The word "chav"

[Tom]

This is just a rant about the general use of it. It is supposed to be used to describe people like what you see on Jeremy Kyle, people who always wear trackies and loads of gold and live on council estates etc. (Not everyone who matches the above is like that, its just a stereotype.)

I think in the last year or so people have just begun to use the word as an insult, even though they don't know what it means. Its been said on here quite a few times that suchabody is a chav when they clearly aren't.

Why do people insist on using the word when they don't even know what it means? conf2::

I think the use that some people give it today means it has just lost its meaning so it doesn't mean anything anymore because people just use it to call someone or something they don't like.

Rant over.

[Shaun]

Council House And Violence, right? :conf2:

I haven't really seen people mis-using it as an insult...so meh :tongue:

[GiRTh]

Why does it matter that the words meaning has changed. The word was always a derogatory word so it's no surprise that it's become an insult.

[Matt08]

I think it's been used off-term now. I can see why people would call someone a chav if they were vandalising/wrecking their local area and making people's lives a misery. I really can't see what the problem if with someone wearing tracksuit bottoms, hoodies and a white pair of trainers. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're a criminal/vandal.

[Retroman]

The word CHAV has lost meaning?
Lol ive never heard anything so ridiculous in my life.

It sounds like you're trying to restore the "honour" and "true sense" of the word, when the word was nothing more than a stereotypical insult in the first place.

Chavs started off as people clothed in burberry, living on council estates and causing trouble etc.

But as we've come to be more familiar with the term, we've learnt a lot about how chavs are.

Chavs are generally unintelligent, or scruffy etc. So now the term chav isn't just used to say "you're coated in gold jewellery, burberry, hit your girlfriend and drink alcohol on street corners" anymore, but also is used to generally say "you're an idiot"

As that is what we identify the stereotype of a chav as.

So it's not that it's misused, just that now we know the characteristics of a stereotypical chav, we insult people for having the personality/intelligence of a chav, as well as looking/behaving like one.

[Tom]

But like on here I've read a few times "Futureproof are chavs" when really all they are is 5 lads who want a singing career. If they really were then they wouldn't be on X Factor which is my point. People are just now using it for someone they don't like or look down on, and most people who use it in that way probably don't even know what it means.

(I'm no fan of them btw and I've read it for more than them, it was just an example)

[Shaun]

I think with the Futureproof case, they mean Aaron, the shorter one who sometimes went "brap", wore caps and bandanas, and generally talked in a chav-like way.

[Billy]

SOMEONE!! called J a chav for no reason :P

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : Billy
SOMEONE!! called J a chav for no reason :P

J from "I'm a celebrity" ? LOL who said that ? This is ridiculous !

[Matt08]

Originally posted by Shaun
I think with the Futureproof case, they mean Aaron, the shorter one who sometimes went "brap", wore caps and bandanas, and generally talked in a chav-like way.

Brap is another example of labelling someone for a stupid reason, what's so bad about saying 'brap'?

[Billy]

Do you say Brap Matthew

[Matt08]

Originally posted by Billy
Do you say Brap Matthew

Not often and if I did say it then I can't see the problem in saying it. It doesn't even mean anything. :laugh2:

[Retroman]

What does brap actually mean?

Ive occasionally said it out of jest, just for fun >_<

But I can't quite work out of it's an expression of joy? or some kind of communication between chav kind? or a form of mating call?

Plus, who in their right mind woke up one day and just randomly said the word "Brrrrraaaappp" ?

And what friends of there's were so impressed by it, that they decided to start saying it too?

[Matt08]

Originally posted by Retroman
What does brap actually mean?

Ive occasionally said it out of jest, just for fun >_<

But I can't quite work out of it's an expression of joy? or some kind of communication between chav kind? or a form of mating call?

Plus, who in their right mind woke up one day and just randomly said the word "Brrrrraaaappp" ?

And what friends of there's were so impressed by it, that they decided to start saying it too?

I don't have a clue what it means but it's sounds a good word. I don't know why people think that only "chavs" can say it.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Shaun
I think with the Futureproof case, they mean Aaron, the shorter one who sometimes went "brap", wore caps and bandanas, and generally talked in a chav-like way.

But just the one, not as a whole. They are labelled as a whole. To me thats like having 3 girls and 1 boy and saying its a group of boys.

It sounds like you're trying to restore the "honour" and "true sense" of the word, when the word was nothing more than a stereotypical insult in the first place.

Chavs started off as people clothed in burberry, living on council estates and causing trouble etc.

But as we've come to be more familiar with the term, we've learnt a lot about how chavs are.

If they started off as what you say, then how can we become familiar with them if we already know what they are like?

Chavs are generally unintelligent, or scruffy etc. So now the term chav isn't just used to say "you're coated in gold jewellery, burberry, hit your girlfriend and drink alcohol on street corners" anymore, but also is used to generally say "you're an idiot"

As that is what we identify the stereotype of a chav as.

