RoadWarriorFromLP

Forgive me if plumbing is not one of my areas of expertise, but the last time that I checked, a "septic tank" is a vat full of shit and bacteria used to break down the shit. So, sure, it's a safe bet that a septic tank has some relationship to shit!

Isn't that what I said? It's a form of code, and if directed toward a Yank, I would presume that it's being used because they presume that he won't know how he is being insulted.

Some terms are offensive, others aren't. "Yank" is not an insult, but "Paki" is. "Frog" is pretty mild, but in Australia, "Abo" is equivalent to "nigger." If "septic" is strictly intended to be humorous, then fine, but I've never heard it used in a polite context, which leads me to believe that it is not intended as a compliment, nor that it is meant to be used strictly just for laughs.

Lord Lionheart

My Mrs is Finnish, I'm at a loss to find some amusing cockney rhyming slang for Finns. Can anyone help?
The more annoying and insulting the better

gardnma

Oooh, lets see:

Benny Hinn,
Plastic Bin,
Horrid Din,
Gordon's Gin,
Rusty old Tin

BigDavyG

Almost.....
How about wheelie (bin), dusty (bin), biscuit (tin) or stupid (grin) ??
Failing that he could just call her Russian - that should piss her off

BigDavyG

I didn't even know you weren't getting along

Lord Lionheart

Shall I get your coat?

BigDavyG

I can never resist that one - even if no-one else finds it funny it makes me laugh

Rushman

TOTAL BOLLOCKS. "Paki" was just a shortened version of "Pakistani" and the reason it was deemmed offensive was because Indians (the ones from India not "your" Indians) found it offensive, abit like the way Canadians hate to be called "Yanks". The word "Paki" itself was never initially intended as a racial insult until the PC left wing Guardian reading do gooders poked their noses in and stirred up an unneccessary hornets nest. "Abo" is exactly the same thing..an abbreviation of Aboriginal. The Aussies have a similar habit to the British in that they shorten words. To my mind if anyone finds it insulting that their nationality or origins of their race are abbreviated..... then stop calling us "Brits".

As for the French.....nobody gives a f**k about them anyway so who cares whether they're insulted or not.

The term "Septic" is not meant to be either funny, insulting or complimentary...it's meant purely as a slang description and like I said, the only reason it's "septic tank" and not "Oil, fuel or gas tank" is because we "Brits" associate Septic tanks with the USA. You really do get all hot and bothered over some really mundane and unimportant shit.

Furthermore, if you did go into a British pub and called someone a "vat of shit" then you're likely to get a pint glass smashed and twisted into your face.....best not try that experiment.

BigDavyG

Pakistanis use the term 'paki' all the time - you will often see banners with 'paki power' written on then at cricket games.
Of course people who don't actually know anything about pakistanis will probably be ignorant of this fact and assume it to be offensive as it is often used in an offensive context.

Irn-bru

how true

Rushman

I cant comment....I'm not brave enough to admit to ever watching cricket.

Elvira

Pakistani may well use the term Paki for themselves - in the same way as some black people refer to each other as 'niggas'. Both terms are still highly offensive if used by anybody else. This may seem illogical to you, but makes perfect sense to me. But I am of course incorrigibly PC...

RoadWarriorFromLP

Ouch, I happen to like the Grauniad. But in any case, you're ranting like a white guy on this one. "Abo" is an insult, and I'd suggest you not address an Aboriginal as such when in the Antipodes. "Paki" is likewise an insult when used by non-Pakistanis, just as "nigger" is an insult if used by someone who isn't black.

The whole situation is more nuanced than you'd make it appear. Some abbreviations are OK, while others are a slur. Can we accept that vernacular is not as black-and-white as you'd like to paint it?

On the Lonely Planet site where I post, I've pointed out repeatedly to Americans that "Yank" is not a slur (you may have noticed that Southerners get all hot-and-bothered about it, as they use "Yankee" as a derogatory term), and that those who interpret as such need to chill out and get over it, so I'm not one to take comments out of context.

In any case, I thought that the origins of "septic tank" were not Cockney, but Aussie. According to this Australians Abroad weblink, "septic" and "seppo" are derogatory terms, and are not just neutral: http://www.coolabah.com/dictionary/viewall.cfm. Perhaps it's an insult in Australia, but not in Britain?

Ray

Now back to Septic ..remembering this is London slang

I doubt there has been a septic tank in London for maybe 70 year
the average cockney would not relate it the way the poorly plumbed
and sanitation backward people would....

Rushman

How stupid of me too assume that Cockney rhyming slang was not infact a product of cockneys but actually originates from Australia.

I'd love to debate this further but I've broken my arm and I'm on the next flight to Charles De Gualle to get some plaster of Paris.