Yellum Notnef

Will somebody please tell me exactly what is being implied when Bede refers to people here as "headbangers"?

Does it have something to do with this thingy :banghead: ?

Does Bede think all us nonChristian idiots are just running around like babbling morons while banging our heads together?

Does he assume we`re fans of heavy metal music?

Is "headbangers" a popular term used to describe idiots in England?

These questions must be answered before I go nuts thinking about it. The term "headbanger(s)" has relpaced "panties" for the top spot on my list words and phrases that annoy the crap out of me.

MollyMac

I don't think it's particularly popular any more, in fact, I haven't heard it in years.

It's mostly used to describe people who rant in an obsessive fashion. I often used to hear in connection with political extremists - the wild-eye Trotskyists at one end of the lunatic fringe and the neo-nazi skinheads at the other.

I reckon it could just as easily be applied to fundy xians...

Hope this helps.

lisarea

It also means someone who shoots up into their neck.

I am in your club against the word "panties," too.

*sniff*

I thought I was the only one.

Wyz_sub10

As an aside, I don't think the action "sniff" should follow the word "panties".

In any case, I remember "headbangers" as a term for lovers of metal music (back in the 80s).

tronvillain

Yes, I generally think of "headbangers" as people who, well, "headbang" - do that thing where you move your head forward and down and then back and up which looks more impressive if you have long hair and hurts your neck if you do it too long. *chuckle*

Pee Pee Poodle

missus_gumby

Fenton, why not PM Bede and ask him?

If I remember correctly, Bede is a Brit. As a Brit myself, I have always considered a 'headbanger' to be a heavy metal freak - I feel it is a generally accepted, popular culture, epithet over here.

Martin

lisarea

I apologize. I mipslet 'sell on eBay.' *

This is the more common usage in my experience as well. Headbanging is most commonly that thing you do where you move your head up and down really violently while making little Satan hand gestures, but I thought I'd throw out an alternate definition as well.

* Dear Pedants,

Yes, I know you're not allowed to do that anymore.

MollyMac

Yes, everyone, it is indeed what lovers of heavy metal music are called and they are presumably called that because when they listen to heavy metal music they jerk their heads back and forth.

But the question at the beginning of thread was about it's other meaning - see my post above. I think this secondary meaning is kind of derived from the first one - it conjures up an image of someone engaged in mindless and repetitive activity.

I certainly remember it being commonly used about twenty years ago to insult the opposition at political meetings, demos etc.

Demigawd

If the term "Headbanger" is used, and Iron Maiden doesn't immediately come to mind, then the person utilizing the term is expressively clumsy.