redneck is not an insult

[BonnyPortmore]

the term redneck was a word to describe the hardest workers, as when they were bent over labouring all day the backs of their necks would burn red, hence the term redneck.

Why is this term now aplied as an insulting derogative?

[CommunistWaffle]

Because in modern society we are industrial and have city jobs. Farmers are generally poor thus insulting.

[Jimmie Higgins]

the term redneck was a word to describe the hardest workers, as when they were bent over labouring all day the backs of their necks would burn red, hence the term redneck.

Why is this term now aplied as an insulting derogative?

It's not that much different than "wetback" or "roughneck" - it's basically an elitist slur against (white) manual laborers. i don't know if it was anything other than a derogatory term (although now some people use it in a kind of poor southern white identity politics thing). The use is also a little different now than other slurs because many people use it now as a term for racist whites.

I try not to use this term because I think it divides the working class and I would rather call some bigot a racist or a bigot without implying that racism is white "working class" thing.

Personally I like to call racist whites: Ofey motherfuckers. I wish there was a slur for racists that implied a connection to the ruling class - any suggestions?

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

Americans need better insults. I got called a jack off , what kind of shit is that?

[BonnyPortmore]

It's not that much different than "wetback" or "roughneck" - it's basically an elitist slur against (white) manual laborers. i don't know if it was anything other than a derogatory term (although now some people use it in a kind of poor southern white identity politics thing). The use is also a little different now than other slurs because many people use it now as a term for racist whites.

I try not to use this term because I think it divides the working class and I would rather call some bigot a racist or a bigot without implying that racism is white "working class" thing.

Personally I like to call racist whites: Ofey motherfuckers. I wish there was a slur for racists that implied a connection to the ruling class - any suggestions?

How about rich racist motherfucker:)

[Catbus]

It's not that much different than "wetback" or "roughneck"

I've always heard "wetback" used as a slur against Hispanics. It's probably just a regional thing.

[Jimmie Higgins]

I've always heard "wetback" used as a slur against Hispanics. It's probably just a regional thing.No, you are correct - it's just a similar thing as redneck only applied to latino agricultural or manuel laborers - people who do outside work tend to have wet backs, or red necks or rough necks... I assume that's where the terms originate from.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Americans need better insults. I got called a jack off , what kind of shit is that?
It means wanker. Only jaggoffs use that term though.

[Искра]

Silly Americans.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Mostly Americans use exclaimations and slurs like: "By Lincoln's wart" or "that's as lame as FDR's legs". But if you make us really angry you might get called a "fontinel fucker".

[BonnyPortmore]

to be honest the biggest insult anyone could call me would be you american.
However i am not from that abomination of a nation now that is cause for celebration jubilation killing glen beck is such a temptation he is so stupid his mother must have been his fathers relation god give the proletariat emancipation with no further hesitation
Now thats a rap:)

[Jazzratt]

to be honest the biggest insult anyone could call me would be you american.

Really? So no one's called you, say, a worthless ignorant backbirth or a mouthbreathing gobshite with the charisma of boiled rat semen? Because those two are, in my opinion, probably far worse things to call someone given that they're actual insults rather than designations based on citizenship you (presumably) hold.


However i am not from that abomination of a nation now that is cause for celebration jubilation killing glen beck is such a temptation he is so stupid his mother must have been his fathers relation god give the proletariat emancipation with no further hesitation
Now thats a rap:)

I suppose that might be generously called a rap. It's utterly shit though.

[BonnyPortmore]

lol i know it was a joke

[BonnyPortmore]

but way to boost morale, you miserable mod bastard:):rolleyes:

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

No, you are correct - it's just a similar thing as redneck only applied to latino agricultural or manuel laborers - people who do outside work tend to have wet backs, or red necks or rough necks... I assume that's where the terms originate from.

Actually I've heard that "wetback" comes from the idea that Mexican immigrants backs get wet after swimming across the Rio Grande.

[Plagueround]

Personally I like to call racist whites: Ofey motherfuckers. I wish there was a slur for racists that implied a connection to the ruling class - any suggestions?

That's what cracker (as in "whip cracker") was, but it's generally taken as a slur against any white person these days.

