ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
Jun 25, 2014 19:18:36 GMT
|
Post by ginacivey on Jun 22, 2015 19:18:54 GMT
one of my favorite subjects
"redneck"...can and has been used...many times as derogatory
but it's an acceptable racial epitaph
ask someone from the north to describe a redneck...and you won't get the same self-deprecating humor
gina
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Jun 22, 2015 19:19:31 GMT
Both terms are used freely in my area. Redneck can be an insult, but usually we use it in connection with culture. I'm a redneck because I don't understand paying out the nose for French Cuisine when it isn't that tasty and the portion I get leaves me hungry enough to have to stop at a fast food restaurant on the way home. Or that I would rather be fishing than at the ballet. Duct tape fixes anything. That type of thing. White trash is always an insult and it brings forth a specific visual. Most of my dad's side of the family (except my grandparents) is what I would, and have, called white trash. They are 2nd and 3rd generation welfare families, most dropped out of high school, have menial (if any) job, leech off of my grandmother who lives on a pension, have questionable hygiene. I could call them just trash, but then people visualize garbage. I say white trash and you probably thought of everything I just wrote. I don't find the white part to be racist, I find it to be a descriptor. No, duct tape does not fix stupid. It doesn if you put it over their mouth
|
|
|
Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jun 22, 2015 19:25:34 GMT
Living in the south I find them both extremely offensive and I would not sue them.
Edit to add: I would not USE them.
|
|
oldcrow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,828
Location: Ontario,Canada
Jun 26, 2014 12:25:29 GMT
|
Post by oldcrow on Jun 22, 2015 19:28:17 GMT
No, duct tape does not fix stupid. It doesn if you put it over their mouth That may silence it but it still isn't fixed.
|
|
|
Post by anonrefugee on Jun 22, 2015 19:32:00 GMT
Living in the south I find them both extremely offensive and I would not sue them. Edit to add: I would not USE them. Ahh, I liked sue them It reminded me of Pea Phrases and how we're like a family. We might have differences and bickering sometimes but we keep getting together. I'be been feeling sentimental and grateful for this outlet lately. Back to the regular thread topic....
|
|
|
Post by karen on Jun 22, 2015 19:44:44 GMT
Ah...the redneck thing. I grew up in the south. Y'all know that, I've said it before. I also grew up with multiple generations of southerners. I have said that before too. I also laughingly call myself an educated redneck. Not because I am ignorant, racist or uneducated. It is because I live in and grew up in a world of really hard workers. The kind of people who work with their hands, hunt, fish, live in the country-real salt of the earth people who would give you the shirt off their backs if they thought you needed it. They have fun, but that fun isn't always the same fun that someone from a big city might appreciate-parties that involve the much aligned solo cups, beer and sometimes the goofiest stuff (there is a reason why the joke 'hey y'all, watch this' is so funny.) Those are the people that I consider rednecks-country, not ignorant. When some of us use the term redneck, it isn't derogatory. In fact, I wouldn't ever use it that way as I wouldn't consider it an insult. I noticed on the confederate flag thread it was thrown around a lot and that makes me a bit sad. This says exactly what I was thinking. I don't consider myself a redneck, but my husband and my son do. To them, it isn't an insult, it is a word that represents who they are. They like to hunt and fish and both of them are empathetic and will help a person in need if they have the chance to. DH is educated, DS is still in school, but he knows we value education. There is nothing they like better than hunting and fishing, or simply just being in the country. It doesn't mean they are racist even though many others consider it to mean that. Hating others because they are different is just wrong, whether it is somebody of your own race or another one. Using it to mean racist or in a derogatory way is judgmental.
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Jun 22, 2015 20:14:32 GMT
I think the term "redneck" is sometimes borrowed from those who use jokingly it to describe themselves and then twisted around in a derogatory manner and reused in a nasty way and that's where the trouble starts with that term.
White trash has always just been derogatory and nasty. I live in the north, and growing up in a rural area have heard people call themselves redneck here as well. But I have never heard anyone happily refer to themselves as white trash.
|
|
scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
|
Post by scorpeao on Jun 22, 2015 20:18:33 GMT
Mine too. My paternal side of my family IS white trash. Offensive or not...that's what they are. I could give you a list of reasons why, but I'd just embarrass myself in the process as I DO share my genes with those people. Are we related? Seriously, come visit my family for a weekend. You'll understand both terms, and it won't take you long to categorize people into each. I find it funny that white trash is offensive since some of my family members refer to themselves that way. At least they are honest, I suppose. Maybe its level of offensiveness is regional. Well, we could be related as my dad liked to father children and when their mothers left him he'd never see attempt to see the child again. I'm sure I have about half a dozen siblings by now.
