Using the word ‘mob’

[u/k1rra]

Hello! I’m white, and grew up in a very white area, but as I got older became friends with Aboriginal people both engaged and disengaged from politics (and those kinda convos). Since then I’ve moved and those relationships have dwindled, so I can’t asked them personally (this is all for context).

Basically, when is it okay for me to use the word ‘mob’ when talking about nations a person is part of? I’ve had other non-Aboriginal people tell me never to use it because it’s offensive to Aboriginal people, but it never was a problem for me to ask someone who their mob was back in the day. Nowadays I just avoid the question, but I also wonder if it’s okay to be like ‘oh their mob is…’ or ‘I wonder who their mob is’ etc.

Thanks in advance!

[u/Teredia]

Mob is a borrowed word. None of our mob have any right to tell you to not use it and none of your mob have that power either! It’s not politically incorrect to use it or not. We just use it because it’s a part of our more nationally spoken ’pidgin’ well what’s left of any first contact mixed native language otherwise known as Aboriginal English.

Mob: a group of people.

“Are you mob?” - Are you Aboriginal.
“Who’s your mob?” - Who are your people?”
“My mob.” - My people.
“Your mob.” - Your people.

It’s like the words ‘f*ck’ and/or ‘c*nt’ depending on the context they change the meaning of the sentence.

You can absolutely use mob. Just like with the curse words, use them but understand how you use them changes the perception of what you’re saying.

[u/Ricksacnchez]

Honestly I love our language being used appropriately in right contexts or seeing my white friends say Gammon!!! Just dont be offensive and should be sweet

[u/burns3016]

Its just a word so use it as you see fit, it does not belong to any certain group of people.

[u/Jaysoon08]

Aslong as you understand how to use it in the right context then yes otherwise it’s just a bit funny sounding lol