[Closed] Is the term "Jock" offensive or racist?

no more than 'fat' is.

Yes

Probably no more offensive than the collective name us "Jocks" use for the English...

Never bothered me when I was doon sooth ,I always had plenty smart arse comments to throw back.

🙂

Is it worse than "sweaty sock"?

It's probably racist but not all that offensive. I'm scottish and I don't start crying if someone calls me it.

Depends on how it's used. If it's used with the intention of belittling or demeaning (as it usually is on here) then yes, it's offensive.

the key is in how it is received.

I live properly down south and I used to know a scottish bloke who's nickname was jocky. He never seemed to mind particularly and it wasn't used in a derogatory way, just a name. I met him a couple of years back and he told me that he'd hated it but hadn't felt that he could mention this as he felt he would get a huge amount of grief if he did.

I do find it objectionable because of the way in which it is used rather than the term itself. In my experience it is not used affectionately, generaly deployed by WASPs. Having worked with a lot of "frenchies" in my time they used to call me "Haggis" (AGEEESS!) which was more playful. Only the English call us Jocks!

If people I don't know call me a jock or sweaty sock, it irritates me and is generally followed by a suitable retort.

If it's mates then I don't care.

Racist? You mean xenophobic?

Probably no more offensive than the collective name us "Jocks" use for the English...

I wouldn't deem 'superiors' as offensive.

It's always meant to be when I use it....

As with most of these terms it is the context that render the word offensive, not the word itself. I have however never found the term "sweaty" or "sweaty sock" to be used in anything other than an offensive way.

Is scouser or geordie or taff or tyke cockney or ****

generaly deployed by WASPs

The most stereo typically WASPs I have ever met have been Scottish. They took their bigotry to another level!

Is scouser or geordie or taff or tyke cockney or ****

**** - Yes. Surprised with that one.

Geordie - No. Unless the person is actually from Sunderland. Although it could be argued that if that mistake is made it's actually a complement. 🙂

Some people are such sensitive little souls.

Anyone from Wales get offended by 'Taffy', and what about 'Paddy'?

Edit : beaten by Winston and lol as my OH always corrects people when she is called Geordie as she was born in Hartlepool !

I wouldn't deem 'superiors' as offensive.

You are a superior to no one so you will never hear it
Been shopping lately?

I've never heard a fellow Scot refer to another using that term. That should be a clue to those who persist in using the term. It's disrespectful.

Some people are such sensitive little souls.

It's not being sensitive. It's taking offence to someone trying to act like a dick towards you 🙂

It's disrespectful.

But is it offensive?

Taffy is better than the usual sheep shagger but is still bloody annoying.

EDIT: How about bloody pommes, rosebief?

are you offended by a lack of respect?

Some people are such INsensitive little [s]souls[/s] TOOLS.

Its poor rand I dont do it

PS Taff is South Wales it is Gogs for North Wales

But is it offensive?

It's intended to be derogatory, so yes.

I would never dream of calling someone I didn't know a "taff" or "paddy", since i've got a basic grasp of social skills. Therefore when someone uses "jock" to me, it's an easy way to work out where they fit in the scale of Nice Person to Complete ****.

**** yes it's used by my Indian colleagues. But I also heard it a lot in bradford but justified as simply a shortening of ****stani
Same as thai or aussie etc

It's intended to be derogatory, so yes.

Can't agree with that, as I've heard it used quite fondly on many occasions.

As I said above, if it's between friends than yes, it's fine. But if you think as a stranger, you can call someone a jock and they'll think you're using it fondly, you probably need to work on those social skills 😉

I used to get chatting to plenty of people when i lived in England who would say something like "yeah, i love the jocks" as if it was some sort of compliment. It's not 🙂

I remember this...

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

A lot of nicknames used this year in morzine in the gypsy camp were based on where you were from I can't remember anyone's actual name now

Being Welsh, what I like to be called is my name.
I'm sure every other nation will agree.
If you can't be bothered to remember someone's name what a nice guy you are.

EDIT: not meant at you Sancho, you typed it while I was typing

I used to get chatting to plenty of people when i lived in England who would say something like "yeah, i love the jocks" as if it was some sort of compliment. It's not

Well it's better than "I hate the jocks" 😉

I am from Glasgow (originally) and I don't take offence to being called a Weegie even if it includes the usual "soap dodger" addendum. Again this is mostly playful but Jocks, no; because it's a term most often used by little english people in a demeaning context.

