Should the word chav be banned - as think tank claims?

Question

i totally agree i never have nor ever will use the word chav myself as i don't like the word.

personally i always use the word scum

Answer 1

I dunno. But I know one thing. I'm SICK of being called a chav because I live on (what's now become) partly a private rented and partly a housing association/council estate, and because I speak with a Cockney accent because I grew up and am still living in East London in the same area I was born in.

I went to school, got a good education and qualifications up to the eyes. Then I went and got a job in the Docklands as a PA/Secretary where I earn enough money to live on.

I don't wear Burberry, and I don't like yellow gold jewelry...

It's all wrong that every EastEnder who lives on/near a council estate and speaks with an accent is painted with the chav brush....

Having said that, there ARE those round here I know who are quite fitting of the definition of the words "chav" or "scum."

I won't name and shame them though...!

Answer 2

No, we need the word chav to describe that particular demographic.

Answer 3

How can a word be "banned?"

If they mean that use of the word will become a criminal offence, then this is a totally disproportionate, unworkable and invasive idea, the tip of an increasingly fascist iceberg, and an indication that these well meaning liberals should have better things to do.

I like the word "scum," though it is more of a vindictive and severe term for those people who are genuinely loathesome and disgusting, whereas the word "chav" (orig. "Council house and Violent" - agreed, a poor generalisation) has come to mean any undesirable type.  There are even people who regard themselves as "chavs," several online groups for them, and a famous teen novel, "Diary of a Chav."  What do the thought-controllers proose to do with this - burn every copy and make reading it illegal?

Answer 4

No. Even chavs use it themselves to describe their mates & acquaintances.

It's like suggesting we ban the expression F.O.. It ain't never gonna happen.

Answer 5

well to me, chav is a "look", a fashion style (burberry etc)

but for jeremy kyle poor white uneducated trash i always use the term Pikey (even though i know that pikey means gyppo)

Answer 6

I don't think anybody still uses it

Answer 7

Hi

Well trying to ban the word Chav will make people use it even more. I don’t  think that word bother people that much , I like Chavs, the UK wouldn’t be the same without them .

    http://softe4u.com/relationships/

    http://www.softe4u.com/bodylanguage/

Answer 8

No.

Answer 9

might as well, since I don't know what it means anyway.

Answer 10

Haha...this is humorous..

there are so many words like that ...why only chav?

What hapenned to freedom of speech? :/

Answer 11

I've only ever seen the word in print so what is the problem. A chav doesn't read a newspaper  

Answer 12

i don't think you can actually ban a word. If you ban chav you'd have to ban emo and goth, jock and skater, etc as well. I don't think bannign those words would help anything, as people would still look at them the same way.

Answer 13

I don't like it but it doesn't bother me half as much as "think tanks" do!

Answer 14

No the term fits

Answer 15

What the h**l does 'chav' mean anyway? Origionally it was 'chavi' that those filthy thieving gypsey piki scum would use to refer to their filthy thieving offspring. Then came 'chav' which I thought refered to teenage dumb Essex girls that wore cappa jumpers and gold plated chains hanging over them.

I dont think its a bad word, I think it fits the bill in both regards.

Answer 16

No just chavs.

Answer 17

The term should be banned because it is derogatory and refers to people who through no fault of their own may be disadvantaged.