[Raúl Duke]

Mostly Americans use exclaimations and slurs like: "By Lincoln's wart" or "that's as lame as FDR's legs". But if you make us really angry you might get called a "fontinel fucker".

I never heard any of these expressions in Florida, on the TV, nor used by people from Northern states...

[Bilan]

the term redneck was a word to describe the hardest workers, as when they were bent over labouring all day the backs of their necks would burn red, hence the term redneck.

Why is this term now aplied as an insulting derogative?

Every word in the English language can be used as an insult.

[Jimmie Higgins]

I never heard any of these expressions in Florida, on the TV, nor used by people from Northern states...Why you just aren't meeting the right people I guess.

I think we can come up with some new offensive terms though:

Apparently saying "God Damn America" really pisses off people I'd like to piss off... so I will no longer say "bastard" or "God Damn." or "Damn it". From now on I'm saying things like: "I dropped my keys in the sink! God damn America!"

Maybe if it catches on we can shorten it to simply: Damnerica.

More suggestions, anyone?

[Jimmie Higgins]

Actually I've heard that "wetback" comes from the idea that Mexican immigrants backs get wet after swimming across the Rio Grande.

You're probably right - I always assumed it was connected to fieldwork because in the central valley it's used against farm-workers - but a lot of slurs have to do with immigration like: "fob".

Plagueround, "(whip) cracker" that's a really good one, how could I forget! I knew that's where it comes from but I always just think of Saltines when I hear that term.

[RHIZOMES]

to be honest the biggest insult anyone could call me would be you american.
However i am not from that abomination of a nation now that is cause for celebration jubilation killing glen beck is such a temptation he is so stupid his mother must have been his fathers relation god give the proletariat emancipation with no further hesitation
Now thats a rap:)

wtf was that gibberish

[Kléber]

I don't know if anyone has noted this yet, but the term "redneck" actually relates to radical working class history. During the "coal wars" in West Virginia and Pennsylvania around 1919-20, in which the United Mine Workers union (whose militia at this point was racially integrated) engaged in more or less open warfare with the US army, suffering hundreds of casualties, and were even bombed by aircraft, soldiers from the north called the miners "rednecks" because of their habit (French revolution style) of using pieces of red cloth, often tied around the neck, to identify themselves as working-class militants.

[Jimmie Higgins]

I don't know if anyone has noted this yet, but the term "redneck" actually relates to radical working class history. During the "coal wars" in West Virginia and Pennsylvania around 1919-20, in which the United Mine Workers union (whose militia at this point was racially integrated) engaged in more or less open warfare with the US army, suffering hundreds of casualties, and were even bombed by aircraft, soldiers from the north called the miners "rednecks" because of their habit (French revolution style) of using pieces of red cloth, often tied around the neck, to identify themselves as working-class militants.

Interesting, I've never heard that before. It still doesn't really change the modern use of the word, but I'd like to read more about the connection between this term and mine-worker militancy at the turn of the century.

I have read that "hillbilly" originates from poor southern farmers who opposed the Southern ruling class and plantation owners during the civil war. "Hill" because they lived in the hills where farmland is not very good for plantations and "billy" because that's what northern soldiers were called in the south.

[9]

Interesting, I've never heard that before. It still doesn't really change the modern use of the word, but I'd like to read more about the connection between this term and mine-worker militancy at the turn of the century.

I have read that "hillbilly" originates from poor southern farmers who opposed the Southern ruling class and plantation owners during the civil war. "Hill" because they lived in the hills where farmland is not very good for plantations and "billy" because that's what northern soldiers were called in the south.

Yeah, s/he is talking about the Red Neck War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain).

Anyway, with regard to the OP, some "rednecks" are 'proud' of being "rednecks". Obviously when it's used as a slur, it's going to be taken as such. It's now generally used as a synonym for "hick", "hillbilly", or "bumpkin" - a negative caricature of an uneducated, racist, Appalachian. But you're from Blackpool anyway, are you not? So I'm curious how you would have formed a position on the matter one way or another. Have you discussed it with any Americans from Appalachia?

[BonnyPortmore]

im not radical, look at my questions, then look at radicals, mine are the questions of a new found marxist and radical is a uni boy