Being that this conversation hasn't died out yet. I thought I'd add a few more thoughts I skipped earlier. I've spot checked this thread a few times, and it is kind of eating at me.
Being retired military, I've heard and used the term "civilian" in many contexts. The community I belonged to often referred to civilians in many regards. Usually it was in a positive manner. Often though, it was that civilians are spoiled,and know not the sacrifices they didn't have to suffer for their freedom. The long deployments, the time away from family, the missed holidays, birthdays, anniversaries with family, so many other much deeper sacrifices (a friends death, their own health and/or sanity). So many other sacrifices I won't mention here. The term also implied working with civilians is like trying to herd cats. They lack organizational skills, don't work well as a team, accept directions, always have to massage the ego to get anything done, etc. (regardless of how you feel about this statement, try looking at it from a service members perspective before you get offended).
The military has a chain of command structure, rules to follow (with harsh consequences for failure to follow them), a sense of teamwork, a sense of family, that few who haven't served can truly understand. Yes, civilians can understand to a limited degree, but it's like a man trying to say he understands what it is like be pregnant and to give
birth... A woman would laugh at him for such a statement.
There are other "communities" that have a similar sense of community. Aside from emergency services (police, ambulance, emergency room medical personnel) I find their comparisons humorously inadequate and overly grandstanding. A civilian car mechanic may have a sense of brotherhood with other mechanics and laugh at non mechanics trying to claim they know what is wrong with a poorly running car, it is nothing, NOTHING like being in the military in a war zone.
I wish I could explain to "civilians" what they are missing out on, but unless you experience it, it's just a vague concept. Most unrelated civilians don't work well as a team, accept directions, put others needs before their own for the benefit of the team. Yes there are exceptions, but as a general rule... not so much. Many people who think the previous description fits them, would have their eyes not only opened, but their eyelids would stretch over their heads like a reverse hoodie.
My wife is really into going to Renfairs (Renaissance fairs) and role playing with elaborate victorian costumes she makes herself. That community has a term of "Mundane" for the general population that isn't into Renfair and/or dressing up in costume and roleplaying. A sense of community within a community is fine IMHO. Everyone wants to "belong" to a community.
IMHO one civilian (past, present and future) calling another civilian a "civilian" is pathetically laughable to me.
Did I and others I knew use the term in a derogatory way? Usually not. A lot of what mattered was how badly the civilian pissed us off at the moment. Then it was simply an expression of anger, not hatred or contempt. Often it was more of a statement of disappointment. That most of humanity just doesn't "get it".
My 2 copper.
