What do you think of when you think of "white trash"?

[nintendofan85]

I realize this is probably a controversial topic, but it's something that I've been discussing with my friends and family members recently.
A lot of people think of white trash as being those that live in trailers who are very poor. I second that view, but I also see most white trash those that abuse welfare, having no desire to work, and also being very manipulative and abusive people (experiences that my family can attest to, and I grew up in the South BTW). What do you think of when you hear the term?

 

[Bcat]

Judging people who you don’t know

 

[Tessie]

but I also see most white trash as living on welfare

LOL

guess im white trash then.

 

[kayleee]

Uneducated racist white people are what I consider “white trash”

 

[RedTropicalPeachyFish]

I think living on welfare isn't trashy while no desire to work is. Welfare system exists to help people who need it. It's one of the proof of being civilized society. Using it when you need it has nothing to do with trashy. And trashy people are not only in whites, there are regardless of the race. So, why it has the prefix "white"? Or is it just that I don't know but there are terms like "black trash"or "Asian trash"???

 

[Reginald Fairfield]

Me, Kid Rock, the movie Joe Dirt. Adult Swim used to have a show used to have a show mocking white trash Squidbillies, many loved it and comment on it's accuracy.

 

[Croconaw]

I realize this is probably a controversial topic, but it's something that I've been discussing with my friends and family members recently.
A lot of people think of white trash as being those that live in trailers who are very poor. I second that view, but I also see most white trash as living on welfare, having no desire to work, and also being very manipulative and abusive people (experiences that my family can attest to, and I grew up in the South BTW). What do you think of when you hear the term?

Honestly, my views are the same as yours. As soon as I looked at your threat, exactly what you wrote is what came to my mind. I hate to admit this, though. It is sad that the stereotypical south, trailers, and poor people come to mind.

 

[Buttonsy]

I never realized that "white trash" was a slur against poor people until I looked up the definition for this topic, the way people used it, I always assumed it was a term for stupid racists. Kinda feeling uncomfy with this topic as a person on welfare TBH, haha.

 

[MasterM64]

As white guy who has lived in the southeastern U.S. their whole life, when I think of "white trash", I think of very ignorant white people who spend their money on things that is absolutely detrimental to their health or are a absolute waste like cigarettes, drugs, tattoos (it drives me crazy when I see people complain about not having enough money when they keep adding more tattoos which are not cheap), etc. and live impoverished due to their bad & ignorant actions. A lot of them also don't work because they are too lazy to or they work a minimum wage job & don't know how to utilize their income correctly. I think a combination of those 2 points is true for a lot of people who are impoverished as well regardless of ethnicity, but not all since some people are impoverished because of something they had no control over. I guess another way of describing white trash is a ghetto white person in the simplest terms.

 

[Link93]

Just awful people who just happen to be white. The stereotypical people living in a dirty RV park with their trailer and guns with maybe two kids who are also holding guns because all that is in their head is "MeRiCa!" Also living on welfare and disability even though they technically don't even need disability because they fell once and pretend to still be hurt and have no desire to get a job either. Probably take a shower once every two weeks and stay in dirty tank tops and shorts in the summer. Not to mention probably racists and bigots who always want to poke their nose into nothing that is their business.

 

[nintendofan85]

I think living on welfare isn't trashy while no desire to work is. Welfare system exists to help people who need it. It's one of the proof of being civilized society. Using it when you need it has nothing to do with trashy. And trashy people are not only in whites, there are regardless of the race. So, why it has the prefix "white"? Or is it just that I don't know but there are terms like "black trash"or "Asian trash"???

I agree with your view on welfare. Welfare was created by Lyndon B. Johnson for temporary use however, not abuse. That's why Bill Clinton did major reform to welfare in the '90s.