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Douchebag/Wanker -- are they the same?

post #1 of 13
5/28/08 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
I'd like to pose this question to the UK Chewers -- does the American term "douchebag" basically mean the same thing as the British "wanker"?

Now of course the usage of terms is largely subjective, but I do think that there may be a correlation between these terms as far as their preferred usage goes. The easiest way for me to do this is to posit this --

I think that it's fair to say that the public perception of Eli Roth, at least in the horror community, is that he is a douchebag. As a Brit, would you refer to him as a wanker?

Disclaimer: I've met Eli and actually think he's a decent guy. I'm merely referring to what seems to be the prevailing attitude towards him.
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post #2 of 13
5/28/08 at 7:05pm
A wanker is the same thing as a "jerk-off", they both describe the same activity and type of person.
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post #3 of 13
5/29/08 at 11:07am
Yeah if you insult someone by calling them a 'wanker', its no different than calling them an 'Arsehole' (which I think has a much better ring to it than 'asshole') 'Twat' or 'Cunt'.

Literally, a wanker means someone who masturbates. I'm not entirely sure, but is a 'douchebag' something to with vaginal discharge?

I recently saw the 'Turd or Douchebag' episdoe of South Park and it left me confused as to what one is...
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post #4 of 13
5/29/08 at 11:41am
Where does tithead come into play?
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post #5 of 13
5/29/08 at 11:44am
That would be in the 'Dickhead' sub-section.
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post #6 of 13
5/29/08 at 12:19pm
Although their meaning is somewhat different, I would quite happily call a douchebag a wanker. The difference for me comes in the sexes. I would never call a woman a wanker, but I would (and do) call one a douche.
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post #7 of 13
5/29/08 at 12:24pm
What sackley said, and I ain't even a goddam Limey.

(onoes!)
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post #8 of 13
5/29/08 at 1:28pm
I'm not a limey, but my brother in law is, and we've had similar conversations, so I'm in.

The distinction in nuance we've come to find with these terms is, a douchebag is someone you want to smack for being a clueless asshole, whereas a wanker is someone you want to smack for being a clueless loser.

"Wanker" in an American accent is strictly verboten, of course, unless you want to sound like one yourself. "Jerk-off" is the direct correllary, but "shithead" (or similar -heads) would be closer to the sense of it in application.

For a longer and even more boring treatise on the subject, attend my seminar, "Fucking motherfucker! vs. 'E's a right tit anat: Assholes Across The Water"
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post #9 of 13
5/29/08 at 1:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trav McGee View Post
a douchebag is someone you want to smack for being a clueless asshole
Yeah, douchebaggery is all in the attitude.
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post #10 of 13
5/29/08 at 5:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trav McGee View Post
"Wanker" in an American accent is strictly verboten, of course
Right, see also "bollocks", "bugger", "shite", etcetc. As a trade off, the Americans get to claim sounds-better-in-our-accent privileges on "cocksucker" and "motherfucker".

Going back to the original question, while the two terms are somewhat equivalent, I think the key difference is that "douchebag" is probably the kind of insult best used to describe someone behind their back ("that guy's a douchebag"), whereas "Wanker!" is most effective when shouted at a person from a moving vehicle.
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post #11 of 13
5/30/08 at 1:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sackley View Post
The difference for me comes in the sexes. I would never call a woman a wanker, but I would (and do) call one a douche.
I've never seen a female be called a douche or douchebag. Interesting.
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post #12 of 13
5/30/08 at 1:26pm
Northern Limey bastard credentials intact.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trav McGee View Post
The distinction in nuance we've come to find with these terms is, a douchebag is someone you want to smack for being a clueless asshole, whereas a wanker is someone you want to smack for being a clueless loser.
Sounds about right to me wanker is closer to loser and douchebag is closer to asshole but the difference isn't huge, it really depends on the cocksucker involved.

Incidentally, rest of world, try and use twat or cunt today it's liberating and about time these words were re-claimed by twats and cunts like us.
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post #13 of 13
5/30/08 at 1:33pm
For me, I'd say that a wanker is someone who is intentionally being the way they are, where as a douchebag is someone who's just doing it without really realising.

I'd also say that people can be wankers for a bit, but get over it. But douchebags are that way for life.
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