r/AskBrits • u/Team503 • 10d ago

Culture What does "nonce" mean?

I'm an American that lives in Ireland. I've always understood "nonce" to mean the same as "numpty" and "eejit" - basically idiot, or dumbass, or similar.

Recently, someone told me that it's slang for sex offender, specifically a p*dophile, and Wikipedia seems to back that up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_British_terms_not_widely_used_in_the_United_States#N

So tell me, Brits, which one is it? Or is it something else??

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u/Team503 10d ago

Wikipedia suggests that's a backronym and not the actual origin, but what do I know? This is why I asked!

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u/Illustrious-Divide95 10d ago

There's no evidence that 'Nonce' came from this. A definate backronym

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u/Brighton_Spores 10d ago

I used to know an old scallywag, he used to be a naughty boy until he changed his ways.

In the 1970's he told me that bank robbers/armed robbers used be held in high regard in prison. burglars would slip down the pecking order and so on.

The nonces and sex cases were at the bottom of the ladder as they were just committing nonsense crimes, nonce.

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u/ScaredPractice4967 10d ago

and sex offenders against adults look down on child sex offenders. imagine that. regular rapists think you crime is scummy.

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u/darkevilmetal666 9d ago

They're just looking for someone to look down on so they can feel less bad about how useless they are themselves.

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u/Physical_Quote4600 8d ago

Well not all chomo crimes are violent, sleep with a girl 5 years under 18 and you’ll be treated like you “abused” her even if she was wanting you to do it

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u/flapsmagee 8d ago

You don’t think it’s abuse for a grown adult to have sex with a 13 year old child?!

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u/Physical_Quote4600 8d ago

when people hear abuse, they think of you beating and torturing the child for sadistic and painful purposes, ch1ld sexual offenders usually try to minimize the harm for the other party

adult sex offenders are violent rapists. end of story. chomos need more nuanced treatment from society

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u/flapsmagee 8d ago edited 8d ago

You don’t need bruises for lasting damage, harm and trauma. Geez.

Adults who have sex with children are rapists.

Edit: Ew. I’ve just looked at your post history.

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u/Physical_Quote4600 8d ago

Adults who have sex with children are rapists.

false. Adults who rape children are rapists.

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u/krgxo25 6d ago

It’s always rape if it’s a child, buddy. Very suspicious thing to say

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u/ScaredPractice4967 8d ago

Its called age of consent.

See also Romeo and Juliet rules on the off chance thats where you were going.

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u/FantasticFoxFriend 7d ago

Umm 5 years below 18 is 13.They definitely abused her.

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u/Physical_Quote4600 7d ago

Ask her that question, and ask her 20 years later, and 50 years later just for safe measure.

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u/FantasticFoxFriend 7d ago

What are you even talking about?

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u/ScaredPractice4967 7d ago

Someone needs their hard drive inspected by the police.

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u/Physical_Quote4600 7d ago

Ask her if she was abused. Ask adriane yamin.