something which I am now wondering about
Dec. 11th, 2011 05:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brushwolfIf someone calls you "Chief" in conversation, what does that mean?
1. They don't think you work or work hard enough, and it's sort of insulting.
2. They assume you were a commissioned officer, which could be intended as insulting.
3. They assume you're Native American for whatever reason.
4. Something else, maybe just unconscious speech patterns, 'cause they don't know your name.
1. They don't think you work or work hard enough, and it's sort of insulting.
2. They assume you were a commissioned officer, which could be intended as insulting.
3. They assume you're Native American for whatever reason.
4. Something else, maybe just unconscious speech patterns, 'cause they don't know your name.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-12 02:22 am (UTC)They're weird.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-12 05:42 am (UTC)Honestly, it's always meant in a "disarmingly friendly" fashion – you know, the sort of familiar thing that's said to be cheerful and non-threatening. I also say "dude" and "kiddo" a lot in the same way.
Well...
Date: 2011-12-12 08:48 am (UTC)That word is really context-sensitive. You have to look closely to see whether it's a compliment, an insult, or just a title.