I've said so on the thread.

[JakeBullet]

Never heard the term "schemie" before. I gemerally don't like the term "chav".

Not heard the term "ned" before either. Evidently have lived a sheltered life!

[AngelaDaviesHair]

NED= non educated delinquent I think.

[weebarra]

Yes, also scottish and think schemie is worse than ned!

[TheCrackFox]

I think Schemie means from a council estate (scheme) so, yes, it is a bit mean.

[ComposHat]

Council housed and violent and Non educated delinquent are backronyms (made up after the words were in circulation. )

I find the NED one particularly telling as the usual term is uneducated rather than non-educated in standard English.

That reinforces my view that use of these terms tells you rather more about the speaker than the person it is applied to.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

I've never heard that term,is it a Scottish thing or am I just sheltered?

[VelvetGecko]

The term schemie has been around since at least the 80's. Can't say I hear it much these days but yes it is derogatory.

[LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops]

Chav comes from the old Romany word for child - chavie...it's been around a few hundred years.

[ComposHat]

Yes sock it is Scottish, maybe even specific to the central belt.

[Rooners]

If this is indeed a thread about a thread would you be so kind as to link before it goes poof?

[ComposHat]

It isn't a thread about a thread, it is about forms of speech that marginalise and demonise others. It isn't a pop at the op in the baby name thread, but a general reflection.

[Rooners]

That's three times someone has mentioned the other thread and it's a bit frustrating when we can't see it for ourselves.

[Rooners]

I'm not trying to sound arsey btw...I just want to know what you're talking about

[ComposHat]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1969676-Help-me-find-a-boys-name


As an all too common example of the casual use of these terms. I would stress that this isn't me singling anyone on that theead for criticism. It is merely an example.

[Rooners]

Thankyou...will go and look.

[Rooners]

Sorry that was a bit frank...report me if you like, I don't want your thread to get deleted.

[ComposHat]

No Rooners not at all.

[pictish]

I'm Edinburgh way, and yes - schemie is the term here, rather than chav, or the west coast version ned.

I dunno - I can't get het up over it.

[Juno77]

Oh, a TAAT. How lovely.

First time someone has done a TAAT about me though. I feel lucky.

Anyway, these are descriptive words. Everyone knows what a chav or a schemie is. They are derogatory, of course, but they aren't 'abusive' as you put it.

It isn't any more 'ignorant' than suggesting a word/name/act is posh. It's exactly the same idea.

If your family aren't chavvy or schemie, then why do you feel this is marginalising or demonising? Can't you understand that this word does apply to some people? Why are you taking it personally?

You are obviously bothered as this seems to have touched a nerve.

[Rooners]

Also I'd never heard the term before but now I have I think it's repulsive. I know some lovely people who live in HA accommodation. Really good, nice people.

They would be offended by such a term, I think. And rightly so.