The Off Topic Topic

[Duque de Bragança]

When you were twenty you used lecture us on the difference between Chavs and Charvas.   

 

"Fixed!"

Thanks, you've got a better memory than I do.

I think we were all much hipper to slang when we were young (for me it was a radical time; I was totally gnarly.)

You're welcome. 
That description somewhat fits me, I was never really into the verlan slang back then, much less now, even If I understand most of it.

For some reason i remembered the chav thing, don't ask me why.
Maybe the discovery of the chav phenomenon when I was in England, along with the comparison with the local racailles over here. 

[Josquius]

Charva is a long standing regular word in the north and chav was a big thing for a period way back when. Movies, major business decisions, government policy, etc...

I don't think these two compare to more niche "kids these days" terms like Stan.

[HVC]

Stan's been a thing for over 20 years

[Sheilbh]

Looks like the voice lost badly in the referendum in Australia - spoke with some who'd been campaigning for "yes" and organising Aussie ex-pat votes at a thing over the weekend who was a little heartbroken.

It needed a double majority of votes cast as well as at least 4 of Australia's six states voting yes (the Northern Territory, which actually has the largest proportional indigenous population, and Canberra - ACT - aren't states so don't count for that bit).

As it turned out no state voted to approve it and only Canberra/ACT did. Overall it looks like roughly 60/40 no. In terms of electorates/seats it basically seems that the only areas voting yes were a few urban electorates like Canberra but also in Melbourne and Sydney.

I think the whole approach to the voice was a bit mistaken which I think is part of why it failed. For example, the government hadn't actually set out how what the voice's role would be, how it would be elected and what powers if any it would have (which reminds me of the North-East regional assembly referendum here). That also led to a really difficult message for them of, on the one hand, saying it's very important and transformative for the lives of indigenous Australians - but it's only advisory and won't have any real powers. I think transformative change and reassurance are two very difficult messages for one campaign to straddle. I think both of those issues were also a challenge in Australia's republic referendum in 1999.

On that, speaking to the Aussie who was involved in the campaign, she said everyone had expected another republic referendum in a Labor second term (I think Albanese had set that as a rough timetable) - but given this loss they may just not want to do another referendum. So she guessed it would probably be at least another 10 years before they have a republic vote.

[Sheilbh]

Stan's been a thing for over 20 years

Yeah. We were literally in high school when that song was a thing.

Also I don't think charva is a Northern thing - I think it's a specifically North-East thing. Never heard it in Liverpool or Manchester, say

[Josquius]

The song Stan I absolutely remember from when I was a kid.
It's usage to mean a mega fan is modern however. Only a few years ago I encountered it for the first time.

Or maybe I'm wrong and this is another example of me not being old and merely being uninterested in the dithering of idiots from an early age? :p

[HVC]

The song Stan I absolutely remember from when I was a kid.
It's usage to mean a mega fan is modern however. Only a few years ago I encountered it for the first time.

Or maybe I'm wrong and this is another example of me not being old and merely being uninterested in the dithering of idiots from an early age? :p

It comes from hip hop and rap diss slang originally (alluding to the song). Also early 2000s. Definitely not new.

[Grey Fox]

I knew of Stan but I wasn't aware that it referenced Eminem.

No cap and cap are so stupid.

[Admiral Yi]

Canadian slang becoming cool 

That's so delightfully obscure and funky on so meany levels. 

Now that you guys have finally made it you can lose that chip on your shoulder. 

[HVC]

Now that you guys have finally made it you can lose that chip on your shoulder. 

Hoser

[Josquius]

An Irish exchange student in Germany

[Maladict]

Accurate 

[Barrister]

"Dart" means cigarette.  Heard on the street from kids mooching smokes.

Canadian slang becoming cool 

Is "dart" for cigarette really a Canadian thing though just because Yi hasn't heard it before?  But yeah I can remember people going out for a "dart" at least in the mid-90s.  Urban dictionary has a reference to it being an Australian slang word, but of course it's all used-generated content so who knows.

[Sheilbh]

I've definitely heard it from Aussies or on Aussie TV. Not sure who got their first

[Jacob]

I know it was a Northern Ontario thing in the 90s. Can't speak to Australia.

However, I expect the current spread into the US is due to Letterkenney - and thus Canadian slang even if Aussies also use the term.