A Freeper Just told me that the term TRAILER PARK TRASH is worst than the N word

[romantico]

We were debating global warming. He was mocking the fact 'An Inconvenienet Truth" was canceled due to a snowstorm. He then said somehting like how dumb Al Gore is. I told him its these idiots who take the term global warming too literal who are the idiots. Global warming causes the earth's atmosphere to warm up and causes irregular weather patterns such as extreme cold winters and extreme hot summers.I suggested he do some research before he mocks a subject he clearly knows nothing about. I referred to these people as ditto heads and trailer park trash. He then got upset and said Trailer PArk Trash is just as bad a "Nigger" or "Faggot". I laughed, shook my head, and said something like 'oh puh-lease!!!' Has anyone heard that before.

[Little Wing]

1. there's trash in every class of society

[JackRiddler]

17. Trash is everywhere... but "trailer park" refers to a class (as opposed to "Park Ave.") n/t

[bryant69]

2. Yes - and there's a grain of truth to it

I certainly don't know that looking down your nose at poor whites is much more honorable than looking down your nose at poor blacks.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Bluebear]

9. I don't like the phrase, but one refers to where you live, one refers to who you ARE.

The N word is not used just for "poor blacks" so to me it is far more vile a word.

[bryant69]

20. I tend to agree - also of course the N word has more history behind it

I don't know if that excuses terms like trailer trash or white trash or the like though - anymore than the existence of murder excuses mugging.

Bryant

[yurbud]

70. "trailer trash" was never preceded by "What's my bid on this..." or "you stupid..." while

being whipped.

or starting sentence with "Trailer trash aren't really human."

And someone having the power to act on those beliefs.

[bryant69]

72. Good point. I guess the existence of murder does excuse mugging after all

What was I thinking.

Screw poor whites.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Dorian Gray]

27. Agree...

I can't even say the "N" word. I can say the other. But, both are offensive.

[RebelOne]

62. I live in a mobile home and I resent the term "trailer park trash."

You do not have to be a poor person to live in a mobile home. I am a single woman, have a good job, a nice car and enough money not to have to live paycheck to paycheck. I choose to live where I do because the expenses are low. I own my own home and only pay lot rent of $322 a month including garbage pickup and water. Where else could you live any cheaper?

[Phredicles]

3. "'Cause insults that apply to me are worse than insults that apply

to other people".:eyes:

[yellerpup]

4. Well it is, darlin'

if you're trailer trash. ;)

[dogday]

5. Wow, I am impressed! You managed to get in 3 or 4

racist terms all in one post---:crazy:


Happy Valentine's Day:loveya:

[porphyrian]

Because they've only been called trailer park trash before, and they use the other terms. - n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. As bad as , no. But I live in a trailer park so I don't care for the other phrase

myself. It seems to stick to all people who live in parks, not just crass, ignorant people, and there's the rub.

[Gormy Cuss]

28. I agree, GPV. It's not as bad, but it's a crass generalization of people

who live in affordable housing. It's elitist.

[RebelOne]

63. I agree. I also live in a trailer park.

Most of us mobile home dwellers are not ignorant, foul-mouthed, beer-swilling, redneck Republicans.

[closeupready]

7. Among other things, it's not useful in furthering a dialogue. And also,

consider that many of those who reside in trailer homes are Democrats - I doubt they'd appreciate being referred to in that way.

However, it's not as bad as the n word or the f word, because of the unique bloody history behind those particular two words.

I just wouldn't use it anymore, if I were you. :)

[RB TexLa]

8. but don't they call each other trailer park trash?

[MemphisTiger]

12. Yes they do in the South

around here it's called white trash.

[hedgehog]

19. I understand many blacks use the N word in conversation with each

other too, but I would never dare use it. Racial epitaphs are often used within a group but have different meanings when used by an outsider. Many Italians will refer to themselves as a Dago, but again, an outsider would be wise not to use that word.

[RB TexLa]

22. That was the joke I was making out of it

[RebelOne]

64. I do not call my other mobile home park neighbors trailer park trash.

And I live in the South in Georgia.

[RB TexLa]

74. It was a joke, such as what some people say about the "N word"

since the phrase was being compared to that word

[Scout]

71. no, we don't. n/t

[RB TexLa]

75. see post 74

[mnhtnbb]

10. Absolutely. Especially in the south.

[asthmaticeog]

11. Whether it's less bad, as bad or worse than any other epithet is debatable

but it's arguably racist and certainly classist. It's not part of my vocabulary. And it doesn't help further any discussion to insult the people you're talking to.

[demnan]

13. I think its an unfair and insulting term

It doesn't argue your point either, and we have a lot of legitimate points to make on this issue. The trouble is, and this happens to me too, is that if you try to debate some people you just end up going down to their level of understanding. I believe that's what happended to you.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

14. Stick with "ditto heads"

It's the worst insult of all, and they chose the name themselves.

[natrat]

15. give em a mcmansion and a hummer and they are still shit

[JAbuchan08]

16. Having been raised in a trailer park

I'm not too enthused when people use that term. People will use it in front of my face because I am not evidently "trailer trash," but they sure change their tune when I tell them I grew up poor in a rundown mobile-home. It is certainly not as bad as the N word, but it isn't nice.

On edit: I had a professor of geology once who made an offhand remark about trailer parks in flood-plains being wiped out. It didn't help that I was probably the only kid in that school who had lived in that trailer. I'm not saying that "trailer trash" is a worse epithet than the N word, but I seriously doubt that he would have made a black joke in that context. In short. It. Hurt. Me.

[CBGLuthier]

18. may not be as bad but it is as bigoted

The term is bigoted.

[Dracos]

21. I don't know go down to a trailer park

start yelling trailer park trash then watch people of all color sexual preference maybe even different religions,and liberals & Conservatives unite and show you what they think of the name.
let us know how it goes

[hedgehog]

23. The trouble with the term white trash or trailer trash is that both

terms originated as a general term for those from poor families regardless of their behavior or morals. The implication is that these people are poor because of their bad breeding. If you've ever read Gone With the Wind, you'd believe the only poor white in Georgia was the girl who hung around with the Northern slave foreman.

[Union Thug]

24. I prefer "white trash". ;-) Many trailer parks are the only affordable place

for senior citizens to live, or for those who are benefitting from success of conservative economic policies. I lived in a trailer park once (Bush I era). Sure, there are those that fit the stereotype, but in general, I was surrounded by seniors and working stiffs with jobs that pay low wages and few, if any, benefits.

But to your point, no. TPT is not even in the same league with the N word.

[roamer65]

41. Delete.

[Goblinmonger]

25. It is pretty bigoted

on a classist level.

[Ishoutandscream2]

26. I personally don't like the term "trailer park trash"

and I do think it's demeaning. However, to compare that to the N and F words is going way too far. Haven't heard any lynching stories or hate crimes against so called "trailer park trash." No comparison.

[The Cleaner]

29. Spot on in your comment on global warming.

That is what so many global warming detractors say, isn't it? "Look, it's chilly outside! Global warming is false!" But yes, it does cause extremes - both hot and cold. And Al Gore dumb? Hardly!

I never considered "trailer park trash" to be racially-motivated. In my opinion (and no offense to anyone here) it's always been a sort of amusing andecdote - I've heard it on TV and so forth many a time and nobody has ever complained about it to my knowledge.

It most certainly does not hold the negative emotional and racial overtones of the N-word. For people who think it does I'd like to ask them, "Were white people ever mocked and called "trailer park trash" as they were hanged from a tree just for the color of their skin?"

[Goblinmonger]

32. If nobody complains about it

then certainly it must be OK.

So the step and fetch blacks on the early days of TV were fine since nobody must have complained.

It's bigoted and a stereotype. How can that be OK? You are assuming that because someone lived in a trailer park that they are uneducated, ignorant, members of society that have nothing to offer to the culture. But, hey, it makes for an amusing andecdote {sic} in comedy routines.

[The Cleaner]

44. Well maybe I'm wrong then, I'm just stating my personal experience.

Thank you for your comments, you made a good point. :)

[JAbuchan08]

36. If nobody complains about it its probably because they don't want to out

themselves as "trailer trash." I know that I never did, because I know what people think about "my kind" I know its not as offensive as the N-word, but it certainly is a hell of a lot more "acceptable." I wouldn't want to complain and show that I'm "thin-skinned" about being basically called worthless.

[eagler]

30. Anyone who uses either one of those labels puts the worst label

of all on themselves

[Bill McBlueState]

31. it's offensive, but not worse than the N word

Both terms are offensive, but one has hundreds of years of institutional oppression behind it, while the other is simply a thoughtless slur.

[DBoon]

33. when poor illiterate rural whites are being lynched

or beaten to death, then I might listen to their whining

Whites do not have a history of being bought and sold as though they were farm animals

Whites who assert their rights don't end up visited by white-sheeted goon squads bearing burning crosses.

When the right wing figures this out, call me. It will be a clueful day.

[brentspeak]

60. They're "whining" about being unfairly denigrated?

"white-sheeted goon squads bearing burning crosses."

???

This is 2007, not 1957. You're condemning an entire group of people for things their grandfathers did 50+ years ago.

"Whites do not have a history of being bought and sold as though they were farm animals"

You need to read up on your history. The Helots? Indentured servants?

[Ishoutandscream2]

67. Absolutely

"Trailer park trash" is a terrible term, but again, it's no comparison to the N word of F word. When we hear of lynchings of trailer park people or other hate crimes, then maybe we can have a dialogue. But until then, there is absolutely no comparison.

[Hobarticus]

34. Probably not going to win hearts and minds with that phrase, no...

But worse than the two examples he offered? No freakin' way.

[Bluerthanblue]

35. words hurt- it is best to use them carefully- "worse" is

relative. To the person you were arguing with, the slur you used was 'worse', likely because it was something that left them feeling vunerable.

The truth of global warming has to stand on facts- not on name calling. When we need to attack people rather than meet their arguments with facts and logic, we'd do best to quit there.

Easy to say, yet often hard to do.

I've been called "poor white trash" before- not something very uplifting- but over time, you come to understand that name calling usually happens when people run out of rational arguments. And that happens to us all eventually- I hope to learn how to quit before it decends into word fights...

peace,
blu

[JAbuchan08]

37. I want to put all the defenders of the term "trailer trash" on notice

you can kiss my trailer-trash ass the lot of you :mad: :mad:

[Burma Jones]

38. An African American Friend of mine once asked me what I meant

when I used the word White Trash. He hailed from Rural Louisiana and played football for LSU, got his degree and used it well. I said that I learned the term from my White Rural relatives and that, when I used it, it meant mostly laziness, ignorance and general bigotry...He said that he had heard it used by some of the white folks he grew up with as someone no better than "some nigger" - or even worse, someone that would date a black guy.....I told him I didn't mean it that way, that I would lay off the term and then we drank more beer.....

[Malikshah]

39. I'd say the same thing I said to Christians crying about persecution

When the lions are brought back, then come talk to me.

Trailer park trash as a term is insulting, but has not historically been tied to the lynching, mob killings, and systemic denial of rights of those who live in a particular environment and adhere to a particular ethos

In other words-- they need to get over themselves and understand the difference-- public humiliation seems a good choice.

[ljm2002]

40. While it's not *worse* than the N-word,...

...it's still demeaning. As someone who grew up fairly poor (although never went hungry), I find any term that is derogatory and applied to people of less means, to be offensive. Oh sure, there are people who live up to the label. And the ability to laugh at such terms is a good thing too (anyone else a fan of "My Name is Earl"?).

But in general, if I were debating global warming with someone, I would not accuse my opponents of being trailer park trash. It just does not further the discussion. The same does not apply to calling them dittoheads, since many of them are exactly that, choose to be that, and indeed call themselves that.

[leeroysphitz]

42. Both terms are offensive in thier own ways to their intended

recipients. The only real difference that I can see, IMHO, is that one of those groups has had to put up with being offended for far to long, far too often and the other group hasn't really had to put up with a similar level of offense. Ever.

[roamer65]

43. I bought a double-wide in a park...

because I didn't want to buy into an overheated housing market....and guess what? House prices around me have dropped around 2 times the value of my double wide. So what does that make me?
I would also add that my park is a deep blue Democratic stronghold. I chose the park because when I campaigned in 2004 for Kerry, the few * signs were spray painted over by the residents.

[Sparkle]

45. A wise investor?

:)

[roamer65]

46. Great pic, Sparkle.

I always love seeing that pic of Rumsfailed and Saddam as buddies.;-)

It's so 1984'ish.

[Sparkle]

73. Thank you!

:)

[Katherine Brengle]

47. Nah, my best friend was trailer trash growing up and even she thinks it's funny :D

Trailers are funny - they're houses... that you can attach to your car and drive away.

[JVS]

48. Not the same at all

Using nigger shows that the speaker considers themselves superior based on race.

Using trailer-park-trash shows that the speaker considers themselves superior based on economic class.

Completely different forms of bigotry.

[GirlinContempt]

58. But they're POOR

[RebelOne]

65. No, they are not. I live in a mobile home park and I am not poor.

I have a good job, a nice car and do not have to live from paycheck to paycheck.

[GirlinContempt]

66. The assumption behind the 'trailer trash' label is poverty

It's part of the insult

[MonkeyFunk]

49. It would be best

not to refer to any people as "trash", especially based on their housing.

[JVS]

53. oh, what fun would that be!?!

:sarcasm:

[Balbus]

50. Don't know about that, but you did lose the debate.

You're the one that started hurling insults around which pretty much means you were unable to counter his argument and had no other material. Maybe you'll get 'em next time.

