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To some. Just like 'idiot'
As is usually said when that analogy is used, do people get beaten up and/or killed for being a 'chav'?
What next, 'chavism'?
Agreed. I'd say 'chav' is more a state of mind than a social class.
This. Oh my god this. One thing that makes a tosser even more of a tosser is to pretend humans don't have preconceived ideas about people/things, and that we don't judge people on what we see/hear about them. I don't see why people are afraid of admitting it.
It becomes a problem when their attitude and actions towards those individuals is influenced by that 'view'. One does not necessarily lead to the other.
I'll say it again - 'to some'. A 'chav' is not about social class in my eyes, it's a chosen lifestyle that can be adopted by anyone.
Oh right! Well then, by all means, be prejudice then.
Chav stands for 'council house and violent'. Of course it's offensive. You don't have to be poor to be violent, and you don't have to be violent to live in a council house, and bandying the word chav around is just perpetuating links between poverty and council houses, and violence. It just demonises actual people that live in council houses (like my family.)
You just can't shake it can you? I simply must be a 'bigot'. Why? Because it fits your stereotype.
I have difficulty in focussing on individual social groups (not 'classes') and I find it easier to use labels. That works for me. I use labels purely on the basis it's easier for me and that I'm ready (and happy) to be proven wrong about anyone that falls in to said labels.
Erm...you're aware that that is just one view of what it means right?
Or the evidence, but ok.
Oh right, if we're going on 'evidence' then forgive me for paying more attention to the people that actually know me in real life and have never called me a bigot rather than a random from the internet who knows little or nothing about who I am yet calls that 'evidence'.
Yeah, but the best known one.
(According to wikipedia it comes fron the Romani word chavi, meaning child, but I don't think even a supreme being like you could have told me that.)
So now you're deciding for the rest of us what we best know a word to mean...interesting...
I could have - I read wikipedia too, just like you....
Pretty sure "chav" comes from an old Romany gypsy word? I'm sure my dad's told me that...
Also, this whole "chav being offensive thing" I think it must be different generations? There's plenty of kids in my year who freely call themselves chavs... I used to be one of them! I don't think (amongst my school at least) it's seen as a bad thing any more. Generally if we're being offensive we'll call people skanks or rats.
Edit: Just seen you wikipedia'd it, and it is a Romany word! Look at me and my pointless knowledge.
If you're not careful, you'll find yourself being called a 'bigot'....
Don't be ridiculous, saying that something is 'best known' for something else is not 'deciding for the rest of us'; by definition it's common knowledge. Stop being intentionally difficult.
You know that because you've just read wikipedia. I'm fairly certain that when you and most other people have used the word chav
I'm 99% sure it comes from old gypsy language. My dad knows quite a few Romany's and goes to gypsy festivals in Europe and I remember him telling me Chav comes from Romany language.
By your 'common knowledge'. I have never heard of 'chav' supposedly being any sort of acronym. Not saying it isn't but nobody I know has ever used that way, at least not in conversation with me. So not quite 'common knowledge'
This. However I'm the bigot, apparently.
Id consider skive a bit of a chav. I dont think hes horrid. From what i have known of him over the years, i have a lot of time for. Bit chavvy though. my ex SIL - complete chav. Sweet girl, but loved the orange foundation and her boyfriends ALWAYS wore their tracksuits tucked into their socks. Tulisa off telly. chav. Got a hell of a lot more money than me and not a single parent or uneducated. Just a very urban thing.
Being realistic and aware and having lived in england most of my life, I can distinguish between certain groups people and i notice social classes. I know who i lean towards and who i dont. It doesnt mean if i was in a position of employing people or offering them services I would discriminate. I believe in human rights, not class rights, but I still have my eyes open around me.
Its like pretending you didnt notice someone was black, or you honestly didnt notice that womans tits in front of you.
Nice manners, but afraid i know youre bullshitting.
It is used in both senses.
im pretty sure they dont give a fuck what the middle classes call them
when people talk disparagingly of 'chavs' I can see why it could be taken to be offensive. of all the people I've known, the most friendly, straight-up and generous tend to be chavish to some extent...