To think 'chav' is not an okay thing to call people?

[enternow99]

I find the use of chav on Mumsnet shocking. Is this name chavvy? Is this holiday destination chavvy? Is this outfit chavvy? Chavs moved in next door (I'm a leaseholder, they rent!!!!)

I understand its snobbiness but isn't it a bit horrible?

Not true

It’s a racist term. Derived from Romany it’s used to denigrate the working class. If there was a similar insulting term for the middle classes, it would have been banned by now.

If it doesn't apply to you who are you offended on behalf of? The chavs?

Some examples of its use on mumsnet OPs today-

"I’m sorry for the question, but how “Brits Abroad” or “Chav” is Sharm el Sheikh? It’s just not our vibe"

"We stayed in San Antonio bay and only a 3 star hotel so maybe that was why.
Just seemed full of younger people and a few chavs (let's say )"

I also find the n-word offensive and it doesn't apply to me.

No it’s not, it’s a Romany word similar to scalliwag from r young children

I didn't know what it meant till I moved to the UK and heard my partner or his friends use it a few times. As soon as they pointed out the person I knew exactly what it meant. It's accurate and a good descriptor. I've never seen people get upset or offended over it though, until now.

You may want to read this then

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavs:_The_Demonization_of_the_Working_Class

So we should not be offended by racist slurs that don't apply to us?

UnfriendMe Correct me if I am wrong, but you probably have not spent much time in Romany company. That is why you have not seen the offence.

I wouldn’t use it in that way, but I really don’t give a shit if anyone else does.

Stop looking for reasons to be offended.

Ludicrous to compare the n word and the word chav. Utterly incomparable.
You can't help the colour of your skin, you can choose your behaviour. And behaviour is what chavviness comes down to. It's not about wealth.

Growing up I acted like a chav. Wore tracksuits and loads of garish bling, hung around in parks drinking cheap cider etc. Thankfully I grew up and realised the error of my ways. But for a while in my youth, I was a chav. And it was down to my behaviour not my social class (which hasn't changed).

I say scrotes - that's worse than chavs though I think as infers a criminal element, are chav's southern though. Interesting. As someone else says though it is a descriptor. Also Clampets for some awful neighbours - that ages me a bit!!

@mumbo34 have you read
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavs:_The_Demonization_of_the_Working_Class
Recommend, as it's an interesting read.

Do you think you would have been described as a chav if you were an angry middle class kid acting out and wearing the kind of clothes your friends were wearing?

Its discriminatory and prejudicial language against people's size and weight. You're in a position of privilege to not 'give a shit'.

Also, telling people to stop looking for a reason to be offended is an absurd kind of ad hominem.

@ImthatBoleyngirl sorry I did sound a bit harsh and patronising to you 🙂
(but as this thread has shown some people don't seem to think it's a terrible word...)

I certainly don’t associate it with WC.

It’s not a word I’d ever use, except in my head, but to me it conjures up people who drop litter, who bring their smelly fast food on public transport and leave the greasy wrappings and drinks bottles/cans behind, who shout and swear in public, especially if it’s at their own children, and more especially if they’re also smoking, and (unless at beach or pool) who display a great deal of very overweight or obese flesh, especially if it’s also tattooed.

It’s sarcasm. And you’re projecting. I’m not defensive at all, merely pointing out that your reasoning that if you won’t use it in speaking to a child then you shouldn’t say it is pointless, because there are many words that we use when speaking to adults that we don’t use when speaking to children.

If you think that my comment isn’t helpful then it actually points to some defensiveness in you, as it’s a perfectly reasonable analogy.

HTH.

Why does someone who wears tracksuits and garish accessories have to change their ways? Who are you to decide what a person should drink or wear.

People think it’s more acceptable to be a snob than a chav, but there’s not much in it.

It's a common word that people use all the time depending on what area you come from. But it's a word that describes a person perfectly. Just Google the word and it will tell you what it means.
How on earth are we meant to describe someone or something in one word. These words exist for that reason.

It's not my problem if people meet the description!

No. This is kind of the point of the word. It describes perfectly a type of person. That person can indeed be fat or thin, rich or poor, and equally another person can be fat, thin, rich, poor and not be a chav.

It boils down to essentially anti social behaviour. It is a negative word, and it's precisely because it describes negative behaviour.

Agree, it has nothing at all to do with money,

When I went to the hospital recently everyone in A and E was wearing sports clothes. I wondered if that means my town is chavvy or if they were dressed like that specifically for hospital