Has This Term for MA Residents Been Deemed Too Offensive?

Massachusetts is famous for many things. The Boston Tea Party, Plymouth Rock, rabid sports fans, and of course that terrible Boston accent.

But there is much more to our proud Massachusetts heritage than just those things. Like our terrible driving, or the fact that some people think we're "loud" or "obnoxious" or "hard-headed" (or is that just me?)

In fact, some folks in acknowledgment of our occasional brashness have coined a term that I happen to love, but not all Massachusetts residents appreciate.

Yes, that's right, we're talking about Massholes.

In 2015 the word was officially inducted into the Oxford Dictionary where it's defined as slang used in the U.S. and Canada. Weird, I didn't know our neighbors to the north were getting in on the action too.

Mass·hole /ˈmasˌhōl/ - noun

VULGAR SLANG•US

a contemptuous term for a native or inhabitant of the state of Massachusetts.
Oxford Dictionary

The controversial nickname is in the pages of the Urban Dictionary as well; "the loudmouth, arrogant jerks living in Massachusetts" The sentence they use it in as an example; On my way into Boston, some Mass-hole cut me off. This city's full of them...

As a born and raised Masshole, the term is a fun, tongue-in-cheek name that I laugh off and even embrace at times. While I generally consider myself a pretty easy-going, fun, kind person, I definitely have my Masshole moments, so in a weird way, I somewhat take pride in the term. Like, that's right, I'm a Masshole, and don't you forget it type of thing.

Back in August of 2019, Jeopardy champion and now sometimes host Ken Jennings tweeted his kinder explanation of the term.

There are even some businesses that have embarrassed the term. Check out Mass Hole Donuts with locations in Boston Seaport and Sommerville.

There is even a Masshole Lobster Truck all the way in Texas. Founder of Masshole Lobster Truck, Adam Bylicki grew up in Massachusetts was determined to bring the classic New England lobster roll to his adopted city of San Antonio.

What are your thoughts on the beloved and hated term, Masshole?