How do you feel about the term "hick"?

How do you feel about the term "hick"?


  • Total voters
    35

RoryN

You're screwed.
Joined
Apr 8, 2003
Posts
60,588
It's obviously not a compliment.

But what's your understanding of the word, and how do you apply it?

(Poll to follow.)
 
someone not very bright who lives in a rural environment.

'hick from the sticks'.

I suppose given that black people are more frequently associated with urban settings since the 60s and 70s, it could be suggested that it tends to be directed at white people more than black, but that's ore to do with demographics.

I think the term is interesting because it's yet another example of how non-urban dwellers are seen as being inherently stupid, and that's pretty much a global thing.
 
It's obviously not a compliment.

But what's your understanding of the word, and how do you apply it?

(Poll to follow.)

Yes and no.

Just as black people might be okay with another black person using the "n" word, people who see themselves as "hicks" or "crackers" tend to refer to themselves and each other in that manner when outsiders are not around. It is polite society that has ascribed excessively nasty connotations to most descriptions of groups -- usually in order to co-opt its membership.
 
Yes and no.

Just as black people might be okay with another black person using the "n" word, people who see themselves as "hicks" or "crackers" tend to refer to themselves and each other in that manner when outsiders are not around.

1. I don't see "hick" being in the same category as "cracker". I think "cracker" is a racist term.

2. Both the groups you describe refering to themselves in derogatory terms based on race is reactionary to a racist society. These people have thus formulated their identity and attempted to turn negative identifiers into something resembling "pride". It's typically done by ignorant people, which is one of the many reasons intelligent people find words like "cracker" and "nigger" distateful. They not only want to help eliminate hurtful racial identifiers, but also the efforts to ascribe positive connotations to them - which, in reality, cannot be done.
 
I think hick is another term, like redneck, that was meant as a derogatory term to apply to people from rural areas. I'd only be guessing as to where, when or how the term came about. My guess is probably during the first or second world wars when young men from all walks of life were thrown together for the first time.

My take on hick, redneck, cracker (as suggested by another post) or any other "word" (N-word not used so as not to offend) is that a word is just that, a word. It has no power or strength unless "we" give it that power and strength to hurt and offend. If someone calls me a word meant to hurt, I try to laugh it off. Obviously, they aren't intelligent enough to express themselves without resulting to crude and ignorant rantings.

You want to insult me, at least use your brain. Don't say, blow me. Be creative, say "how can you speak with my dick in your mouth".
 
It's obviously not a compliment.

But what's your understanding of the word, and how do you apply it?

(Poll to follow.)

A hick is a person who buys a Pottery Barn rocking chair at a garage sale and then leaves it out in the rain for a year. This rocking chair is then sold to an urban dweller for about $200.

Hicks have managed to keep this scam going since the the Sears and Roebuck catalog listed rocking chairs.
 
I use it to describe anyone who wasn't born, raised nor lived in NYC!
 
I think hick is another term, like redneck, that was meant as a derogatory term to apply to people from rural areas. I'd only be guessing as to where, when or how the term came about. My guess is probably during the first or second world wars when young men from all walks of life were thrown together for the first time.

My take on hick, redneck, cracker (as suggested by another post) or any other "word" (N-word not used so as not to offend) is that a word is just that, a word. It has no power or strength unless "we" give it that power and strength to hurt and offend. If someone calls me a word meant to hurt, I try to laugh it off. Obviously, they aren't intelligent enough to express themselves without resulting to crude and ignorant rantings.

You want to insult me, at least use your brain. Don't say, blow me. Be creative, say "how can you speak with my dick in your mouth".


is there a rural town called Hicksville?

but you are wrong about words. words have power and meaning and shape people's lives and emotions. they not only denigrate but keep people in their place. reappropriating words like 'nigger', 'queer', 'crip(pple) and 'slut' may go some way to removing their power, but the power remains.
 
is there a rural town called Hicksville?

but you are wrong about words. words have power and meaning and shape people's lives and emotions. they not only denigrate but keep people in their place. reappropriating words like 'nigger', 'queer', 'crip(pple) and 'slut' may go some way to removing their power, but the power remains.

Yes, Hicksville, I remember it well,
Long Island, New York.
 
'nigger', 'queer', 'crip(pple) and 'slut'

Queer and slut describe lifestyle choices, the other two words describe things people have no control over. I don't think they are comparable.
 
Queer and slut describe lifestyle choices, the other two words describe things people have no control over. I don't think they are comparable.

homosexuality is a lifestyle choice? ok, if you want to take that approach, but the point is, is that the words are used to to denigrate, insult and keep in place, but have also been reappropriated by gays and women.
 
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