General Discussion

Igel

(37,543 posts)

45. It dates from the 1780s or before.

Mon May 7, 2018, 07:02 PM

May 2018

Britain.

Refers, apparently, to convicts shipped to N. America and their offspring. The coinage seems to have little to do with cracking the whip, except in the realm of folk etymology. Sort of like the folk etymology that I used to hear ascribed to "picnic", which also has little bearing on the truth. Perhaps individuals' truths, whatever that means, but not to any historical accounting.

"Cracker" in N. Florida apparently has a different etymology.

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Is it ok to call me a cracker? After all my skin [View all] wasupaloopa May 2018 OP

Keep punching down, DU. bettyellen May 2018 #1

My thought, exactly. I just don't get it. marble falls May 2018 #6

What does punching up or down mean? wasupaloopa May 2018 #14

I'm not here to educate you abot commonly used terminology. BTW, you're on the net. No reason to bettyellen May 2018 #18

Well thanks for putting me in my place wasupaloopa May 2018 #25

I'm using the term correctly, so if you care to learn- go and learn! No one is stopping you bettyellen May 2018 #39

If I give the benefit of the doubt Bob Loblaw May 2018 #62

You're correct. Also I do not, as a habit, give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to JAQ bettyellen May 2018 #73

I don't know what punching up or down means either. I find giving clarification when asked uppityperson May 2018 #27

It's a fairly long answer, and more easily found and trusted ignorant a person does their own bettyellen May 2018 #41

Thank you. That's along what I thought but didn't want to assume uppityperson May 2018 #44

Of course. I pretty much can tell when someone's genuinely wants to know something bettyellen May 2018 #46

I don't know how common it is, but outside of rising bread Drahthaardogs May 2018 #48

Discussing satire it is super common- a basic concept about speaking truth to power VS bettyellen May 2018 #52

Whatever... Drahthaardogs May 2018 #57

Hmm, joking about isn't always oppression. Punching down is more specific and a better descriptive. bettyellen May 2018 #74

Because it sounds stupid Drahthaardogs May 2018 #75

Because you didn't know about it, it's stupid. Even though it's much more accurate than your bettyellen May 2018 #84

Nah, it just sounds stupid Drahthaardogs May 2018 #86

It's not because anyone is "so educated", LOL. They're just looking for the most accurate terms bettyellen May 2018 #88

Oh yes, bullying isn't oppression Drahthaardogs May 2018 #89

You do understand that these terms are used to describe humour? I'm not even sure you do. bettyellen May 2018 #90

It's " humor", you're on an American political board Drahthaardogs May 2018 #92

So sorry for using the anglicized spelling... glad you could work that out. But punching down bettyellen May 2018 #93

You took time to say you're not here to answer the question? You know what's coming next... Beartracks May 2018 #53

As the poster shows elsewhere in this thread, they don't want to take anyone's word for answers.... bettyellen May 2018 #59

Punching down. Caliman73 May 2018 #33

Those terms mean shit. eom MoonRiver May 2018 #66

I only punch back Loki Liesmith May 2018 #76

* not your problem, so who cares, eh? *. Nice! bettyellen May 2018 #85

I thought "cracker" was a term used WhiteTara May 2018 #2

My take too. I guess I was frogmarch May 2018 #5

Yep, it has nothing to do with the things you eat ProudLib72 May 2018 #42

It dates from the 1780s or before. Igel May 2018 #45

Florida cracker trof May 2018 #55

Very interesting. WhiteTara May 2018 #72

It is. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2018 #81

I was always told that frogmarch May 2018 #3

Yeah that's a just-so story Loki Liesmith May 2018 #77

Sigh... fleabiscuit May 2018 #4

Don't ask this cracker wypipo HopeAgain May 2018 #7

God damn if you didnt take the words straight outta my MOUTH Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #10

Mostly a question of what they'd learn. Igel May 2018 #47

. ismnotwasm May 2018 #8

Cracker is a derisive term created for poor White people by rich White people Caliman73 May 2018 #9

Where did all that come from? wasupaloopa May 2018 #12

Sociology 101, so we have punching down and denigrating the educated... bettyellen May 2018 #16

What the hell are you saying? wasupaloopa May 2018 #20

Sociology? That's like psychology only p- values are even Drahthaardogs May 2018 #50

This thread has become an ignorance is bliss playpen. Have a blankie, take a nap.... bettyellen May 2018 #54

I once had a psychologist say "See we are both scientists" Drahthaardogs May 2018 #58

And non sequitors about psychologists are germane because... oh, they are not! LOL bettyellen May 2018 #60

It was like a chiropractor telling a neurosurgeon Drahthaardogs May 2018 #63

I don't go for being derailed. Start a thread about it if it matters to you. bettyellen May 2018 #65

Well, you were the one who was rather condescending Drahthaardogs May 2018 #67

So you're seriously denigrating sociology as a field of study - or just lashing out because of bettyellen May 2018 #69

It's not exactly the Bastion of Science Drahthaardogs May 2018 #71

Perhaps it is. Is there a problem with that? Caliman73 May 2018 #17

Why does anyone have to accept your view wasupaloopa May 2018 #21

It's a fancy new sociology term. shenmue May 2018 #22

Who says they do? Caliman73 May 2018 #23

I have as much right be preoccupied as anyone. wasupaloopa May 2018 #24

Not planning on going away. Caliman73 May 2018 #26

Answer this without the wise cracks wasupaloopa May 2018 #30

It's a new fangled theory being pushed.. EX500rider May 2018 #36

Systemic racism is a theory now, is it? I can't even. bettyellen May 2018 #49

Institutional racism is not the same as plain racism which can be practiced by anybody.. EX500rider May 2018 #56

Racism is the belief that your own race is superior to others. Caliman73 May 2018 #37

There is that study or poll where a number of white people think treestar May 2018 #35

I've seen the poll. Caliman73 May 2018 #43

Power doesn't work that way. Loki Liesmith May 2018 #78

... but you don't have to call me Johnson..... marble falls May 2018 #11

Sad to see this on DU left-of-center2012 May 2018 #13

Crackers. NCTraveler May 2018 #15

Saltine Americans SaintLouisBlues May 2018 #19

LMAO John Fante May 2018 #28

There it is--levity!!! Sugar Smack May 2018 #31

I'm not sure, but I think you're being divisive EffieBlack May 2018 #29

;) sheshe2 May 2018 #61

Heh. betsuni May 2018 #70

I thought that was only a segment of white people lol treestar May 2018 #32

Here's an interesting article from Wikipedia concerning the term "cracker." Glorfindel May 2018 #34

Yes, that is what I heard the definition came from here in Florida. EX500rider May 2018 #38

We are all crackers with the lights out. nt Kirk Lover May 2018 #40

I'm a vanilla oreo vercetti2021 May 2018 #51

Your fake dead girlfriend says "hi" wellst0nev0ter May 2018 #64

We should address people as they wish to be addressed. Buzz cook May 2018 #68

+1 sandensea May 2018 #82

anyone who calls you a cracker simply for being white, and not knowing your philosophy is a Exotica May 2018 #79

The phrase is short for whip cracker Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2018 #80

Like I said... LexVegas May 2018 #83

I'm a nilla wafer. Oneironaut May 2018 #87

Any slang name besides what you are is wrong sarah FAILIN May 2018 #91