Aye, Weegie is playful - Jock is never used by someone who's wanting to be nice in my experience.

Perhaps by some Scots folk coming forward and identifying it as derogatory and offensive, those who have previously used it have learnt something and will now stop doing so?

Is "jock" offensive?

Well, is Sassanah offensive?

I think the answer lies in who uses it in which manner

Well, is Sassanah offensive?

Of course it is!

The only exception perhaps being if you're delivering a history lesson.

whilst we are talking about this I'd be interesting to hear what terms the Scottish use for the English that you would consider to be derogatory as well.

answers the question really

Thanks for the heads up Scotroutes. I will call my mate Jocky Grey in Edinburgh at lunchtime and [i]"tell him"[/i] he needs to find a new name for us to use rather than offend him. I am sure he wont mind - hes only been using it for 30 odd years or so.

[quote=gordonb ]Is "jock" offensive?
Well, is Sassanah offensive?
I think the answer lies in who uses it in which manner
FWIW - my MiL would call me a sassenach as she live in the Outer Hebrides and I'm from Edinburgh.

answers the question really

No it doesn't. The point is that it's almost impossible to use either jock or sassenach in social circumstances with people you don't know without it's use being anything other than to cause offence/wind up.

Between friends is an entirely different situation, but I don't think that's what we're talking about here.

I will call my [b]mate[/b] Jocky Grey in Edinburgh at lunchtime and "tell him" he needs to find a new name for us to use rather than offend him.

Keep up at the back

I'd be interesting to hear what terms the Scottish use for the English that you would consider to be derogatory as well.

English b@stard was popular when I lived up there. Not directed at me personally, some (not all, obviously) people seemed to think that the word English would always be followed by b@stard(s).

I am trying Peter, trust me, just hard to keep up....... 😉

Calling us Taff is like calling us a thief if you want to take it that far.

Dont know of people from outside of Wales who call those from the North Gogs they call us Hwntw.

Sheesh I never new the Scottish were such sensitive little souls.

Funny coming from the country that gave us Rangers and Celtic.

I am trying Peter, trust me, just hard to keep up.......

Us jocks are renowned for our blistering pace, sharp wit and superior intellect, so I can appreciate how much of a hard task that is THM 😉

Sheesh I never new the Scottish were such sensitive little souls.

Really? Is that really the best you can up with?

Very true, Peter very true - which is why I love Scotland so much and enjoyed living there.

No doubt on your superior intellect - I share a Scottish education 😉

Not offensive or racist in my book.

Has only ever been said to me by poncy English twonks, usually from the Essex/Herts area trying to get a rise out of the Scotsman. I tend to just remind them of the Scottish stereotype that we all like to hunt the English for sport then show their wives what real men are like

I find it amusing that the English are doing a lot of hand wringing about our nicknames for people from different countries yet the scots just get to the point and call us a bunch of bastards lol

Sheesh I never new the Scottish were such sensitive little souls.

[quote=Sancho ]I find it amusing that the English are doing a lot of hand wringing about our nicknames for people from different countries yet the scots just get to the point and call us a bunch of bastards lol
TBF, that's not confined to Scots.

Sancho » I find it amusing that the English are doing a lot of hand wringing about our nicknames for people from different countries yet the scots just get to the point and call us a bunch of bastards lol

TBF, that's not confined to Scots.

and it's definately meant to be offensive ;).

I suspect it may be something to do with STW forumites, who may not be your typical Scotttish person !

True they are mostly fine (90%+), but unfortunately there is an awful subset who are more racist than pretty much anyone I've ever met elsewhere.

And then there are PC (STW) subset who seem to get offended at everything on the internet.

True they are mostly fine (90%+), but unfortunately there is an awful subset who are more racist than pretty much anyone I've ever met elsewhere.

I agree with this. Spent 8 years living in England as an adult and the last few back in Scotland. Working in same industry. The casual racism in Scotland still takes me a wee bit by surprise. It's not really frowned upon by those who don't consider themselves to be racist in the same way it is in England IMO, so it's much more "open".

