# What does "not a punk" mean to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134 "2015-10-10T11:16:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/21 "2015-10-11T04:31:38Z")
Punks are also noted for feeling lucky, although it sometimes turns out that they are not. ---
**Author:** ![TheSpeculationElucidation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@TheSpeculationElucidation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSpeculationElucidation)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/22 "2015-10-11T07:21:39Z")
A few people in my circle of friends have spent time in jail or prison. They viewed ‘Punk’ as a HUGE insult, and one of them explained to me that in prison it means a submissive prisoner who is used by other inmates for sexual gratification. Friends who have not spent time incarcerated say that Punk is generally used referring to someone younger than us who thinks they’re tough, but really aren’t. That, or someone who is involved in the Punk music scene. I’ve never heard it used as gay terminology - aside from the context of prison, which is more rape than it is homoerotic. “Not a punk” to me would mean someone who doesn’t give an air of dominance all the time. Ie. A guy who doesn’t feel the need to overcompensate. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/23 "2015-10-11T10:49:56Z")
“Not a punk”=“Not a little douche” ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/24 "2015-10-11T11:11:33Z")
Yeah, to me a punk is someone (probably a young guy) who talks big, thinks he knows everything and acts like the toughest thing in town, but who actually doesn’t have a clue and will crumble if he comes up against anyone with real knowledge or strength. No sexual connotation at all. ‘Not a punk’ means someone who actually knows what he’s talking about and puts his energy into getting stuff done, rather than strutting around trying to impress people. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/25 "2015-10-12T15:50:13Z")
Outside of the musical definition, if you called someone a punk I would think you meant they were unproductive, ignorant, and probably over-confident. Not someone you would want to depend on. I’ve never heard of it being associated with sexuality. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/26 "2015-10-12T17:00:40Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > “Not a punk”=“Not a little douche” Yeah, this. Never heard punk to mean anything having to do with sexuality. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/27 "2015-10-12T18:12:39Z")
I grew up associating punk with the music scene but even then if I’d heard and adult use the term I’d know they were talking about a troublemaker. A punk is always young(ish) and not quite as threatening as a gangster. So somewhere between a ne’er do well and a ruffian. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/28 "2015-10-12T21:00:27Z")
Is English not Employee B’s first language? That’s a pretty interesting interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/29 "2015-10-13T00:03:47Z")
I’ve heard it two ways; coward and asshole. The former is how I usually mean it should I use the term. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/30 "2015-10-13T00:08:46Z")
To me, a “punk” is a rebel, typically young, with a tendency to resist authority even if the rules are rules for a reason. I’ve never heard of it being a dogwhistle. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/31 "2015-10-13T00:13:49Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > A punk is a snot-nosed brat, hard ass wannabe who needs to get his ass kicked (sometimes literally) to learn some respect. This. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/32 "2015-10-13T00:37:19Z")
\*Lt. Bradshaw: All right, Danger, where’s the fire? Nick Danger: In your eyes, Lt. Bradshaw. Bradshaw: Don’t get smart with me, Danger. You’re lucky we didn’t bust you on the Anselmo Pederasty case. Danger: Look, you caught the guy, didn’t you? Bradshaw: Yeah, but the punk got away. No thanks to you.\* “Punk” used in the sense of “catamite.” I learned the Firesign Theatre routine many years before I was equipped to understand the exchange. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/33 "2015-10-13T01:17:41Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > \*Lt. Bradshaw: All right, Danger, where’s the fire? > > Nick Danger: In your eyes, Lt. Bradshaw. > > Bradshaw: Don’t get smart with me, Danger. You’re lucky we didn’t bust you on the Anselmo Pederasty case. > > Danger: Look, you caught the guy, didn’t you? > > Bradshaw: Yeah, but the punk got away. No thanks to you.\* > > “Punk” used in the sense of “catamite.” I learned the Firesign Theatre routine many years before I was equipped to understand the exchange. I learned the dialog back in the 70s and just now realize what they were saying. Ignorance fought (it is taking a long time…) ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134/34 "2015-10-19T23:51:07Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Punks are also noted for feeling lucky, although it sometimes turns out that they are not. I didn’t mean _everytime_; I meant like…oh…today… Well, how about it? Do they feel lucky today? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-not-a-punk-mean-to-you/734134.md?page=1)