The Dino-Aspie Ex-Café (for Those 40+... or feeling creaky)

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oh my. they're having all sorts of disasters this year there, aren't they? fires, economic depression, and now hurricane.

totally different subject. was watching a doctor who video last night (of course) and one of the women characters was lamenting that she'd been given the form of "a chav". what the hell is "a chav" and why is it bad?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chav

I think it's roughly equivalent to "trailer trash." The equivalent Australian term would be "bogan."

Edit: I used to be in the "pram-pushing, cappuccino-drinking suburban mum" demographic and am now morphing into "weird reclusive old lady."

Yeah, I'd read the "official" definitions online and there's enough leeway that it could have been any of several different actual usage colorations... up to, potentially, a compliment (although in this case the tone in which is was stated made it definitely NOT a compliment). What the written language says and what is intended....

Well, without having the ability to put the video clip up there's no way to get an answer anyway (duh). But I expect it was along the lines of trailer trash or "cheap white trash" (which is a subset of same). Only the closest thing to an English variant of it, I guess.

Without knowing exactly what "trailer trash", "bogan" or "cheap white trash" mean, I'd say that the
UrbanDictionary definitions catch the tone of "chav".

Wats dis?! Are we letting peckerwoods, rednecks, louts, and yahoos in the Cafe?

Smile when ya say that partner.

Hey, Lau, is a "council estate" basically government-owned housing? So if someone said they lived on "the Powell Estate" they'd be living in subsidized/government housing for low-income persons? Are there social stigmas attached to living on "an estate"? (Here if someone lives on "an estate" it means they're fabulously wealthy and have a ton of land around a rather impressive home....)

Interesting notes on "Chavs" and "council estates". In Scotland we call them "Neds" and
"council schemes" (to me estates conjures up images of castles or stately homes surrounded by acres of wooded land). To be fair to those who live on council schemes/estates most of them are perfectly respectable,being a mixture of houses leased or bought from local government and privately built homes. It's only in certain areas that the louts predominate.

An example of Ned (non-educated delinquent) behaviour was observed by one of my colleagues who was called for jury duty at a local Sheriff Court. The Neds congregated and,
after the obligatory comparing of sportswear,discussed their latest criminal achievements -one
of them remarking to another "It's you again.Have you got a f****** season ticket for this place ha ha ? "

I'm sooo excited, I just made a new friend in Ghana. Funny how the name got changed during the conversation. And then I got doubled teamed and I was surprised when the second one couldn't tell me how to take an AK-47 apart and back together again. Ahhh so much work to do. I just don't know what they teach in school these days I guess. We will talk again, I am sure of it. I'm so excited. I think I made a friend. Imagine that.

But I must get back and get mixed up in Scotland's politics. Man and I thought I was the master of the taunt. Cripes, I'm a mere babe in the woods. Serious serious translation problem there though. But there is now a Flatlander tribe in Scotland and I suspect the Ridgerunners will appear soon. Go figure and I thought they only lived here.

Isn't the intra-web wonderful?


Umm interesting, it appears my new friend has a sense of humor. Wish I had written down the last name now. Translation for Akua is, born on Wednesday, and it was Thursday in Ghana when we talked. Still feminine gender though. Going to be interesting.

Lemme guess, Postie. She 1) has a relative who worked for an international firm who was a distant relative of yours who has died and left money to be claimed; 2) she is a widow under dreadful circumstances who desperately needs your assistance, could you please send a check right away; or 3) is a solicitor for the late [fill in the blank] who needs to transfer money to the USA and needs someone in-country to agree to accept it. Purely for legitimate business purposes, of course.....?

Yeah, you gotta mind the spring that pops out... no, wait, that's a Colt Commander. Nevermind.

ooooh, help. it needs to be friday. it sssooooo needs to be friday.




[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CaPFj8LZ8k[/youtube]

Day 4 of what ever has got me down. Haven't seen work since Friday, don't know how I am going to live with out this weeks' pay check. Going to go lay me back down in bed.

*koff* *koff*

Merle