# How is the word Gerrymander used in the UK? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2022, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819 "2022-11-12T22:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/21 "2022-11-13T16:15:07Z")
I “saw” it as Eldridge. Funny. I think I’d heard about the hard ‘g’ before, but I’d forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/22 "2022-11-13T17:22:35Z")
The thing is, the bit that’s (believed to be) offensive about “jerry-rigged” is the “jerry”, as a slur against Germans. So if they’re making a different “jerry” pun, that’d be just as offensive, if that was their concern. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/23 "2022-11-13T18:03:23Z")
They are current day writers putting words in a post war character’s mouth for a current day audience. Nobody has been brought up thinking Gerrymander is offensive but may be taken out of the story if they hear their beloved nun say something they believe racist. They may have also just cocked up, it isn’t the best writing in TV. Sometimes a silly joke is just a silly joke. It was written for a British audience, not American. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/24 "2022-11-13T18:13:25Z")
Remember that jerry rigged/built is considered offensive not because of jerry but because of the believed implication that Germans can’t build anything decent. It is utter rot of course and not where the terms come from. Gerry for German is about as offensive as Canuck or yank or kiwi ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/25 "2022-11-13T18:51:06Z")
> [@Thylacine](#): > > Gerry for German is about as offensive as Canuck or yank or kiwi Canuck often is a pejorative. Senator Edmund Muskie’s bid for presidential nomination died after someone [forged a letter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canuck_letter?wprov=sfti1) in his name using the term “Canuck.” And Yank can be as well. Americans don’t go around calling themselves Yanks after all. And even “Yankee” is usually not used in a friendly manner (aside from the baseball club, and even that isn’t always friendly). So they’re very different than a simple nickname like Kiwi, which New Zealanders use to identify themselves. I have never heard of a German calling emself a Jerry, so whether or not that’s offensive, it’s not comparable to Kiwi. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/26 "2022-11-13T19:09:38Z")
nm, misread ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/27 "2022-11-13T19:12:09Z")
Poms do not mean offence or hear it at Yank. It is just a national nickname. Same here though we’re also likely to call you Seppos. Again, British show made for British audience using British lingo I get slapped in the face near everytime I come here with American usage of words far different to mine. Go on, root for a team or get pissed without alcohol. Sometimes NZers get annoyed with Sheep Shaggers so I picked the safer Kiwi. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/28 "2022-11-13T20:43:04Z")
I know I always bristle a bit when I hear a non-USian call us Yanks. It always seems to be said with a bit of a sneer. I’m not insulted, but I don’t like it much either. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/29 "2022-11-13T20:53:01Z")
I lived and loved over there, there is no sneer when I say yank. It is of course always possible to find offence when looking for it. Sister Boniface was not sneering when calling the visitors gerries to make a pun ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/30 "2022-11-13T20:58:14Z")
No personal accusations, and I didn’t notice any sneering in your tone. I’ve noticed in others’. Sister Boniface is basically a cream puff. Very murder-lite, with an emphasis on the lite. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/31 "2022-11-13T20:58:47Z")
> [@Thylacine](#): > > Sometimes NZers get annoyed with Sheep Shaggers so I picked the safer Kiwi. …I mean: “Sheep Shaggers” is obviously and unambiguously an insult. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/32 "2022-11-13T21:03:10Z")
I’m not sure it is fair to judge the sexual fetishes of other cultures by your own standards. They generally seem quite proud of the predilection ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/33 "2022-11-13T21:05:24Z")
> [@Thylacine](#): > > I’m not sure it is fair to judge the sexual fetishes of other cultures by your own standards. They generally seem quite proud of the predilection …just stop it already. You aren’t funny. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/34 "2022-11-13T21:09:05Z")
I am just making a point that different cultures have different standards and ways with words. A kiwi would give me back some insult regarding roos and we’d clink glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/35 "2022-11-13T21:13:02Z")
> [@Thylacine](#): > > A kiwi would give me back some insult regarding roos and we’d clink glasses. …I am a kiwi. And no I wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/36 "2022-11-13T21:17:37Z")
Well then we won’t go out drinking. Easy. You must admit that it is rarely said with particular malice but it is often said. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/37 "2022-11-13T21:19:44Z")
> [@Thylacine](#): > > You must admit that it is rarely said with particular malice but it is often said. …it isn’t “often said.” Not around here. And whether or not it is said with malice is entirely dependent on who was saying it. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/38 "2022-11-13T21:27:22Z")
The NZHerald recognises it is common [Google 'confirms' All New Zealanders are sheep shaggers - NZ Herald](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/google-confirms-all-new-zealanders-are-sheep-shaggers/5VYHTFSYS46UXFAN5RBKONPEQE/) But I shall end the sidetrack, it was not my intention to offend. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/39 "2022-11-13T21:34:28Z")
> [@Thylacine](#): > > The NZHerald recognises it is common [Google ‘confirms’ All New Zealanders are sheep shaggers - NZ Herald](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/google-confirms-all-new-zealanders-are-sheep-shaggers/5VYHTFSYS46UXFAN5RBKONPEQE/) …it recognizes that google pulls the response from the top search result: nothing more. Its a tired, loathsome stereotype that hasn’t every been funny. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819/40 "2022-11-13T21:40:05Z")
I was referring to the first sentence “ It remains the Aussies’ favourite putdown for Kiwis” but ok. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-word-gerrymander-used-in-the-uk/974819.md?page=3)