I'm sure there was a survey don't in the early 2000's where Scotland came out as the most institutionally racist country in Europe.

Depends on how it's used. If it's used with the intention of belittling or demeaning (as it usually is on here) then yes, it's offensive.

Yarp. Nailed it.
My dad has no problem with the word "paddy" per se, but being in the army in the 70s, he was subject to a lot of abuse for being from Belfast. I don't like using the terms "jock", "taff" or "paddy" unless with close friends where the intent is clearly non derogatory. Likewise, I don't take kindly to being called "sassanach" when I'm unsure of the intent.

I will call my mate Jocky Grey in Edinburgh at lunchtime and "tell him" he needs to find a new name

What has your pal named Jocky got to do with a discussion about a collective nickname? Jocky is a fairly common name used by individuals.

Jock? Pretty irrelevant. Not many people who talk like they walked out of a Commando comic nowadays.

No and No to the Original post,i think some of the "Jocks" who get upset by it are wee bit too sensitive.
Just out a matter of interest anybody know the origins of the term ?

[url= http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sassanach ]Sassanach[/url]

[url= http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jock&defid=927810 ]Jock[/url]

Well that seems to clear it up

One is intended to be derogatory the other is heard as derogatory 🙂

TBF, that's not confined to Scots.

Racist.

Because it highlights the fact that context is all important IMO kcr. The argument that Jock/Jocky is offensive in all cases is falsified by the fact that people choose to use the name/nickname themselves.

Just spoke to him, name remains at his request and he's a No man.

When I lived in France i found it quite funny being called a rosbif. Perhaps thats whats needed - a SOH?

i think some of the "Jocks" who get upset by it are wee bit too sensitive.

I'll thank you not to tell me what I can and can't get upset about. Would you say the same about women who complain about misogyny?

i think some of the "Jocks" who get upset by it are wee bit too sensitive.

Said like a true sassenach. Now toddle along and start a thread about getting dusty eyes at a John Lewis advert or something 🙂

TBF, that's not confined to Scots.

Racist.

I always thought that the Aussie term was hyphenated, as in "pommie-bastard".

As someone born and bred in Glasgow, nope, not in the slightest. Unless accompanied by an obvious underlying hatred, which would then make it offensive.

Words aren't offensive, the intent behind the word dictates the offensiveness of a word.

Really baffles my why people can't understand that.

Because it highlights the fact that context is all important IMO kcr. The argument that Jock/Jocky is offensive in all cases is falsified by the fact that people choose to use the name/nickname themselves.

Now how about the word ****, no non racist would use it, but it has been reclaimed by some in the African American community

I tend to just remind them of the Scottish stereotype that we all like to hunt the English for sport then show their wives what real men are like

5thElefant - Member

I tend to just remind them of the Scottish stereotype that we all like to hunt the English for sport then show their wives what real men are like

I don't think that particular stereotype has made it across the border.

Ask your wife 🙂

gonefishin - Member

i think some of the "Jocks" who get upset by it are wee bit too sensitive.

I'll thank you not to tell me what I can and can't get upset about. Would you say the same about women who complain about misogyny

Im not, you can get upset with whatever you want

And no,whats that got to do with the original question

Now how about the word ****, no non racist would use it, but it has been reclaimed by some in the African American community

Are you calling druidh a racist? 😛

Ask your wife

btw, c**t is a term of endearment up here, any scotsman getting offended by jock must really be having a bit of a torrid time of it! 😀

[quote=grum ]

Now how about the word ****, no non racist would use it, but it has been reclaimed by some in the African American community

seven - Member
Now how about the word ****, no non racist would use it, but it has been reclaimed by some in the African American community

I don't know if you noticed, but you just used it in a non offensive context...

Peterfile
How did you know i was from the Lowlands so you must be a Teuchter then

Oh - I'm amused that this spin-off thread has now relegated the more serious business down the page by some way. I guess that's because everyone is now reading the 670 page white paper before resuming discussion on that one.

I haven't got to the end yet but I don't think that use of the word "Jock" is covered anywhere in that 670 pages. I'm sure that THM and various assorted unionist politicians will be along in a minute to tell us that shows the SNP haven't really given this whole independence thing enough thought.

Nothing wrong with **** me and a couple of friends use it to eaxh other.
Though I wouldn't use it outside my mates