|
|
|
Post by eebud on Jun 22, 2015 20:59:44 GMT
I think the term "redneck" is sometimes borrowed from those who use jokingly it to describe themselves and then twisted around in a derogatory manner and reused in a nasty way and that's where the trouble starts with that term. White trash has always just been derogatory and nasty. I live in the north, and growing up in a rural area have heard people call themselves redneck here as well. But I have never heard anyone happily refer to themselves as white trash.From a Dolly Parton interview: Dolly Parton Interview - Link inside to see full interviewSo, there is at least one that doesn't mind being called white trash, as long as it is said in the "right" way. LOL
|
|
happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
Aug 6, 2014 23:57:56 GMT
|
Post by happymomma on Jun 22, 2015 21:14:25 GMT
Aww. I always call my son "my redneck child" and I love him more than any person on this earth. He's a quad-ridin', hunting and fishing, down-to-earth as they come kinda guy. He works harder than anyone I know, and would give you the shirt off of his back. That shirt would be a t-shirt, sleeves cut off, grease-stained from wrenching on his truck, worn under a flannel shirt with a baseball cap. He does clean up beautifully, but his nails are always dirty, not matter how much he scrubs them. He is as unpretentious as the day is long and has no desire to impress anyone. At times he has a Grizzly Adams beard. If he has to dress up it will be in a nice pair of jeans and a clean, pressed buttoned up shirt, and a cowboy hat with his nice cowboy boots. lol. He will take up for the underdog, as long as that underdog is hard-working. Right is right and wrong is wrong and the value of a person has nothing to do with how much money they have in their bank account. He'll drop whatever he's doing to go help a friend out, whether that be fixing their truck, pulling them out of a ditch when they slip off an icy road, or helping them round up escaped livestock. When the task is complete, he'll take you out for a steak and a beer. You'll always know where you stand with him and don't expect him to get into any kind of drama. What I love most? He'll call his momma every day just to make sure she's ok. And when he sees me, he'll pick me up in a hug and spin me around.
Do I think Redneck is a bad word? Hell no.
|
|
|
Post by mollycoddle on Jun 22, 2015 21:41:13 GMT
These terms make me cringe. I've never used them and I despise even typing them. Why isn't trashy just trashy - what does white have to do with it. Rednecks... is that to indicate someone is racist, or uneducated, ignorant I guess? Then why not use those adjectives? Rednecks were originally hard workers, laboring in the outdoors. Now the term has expanded to include derogatory, offensive meanings. Anyway, I find it odd to use these terms to describe someone you feel is racist or ignorant. Makes you sound racist or ignorant IMO. Eh, I grew up around rednecks. Most of them are excellent folks, and they joke about being rednecks. Redneck generally means rural in my neck of the woods.
|
|
|
Post by moveablefeast on Jun 22, 2015 22:13:45 GMT
Aww. I always call my son "my redneck child" and I love him more than any person on this earth. He's a quad-ridin', hunting and fishing, down-to-earth as they come kinda guy. He works harder than anyone I know, and would give you the shirt off of his back. That shirt would be a t-shirt, sleeves cut off, grease-stained from wrenching on his truck, worn under a flannel shirt with a baseball cap. He does clean up beautifully, but his nails are always dirty, not matter how much he scrubs them. He is as unpretentious as the day is long and has no desire to impress anyone. At times he has a Grizzly Adams beard. If he has to dress up it will be in a nice pair of jeans and a clean, pressed buttoned up shirt, and a cowboy hat with his nice cowboy boots. lol. He will take up for the underdog, as long as that underdog is hard-working. Right is right and wrong is wrong and the value of a person has nothing to do with how much money they have in their bank account. He'll drop whatever he's doing to go help a friend out, whether that be fixing their truck, pulling them out of a ditch when they slip off an icy road, or helping them round up escaped livestock. When the task is complete, he'll take you out for a steak and a beer. You'll always know where you stand with him and don't expect him to get into any kind of drama. What I love most? He'll call his momma every day just to make sure she's ok. And when he sees me, he'll pick me up in a hug and spin me around. Do I think Redneck is a bad word? Hell no. I have friends from home just like this and I love them. He sounds like a good kid for sure.
