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?

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

Not by MN standards - inverse snobbery is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged so it seems.

You wouldn't call a MC person a chav.No matter how they were dressed or behaved. I don't understand this? I have already said it is used here to describe certain clothing and behaviour, so yes regardless of class, if the person fit I woud use the word

No, 'port out, starboard back' is one of those well known backronyms. I can't link to the OED here, but this is reasonable:

www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/port-out-starboard-home.html

Yes MC people are called Chav too ( admittedly there aren't many MC round here!)

I have always seen 'chav' and 'traveller' as completely two different things. 'Chav' was often used to describe common people, and 'traveller' was used for what people would consider a 'gypsy'.

Had no idea chav was racist and it referred to romany children.
I always thought it was used tomdeacribed the 'underclass' rather than working class.
I thought shell-suits thankfully went out in the 90s. Probably in a ball of flames. mine was many shades of purple
Should we just stick to a bit common when asked for Opinions on naming a child J, rather than Jay?

i secretly think " you thick twat " when anyone says it I shall wear that badge

Council House And Vulgar I always thought. It's passe now and anyone who uses it is a snob and out of touch

It is indeed ignorant to group certain names. Reminds me of when Katie Hopkins went on about names and how they were either common or were ridiculous because they were named after countries, despite having a daughter called India.

I was utterly INFURIATED by a friends daughter describing my son's group of friends as 'chavs'. FFS they are obviously drug dealers and have way more money than she does..:)

What does TOFF stand for then?

Those oafs for fucks?

Calling a name common is as bad as calling it chavvy.It makes you look a bit like Mrs Bucket.

Antigone I think you should be infuriated by the greenfly on your roses. Off you hop now love.

lol you might think I am on a wind up but my post is actually true.:)

In my area it's a derogatory term for travellers nothing to do with race - In fairness most travellers in this country fall under the bracket of Romany Gypsy or Irish Traveller, both of which are considered ethnic groups for the purpose of the equalities act 2010. So whilst calling someone a chav may not be racist, calling a Romany Gypsy person a chav could possibly be considered racist I imagine?

Awful word, banned in our house. It's never a compliment.

I thought Traveller was the correct term?

DH refers to his family as Irish Traveller's.
"Gypsy" I think is ok when talking amongst themselves although I wouldn't use it personally.

Weird, chav seemed to appear when I was in high school (early 2000s) and very specifically referred to teenagers who wore tracksuits, bling, burberry caps and big trainers. They would be gobby and confrontational, and very proud of a style that looked ridiculous to everyone else.

I've never understood chav to be a sweeping insult on all WC. I don't even think there are any chavs anymore. Stupid teen fashion changes.

Council Housed and Violent is a myth: www.birmingham.ac.uk/accessibility/transcripts/dr-joe-bennett-chav.aspx

So is Port Out Starboard Home: www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/posh.asp

DH refers to his family as Irish Traveller's. "Gypsy" I think is ok when talking amongst themselves although I wouldn't use it personally - I think it would depend on the context? Lots of Romani websites use the term gypsy in the title. One side of my family is Romany and they don't find it offensive but obviously I can't speak for everyone.

I thought Chav is the modern equivalent of calling someone 'common'.

My mother used to, and still does, call people or behaviour 'common'.

The word may change throughout the ages but there will always be a word that people who think they are 'better than' use to describe those they think are 'less than'.

The word may change throughout the ages but there will always be a word that people who think they are 'better than' use to describe those they think are 'less than' - Ahh yes, very true. The term ne'er-do-well comes to mind, another one I really don't like - although I have been known to use the similar term "feckless".

I don't think it's the equivalent of 'common'

It's a stereotype used to describe a sub culture of white working class youth. But because it's not 'racist' language it can be thrown around and defended by people like empire even though It's social racism.

There is no such thing as social racism. Let's not muddy further already very murky waters with pseudo terminology that's makes bollocks all sense.