Brexiteer - is it an insult?

[badass]

I was surprised to see that some see the term brexiteer as an insult so I thought I'd gauge opinion. Is it only seen as an insult by those who strongly believe in Britain leaving the EU only? Is it seen as an insult by all? Lets see!
Appreciate it doesn't cover all options. I'd be here all day if the poll were to.

[PC-LAD]

What if i said i don't believe in anything?

[Smudger]

Brexiteer invokes images of a man in a rocket suit, flying around telling us we'd be better off outside the EU.

[Saracen999]

My view, which isn't on the list, is that, like Remoaner, whether it is insulting in the eyes of those it's aimed at, likely isn't the same as the view of those using it.

BUT .... a lot depends on context.

There are many,, many terms (and I don't mean political groups) that have gone from non-insulting to insulting by the use of context, ... and a history of loaded use.

One such example is "paki". At one point, it was simply a short-form version of pakistani, until fascist racists corrupted it to an offensive term, especially if used by a non-pakistani.

Another term wpuld be "gay", which went ftom meaning happy to a loaded term denigrating sexual orientation and definitely used perjoratively. More recently, though, the term seems to have been rehabilitted and used with pride .... and by Pride.

The common factor in these seems to be the intent of the person using it. If it's used often enough, with the intent of being insulting, then sooner or later the assumption is made that the intent in uxingvit was offense, even if that wasn't the intent of the user.

The problem is that the person feeling offended often doesn't know the intent of the user.

In my opinion, neither Brexiteer nor Remoaner are offensive, though both are certainly capable of being used in a loaded way. Sometimes, it's a bit like what used to be called silent (or dumb) insolence .... officers knew they were being dissed but as it wasn't overt, it was hard to do much about. Officially, at least.

It's also a bit like certain usages of the rolleyes smiley - it certainly can be used in a passive/aggressive manner.

So no, I don't find Brexiteer offensive .... though I know some that use it with that intent. I also don't intent offensive when I've used Remoaner in the past, but some seem to think it is which is why I stopped using it.

It's all in the intent.

Face to face, we're all (or, almost all) better at decoding facial expression, body language and tone of voice to deduce intent.

Calling someone an a-hole with a sneering expression, in a tense standoff in a pub might start a fight, but calling a mate that's just done something daft, with a laugh, is entirely different.

You just can't tell any of that in a text format, on a forum post.

[Top_gun]

I really like to know how the moderators thought the word 'Brexiteer' is an insulting word. I mean a soldier who fires a musket is called a musketeer. This is similar to a Brexit person wanting to leave hence called Brexiteer. Where on earth is that name calling?

Are we going to be barred from using the word 'Leaver' as well? Good grief.

ETA: As for the word Remoaner, yes it is designed to be disparaging. It is a word where any reasonable minded Remainer needs to voice their concerns.

[Ferral]

See the way I interpret this is Brexiteer is just the same as leaver and does not imply anything. However, Remoaner is not the same as remainer as it implies moaning as they do not agree with someone that wants to leave and it is mostly used to belittle and discredit reasonable discussion

[Galant]

I'd say most of this is intention, however, in media use I get the impression it carries a negative connotation - those who are 'card carrying' leavers, ie, un-reasonable/almost bigoted. Where it's used of politicians involved in delivering Brexit it seems less a slight and more a description of how enthusiastic they are towards that goal. However, I don't recall ever hearing it used for a regular person without the idea that that person can't be reasoned with.

I think 'Leave Voter' is more neutral.

[Zak33]

What if i said i don't believe in anything?

I'd say you were looking at the wrong universe.

[Corky34]

I don't have an option, IMO "eer" could be considered a pejorative in the modern context, "er" would not. However i also believe insult/offense is in the eye of the beholder due to us all being different, with different lives and different upbringings, so what one person considers to be an insult/offense may not be shared by others, it's contextual.

