Wow, truly impressive, every single thing you said managed to be wrong. Have you actually read Chavs, or are we just vibing off Facebook sections now? For the record, since you seem very invested in inventing backgrounds for strangers, I’m from the UK, I’m absolutely working class, I work two jobs, and I’m just scraping by. But sure, “OP’s alt account” was a bold swing. Not a clever one, but bold.
Jones’ point, which you’d know if you’d bothered engaging with the argument instead of throwing labels around, is that the word “chav” strips people of individual dignity, turns real social hardship into a joke, and makes it easier to dismiss actual human struggles. And shockingly enough, when people are told the poor are just “lazy, irresponsible chavs,” they become much more comfortable supporting policies that punish them. Wild how language works like that.
Using the word “chav” doesn’t just target “behaviour”, it functions socially as a neat little way of sneering at an entire group of people. That’s what makes it classist in effect, even when the user insists they “didn’t mean it like that”.
But yes, clearly the only possible explanation for anyone disagreeing with you is a secret alt-account conspiracy. The much less dramatic truth is that I’m a knackered, working-class Brit with two jobs and enough life experience to see lazy class contempt when it’s dressed up as banter. I know, devastating to your narrative.
Yeah absolutely, I'd love nothing more than to hear from old school friends. OP, do it, message them.