Anyone who uses the word ‘remoaners’ as an insult to another needs to take a good, hard look at themselves as a human being. My first thought is that it is a phrase that belongs in the playground and there is certainly an immature thing to do to call someone or even a group of people that. To say it belongs in the playground though would be saying it’s acceptable there and really it isn’t. It would be called name-calling at best and bullying at worst.
Using the word ‘remainers’ is fine as it clearly indicates someone’s view-point without being derogatory. It gives us a shorthand for talking about issues. As does the word ‘leavers’. I’m not mad keen on the word Brexit as I think it’s a bit ugly, but I don’t find that offensive. Ditto for words derived from it by and large.
I am amazed by the number of people who think it is great fun to write comments on the 48% Facebook page and on the websites of newspapers and the like, basically insulting a large proportion of the population with their taunts and jibes about the referendum decision. Frankly I’m ashamed of their behaviour and I don’t even know them. I do wonder if I should really be feeling sorry for them, as they don’t appear to have anything better or worthwhile to do. They don’t seem to be wanting to work towards unity or find a way to make the decision work for us, they seem to be all about goading and trying to provoke a reaction. They don’t seem to be contributing much to our country about from trying to create resentment or get one over on someone else. I suspect that they were bullies at school and they have continued with their behaviour in adult life, but I don’t know that. Maybe it’s a cry for help.
