Calling someone a 'chav'

[GuardianOfMyGalaxy]

Aibu to think that the word 'chav' is derogatory and shouldn't be used?

It's said in the baby name boards a lot, and to me, describing something as 'chav' or 'chavvy' is in the same manner as describing something as pikey or ghetto.

Am I being over sensitive and it's just banter, or is it as classist and stereotypical as I believe?

I didn't know whether to laugh at the thought process or cry at the meaning when a pupil described something as chavtastic the other day.

think young kids who wear genuine Burberry, look gorgeous and wear all the latest trends but are a bit too try hard

That is exactly it here!

I could name a fair few famous rich people that are referred to as Chavs - it's way of life rather than a state of bank balance

I completely agree with you OP.

It's used a lot on the Baby Names topic. I hate it, it's such an offensive, derogatory term. I often challenge it, but it's used so much on there I sometimes just can't be bothered as it's like trying to stop the tide coming in.

It's hideous. Absolutely ghastly and using it says more about the user than the person they are aiming the insult at, in my opinion... To my mind it's no different to racist, sexist, ageist or homophobic abuse.

By the same logic, should we also get rid of 'toff'?

Not being goady, genuinely curious!

I've learnt that only baby names that are welcome are those that don't hinder your child becoming a judge.....

I agree tiff is along the same lines

I have just explained name association. That's common whether you are seeing a shell suit wearing lout called Levi (the name in question) or a sharp suited Tarquin.

Toff is unkind, but it's not derogatory really in that you can't really look down your nose at a toff.

Well don't wear the shell suit

It's hideous. Absolutely ghastly and using it says more about the user than the person they are aiming the insult at, in my opinion... To my mind it's no different to racist, sexist, ageist or homophobic abuse.. You must think I'm a proper arsehole for saying it then. But yeah, there was nothing remotely racist or whatever else involved.

besides 'toff' isn't used as a throwaway insult by children from a young age is it?
so not a very good comparison really.

On MN it's just used for anything posters think is below them.

I saw a bingo thing once on here I ticked off about 3/4 of it.

Well don't wear the shell suit

A compliment ?

You taking the piss Pipsqueak ?

I used the term chav on the other thread. It's not about people being poorer than me. The term was/is (albeit not so commonly now) used generally in my area to describe behaviour and clothing style, not bank balance confused

But lots of people can be described by behaviour or clothing style. Posh is not derogatory. Snob I would say is.
Why is it ok to group together working class people with a negative stereotype?
If I were to go onto a board and say I thought Shaniqua or Beyoncé was a 'ghetto' name I'd be deleted. It's the same thing.

Ethlyred you're right - it was India, not America

And Trills, yes it is true.

Can you honestly not see the difference between calling someone a 'shell suit wearing lout' and 'sharp suited'? Both stereotypes, sure, but one is far more derogatory and classist than the other.

What a bout a sharp suited lout?

Does chav = working class?
It doesn't in my head (which is the only place I might use the term).

I use it for people with more money than style - "entitled" is the polite form - people who over claim on insurance; cut me up at the lights in a big and usually scraped 4x4 etc. I never use it aloud.

PP didn't say 'sharp suited lout'.

Why use a racist word ?

It means WC on MN.

I think a lot of people have grown up with the word 'chav', without realising it means council house and dangerous. It seemed to replace the word 'pikey'.

Anyway, it's a problematic term and people shouldn't be using it in 2017.