Derogatory terms for skilled jobs

[mustang1]

I overheard someone telling their friend that her car is being looked at by the local grease monkey. Made me cringe. What else is out there?

Mechanic: grease monkey
Programmer: code monkey
Teacher: can't do anything else so teach
Air stewardess: glorified waitress
Airline pilot: glorified bus driver

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Actually the term "Air Stewardess" has become an outdated and arguably derogatory term too. It stems from those days when cabin crew generally were female, and certainly geared wholly to serving. (Stewarding).
It's way more weighted to safety duties now and done by both sexes in fairly even numbers of course. Cabin Crew is the more appropriate title.

On others, I've always found the term "Squaddie" when referring to service men and women generally does carry a certain derogatory feel to it.

 

[Bollo]

Mrs Dr B has the word 'secretary' in her job title although she's quite senior within her organisation. On rare occasions she's had a "could you photocopy this for me and one sugar in tea" moment. Not a wise career move!

 

[Drago]

Conversely, I've encountered secretaries that think because their assigned task is to do the admin and scheduling for someone important, that they themselves are well up the totem. Its pretty easy to chop them down to size.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

In 30 years in IT I've never heard 'code monkey'.

 

[Markymark]

Not quite the same but the best I heard a few years ago that someone in HR was called a Human Performance Architect

 

[Tin Pot]

On others, I've always found the term "Squaddie" when referring to service men and women generally does carry a certain derogatory feel to it.

Squaddie has to be the least derogatory term I've heard for cannon fodder.

 

[Jimidh]

On others, I've always found the term "Squaddie" when referring to service men and women generally does carry a certain derogatory feel to it.

I've never thought the term Squaddie was derogatory in the slightest as I hear army folk call themselves that ( we have a barracks our town).

Maybe some ex army could put me right?

 

[Drago]

Being a squaddie never bothered me. However, being called a Bootneck or Bootie really can upset some Royal Marines, and if they can bring themselves to stop holding hands for a moment they may even trying to start a fight over it

Some of the common names for navy personnel and sailors are quite derogatory indeed.

 

[Milkfloat]

In 30 years in IT I've never heard 'code monkey'.

Yeah but IT is just 'turn it off and on again' - being a code monkey would be too difficult for you

 

[Electric_Andy]

I've always thought that "sparky" was a bit rude for an electrician. I've never seen one make any sparks, either by accident or otherwise.

 

[John the Monkey]

Quack, head shrinker, I guess?

There's the opposite end of the scale as well, which is where the various "architects" and "solutions providers" seem to come in. Taking a job that has a workable title and aggrandising it.

 

[Hover Fly]

"Wood butcher" for joiner, cabinet maker or wooden boat builder.
"Clanger" for fitter.

 

[nickyboy]

Bean Counters

By professional qualification I'm one of them

 

[Markymark]

MD of a company is something like Stoopeedbowledwyncker. I think it must be German or something meaning awesome boss but it's what my staff call me.