I have seen people call Davina McCall, Jordan, Him who plays Jason in Corrie, Fearne Cotton, Dermot O'Leary, Kate Thornton, Ant & Dec, Matt Willis and Holly Willoughby to name a few all called chavs.

So it's not that it's misused, just that now we know the characteristics of a stereotypical chav, we insult people for having the personality/intelligence of a chav, as well as looking/behaving like one.

Well you can't "learn" what one acts like if you already know. So no I don't agree with you, I think it has lost its meaning. Just read the list of names above to see that.

[Retroman]

I honestly, seriously, really really do think that more emo's out there say the word "brap" than actual chavs.

I admit, it usually starts as them just "taking the mick"
But soon they all just start saying it every time they're with their friends, and talking all "gangster"

[Matt08]

The chav stuff has really gone too far in the UK. As long as no-one is causing trouble then I really can't see why a group of friends, branded as "gangs" can't talk to each other outside a shop or in a public place.

[Bells]

I would say the word is used more as an expression rather than a genuine insult; although the word 'gay' was never intended to be an insult, there's a similarity in the way that both terms are now thrown around very loosely, e.g. 'That's so gay.'

However, the difference of course is that the word 'chav' was always used as an insult, but purely to people that could be classed as being in that category. I think, generally, people do know what the word means. But that doesn't mean it's always expressed with real malicious intent behind it, because often words do become a generalisation.

[Retroman]

Originally posted by Tom_
If they started off as what you say, then how can we become familiar with them if we already know what they are like?

That makes no logical sense what so ever?
How can you become familiar with something if you already know what it's like?

There are certain levels of familiar. As already explained, people were already established on chavs being burberry/jewellery wearing people in baseball caps who live on estates etc. As more and more people conformed to the chav sub culture, everyone was able to become more familiar with what they were like, how they behave etc etc.

Is that hard to understand at all? Because im afraid im in no mood for repetition and I don't particularly feel like dumbing it down at all.

Originally posted by Tom_
I have seen people call Davina McCall, Jordan, Him who plays Jason in Corrie, Fearne Cotton, Dermot O'Leary, Kate Thornton, Ant & Dec, Matt Willis and Holly Willoughby to name a few all called chavs.

Well as I said, perhaps one of those people did something that person thought was stupid/unintelligent, so that person associated them with being a chav due to their level of intelligence or their actions...rather than their appearance.

As Kate/Fearne/Dermot/Davina/Ant/Dec/Holly clearly don't wear chav like clothing, so that person would have to be partially sighted to be calling them a chav due to their taste in clothes.

Not that I should have to answer for other people's words, just that im stating they may have reasons outside of clothes/appearance for labelling them a chav.

Originally posted by Tom_
Well you can't "learn" what one acts like if you already know. So no I don't agree with you, I think it has lost its meaning. Just read the list of names above to see that.

The only time I mentioned anything to do with the word "learn" was when I stated we have LEARNT.

Learnt being another word for ALREADY KNOW.

So you're basically arguing with yourself at this point, since you're constructing situations in your mind that don't seem to exist.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Retroman
That makes no logical sense what so ever?
How can you become familiar with something if you already know what it's like?

There are certain levels of familiar. As already explained, people were already established on chavs being burberry/jewellery wearing people in baseball caps who live on estates etc. As more and more people conformed to the chav sub culture, everyone was able to become more familiar with what they were like, how they behave etc etc.

But by the descriptions, people already know what they are like so there is nothing really to get familiar with. OK you need time to adjust to what actually is one but some peoples minds work over time and they pick at small things such as "he has a shaved head so must be a chav" and then they identify that person as a chav just because they don't like them, although they might not be.

(As you can tell I'm not the best at explaining things so I hope you get what I mean there)

Well as I said, perhaps one of those people did something that person thought was stupid/unintelligent, so that person associated them with being a chav due to their level of intelligence or their actions...rather than their appearance.

As Kate/Fearne/Dermot/Davina/Ant/Dec/Holly clearly don't wear chav like clothing, so that person would have to be partially sighted to be calling them a chav due to their taste in clothes.

That is my point. I know I am repeating myself now but people use the term just to insult somebody that they don't like, as the above proves.

I think we should just agree to disagree on this one :bigsmile:

[Retroman]

I admit some people may abuse the word when it's not necessary...
People might call Matt Willis a chav just because they think he looks a little scruffy.

But my point still stands that chavs are associated with being scruffy, hence why they called Matt a chav, so the meaning isn't completely lost. Despite the fact he doesn't act like one/wear chav like clothes and accessories.

Although if I ever meet a person who calls Holly Willoughby a chav, I will gladly stab them in the eye with a fork.

[Tom]

... take it you like Holly or know her being from Brighton? :tongue:

[Retroman]

Ohhh *doesn't know which one to go with*

"Should I lie, and tell him I know her really well and we used to go out for a short while before she was famous? or should I just admit to liking her? decisions decisions"

Yea I know her really well actually Tom, we used to go out for a few months before she was famous ^_^
[lol.]

[Tom]

If thats true I hate you :mad::mad:

:spin: