THUG

[Cain]

I suspect the Daily Mail of using the concept of race in a more racially orientated way than anyone else, so that wouldn't be entirely surprising.  I mean, the paper supported the Nazis, and has only changed insofar as it now whines about liberal bias much more.

Also, it's worth watching the transatlantic meme trade.  While the Telegraph is most notable for this, with neoconservative themes (check out the Telegraph blogs section), the Mail imports a lot from the Tea Party and nativist right.  Melanie Phillips was trading in "Obama is a Kenyan Muslim Marxist" conspiracy theories before he was even President.

[Resigned Obligatorily]

I never thought thug was racial. More ghetto/rap than racial. I just though it meant physical bully, or brute force user.

To a young man, thug can even be a compliment. I used to despise those wankers. It seems to be more of a masculine thing. Even though those people are always ignorant ass holes, and they grow out of that after they realize that prison isn't the romanticized hardcore club that its made out to be.

You're right though, with an urban/racial context, especially for a woman, that would be quite insulting.
Its interesting how language transforms over time, and changes meenings depending on who you are and where you are in life.

[LMNO]

And she's older, so for her, if it DID have racial connotations, it would be way more appropriate for Dimo to be offended that me.

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION.

[Junkenstein]

I suspect the Daily Mail of using the concept of race in a more racially orientated way than anyone else, so that wouldn't be entirely surprising.  I mean, the paper supported the Nazis, and has only changed insofar as it now whines about liberal bias much more.

Also, it's worth watching the transatlantic meme trade.  While the Telegraph is most notable for this, with neoconservative themes (check out the Telegraph blogs section), the Mail imports a lot from the Tea Party and nativist right.  Melanie Phillips was trading in "Obama is a Kenyan Muslim Marxist" conspiracy theories before he was even President.

I wish to hear more on this meme trading. I can see the kind of thing you're talking about and I'd guess to to be more than a US/UK exchange. Look at how "Austerity" and various other things became political norms practically worldwide. Considering your thread from a couple of days ago it's almost tempting to say "Bilderberger". I refrain only because I can't prove shit but it would certainly make a lot of sense.

[Cain]

The British right take a lot of their cues from the American right.  They read their publications, and often repackage their material to better suit a UK audience (this normally involves toning it down and less God).  American thinkers set down the narratives, the Atlantacist Tories and similar interpret them for the native masses.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

In America, "thug" is the new way to say "young Black man whom you should be terrified of."

Media-wise.  On FB, etc, it's a little nastier.  On FB, "thug" is code for "shiftless criminal nigger".  This can be illustrated by posting a thread about Trayvon Martin.

I've done this, and wound up blocking a couple of dozen people that I thought were civilized.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

In America, "thug" is the new way to say "young Black man whom you should be terrified of."

Media-wise.  On FB, etc, it's a little nastier.  On FB, "thug" is code for "shiftless criminal nigger".  This can be illustrated by posting a thread about Trayvon Martin.

I've done this, and wound up blocking a couple of dozen people that I thought were civilized.

Yeah. It's a relatively new thing, and I think that it was the Trayvon case that pushed it over the top and out into the light. The "hoodies make young black men look like thugs" meme. Of course, hoodies = thugs is a brand new fabrication (before the shooting, hoodies = hipsters), and a kid of slight build is unlikely to be taken for an old-definition thug, but by the new definition, that of the no-good nigger, "thug" has been appropriated as a stand-in for a racial slur in America.

[Junkenstein]

Worth noting that the hoodies=thugs has been in the UK press since at least the late 1990's, so it's taken some time to cross over there. Again worth noting that the sterotyped "Thug" here is practically synonymous with "chav". I think that term made some headway over there but didn't get too far.

Out of curiosity, what kind of terms do you commonly see attached to white petty criminals? I'm wondering if the terms used for white people are more specifically about their economic circumstances. From what I see, they tend to be.

[LMNO]

what kind of terms do you commonly see attached to white petty criminals?

"Innocent"

[Pergamos]

Well, im far off from your context, but what comes to mind when thug is said is:

A) Blackwater mercenaries

B) Black ghetto gangbangers

So, although Blackwater probably is predominantly white for all i know, its interesting how in both cases the word "black" is in there, so maybe theres something semiotically going on. 

Kali is the black mother...

[Pergamos]

Worth noting that the hoodies=thugs has been in the UK press since at least the late 1990's, so it's taken some time to cross over there. Again worth noting that the sterotyped "Thug" here is practically synonymous with "chav". I think that term made some headway over there but didn't get too far.

Out of curiosity, what kind of terms do you commonly see attached to white petty criminals? I'm wondering if the terms used for white people are more specifically about their economic circumstances. From what I see, they tend to be.

In my experience it is usually about the drugs they use. 

[Salty]

what kind of terms do you commonly see attached to white petty criminals?

"Innocent"

 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

what kind of terms do you commonly see attached to white petty criminals?

"Innocent"

"Diversion"

 

[LMNO]

what kind of terms do you commonly see attached to white petty criminals?

"Innocent"

"Diversion"

 

"Affluenza"

[Cain]

Worth noting that the hoodies=thugs has been in the UK press since at least the late 1990's, so it's taken some time to cross over there. Again worth noting that the sterotyped "Thug" here is practically synonymous with "chav". I think that term made some headway over there but didn't get too far.

Out of curiosity, what kind of terms do you commonly see attached to white petty criminals? I'm wondering if the terms used for white people are more specifically about their economic circumstances. From what I see, they tend to be.

In my experience it is usually about the drugs they use.

As an outsider, I'd have to agree.  The first thing that came to mind was "meth-user" if lower class, or "family man" if middle class and married.