Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

AIBU to think that the word chav is crass and overused in this talk section?

82 replies

wrongun · 28/10/2009 01:01

Chav and Chavvy, and they are always used by the same class of poster
Am I the only one sick of seeing this?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
sophiesmummie · 28/10/2009 09:44

Being not British, I am struggling to understand the whole 'class' concept here in the UK.

Labelling names as 'pretentious/posh' or 'chav' is a very UK specific trend, probably due to the archaic class structure. Such classifications don't exist in most other countries, where people worry more about whether they like a name, whether it sounds nice with their surname, whether it means something to them, than whether it belongs to a 'certain class'...!!

But, if people in the UK DO view names on that basis, then I guess the terms 'chav' and/or 'posh' are a good honest way to describe them - if posters ask about others' opinions, then they should expect honest answers!

CinderellaRach · 28/10/2009 09:51

You couldn't have said it better Sophiesmummie

Momdeguerre · 28/10/2009 09:55

I don't like the phrase, seems to show a distinct lack of vocabulary than anything else. Plenty of more inventive ways to express an opionion on a name.

I don't object to people making negative comments about names - if you post requesting an opinion then you can expect mixed reviews.

hattee · 28/10/2009 09:59

Yanbu

It seems to be incredibly overused at the moment. I have seen biblical names described as being 'chavvy' on some of these threads, which I really don't understand

I'm sure the word used to be reserved for names that are made-up or misspelled (which is still not nice, but more understandable, for thinking this). Now it seems to be used for names that are simply popular, especially after their inevitable decline down the tables. Does this mean that all the current top 10 names will be considered 'chavvy' in a few years time?

lockets · 28/10/2009 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

chillmanor · 28/10/2009 10:32

Sophiesmummie It's not about trying to censor opinion here. It's the lazy, nothingy word that chav is. Mention a name in the top 100 and out it comes.
It does show a distinct lack of vocabulary in the user.

OP the chav users don't have the best taste in names from what I've ever known, so I wouldn't rate their opinions.

Mamazonabroomstick · 28/10/2009 10:35

the term Chav is just as bad as "pakki" or "nigger" but for some reason it is deemed ok because it is derogatroy of class rather than colour.

it is wrong, but then im a self confessed chav and just laugh at those who seem so offended by "us"

AngryFromManchester · 28/10/2009 10:36

I attended a lecture last week which was mainly on post modernism but we covered a bit of class aswell. The lecturer everyone seems to think they are middle class these days and I have to admit I agree. Most the working class people I know think they are middle class. People think owning their own car or house makes them middle class, when on earth did that happen?! Socio economically dh (formally from a council house) is middle class and I am working class but although we own our own house (with mortgage) have two cars, he has two degrees, i have nearly completed mine. We have always worked, we are still working class. It is nothing to be ashamed of!

AngryFromManchester · 28/10/2009 10:38

omg on the subject of paki someone much younger than me said that someones husband was 'paki' and I said god that is so racist etc etc and anyway it turned out he was white and just 'rough' and apparently paki is used by the youth to describe anyone rough or skanky or whatever (her words not mine)

It really is quite depressing

VineGruesomeCock · 28/10/2009 10:44

I refuse to put myself in a 'class' category, i think it is outdated

chillmanor · 28/10/2009 10:47

"The lecturer everyone seems to think they are middle class these days"

Spot on. People seem to think that if they own their own home, cars, degree, professional job, can afford holidays and so on, that this makes them middle class

Background is as important as it ever was as far as class is concerned.

hattee · 28/10/2009 11:04

To me, the word 'chav' is more a reflection of a person's social values and morals, not a social class in the economic sense. I don't think that it is synonymous with working class at all

MrsVik · 28/10/2009 11:11

Let me get this straight.

A chav is the lowest of the low - much talked about, much despised, never self-identified. Lower working class. They have Chardonnays and Jhaidens.

Someone who uses the word 'chav' is one rung higher than a chav on the social ladder, being inarticulate, poorly educated and desperate not to be considered a chav. Working class. They'd have a Kayleigh and a Liam.

Of course, go up a step and you will find people who deliberately wouldn't use the word chav in case it identifies them with the working classes. These kind of people shop in the 'right' shops, buy the 'right' cars and make sure everyone else knows it, despite the fact that only their peers give a damn. Lower-middle class. Their kids are Kate and Jack.

