General "civilians"

[Deleted member 28812]

I noticed that my husband sometimes jokingly refers to people as "civilians" if they are backstabbing, unsolidaric, idiotic, ineffective, lazy, clueless or have a poor attitude - for example "He has no clue about tetris! Civilian!"

That guy is a tetris civilian in comparision to him - master of tetris.

I think this can be a bit offensive. How do others feel about this?

Sorry! I forgot to capitalize the first letter.

 

[Friday]

Lmao... I think it's hilarious. But I have clear bias.

 

[Deleted member 28812]

Sorry. I think I do not understand your comment.

 

[digger]

Lol! Loving that this is applied to how someone plays Tetris!! 'Tetris civilian!' has made my day!

 

[digger]

Sorry, in answer to your question, if it's said jokingly then no, I don't think it's offensive. And I have no military background or bias.

 

[Barberian]

If he has served in the military, I don't see any offence as long as it isn't used in a hateful or degrading manner. If he himself has never served, I think it's just comical. IMO the police get an honorable mention because they are a hybrid class of their own, neither military nor truly civilian.

 

[RussH]

I think most military and public safety persons refer to the others as civilians. They generally don't do it in a disrespectful way; it's just a way to say they are clueless in certain aspects of personal security or national defense.

i hear the term sheeple more frequently when it is referring to people who are absolutely clueless about safety and the dangers that abound in the world.
Is the term citizens offensive? It can be if its use is intended to be demeaning about the person or persons

 

[scout86]

One more vote for "I think it's funny". I've used the expression myself, when frustrated with clueless idiotic people, and I thought calling them "clueless idiots" would be a little rude.

 

[Deleted member 28812]

I think most military and public safety persons refer to the others as civilians. They generally don't do it in a disrespectful way; it's just a way to say they are clueless in certain aspects of personal security or national defense.

It's not about public safety or national defence. It's like "You can't take as much coffee as me - civilian", mumbling "Out of my way civilians" while pushing his shopping cart, "Civilians - always bickering instead of building one another up" (when friends argued about something stupid). Since we had our first child he had picked up the habit of calling childless people "civilians".

He doesn't use it in any military way but as a synonym for "clueless, idiotic people".

 

[scout86]

@Lemontree , I can't speak for your partner, but I use the expression when I'm using humor to deal with frustration. Maybe it would be better if things and people weren't pushing my buttons. But I can't make the buttons go away, and I generally can't make the people go away. All I can think to do is make a joke. You really don't want him calling people clueless idiots, do you?

 

[Deleted member 28812]

I am not thinking it is offensive to the idiotic people. It's bit offensive to anybody who never served (such as me) - or is it just me seeing it that way?

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I agree with you lemontree. I think others fail to see your point. He is using civilians as a derogatory term and as such I can see why it's upsetting. I would be a bit offended too.