Funny story

[Edwards]

Si this is a fascinating thread from a Physiological point of view and is giving a good insight into why some people have the attitudes that they show in their forum use. It is the Nature or Nurture discussion that goes on in CBT and how we view ourselves and others.

I am following it with interest as I have a personal involvement in why people think like they do and the way they view others.
Gives me something to talk about to the Psychiatrist rather than me. Maybe the Tea Shop would be a better place for this discussion.

I never knew that such a simple term could mean so many different things to different people.

[tatanab]

So exactly what is the forum politically correct way of describing such a person?

POB gets people hot under the collar because "we are all cyclists". Chav is unacceptable because it implies a social class. Many years ago the term used was Tuggo which described a non enthusiast cyclist. Perhaps we have all become too super sensitive to such terms.

[kwackers]

Si this is a fascinating thread from a Physiological point of view and is giving a good insight into why some people have the attitudes that they show in their forum use. It is the Nature or Nurture discussion that goes on in CBT and how we view ourselves and others.

You'd have to have a lot more faith than me in that what's written on here is in anyway indicative of the person writing it! (I've yet to meet anyone that matched their 'internet' persona... Although R2 comes close).

[meic]

Chav is unacceptable because it implies a social class

Though some of the more vociferous users of the term are from that class (like myself) and see it as an attitude thing.

Many of the people against its use are not from that class, as is demonstrated by them even noticing the points of grammar.

I think that the politically correct thing is not to mention it and keep it all quiet and bottled up until you get to vote BNP in reaction to being told what to think and say all the time.

[Si]

Chav is unacceptable because it implies a social class.

No, I think that it is unacceptable when used to attach a set of negative behaviours to a person who has thus far shown no evidence of indulging in those behaviours.

Call it Political Correctness (gorn mad) if you like (although this does seem to be a label now used to decry something when you can't formulate a proper argument against it, as commonly demonstrated by the lazier elements of our press) but I prefer to think of it as asking people not to be bigots, to show a little tolerance to those who might differ in some way to themselves, and to make your mind up about someone based on their actions not how they might dress or where they come from.

[kwackers]

No, I think that it is unacceptable when used to attach a set of negative behaviours to a person who has thus far shown no evidence of indulging in those behaviours.

If we take the OP as fact then I'm not entirely sure they haven't indulged in 'those' behaviours.

Chav to me conjures up a certain mental image part of which involves anti-social behaviour. From the OP I'd say the description is the weakest part - it doesn't necessarily say 'chav' to me, but the behaviour does...

[Vorpal]

So exactly what is the forum politically correct way of describing such a person?

POB gets people hot under the collar because "we are all cyclists". Chav is unacceptable because it implies a social class. Many years ago the term used was Tuggo which described a non enthusiast cyclist. Perhaps we have all become too super sensitive to such terms.

Invariably, any single term used to describe someone will involve stereotyping. Stereotyping is bound to offend someone. Furthermore, there is no more need to use the term chav or POB than there is to include the person's hair colour or race.

[reohn2]

You'd have to have a lot more faith than me in that what's written on here is in anyway indicative of the person writing it! (I've yet to meet anyone that matched their 'internet' persona... Although R2 comes close).

How did I get dragged into this,I've not said a word!
Furthermore I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or complain to the moderators

We all use terms to describe certain types of people,I find I constantly have to stop myself using some of those terms to describe certain people,whatever their dress sense or lack of it,which in itself leaves me wide open to criticism ,which is only valid if that criticism is constructive .

Seriously though,I take Nuke's point that classifying people by their dress is wrong on so many levels,however I've no problem labeling anyone as a richardhead who's behaviour is antisocial shell suit or not.

[kwackers]

Furthermore, there is no more need to use the term chav or POB than there is to include the person's hair colour or race.

I think I'd disagree with that. Cyclists are among the easiest people to stereotype. Mamil, ninjas, pob's - there really aren't that many distinct groups.
When telling a story about cyclists one word conjures up the image and sets the scene thereby eliminating a entire paragraph of useless description and unnecessary detail.

[kwackers]

How did I get dragged into this,I've not said a word!
Furthermore I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or complain to the moderators

Take it as a compliment - in a WYSIWYG sort of way...

[reohn2]

How did I get dragged into this,I've not said a word!
Furthermore I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or complain to the moderators

Take it as a compliment - in a WYSIWYG sort of way...

Thanks,I don't get many.
If you were a 6ft Swedish blonde woman,I'd PM you

[661-Pete]

This thread started 'going bad' long before I made my remark about spelling - which was meant to be a bit tongue-in-cheek - but if I've upset people - yes I expected that - sorry.

OK here's a little anecdote in which I suppose I played the 'snob'. Berate me if you will! I'd locked my bike in - let's say, not the most reputable - part of Brighton for just a few minutes whilst I popped into a shop. When I came out I quickly eyeballed the bike: no pump . I was thinking to myself, oh sod it, just the luck of the draw I suppose, when I spotted a young lad crouched over a bike at the far end of the row of stands. And yes! there was my pump clutched in his hands. I would describe him as more 'hippie' than 'chav' but no matter. I went over and said, "er - excuse me". He glanced up guiltily: "oh sorry, is this your pump?" "Yes," I said, "you should have asked first, but OK carry on". Then I noticed he was trying to inflate a Schraeder valve tyre with my pump set for Presta. He had no idea, needless to say, that you need to unscrew a cap and reverse the grommet. After a few moments, I said, sorry, I've got to go now, and he sheepishly returned my pump. I think I mentioned the way to the nearest branch of Halfords...

Snobbish - moi?

[meic]

So exactly what is the forum politically correct way of describing such a person?

POB gets people hot under the collar because "we are all cyclists". Chav is unacceptable because it implies a social class. Many years ago the term used was Tuggo which described a non enthusiast cyclist. Perhaps we have all become too super sensitive to such terms.

Invariably, any single term used to describe someone will involve stereotyping. Stereotyping is bound to offend someone. Furthermore, there is no more need to use the term chav or POB than there is to include the person's hair colour or race.

On Sunday, I saw a black guy on a bike in Swansea. The last time I saw a black guy on a bike in Wales was two years ago.

Probably breaks all the rules to notice this, let alone mention it, let alone mention it without first checking on which terms are in fashion right now for describing ethnicity/skin colour.

[Edwards]

The way you view somebody is a pre-set thing in your subconscious, simply to do with the Fight and Flight Response. It is only when you engage them in a conversation that you find out if your original thoughts were correct.
Our brains make a split second decision about new people by the way they look and what they are doing. So in part to the op the person was probably viewed subconsciously as a threat, as in he would not eat him or have sex with him.
The female blond is an interesting concept, to most men she does not have a threat response.
But if you add a car then the threat level changes and so you will notice things that you do not expect from a person who was before just good looking.
Then when the type of car is brought in the threat level changes even more.

[Mark1978]

Im from the north-east, take it from me. Chav is like the bible around here.

In the North-East of England the term was always 'Charver', which seems to have been morphed into 'Chav'