Studiously ignoring the lower-middles (apart from taking note of where NOT to shop and what car NOT to buy) are the upper-middles. Alternatively mocking and sucking up to the upper class, these individuals take pride in their thriftiness and generally shun the vulgarities of wealth, whilst earning a packet in the city. They prefer the names Maud and Earnest. Of course, once the lower classes get hold of those names, they'll have to rethink, but for now they are appropriately plain and non-trendy.

Then the upper class. They don't really think all that hard about anyone else, everyone else being an oik or new money upstarts. They have nothing to fear for their social status as it's been secure for centuries. They never actually spend money because they already have everything they will ever need. And they have never ever heard of the word chav. Children's names are John and Mary because if it's good enough for the great-great-great grandparents, it's good enough for them.

So, basically, everyone's a tosser (albeit a slightly better class of tosser than the tosser below him or her). God bless the UK.

DISCLAIMER: this post is meant as a joke. I very much like some of the names I mentioned. No offense intended - or rather, equal offense intended to everyone (including myself!!).

chillmanor · 28/10/2009 11:14

Applaudes Mrsvik

VineGruesomeCock · 28/10/2009 14:52

I am so bored today, carved my pumpkin ready for Sat, i was so bored, will put a pic of it up later when its dark

VineGruesomeCock · 28/10/2009 14:53

oh wrong f'ing thread again

flowerybeanbag · 28/10/2009 15:01

Can I ask a question then? If being well-educated professional people with a reasonable level of income doesn't mean you can legitimately describe yourself as middle class, what else do you need to meet that description? I'm curious.

If anyone were to ask me, I'd describe myself and DH as middle class, we are both well-educated professionals and we have a good income. But neither of us have to go very far back at all in our family trees to find working-class roots. So should we describe ourselves as working class?

GetOrfMoiLand · 28/10/2009 15:02

Lol MrsVik

You have missed my class out - I am upper working class, dontcha know

Think Chav comes from Charva, which I think is an old Romany word for boy. To be honest I think it's horrible and as bad as calling someone a pikey.

But no, now hunting is banned in England it has now been overtaken by laughing and scorning the poverty stricken underclass.

Monsterspam · 28/10/2009 15:20

Up here in the North East "charva" was a way to describe someone who (usually) wore tracksuits, trainers, rockport boots, gold clown necklaces and drank carling (usually on street corners). It was just a word of describing a group of people (like goth, sloan, etc).

Then the media got hold of it and it became "chav" and a lot of evil connotations went along with it as it became a racist term.

How this happened I've no idea.

Monsterspam · 28/10/2009 15:24

Also, "Charva" wasn't a derogatory term. People used it to describe themselves.

Annabelsmummie · 28/10/2009 15:53

Being German (married to a Frenchman) and living in the UK, I just wanted to say that the subject of 'class' is very difficult to understand.

I just find it so strange how you can 'classify' people based on their income and/or education.... That concept is just so wrong and old fashioned imo.

We chose names for our children that we loved and that meant something to us. Whenever we visit relatives in Germany or France, people comment on how lovely the names are and they might ask about the meaning/significance of them (in terms of honouring relatives).

Here on mumsnet, people often simply say a name is "chav", "posh", "pretensious" or even "gay". That is simply so shallow imo!

So, its not just the term "chav" that I find offensive, but also "pretensious", "gay" or whatever... Why are you British so obsessed with "labelling" and "classifying" people and names???

mathanxiety · 28/10/2009 16:58

Because it's a relatively small island and it's hard to get away from it? It really is insular though. And the idea that you're stuck with or without your pedigree through life, and your grandchildren will be classified in the same way is horrible, as if people had some sort of Kennel Club record. It's a bit like the caste system, imo.

cheeseandeyeballsarnie · 28/10/2009 17:04

just call your baby what you want and get on with it.

would it really affect how you felt about a name if someone said it was 'chavy'?

KERALA1 · 28/10/2009 18:52

It is awful Annabelsmum and really hard to explain. Basically people will mentally pigeonhole your class for the most extraordinary and impossible to explain reasons eg saying toilet instead of loo or lounge. Its such a subtle thing and impossible to explain, though Mrsvik does a pretty good job. Just be thankful you are German and well out of it !

sheepgomeep · 28/10/2009 19:11

someone on here said my 10 year old sons name was chavvy which I was at.

His name is Ciaran (kieran)

Swipe left for the next trending thread