Eshay

Eshayism is a lifestyle and a set of ideas by proponents of the Australian "Eshay" youth subculture. The term can refer to individuals within the subculture, or to the subculture itself, and can have various other meanings in different contexts.

The eshay subculture started in communities of poor youth in Adelaide, and later spread to all of Australia. The Eshay subculture is unique that is has it's own slang & language, popular clothing, food & drink, music, famous people, and cultural norms.

Eshays (also known as "lads") may be affiliated with others using postcodes, attend EDM raves & parties, collect and wear shoes (Nike TN shoe being a popular choice), hang out at train stations, and play music there, ride scooters with friends, and more activities essential to the Eshay lifestyle.

The eshay subculture became extremely popular with Australian youth in the late 2010s and continuing into the 2020s, with a lot of people embracing and participating in the culture.

The subculture became a nationwide phenomenon due to its unique characteristics, interesting history, and unique theme. Eshay-related videos and images were all over social media, they were at the centre of many conversations, and most could spot eshays in public daily. There was something for everyone in this subculture, so many joined in.

However, due to their backgrounds, a lot of Eshays are poor and resort to Centrelink's welfare to earn money. This means a few Eshays may resort to theft to earn money. Media outlets aimed at an older audience who may not know much about this culture generate fear around Eshays, making outrageous claims, such as framing random criminals as "eshays". However, Eshay culture still managed to be popular through media outrage.

History
The foundations of Eshayism come from the Eshay subculture, which started as early as the 1980s as "eshlads" in Adelaide but became popular around the late 2010s.

The word "eshay" apparently derives from the Pig Latin for "yes" (originating as an affirmation). The term "adlay", Pig Latin for "lad," refers to the same subculture.

[[file:Proto-Eshayism.png]] Proto-
The earliest "ancestors" of eshays come back to youth gangs from Sydney, in the 1800's. However, the most important precursor to eshay culture is the "mod" and "sharpie" subcultures. While both of these groups influenced eshays, mods and sharpies did not get along and saw each other as enemies.

Another good example of proto-eshayism is the "roadmen" and "chavs" in the UK, which are considered to be the closest possible thing to eshays. Due to eshay culture being influenced heavily by youth crime culture in the UK, a lot of similarities have been drawn between the groups.

Yet another famous example of proto-eshayism is the infamous "skinhead" subculture. While the two groups don't have much in common, skinheads indirectly influenced eshay culture. Other subcultures that may of influenced eshays include "skeets" from Newfoundland, and the famous " gopniks" from Russia.

Creation/Origin
The origin of the eshays we know today began in the city of Adelaide around the 1980's, in small underground communities comprised of mostly pacific islanders. This is where the earliest and most important eshay trends began, such as sportswear, pig latin and more important ideas & trends.

Development
However, eshays started to get recognition around the 1990's and the 2000's, with more important trends developing around that time, such as and the infamous "postcode wars". Eshay culture around that time spread from Adelaide to the entirety of Australia. Most people who were exposed to them often, which mostly ranged from young teenagers to adults in their 20's, knew what they were at that point.

Peak
The moment where eshay culture really became important was the late 2010's. This can be credited to the rise of "eshay" rappers and groups, most famously ONEFOUR, Hooligan Hefs, Kerser, Spanian, HP Boyz & Nter, with their songs becoming hits within Australia and even popular internationally.

Modern
The peak of Eshay culture is possibly even the current day, with many continuing to participate in the culture and others coming into the subculture for the first time every day.

Political Beliefs
Eshays doesn't really care for politics, and would rather spend time just enjoying life and living the eshay lifestyle. However, the lifestyle can have some degree of influence on political opinions, such as supporting the Labour party for their welfare policies, or supporting The Greens for their views on drugs.

Postcodes
The phenomenon of "postcode wars" and Australian postcodes in general are an example of what a society/social order based off Eshayism could be like.

Postcodes are postal codes in Australia, similar to ZIP codes. There are a lot of ways to identify a location based off a postcode alone, if you're interested, check out this Wikipedia article.

Postcode wars are essentially gang wars, but different gangs are competing for power and "ownership" in different postcodes. Each gang can "own" multiple postcodes, and defend/fight for them. The goal is to retain ownership and own as much postcodes as possibly. Postcode wars more often than not get violent and illegal, but the people doing this obviously know that.

Postcodes are also used to connect with other people (many of whom are in the eshay subculture), and these people might be recruited to a postcode gang through this way. Some eshays are only interested in postcodes for this aspect, and don't want to risk getting hurt or going to jail by participating in the postcode wars.

Long story short, postcodes are some sort of "nations" in a belief system based off total anarchy.

"Unchon" fights
There is this sort of de-facto honor/leadership system under Eshayism known as "unchons", which are essentially psychical fights. This system could be used to settle arguments and conflicts, prove someone's worth, or as a way to test strength.

There are no sort of "rules" with this system, so you could theoretically bring any weapon of your liking, however most go without weapons by punching and kicking, and occasionally bringing a knife (known as a "shank" in eshay slang).

Eshay Aesthetic
WIP

Eshay Slang
Eshays have their own slang with clear meanings. Pig Latin is extremely commonly used by eshays (for whatever reason) and many slang terms are pig latin translations of some words.

