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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...in really hating the term 'scum'?

113 replies

woollyideas · 10/08/2011 08:12

It seems like such an awful and judgmental word and, to me, says more about the person using it than it does about the people it's directed at.

OP posts:
Flowerface · 10/08/2011 09:42

Blimey. I don't really have anything to add to my previous post other than - 'blimey'. We got into this mess because we are too fluffy and liberal and these people are all spoilt brats (oh, sorry. That's too soft. They are 'scum'). Dear god.

I thought the country was (much) too far to the right before all this. I shudder to imagine what is going to happen once the dust settles. 'V for Vendetta' anyone?!

sausagesandmarmelade · 10/08/2011 09:44

Very good posts empty and noddy.

Let's not forget too that the millions of pounds worth of damages will have to be paid for somehow. We will all have to pay the price (in some way) for what has gone on....when many of us are already struggling with increased bills, the threat of job losses etc.

FreudianSlipper · 10/08/2011 09:45

so by calling an 11 year old scum what is that going to achieve

call a child scum they will beleive it and just act on it that is really helpful, a great way forward

WillieWaggledagger · 10/08/2011 09:45

i agree with you OP

noddyholder · 10/08/2011 09:45

This is not a victory for the right it is a plea for common decency.

joric · 10/08/2011 09:45

how can anyone think it is ok to label a child scum no matter what they are doing
Ok, you don't like this:
a)'The rioting children are scum'
How about this?
b)'The rioting children are behaving like scum'

CamperFan · 10/08/2011 09:46

This has got nothing to do with left and right - just right and wrong flowerface.

WillieWaggledagger · 10/08/2011 09:46

yes freudian

the problem is that many of these people have been called scum their whole lives. and people often live down to expectations. nothing has ever been achieved through humiliation, even if they have behaved despicably

emptyshell · 10/08/2011 09:47

If they're 11 years old and they're out throwing petrol bombs at the local police station then yes, they ARE scum... as are their parents who've let them out at midnight to DO that.

This whole "everyone's perfect cannot judge anyone" stuff is how we got into this mess.

mollymole · 10/08/2011 09:47

these people, whatever the age of them destroying buildings, stealing and committing acts of mindless violence, attacking people going about their work, and assaulting firemen, ambulance drivers and the police are SCUM and they need to be made to take responsibilty for their actions (you see they ARE responsible, no one else) - if they are involved they are old enough to take the consequences, and if they are under age then the parents must bear equal responsibility
not a serious suggestion but one which has crossed my mind as to what to do with them - take them out to sea, walk the plank and sink or swim and if they swim back send them out to shadow voluntary wiorkers in the Sudan/Somalia etc

CamperFan · 10/08/2011 09:47

Also OP, I can see the point you are trying to make, but perhaps now was not the best time to make it?

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 10/08/2011 09:48

What does it mean 'too far to the right'? Does 'zero tolerance' not work for you given the current events? I've heard Labour use the term also. There is too much tolerance, in my opinion, for bad behaviour. I'm hoping that will change but I''m not sure that any government is equipped to deliver that.

I don't think it's a simplistic as people being on the right or on the left, sometimes it's just about the issue and knowing right from wrong.

joric · 10/08/2011 09:50

Woolly.. The most recent example of people being called scum over the last few days is due to rioting.
I can't understand why you don't want people to refer to it.

FreudianSlipper · 10/08/2011 09:50

you said it children

how the fuck can you call children scum or tell them they are behaving like scum then expect them to behave in a respectful way

scum is the word used for pedophiles that murder a term the sun loves to use so often how can you put them all together then expect a child to understand the difference - it means the worse of the worse, worthless not worthy of anything and it is disgusting that people are willing to call children scum

WillieWaggledagger · 10/08/2011 09:50

it is thinking of groups of people as anything less than people (and yes, calling them scum is dehumanising) that is part of the problem

and even if they have behaved despicably and shown absolutely no respect, we should refuse to allow their behaviour to stop us behaving properly towards them

Flowerface · 10/08/2011 09:50

Sorry, Camper, but I think that's bollocks. People always appeal to common decency and 'right and wrong' when they're trying to make their arguments appear irrefutible and non-political. I just think that if 'liberalism' crumbles into 'hang the bastards' when the stakes are raised, then it isn't worth anything.

I am not denying that the rioters are behaving like dicks, in many cases, but what worries me are the possible consequences in terms of police strength, surveillance and so on, and the general Daily Mailing of public opinion. To me this is much, much more dangerous and scary than a few louts trashing a few shops.

porcamiseria · 10/08/2011 09:53

agree, have been using the term "hoodie" for that very reason!

chavscum!

HalfTermHero · 10/08/2011 09:54

YABU. The criminals tearing the hearts out of our cities are scum. Fucking scum, in fact.

ZZZenAgain · 10/08/2011 09:54

I agree with you emptyshell

noddyholder · 10/08/2011 09:56

A liberal society can only flourish if the children emerging into it have been brought up with a sense of personal responsibility and respect for others. If they are raised with no love guidance and with a sense of entitlement then I think we can all see where that leads. Of course children are not scum but I do think a lot of these kids really don,t care and have been called worse at home. This is a parenting issue as well. I agree thoughthat the extreme nature of this is going to feed thenfar right agenda and that is v scary.

ZZZenAgain · 10/08/2011 10:02

I think with this thread she was referring not to rioter being called scum but the thread about scum not being permitted to breed....

so it is the term but not specifically the term applied to dc which she was concerned about

CheerfulYank · 10/08/2011 10:07

Hasn't it gone beyond a few louts trashing a few shops at this point?

Haven't people died ?

DitaVonCheese · 10/08/2011 10:09

"Bunch of cunts", Camper?

noddyholder · 10/08/2011 10:12

I haven't seen the other thread. But I think in the same way that the rioters are having their extreme actions discussed and debated and the explanations as to why they are behaving as they are the same can be said of the public reaction. In extreme circumstances people act out of character and a lot of people who would never normally cry 'scum' do. These people as per the news today Came out for money and are NOT ANGRY.Just saw one young man say he feels he has no future as everything is expensive and he wants this stuff no mention of education or jobs

chasingthedevils · 10/08/2011 10:20

Well, scum is an extreme word used by one section of our society