to think all this talk of "chavs" and

[anonymosity]

"council estates" comes from a small number of narrow-minded, petty, class-conscious aspirants and smug people and is merely a reflection of Mumsnetters and not a true reflection of UK society? Or is it completely wide-spread amongst the UK ?

crazygracieuk - oh no, definitely not! Floating shelves are non-Chav. Well done!! figcake I'm sure its tastefully laid out

MrsNonSmoker, please stick by your guns. Only a chav would do otherwise.

Yeah maaan, he's a chav innit!

Aye, for sure!!!

I come from a council estate in West London and I'm a no good punk.

The first time I ever spotted a Chav was when I was walking about round DFs parents place in Cornwall, I was chuffed to finally see proper real life Chavs with gold, burberry hat and everything even a Ford Fiesta pumping out drum and bass {grin} finally I got to see the famous elusive animal known as the chav.

Anyway I know it's all got out of hand, I've never seen one on a council estate by definition those sort of people wouldn't be from one anyway, a true Chav buys designer labels and half a tonne of expensive gold.

but many use the term for anyone wearing a tracksuit and some bling, I've heard rude boys, wide boys, low riders and just perfectly plan people from estates or poor backgrounds called Chav, I have no idea what people think the term means, they just seem to use it as a general insult towards anyone they don't like and think are below them.

I think chav is a person with a total lack of manners and class.

A 'chav' is not where your from, it's where your at.

"In-it".

At school (20 yrs ago!!) chav was a verb eg: 'i'll chav that' (steal that), or 'i'll chav yer' (beat you up). Lots of romany kids at school + the word came from them i think, like 'mush' (as in, 'alrite mush?').
The uses of 'chav' as a term of abuse or 'chavs' as a social group is IME very recent. I get irritated by snobby types i know of using the word 'chav' as an insult to make out people are worthless without getting to know them.
Re: family + friends i know of who slag off council house tenants - they are usually aspirational WC who have just managed to buy their own place after renting (council or private). I think it's insecurity? or because they can now look down on someone else.
I do understand that insecurity a bit because at work i can never fit in with my MC colleagues however hard i try. I feel like i'm not good enough (v stupid i know). But i don't then turn round + look down on other people.

Ah but 20 years ago to 'give someone a good fisting' meant punch them a lot (not in the vajayjay!)

In my family, we use chav to mean "selfish, unreasonable,rude bastard".
And anyone can be a chav.

Do recognise that other people use it differently, though.

like most 'label' stereotypes it's a lazy, disrespectful pile of poo.

The way I'd always heard it used was to describe a style of dress, so no more offensive than describing someone as a Goth or a Punk.