NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm just wondering if the concept of an 'underclass' is a global one? If so, tell me what your equivalent of a 'chav' is? Describe them and their behaviour.

For the UK:

Chavs are usually skin-headed, harbour xenophobic racist views but consider themselves to be on the left wing (associate themselves with the Labour party because they THINK it stands for 'working class' opinions). However, it is they who voted in droves for the BNP in Wolverhampton and for UKIP in the EU elections. The majority of them are lower middle class/working class by background and they have an exceptionally poor taste in clothing and music. I think what people have a problem with is their aversion to crime, their anti-intellectualism (they leave school ASAP with no qualifications and live in a culture of Benefits, the state supports them. This does happen, it's not Daily Mail tosh (I don't read the Mail)) and their anti-social behaviour. They often react to situations they're not pleased with through violence, and they aren't always stupid but they tend to speak English incorrectly to 'fit in' with a slight Mockney twang. Anyway, that's a rough outline of the chav. It's an urban thing as well, mainly. These are the people who contribute nothing to society, and A LOT of them bring it upon themselves because poverty isn't the issue here. Behaviour is.

Wiggers? We beat them here...

I think it depends.

In america, liberals say that blacks and women are the underclass while conservatives say whites are the underclass. sane people such as myself may deem whiggers as the underclass but if you're living in certain areas, they may not be. Oh and Puerto Ricans too.

I think it depends.

In america, liberals say that blacks and women are the underclass while conservatives say whites are the underclass. sane people such as myself may deem whiggers as the underclass but if you're living in certain areas, they may not be. Oh and Puerto Ricans too.

How are Puerto Ricans a problem over there?

This is a serious question, I am intrigued.

How are Puerto Ricans a problem over there?

This is a serious question, I am intrigued.

Not really a problem, I guess, since there's enough of them... but you'd get where Im coming at if you were at my school. NOTE THIS DOES NOT MEAN I HATE PUERTO RICANS. There seems to be a "rivalry" between Ricans and Dominicans too, but mostly I think it's for fun. But I don't know shit.

I'm just wondering if the concept of an 'underclass' is a global one? If so, tell me what your equivalent of a 'chav' is? Describe them and their behaviour.
-snip-

If anything, it sounds like you're talking about rednecks. However, I would be hesitant to call them "underclass." Yes, they tend to be poorer, but it seems to be more a subculture than an economic class.

Biggleses, your description of a British underclass seems to occupy a similar niche to American rednecks and neo-nazis. Not to say that those two are related, but they seem combined into what you are describing. Neither really is what I would call an underclass as usually an underclass labors for upper classes while chavs according to your descripton seem to not labor for anyone. I don't live in Britain, but from what I know about it I think your underclass is predominately Indian.

Not really a problem, I guess, since there's enough of them... but you'd get where Im coming at if you were at my school. NOTE THIS DOES NOT MEAN I HATE PUERTO RICANS. There seems to be a "rivalry" between Ricans and Dominicans too, but mostly I think it's for fun. But I don't know shit.

It's okay. The Cubans and the Nicas(Nicaguarans) have a rivalry here.

I support the Cubans because... er... I'm Cuban :p

How are Puerto Ricans a problem over there?

This is a serious question, I am intrigued.

Puerto Ricans constitute part of the American underclass in that they are and have been historically exploited for cheap labor. In general various stripes of Latino and African-American fill this role in the US.

I have a feeling that's not what you mean by underclass, though.

Puerto Ricans constitute part of the American underclass in that they are and have been historically exploited for cheap labor. In general various stripes of Latino and African-American fill this role in the US.

I have a feeling that's not what you mean by underclass, though.

Underclass = some people harbor hate, or alot of people harbor hate towards them. Usually lazy and pop out babies like there's no tomorrow.

Chavs. Don't. Vote.

Puerto Ricans constitute part of the American underclass in that they are and have been historically exploited for cheap labor. In general various stripes of Latino and African-American fill this role in the US.

I have a feeling that's not what you mean by underclass, though.
Though it is quite amusing to British ears to hear chavs (generalising: tend to be heavily anti-immigrants) being likened to immigrants over there.

Underclass = some people harbor hate, or alot of people harbor hate towards them. Usually lazy and pop out babies like there's no tomorrow.

In that case, conservative Christians (including myself) might count. A lot of people don't like us, and we tend to repoduce quite quickly. However, few people would call us lazy.

I wasn't referring to an economic underclass, but a cultural/intellectual/sociological one.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

I wasn't referring to an economic underclass, but a cultural/intellectual/sociological one.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

I still really don't think underclass is really the right word. I don't know how it's used in Britain, but underclass is almost never used to refer to the willfully stupid so much as to those kept in the dark. I'm not sure if we have a general term for such people. What you seem to be talking about, though, is much like redneck neo-nazis (and yes, people are both, my friend is dating one, a fact which we all make fun of him about) in america.

In that case, conservative Christians (including myself) might count. A lot of people don't like us, and we tend to repoduce quite quickly. However, few people would call us lazy.

Again, it depends on region in America.

You wouldn't say ******. Don't say Chav.

You wouldn't say ******. Don't say Chav.

What? That doesn't make any sense. ****** is a racist term. Chav is a socially accepted word used to describe a person who belongs to a subculture.

I agree, it is an ugly word but it is the word that most people in the UK recognise.

What? That doesn't make any sense. ****** is a racist term. Chav is a socially accepted word used to describe a person who belongs to a subculture.

It is not socially acceptable.

For example I think you are a jew; a jew that loves his jew-gold, but I wouldn't say that in public.

So stop using flammatory terms.

I agree, it is an ugly word but it is the word that most people in the UK recognise.