|
|
happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
Aug 6, 2014 23:57:56 GMT
|
Post by happymomma on Jun 22, 2015 22:39:30 GMT
Aww. I always call my son "my redneck child" and I love him more than any person on this earth. He's a quad-ridin', hunting and fishing, down-to-earth as they come kinda guy. He works harder than anyone I know, and would give you the shirt off of his back. That shirt would be a t-shirt, sleeves cut off, grease-stained from wrenching on his truck, worn under a flannel shirt with a baseball cap. He does clean up beautifully, but his nails are always dirty, not matter how much he scrubs them. He is as unpretentious as the day is long and has no desire to impress anyone. At times he has a Grizzly Adams beard. If he has to dress up it will be in a nice pair of jeans and a clean, pressed buttoned up shirt, and a cowboy hat with his nice cowboy boots. lol. He will take up for the underdog, as long as that underdog is hard-working. Right is right and wrong is wrong and the value of a person has nothing to do with how much money they have in their bank account. He'll drop whatever he's doing to go help a friend out, whether that be fixing their truck, pulling them out of a ditch when they slip off an icy road, or helping them round up escaped livestock. When the task is complete, he'll take you out for a steak and a beer. You'll always know where you stand with him and don't expect him to get into any kind of drama. What I love most? He'll call his momma every day just to make sure she's ok. And when he sees me, he'll pick me up in a hug and spin me around. Do I think Redneck is a bad word? Hell no. I have friends from home just like this and I love them. He sounds like a good kid for sure. Thank you. He is. I am really proud to be his mom.
|
|
|
Post by gramasue on Jun 22, 2015 22:42:43 GMT
Aww. I always call my son "my redneck child" and I love him more than any person on this earth. He's a quad-ridin', hunting and fishing, down-to-earth as they come kinda guy. He works harder than anyone I know, and would give you the shirt off of his back. That shirt would be a t-shirt, sleeves cut off, grease-stained from wrenching on his truck, worn under a flannel shirt with a baseball cap. He does clean up beautifully, but his nails are always dirty, not matter how much he scrubs them. He is as unpretentious as the day is long and has no desire to impress anyone. At times he has a Grizzly Adams beard. If he has to dress up it will be in a nice pair of jeans and a clean, pressed buttoned up shirt, and a cowboy hat with his nice cowboy boots. lol. He will take up for the underdog, as long as that underdog is hard-working. Right is right and wrong is wrong and the value of a person has nothing to do with how much money they have in their bank account. He'll drop whatever he's doing to go help a friend out, whether that be fixing their truck, pulling them out of a ditch when they slip off an icy road, or helping them round up escaped livestock. When the task is complete, he'll take you out for a steak and a beer. You'll always know where you stand with him and don't expect him to get into any kind of drama. What I love most? He'll call his momma every day just to make sure she's ok. And when he sees me, he'll pick me up in a hug and spin me around. Do I think Redneck is a bad word? Hell no. Your 'redneck' son sounds like an awesome dude! You're one lucky Momma!
|
|
|
Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 22, 2015 22:49:41 GMT
if you meet about 95% of my family you would understand it. Heck most of them i refuse to be seen in public with. ^^^ and THIS is what she meant when she started the thread. YOU may think YOUR family is uneducated, ignorant, etc. but then SAY that DIRECTLY instead of painting a whole segment of society with the broad brush of your familial dislike.
|
|
peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,602
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
|
Post by peabay on Jun 22, 2015 23:27:21 GMT
I think the term "redneck" is sometimes borrowed from those who use jokingly it to describe themselves and then twisted around in a derogatory manner and reused in a nasty way and that's where the trouble starts with that term. White trash has always just been derogatory and nasty. I live in the north, and growing up in a rural area have heard people call themselves redneck here as well. But I have never heard anyone happily refer to themselves as white trash. Here in CT, instead of redneck, my grandmother used the term "swamp Yankee."
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on Jun 23, 2015 0:29:13 GMT
IMO, "white trash" is a very racist term. The implication is that all trashy people are black, and one has to put "white" in the label so that you will know their race. I have never heard it used except for a derogatory term. I also think it is not used in polite society....sorta like the N word. ^^^^^that that that that that To those who subsequently took exception to librarylady's statement: I don't think you're understanding the term in the same way we are. It's not racist because the speaker is singling out white people. It's because of the assumption implicit in the term that trashy people are normally black, and therefore it is necessary to specify that the trash being referred to this particular time is specifically white. Otherwise, you could just say trash without needing to specify. IOW, it's not racism against white people, it's racism against black people. And that is completely aside from the fact that it's meant to be a derogatory, insulting name, maybe unless you're Dolly Parton talking about yourself. I like Dolly Parton but I still wish people wouldn't use this term at all.
|
|
|
Post by Scrapper100 on Jun 23, 2015 1:44:29 GMT
Why does race have to enter into everything these days. For me at least redneck isn't a racist thing. It's just someone uneducated and unsophisticated. Redneck doesn't have to be an insult but could be depending on how it is used.
