What the hell is a "douchebag" and how did the word end up being used?

[UnquietDad]

It sounds like some vile teenage Americanism. And now the Grauniad is using it.

I didn't realise that's where "berk" comes from! You learn something new every day

pmsl @ tiredemma you are sooooooo right

Worst lady-bit insult I heard was 2 teenage girls having a slanging match and one called the other a (ahem)

Crusty-knickered c*nt

Ewwwwwwwww!

Curb Your Enthusiasm?

My enthusiasm is curbed.

Berk is either Berkeley Hunt, as BotBot observed, or Berkshire Hunt, as I knew it.

So what, pray, is as British newspaper doing using an American insult? Is the Grauniad now staffed by teenage Beavis and Butthead fans?

hmmm... I don't know if beavis and butthead fans are still teenagers. Please tell me that trash is no longer on.

UnquietDad, are you very old?

I am in my late thirties. Is that a problem?

Er no. Your reference to Beavis and Butthead just made me smile. Teenage Beavis and Butthead fans would almost certainly be in their thirties now too. (unless it's on repeat?)

RE douchebag, I do think it's been made popular by Curb Your Enthusiasm, which is definitely watched by adults rather than teenagers. And probably Guardian-reading adults at that.

The word might mean something rude, but doesn't it just sound too silly to be properly offensive?

It does sound silly. I always think that a 'numpty' sounds like quite a jolly thing to be too.