I THINK OUR SOCIETY unfairly associates certain negative social practices with women. We often speak as if certain activities like tracing, gossiping and excessive interest in other people's business are exclusively feminine endeavours. Many of us assume also, that 'skettel' is a gender-specific word that should be used solely to describe women.
I tend to differ. I have heard some men, for example, whose vocal venom would make a market woman showdown and a ghetto stand-pipe tracing match sound like a primary school debating contest. There are many men around whose tracing skills would silence a team of fish mongers. (Some of them are practising DJs.)
MEN INCLUDED
So skettel is not a female-specific term. No sir! If a skettel is a vulgar, uncouth person who demonstrates a lack of class, style and good breeding, if a skettel is somebody whose dress and manners display a distinct absence of decency, common courtesy and good taste, then we have quite a few 'man skettels'.
But how do you know who is really a skettel? For the 'Man skettel' test, here are a few simple pointers:
If you wear white bobby socks with your gentleman's shoes and dress pants; if you are completely dressed but your laces are undone and your belt is unbuckled and your three underpants are showing you might be a skettel. If you neglect personal hygiene to the point where your need for under arm deodorant and mouthwash makes other people cringe and hold their breath when you are around, you might be a skettel. If you use bleaching cream; if you practise voluntary dependence on aphrodisiacs; if you urinate any and everywhere; if you steal the camphor balls from the urinals at Asylum nightclub you might be a skettel.
If in a state of drunken stupor you start to express true love and devotion to women you have never seen before in your life then proceed to trace them off and 'tell dem bout dem mumma' when they decline your advances, you are definitely a skettel. If you belch or 'break wind' in public, in an elevator, in a classroom or in a passenger plane and then you and your friends laugh as if it is the funniest, most admirable thing in the world, you might be a skettel. (And if you exhibit such 'sketellian' behaviour while attending one of the nation's top high school for boys you should be counselled, not caned!)
If your idea of the ultimate curse and putdown is to compare someone to vulgar descriptions of the female sex organ, you might be a skettel. If you point out women you have slept with and give your friends detailed accounts of your sexual exploits with these women, you might be a skettel.
If you participate in the sick sexual game called 'running battery' you might be a skettel (and a rapist!).
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