AIBU to really not like the word Chav ?

[Frequentblooper]

I've seen a few threads now where people use this word to describe others who I guess they feel are beaneth them ? The problem I have with this is I know these people may well view me as a "Chav" I certainly have all the background of one (although my eyebrows are normal) and although I work I can't afford my own house so I rent and I can't afford the best clothes so j have to shop at places like "select" etc also members of my family who I love could also be described as a "Chav". I think it's hate speech from middle and upper classes. I would like to say please can people not use it. I know it may be not meant in hatred but when I read that my heart sinks a little

usual is right.

It is very much a class aimed insult, for years has been used as a catch all insult for things or people or behaviours that are percieved as lower class.

Burberry,Gucci and prada and things like the chunky Tiffany chain necklaces were not considered to be 'chavy' until less affluent people started obtaining them and fakes started becoming mainstream.

People call the beckhams and rooneys chavy because they are flashy new money,flashy new money is percieved to be lower class.

Threads saying shall I paint my living room brown and put bundles of twigs pebbles and brown leather sofas in it are met with "yuck,no it's chavy"

Same as threads saying shall I call my child Ella Mae or Jayden.

Same as eyebrow related things and being Orange.

Class has bugger all to do with money.

I remember the word charver being used when I was at school in the early '90's.
Working class people use the word just as much, if not more, than the middle classes.
I would guess the word was first used by working class people to describe those people who dress and behave a certain way.

Usual is not right..

you would never describe a MC person as a chav, no matter how they behaved. .

If a middle class person bought a clio, parked it on the school field wearing an addidas tracksuit and nike air max, got pissed and tried to flog some stolen dvd's and razors to the kids whilst moaning boasting about how his staffie x in the back was an american pitbull and it was 'a nice dog really' even though he'd trained it to be a vicious and aggressive pest so no hes barred from the job centre.
Then yeah I'd describe him as a chav even if his mums an MP and his dad's

a pilot for emirates and they own chipping bloody sodbury golf course.

As would you if you had to describe him in one word. (incorrigible perhaps)

no, chavs aren't exclusive to council estates.

syne but such a person couldn't possibly be MC!

They wouldn't mix Adidas and Nike for a start!

paris hilton and nicole richie are often referred to as chavs/chavvy. You can't say either of them have ever been without a bob or two. No style of class but never working class...

Usual, you seem to have a particular hang-up about Council Estates, not sure why? No one else on this thread has mentioned them as much as you have.

again...supporting the point that chav is as chav does/dresses/behaves etc. Not about working class. Certainly not now. see my above post for further support...

I'm going to be completely honest and say I do use the word "chav" to describe certain people, however, YANBU in a sense that it is beyond overly used.

Someone who rents isn't chavy, someone who shops at primark isn't chavy.

My definition of a chav is the type that 'drag the child up, don't raise the child up'. The type that take no shame in hanging their dirty washing
for all to see. The type that take no care. I believe it has a lot to do with ethics and perhaps even a drop of social mannerisms.

The council estate isn't the defining factor, nor the pitbull or burbury or drugs or lack of 'class, style' or money.
It's a combination of things and a lack of things.
Just like its very hard to say what is middle class because the edges are ill defined its similar with chav, there's no hard and fast rules. But like middle class- if somebody is then they are

chav & chavvy is applied to other things in other (arguably wrong) contexts.
You might say Holister is chavvy, you might say primark is chavvy depends on who is doing the saying I suppose. but neither are really unless it's commonly chavs wearing them. I'd say they were shit; cheap shit & overpriced shit.

It did used to have connections to council houses didn't it?

Now I think it can cover numerous things, including those Ale says those that drag children up or air dirty laundry in public. Wearing pjs in public, calling children Chardonnay or mis spelling names and having no shame.

I don't think it's anything to do with WC, most don't even work.

If a middle class person bought a clio, parked it on the school field wearing an addidas tracksuit and nike air max, got pissed and tried to flog some stolen dvd's and razors to the kids whilst moaning boasting about how his staffie x in the back was an american pitbull and it was 'a nice dog really' even though he'd trained it to be a vicious and aggressive pest so no hes barred from the job centre.
Then yeah I'd describe him as a chav even if his mums an MP and his dad's
a pilot for emirates and they own chipping bloody sodbury golf course

As would you if you had to describe him in one word. (incorrigible perhaps)

That would usually be refered to as a wannabe chav.

syne as I said upthread, there must be 2 current usages. You use what I described as the Post 1990s version. More attitude and fashion forward.

Mine, which you might deem 'arguably wrong' is older, at least 20 years older, when being 'fashion forward' would have got you looked at, as though you were a Martian. It only applied to dodgy young men.

The first time I heard of a female chav she was referred to as a 'cracker' - again it had Romany origins - it referred to those huge gold hoop earrings. It was late 80s/early 90s, definitely in Def II territory

Then again, it's possible that my whole post is dick I chavvy.

Not owning your won house or not buying expensive clothes does not make anyone chavvy.

Chavvvy to me describes behaviour and attitude. Eg showing up at Tesco (or asda, Lidl, M&S or Waitrose) in PJs and rollers with a fag in your mouth, having a slanging match and effing and jeffing in public,

Chav is undoubtedly related to class, however I don't think many chavs are counted as working class. You have to work to be working class in my opinion.

As others have said, it is more related to attitude (lack of respect for themselves and others, lack of morals and manners).

Everyone falls into a subculture. Even if they don't realise it. Whether it's chavs, yummy mummy, young professional, geeks, hipsters, etc.

Isn't chav just the modern way of saying common? Which might not be a nice way to describe someone but you can bet your bottom dollar we've all thought that about someone at some stage and everyone knows what it means.

I've been sleeping ready for work tonight so just catching up on this thread ! Thanks leelu for the abbreviations list DTD must get a bit confusing meaning "doing the deed"or "dear twin daughter" I will read the rest of the posts with interest now to see other people's points of views

Watch out for 'CP' meaning either cerebral palsy OR chicken pox OP. Minefield. There was thread about a child with 'CP' being tutted at in a supermarket once....