|
|
conchita
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,141
Jul 1, 2014 11:25:58 GMT
|
Post by conchita on Jun 23, 2015 1:49:50 GMT
Why does race have to enter into everything these days. For me at least redneck isn't a racist thing. It's just someone uneducated and unsophisticated. Redneck doesn't have to be an insult but could be depending on how it is used. Because there's a lot of racism?
|
|
|
Post by anxiousmom on Jun 23, 2015 2:18:22 GMT
Why does race have to enter into everything these days. For me at least redneck isn't a racist thing. It's just someone uneducated and unsophisticated. Redneck doesn't have to be an insult but could be depending on how it is used. But...I will argue that redneck doesn't always mean uneducated or unsophisticated. Me...I am a bit of redneck. I also have a college degree and am as comfortable at a bonfire in field drinking beer from a plastic cup as I am at a cocktail party drinking really fine liqueurs out of crystal glasses with the 'goobers and smoochers.' Both of which I have done on more than one occasion. I can do sophisticated and I can do low brow. And I know for a fact that I am NOT the only one around. I grew up with a ton of them. I guess I am trying to get people to understand that there is a preconceived idea of what these words mean...but most people throw them around as if is acceptable.
|
|
grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
|
Post by grinningcat on Jun 23, 2015 2:22:53 GMT
IMO, "white trash" is a very racist term. The implication is that all trashy people are black, and one has to put "white" in the label so that you will know their race. I have never heard it used except for a derogatory term. I also think it is not used in polite society....sorta like the N word. ^^^^^that that that that that To those who subsequently took exception to librarylady's statement: I don't think you're understanding the term in the same way we are. It's not racist because the speaker is singling out white people. It's because of the assumption implicit in the term that trashy people are normally black, and therefore it is necessary to specify that the trash being referred to this particular time is specifically white. Otherwise, you could just say trash without needing to specify. IOW, it's not racism against white people, it's racism against black people. And that is completely aside from the fact that it's meant to be a derogatory, insulting name, maybe unless you're Dolly Parton talking about yourself. I like Dolly Parton but I still wish people wouldn't use this term at all. I'll be honest, I had no idea that the term "white trash" was so because it was insinuating that all black people were trashy. Seriously, didn't even cross my mind to think of blacks as trashy as a whole. Are some? Sure. Most? Nope. Same with white people or any other race. I honestly had no idea. I know trashy people, but I'm not sure I've ever called them white trash... just trashy. So I've learned something. Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on Jun 23, 2015 2:28:43 GMT
^^^^^that that that that that To those who subsequently took exception to librarylady's statement: I don't think you're understanding the term in the same way we are. It's not racist because the speaker is singling out white people. It's because of the assumption implicit in the term that trashy people are normally black, and therefore it is necessary to specify that the trash being referred to this particular time is specifically white. Otherwise, you could just say trash without needing to specify. IOW, it's not racism against white people, it's racism against black people. And that is completely aside from the fact that it's meant to be a derogatory, insulting name, maybe unless you're Dolly Parton talking about yourself. I like Dolly Parton but I still wish people wouldn't use this term at all. I'll be honest, I had no idea that the term "white trash" was so because it was insinuating that all black people were trashy. Seriously, didn't even cross my mind to think of blacks as trashy as a whole. Are some? Sure. Most? Nope. Same with white people or any other race. I honestly had no idea. I know trashy people, but I'm not sure I've ever called them white trash... just trashy. So I've learned something. Thanks. Trust me on this one. Someone, probably several someones, will come on to tell us that's not what it means at all. Just deconstruct the term. It's all right there in two little words (sometimes three ... make it poor white trash).
|
|
samantha25
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,898
Jun 27, 2014 19:06:19 GMT
|
Post by samantha25 on Jun 23, 2015 2:58:24 GMT
You might be a redneck... If your neck is red.....from jf.. I take that to mean hard working in the sun...
|
|
grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
|
Post by grinningcat on Jun 23, 2015 11:05:12 GMT
I'll be honest, I had no idea that the term "white trash" was so because it was insinuating that all black people were trashy. Seriously, didn't even cross my mind to think of blacks as trashy as a whole. Are some? Sure. Most? Nope. Same with white people or any other race. I honestly had no idea. I know trashy people, but I'm not sure I've ever called them white trash... just trashy. So I've learned something. Thanks. Trust me on this one. Someone, probably several someones, will come on to tell us that's not what it means at all. Just deconstruct the term. It's all right there in two little words (sometimes three ... make it poor white trash). No no. I get it. I see it now. I just never thought of it to do with race. I don't know why, but it never occured to me that white trash meant that all black people are trash. It's actually pretty weird to me still, but I get it.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 14:53:42 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2015 12:13:47 GMT
I use the word white trash as a joke with my mother. It doesn't differentiate it from black as there are no black people near us. We don't know any in our real lives (I have a bestie in the US but she's far away). If I were to call someone trash their race would AUTOMATICALLY be white. No other race would figure in my mind...but we are rather insular where we are. Sure a multicultural country, but for whatever reason, most of our friends are white.
