Greb
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Chilton is a big greb
Greb (sometimes Greebo) is popular slang term that originated in England but is now used throughout the United Kingdom. It is usually used when referring to a subcultural stereotype of a person with:
- a liking of Rock music;[citation needed]
- fashion that shows the genre and/or music artists that they like;[citation needed]
- a culture of social behaviour.[citation needed]
- long hair [citation needed]
In this mostely post modern and pre modern world, modernism is not modern at all like modern classism, Grebs are often seen[citation needed] as the enemies of Townies and Chavs.
Greb can also mean to spit or saliva itself.[citation needed]
The number of 'Grebs' around the country has risen considerably in recent years.[citation needed] Unlike chavs, they tend to come from all backgrounds and aren't normally involved in overly aggressive behaviour although some may take drugs, smoke and/or have underage sex.[citation needed]
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[edit] Etymology
The word "greb" is likely to draw its origin from the Baltic word greb meaning "to bury". This word may have been chosen for the reason that grebs are known to bury what is seen as the modern fashion - they attempt to create their own tastes and likes, though in recent years they have become much less individual.[citation needed]
As always, folk etymologies appear to explain the word "greb". These include backronyms, such as "Genuine, Respectful, Educated, Befriending" though it is unlikely that these are true. Another possibility is that the word "greb" came from a leader of the culture with 'Greb' as a surname, though this is an unlikely possibility.[citation needed]
Though another and more likley origin, is the term, Greebo, which refers to bikers from older decades, and the term Greebo is sometimes used instead of greb to insult.
[edit] Usage
Though there are many people throughout the world who appear in British culture to be Grebs, the word seems not to have spread very far - and most people would include themselves as punk, emo or goth in other countries. In Britain, however, it is now much more common to see anybody listening to Rock music being labeled as a Greb, even if they do not fit into the category.[citation needed] Greb is often used as an offensive term by townies/chavs/barrys etc. but is now being more widely used by Grebs themselves.[citation needed]
[edit] Greb fashion
The fashions of the Greb culture used to be relatively simple.[citation needed] Most Grebs in the late 1990s wore black clothes, which may include hooded jackets, self-modified jeans and shoes, however as they were individualists, many disliked wearing this style of clothes and their fashion may have appeared to resemble anything from Goth to townie.[citation needed] Now most Grebs don't care for "labels" and wear what ever suits them, most wear baggy trousers, long t-shirts and converses/skate shoes but there fashion and be a wide variety of styles.[citation needed] They try to be individual and be different. Arm wear has become increasingly popular in Greb and emo fashion.[citation needed]
In recent years, however, there has appeared a general theme for fashion amongst the "Greb culture", which is that of a "hoodie", jeans and Converse shoes. Many modern Grebs have been absorbed into a culture that includes skateboarding and drinking alcohol, sometimes underage.[citation needed]
[edit] Modern Grebs
The typical Modern Greb stereotype includes:
- The wearing of particular clothing, such as:
- Hoodies, usually emblazoned with a band logo.[citation needed]
- Jeans, almost never fake and made by a popular manufacturer.[citation needed]
- Converse or Vans shoes. Also, pretty much any Skate Shoe.[citation needed]
- Excessive make-up, sometimes including make-up on males also.[citation needed]
- Long hair, sometimes excessively long on females, long on males. [citation needed]
- An association with a hatred of chavs as well as fights breaking out between the two sub-cultures, usually through provocation.[citation needed]
- Sometimes are under the influence of cheap alcohol, often after hours, though it should be noted that chavs are known partake in such behaviour also, if not more so. [citation needed]
- An association with "talented music" — i.e. any music that takes a large amount of talent to produce or re-produce. However, there is a great splitting in opinion over what versions of particular songs are better.[citation needed]
- The preference of a rhythm to a beat despite their technical similarities.[citation needed]
- An enjoyment of high culture almost as much as popular culture.[citation needed]
- An enjoyment of under-aged drinking and sex (though usually with a single partner for longer periods of time and not "one-night stands")[citation needed]
- Often open to sexual experimentation and/or won't discriminate others for their sexual preferences[citation needed]
- Often accused of having suicidal tendencies and/or an unsanitary lifestyle, though this is only very occasionally the case.[citation needed]
[edit] Media comment
Most British media channels have been slow to act upon the sudden surge of Greb numbers in the United Kingdom, though many teenagers across the nation have caused a great build-up between the Chav culture and the Greb culture.[citation needed] Already ASBOs have been introduced to cut down on activity, but the government seems to be unaware of the fact[citation needed] that culture itself is to blame. Its quite obvious that the build up will explode into another "mod" "rocker" situation which happened in the 1960s and 1970s. In many areas there already many confrontations between the two contradicting cultures.[citation needed]