[Top_gun]

I'd say most of this is intention, however, in media use I get the impression it carries a negative connotation - those who are 'card carrying' leavers, ie, un-reasonable/almost bigoted. Where it's used of politicians involved in delivering Brexit it seems less a slight and more a description of how enthusiastic they are towards that goal. However, I don't recall ever hearing it used for a regular person without the idea that that person can't be reasoned with.

I think 'Leave Voter' is more neutral.

The media uses actual examples of racism when discussing incidents with certain architects of Brexits. For example, Boris Johnson faced criticism over his Burka letter box jibe. Michael Gove was in the news for defending Jeremy Clarkson use of the N word. Nigel Farage caused controversy over his criticism on the royal family with racial undertones. These incidents have very little to do with the word Brexit. And of course, these architects of Brexit will claim they're not racist.

[Spreadie]

No. Brexidiot is, as is remoaner, but I equate Brexiteer with Leaver rather than see it as a slur.

I'd tend towards saying Leaver in most cases though, because I think the term Brexit is an affront to English - like Brangelina, or Phablet.

[Ttaskmaster]

As Saracen says, it depends on context.
As Brits, we can take one word or sentence and use it or speak it in exactly the same way, and yet mean a hundred different things, all dependent upon just the context of the situation.

Personally, I'd need a fifth voting option, along the lines of 'I have given up caring'.

[Galant]

The media uses actual examples of racism when discussing incidents with certain architects of Brexits. For example, Boris Johnson faced criticism over his Burka letter box jibe. Michael Gove was in the news for defending Jeremy Clarkson use of the N word. Nigel Farage caused controversy over his criticism on the royal family with racial undertones. These incidents have very little to do with the word Brexit. And of course, these architects of Brexit will claim they're not racist.

Not sure what that has to do with the term Brexiteer. Whatever else those politicians or others are guilty of, that would seem to be an issue aside the meaning of or intention behind using the term in question.

[peterb]

Only if you choose to take it as one. There is nothing to stop you walking away from it.

But the final decision will be by the moderation/admin team, (taking advice as required from the site owner) looking at context.

Suffice it to say that anyone responding to it as if it is an insult is unlikely to get much sympathy from the team.

This should correctly be interpreted as a warning.

[Zak33]

Personally, I'd need a fifth voting option, along the lines of 'I have given up caring'.

I never began

I agree that it's an abuse of the English language but given time even then it becomes part of daily language, as we have a languange nuanced and infludenced by hundreds of years of language changes.

It is a word - everyone is too easily offended by things not meant to offend. And those who throw offence around, will be removed.

Simple rules for everyone

Be nice to people and stay.. or don't be nice and leave

[TooNice]

The term itself is not an insult. To me it is anyone who favour brexit. Irrespective on whether they voted for it, though I am not sure if the later part is widely accepted definition. But I think that it is relevant because just as there are would-be remain voters there are likely would-be brexit voters not eligible to vote at the time of the election, but hold firm views on the subject. Likewise, someone may have voted one way, only to change their mind, perhaps strongly so. It would be unlikely that said person would associate him/herself as a whatever they voted at the time + er.

Unlike "remoaner", and indeed "brexidiot" etc. the term doesn't contain anything derogatory in itself. Now given how entrenched each side's beliefs are, one may well associate the opposing terms with negative connotations (traitors, racists etc. etc.) to the point that that it may feel insulting for a brexiter to be accused of being a remainer or vice-versa (seldom happens, but may in the context of a moderate brexiter or remainer pointing out someone on the same side that they are taking certain points too far), but that is not to do with the term itself.

I would rather be called a "remoaner" than a "leave voter" despite one being clearly intended to insult / belittle while the other is a very politically correct way of describing someome who voted leave. Leaver / remainer has become an identity of sort, and any kind of identity likely count for more than petty insults.

Tldr: as far as I am concerned brexiter <=> remainer. Neither are insulting terms.