The only people I described as "white trash" were my mother's mother's relatives and they ARE trash. Granny's family were horrible people. That whole side of the family were miserable people and are no benefit to society.
|
|
|
Post by metaldancer on Jun 23, 2015 12:57:58 GMT
Aww. I always call my son "my redneck child" and I love him more than any person on this earth. He's a quad-ridin', hunting and fishing, down-to-earth as they come kinda guy. He works harder than anyone I know, and would give you the shirt off of his back. That shirt would be a t-shirt, sleeves cut off, grease-stained from wrenching on his truck, worn under a flannel shirt with a baseball cap. He does clean up beautifully, but his nails are always dirty, not matter how much he scrubs them. He is as unpretentious as the day is long and has no desire to impress anyone. At times he has a Grizzly Adams beard. If he has to dress up it will be in a nice pair of jeans and a clean, pressed buttoned up shirt, and a cowboy hat with his nice cowboy boots. lol. He will take up for the underdog, as long as that underdog is hard-working. Right is right and wrong is wrong and the value of a person has nothing to do with how much money they have in their bank account. He'll drop whatever he's doing to go help a friend out, whether that be fixing their truck, pulling them out of a ditch when they slip off an icy road, or helping them round up escaped livestock. When the task is complete, he'll take you out for a steak and a beer. You'll always know where you stand with him and don't expect him to get into any kind of drama. What I love most? He'll call his momma every day just to make sure she's ok. And when he sees me, he'll pick me up in a hug and spin me around. Do I think Redneck is a bad word? Hell no. You just described my DS, just add an electric guitar slung across his shoulder and hair half way down his back!
|
|
sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,574
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
|
Post by sharlag on Jun 23, 2015 17:43:51 GMT
Ah...the redneck thing. I grew up in the south. Y'all know that, I've said it before. I also grew up with multiple generations of southerners. I have said that before too. I also laughingly call myself an educated redneck. Not because I am ignorant, racist or uneducated. It is because I live in and grew up in a world of really hard workers. The kind of people who work with their hands, hunt, fish, live in the country-real salt of the earth people who would give you the shirt off their backs if they thought you needed it. They have fun, but that fun isn't always the same fun that someone from a big city might appreciate-parties that involve the much aligned solo cups, beer and sometimes the goofiest stuff (there is a reason why the joke 'hey y'all, watch this' is so funny.) Those are the people that I consider rednecks-country, not ignorant. When some of us use the term redneck, it isn't derogatory. In fact, I wouldn't ever use it that way as I wouldn't consider it an insult. I noticed on the confederate flag thread it was thrown around a lot and that makes me a bit sad. Yeah, that. Also:
|
|
|
Post by jonda1974 on Jun 23, 2015 17:57:26 GMT
I'll be honest, I had no idea that the term "white trash" was so because it was insinuating that all black people were trashy. Seriously, didn't even cross my mind to think of blacks as trashy as a whole. Are some? Sure. Most? Nope. Same with white people or any other race. I honestly had no idea. I know trashy people, but I'm not sure I've ever called them white trash... just trashy. So I've learned something. Thanks. Trust me on this one. Someone, probably several someones, will come on to tell us that's not what it means at all. Just deconstruct the term. It's all right there in two little words (sometimes three ... make it poor white trash). I'm sorry Lucy...you are looking for racism now.
|
|
|
Post by k8smom on Jun 23, 2015 18:06:53 GMT
I dislike those terms too! Let me also add that as a mother of a 20 something redhead, I cringe when I hear the term "ginger" because I know how much it bothers ds, and people throw that around all the time like it's no.big.deal.
|
|
|
Post by hop2 on Jun 23, 2015 18:15:05 GMT
I think the term "redneck" is sometimes borrowed from those who use jokingly it to describe themselves and then twisted around in a derogatory manner and reused in a nasty way and that's where the trouble starts with that term. White trash has always just been derogatory and nasty. I live in the north, and growing up in a rural area have heard people call themselves redneck here as well. But I have never heard anyone happily refer to themselves as white trash. Here in CT, instead of redneck, my grandmother used the term "swamp Yankee." I wonder if that's like the 'pineys' here in NJ?
|
|