Only because of evil southern imperialism :p

Honestly, the North West have had scally well before the recent outbreak of "Chav fever" that hit the media.

It is not socially acceptable.

For example I think you are a jew; a jew that loves his jew-gold, but I wouldn't say that in public.

So stop using flammatory terms.

I am Jewish, yes. I'm not using flammatory terms. I'd prefer you weren't anti-Semitic as well. Chav is not a commentary on race, it's a commentary on something they can consciously change themselves. It's not a flammatory term, it's far from it. It's a socially acceptable term, and sociologists are beginning to use it.

Here's an idea: Just call them "fuckwits".

Here's an idea: Just call them "fuckwits".

I like the word douchebag but is that too sexist?

Here's an idea: Just call them "fuckwits".

I agree, but that's a little too non-descriptive. You don't have be a chav to be a fuckwit.

Hmm... How about "fuckwit chavs"? I know that it's elongated, but it fits their description.

I am Jewish, yes. I'm not using flammatory terms. I'd prefer you weren't anti-Semitic as well. Chav is not a commentary on race, it's a commentary on something they can consciously change themselves. It's not a flammatory term, it's far from it.

There are many non race related inflammatory words.

It's a socially acceptable term, and sociologists are beginning to use it.

Just like "******" was a socially acceptable term (up until fairly recently), and yes, sociologists used it too.

I am Jewish, yes. I'm not using flammatory terms. I'd prefer you weren't anti-Semitic as well. Chav is not a commentary on race, it's a commentary on something they can consciously change themselves. It's not a flammatory term, it's far from it. It's a socially acceptable term, and sociologists are beginning to use it.

Don't be jewish then.

Same difference.

Oh, BTW, how is that fake oxford degree going for you.

Last night I did twelve B.A. 's at St. Porkupines

I like the word douchebag but is that too sexist?

I don't know if I am inadventently openinga can of worms here but here goes.

I frequently hear the terms 'douchebag' and 'douche' from Americans of various types. But I haven't the faintest idea what it means. What does it mean? How is it sexist?

Don't be jewish then.

Same difference.

Oh, BTW, how is that fake oxford degree going for you.

Last night I did twelve B.A. 's at St. Porkupines

It's not fake. I studied at St. Antony's College, Oxford. Look it up.

I can't help being Jewish, I was born a Jew. You're a hideous creature, aren't you?

I don't know if I am inadventently openinga can of worms here but here goes.

I frequently hear the terms 'douchebag' and 'douche' from Americans of various types. But I haven't the faintest idea what it means. What does it mean? How is it sexist?

Dude, if you're squeemish, you don't wanna know.

It's not fake. I studied at St. Antony's College, Oxford. Look it up.

I can't help being Jewish, I was born a Jew. You're a hideous creature, aren't you?

You got your BA there?

Dude, if you're squeemish, you don't wanna know.

I'm a huge fan of Asian cinema. Surely it cannot be worse then watching a man eat a live squid can it?

CAN IT? :eek:

Why don't you google it, then decide.

You got your BA there?

Nope. But I studied there. :) It doesn't cater to undergraduates as a college.

Balliol, Modern History and Politics for my BA. MPhil from St. ANtony's, currently studying for MA in the former at Nottingham.

Why don't you google it, then decide.
I'm scared. :(

But I'll do it anyway.

What an odd thing to call someone :confused:

You crazy Yanks, but it just makes me love you more :)

Nope. But I studied there. :) It doesn't cater to undergraduates as a college.

Balliol, Modern History and Politics for my BA. MPhil from St. ANtony's, currently studying for MA in the former at Nottingham.


And you did o'levels?

A douchebag looks something like a rubber hot water bottle which is attached to some tubing. It works like the plastic bags used for intravenous solutions in that when it is filled with a fluid and suspended at a height gravity pulls the fluid down the tubing with a little force. They are part of an aparatus used to wash out the female genitalia internally. Used to be anyway before prepackaged douches became available. Some can of worms, huh?

Migrant workers, Native Americans on reservations and the rural poor in the United States are all parts of an underclass living in Third World conditions in the midst of plenty.

And you did o'levels?

Yes. I got bored, I'm a mature student but also a teacher. Confuses you, I expect. All the same, my Oxford degrees are a good ten years old.

I paid for it with my 'Jew-gold'. ;)

In america, liberals say that blacks and women are the underclass while conservatives say whites are the underclass. sane people such as myself may deem whiggers as the underclass but if you're living in certain areas, they may not be. Oh and Puerto Ricans too.
I don't think so, based on the description. Many black people stay in school for a long time and go far in life. This seems to describe a general distaste for education and self improvement. Black people and women may be minorities but I wouldnt' call them underclass as the thread starter has defined it.

I would say "gangstas" (of all races) and well, there's just like the white trash stereotype... but that can (and does) also apply to people of other races as well.

What? That doesn't make any sense. ****** is a racist term. Chav is a socially accepted word used to describe a person who belongs to a subculture.
Haven't you ever heard the Chris Rock rant? It's about how black people hate n*ggers too... I don't think it's taken as a racial thing exactly anymore, instead more of a subculture of a race thing. Basically, like black white trash.

Yes. I got bored, I'm a mature student but also a teacher. Confuses you, I expect. All the same, my Oxford degrees are a good ten years old.

I paid for it with my 'Jew-gold'. ;)

Hahahaha "jew gold"

Well at least you admit it.

Now lay off the chavs.

(and the fact that you use the word Chav makes you a liar.)

As this thread seems to be designed as an invitation to post cultural flamebait, I'm gonna just leave it locked down. If you want to discuss cultural phenomena, try doing it without flamebait language.

~ Frisbeeteria ~
NationStates Forum Moderator