[IdaBriggs]

51. I have an "ex-in-law" who fits the bill of "trailer park trash" but frankly,

she was trashy before she moved into the trailer park.

There are some very beautiful trailer parks, and they can provide very affordable housing. Then again, there are some very SCARY places, too.

The particular "ex-in-law" to whom I am referring is a very nice person, who is also a complete IDIOT. She has problems managing her money such that a need for maintenance (such as "new brakes") ALWAYS becomes a financial crisis upon which she much go to her children for help. (In her world, this is "God" providing for her, and she does not express gratitude or appreciation to them, but displays a sense of entitlement that is absolutely enraging to behold -- she and her husband both make more money than either of her daughters who have young children to support!)

The latest "self created crisis" started as follows: last year her furnace was found to be in need of repair. (This was early in 2006.) She and her husband decided they couldn't afford to fix it, so instead they began using a Kerosene space heater. Michigan has been surprisingly warm this winter, and despite the danger of the Kerosene space heater, again "fixing the furnace" was NOT a financial priority.

Then we got a "cold snap" in January 2007, and here's a shock -- the pipes froze! (Who would have thunk THAT could happen in Michigan???) So, now we have a situation as follows: The space heater can only get the trailer up to 40 degrees, and there is NO WATER. She became very upset that her grandchildren were not allowed over to visit during these conditions (which have now been going on for about two weeks).

Her daughters just bought her a new trailer (for One Hundred Dollars) with both a working furnace and running water. She will be giving a testimony about it in church this weekend. Its "proof" that the Lord always provides.

Did I mention that her financial tithing last year to the church of her choice ended up being to the tune of thousands of dollars? The furnace repair would have been about $400.

She's a very nice lady. She lives in a trailer. She's a complete idiot, but I guess God, in the form of her daughters, will continue to provide -- probably up until she burns the place down, or dies due to her own stupidity. (Did I mention the Kerosene space heater?)

:banghead:

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[in_cog_ni_to]

54. I really HATE the term "Trailor Park Trash." For some people, it's all they can afford to live in

As a child, my family lived in a trailor when we first moved to Illinois. It was all my parents could afford until I was 8 years old. That's when we moved to a house. It's a demeaning term. I dislike it just as much as *aggot or *igger. NONE of those words belong in any Liberal's vocabulary. Sorry.:(

[WI_DEM]

55. Both I find offensive but the "N" word is highly offensive

[WI_DEM]

56. I find "white trash" offensive to people of other races because

it is implying that most white people are not trash and that most other people of color are trash. Otherwise why not just call them "trash"? why "white trash"? Does that make any sense.

[brentspeak]

57. I agree with him. It's a disgusting, denigrating term to use. It's also implies black people are

"trash" by default. I don't see the point of ever using the phrase.

[sandnsea]

59. You used it to denigrate, yes?

Who the hell do you think you are to debase an entire group of people as trash based on their income status?

[NoPasaran]

61. No Viet Cong ever called me trailer park trash!

Just sayin'!

[yurbud]

68. when he's asleep tonight, go let the brake off his house and push it into traffic.

[Scout]

69. I'm somewhat offended by "Trailer Park Trash" ...

I wouldn't consider it as inflammatory as N*****, but it's still insulting. Also reveals the ignorance of the speaker, as many trailer parks are now very nice.

I know my park is quite nice, and many of the homes are large and well-landscaped, we have off-street parking, paved roads. In my area, a built house on a lot is outrageously expensive. I could never afford a stick-built home that is as many square feet as my trailer.

[nemo137]

76. I've never heard it said nicely.

In terms of social weight - no, it's not the same. In terms of history - I'd recommend reading up on white sharecropping and indentured servitude (how big chunks of my family came to this country), and there's a nice book of essays called, appropriately White Trash out there if you want a sociological perspective on it, but no, it's doesn't. But, in terms of the intent with which it's used - yeah, it's pretty much the same.

It's always used with this sense of surperiority, and usually this implication that it's who you are, and nothing you can do will change it. It puts you beneath the speaker.

Now, the guy you were talking to sounds like a bit of an idiot, but he's at least a little bit right on this one.

[treestar]

77. I've heard "white trash" which is interesting because they feel

the need to add the "trash" but then "black" by itself is not insulting, so maybe the "trash" is needed.

I imagine some who live in trailers would find it offensive, since there is nothing inherently inferior about living in one. An apartment may cost less, and the person with the trailer at least owns something, so that's some kind of stereotype.

There are many uneducated, poor white people. Insulting them as a group should be as bad as insulting any other underdog group.