If you want to learn it, here's a list:
 * Adlay – Lads/Boys/Fellas: Derived from the words ‘lads’. An affectionate term for other eshays.
 * Arkin (arcing up) – To lose one’s temper: To ark up or arking up is to lose one’s temper with someone or to get “fired up”, usually in conversation. “You arkin’ up c*nt!”
 * Cuz – Cousin; friend; brotha; homey/homie. Affectionate term endearing someone as if they are related.
 * Dog – A word for someone incompetent or dumb, usually used as an insult if you provoke someone.
 * Earch – The action of breaking into someone’s house or car to either sleep inside (squatting) or steal from inside (burglary).
 * Eetswa – Sweet: A Pig-Latin translation from the English word used as slang or as an act of affirmation.
 * Eshay – The name given to the subculture this article is about or a member of them.
 * Eshlad – Similar to the eshay, however usally refers to eshays who are more inclined to violence
 * Gronk – A derogatory word for someone, usually considered a waste of life or an oxygen thief.
 * Illchay – Chill: Relax or hang out. A term used to pacify someone a bit overexcited or to propose a session.
 * Itchbays – Females: Derived from the term b*tch, this is a commonly used phrase by eshays to describe females.
 * Opps – Opposi.
 * Ogday – "Dog" in Pig Latin, and means the exact same thing as the non-Pig Latin version.
 * Itshay – "Sh-t" in Pig Latin
 * Trips – Going out into rival postcode territory.
 * Opps – Opposition. Means enemies or rivals.
 * Red Hot – Suspicious; high-risk activity: “Nah, that’s too red hot cuz. There’s opps everywhere”
 * Staunch – Intimidate: To adopt a pose (usually with one’s fists between their legs) and intense stare with the purpose of intimidating an individual.
 * Stig – A vape or a e-cigarette.
 * Shank/Shiv – Usually a knife, but can be anything used for stabbing. Can be used as a noun ("I got a brand new shank") or a verb ("Just shanked this kid")

Criticism of Eshays
WIP

Personality and Behaviour
Eshayism obviously talks and acts like a stereotypical eshay. He always talks by putting phrases in Pig Latin, and some comics portray him as having a severe smoking/vaping addiction.

Adlays

 * [[File:Hedonism.png]] Hedonism - He gets it, brah! Why focus on boring and painful things when yous can just illchay n'dat?
 * [[File:Illeg.png]] - I see nothin wrong with rolling gronks for shoes, unchons, and shanking people. It's part of our culture, brah!
 * [[File:Welf.png]] - Thanks, lad! Now me and all the boys can get our ashcay with [[File:Centrelink.png]] Centrelink!
 * [[File:Community.png]] - My postcode is the best postcode! We must protect and fight for 2099, brah! It's our postcode, lad!
 * [[File:Aesthetic.png]] Aestheticism - Yous need TNs, bumbags, caps and sunglasses to be an... ESHAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
 * [[File:Libertine.png]] Libertinism - If I shank a few junkie dogs, it doesn't hurt me n'dat, so why should I worry, lad?
 * [[File:Marilegal.png]] Drug Legalization - So I can rip a beug without the opcays giving a fuck? This sound eetswa!
 * [[File:Materialism.png]] Materialism - Make money, not friends!

Alright n'dat, lad

 * [[File:Apolit.png]] - Politics are boring and all that lad, but yous think I'm an ogday!
 * [[File:Accel.png]] - Like, I mean I can go pretty fast on my scooter, and I feel like I'm doing my part in destroying the opcays, but what's this "Marxist" shit your talkin about? I full don't understand any of it, lad!
 * [[File:Ochlo.png]] - People always compare us to him, but I think he goes a bit too far n'dat, lad!
 * [[File:Sadist.png]] Sadism - This is WAY too far, lad! I'm not this insane!

Gronks

 * [[File:Traditionalistschool.png]] Perennialist School - For the last time, I'm not a weak wannabe gangster bah! You just don't understand my culture, old cunt!
 * [[File:Sec.png]] - What the fuck is this, brah?! Stop oppressing me and the boys n'dat, you gronk!
 * [[File:Altruism.png]] Altruism - I'm not giving away my TNs, lad! I racked these freshies from some ogday 3 days ago, and I'm not giving them away brah! That's final!
 * [[File:Pac.png]] Pacifism - Peace? That's an itshay idea, lad! COME HERE, GRONK, IMA SHANK YA! ESHAYYYS!
 * [[File:Dreamcore.png]] Dreamcore - This cunt completely missed the point of drugs! Do you not know that gatorbeugs are better than your full itshay psychedelics n'dat, lad?
 * [[File:Dreamcore.png]] - Š̵̼̞̖͝a̶̪̰̯̖̿̽n̷͔̞̹̄͠ỉ̶̲̙͜t̶͚͔͛̋y̵̯͗̊̽̓ ̷̢̟͉̳̇͒͂̇a̶̛͚̯͒͒n̴̮̈́͐d̸̫̣̩͉͘͝ ̷̣̿̌́̑i̵͍̦̣͝t̸̢̰̗͙̋̏̚'̸̢̭̙̠̄͐s̶̺͈͗͛̂ ̵̬͈̖͂̊c̵͇̅̏ö̴̫͔̬́̏n̷͈̹͐s̵̯̈́̏̽̾e̸͚̰̲̽̿q̵̧͙̉͗ų̸͉̝̈́̃̐̚ė̸͖̝̦ǹ̵̯̌c̴͉̠̽̏͋̔͜e̴̩̯͇̺̓s̴̢͙͊ ̶̢̛̮̊͋͝ḣ̸͎̰̣̩a̶̻̮͍̪͗̽̎̃s̵̨̻̗̈́̕ ̸͙͆̀̃b̶͖̬̩͛̄ẹ̷̢̬͊é̸̡͉͛̚ͅņ̵͐̃́͝ ̵̮̃a̴̧͇͉̪͗̈́ ̵̛̗͉̖̺́͐̕d̸̛̗͉͚͗͋̄i̸̛͍̯̺͈s̸͎͌͝a̶̱̜̪͂s̷̨̍͒t̴̞́͂̆̄ẻ̸̛̟̇r̵̖̰͔̪̊ ̵͖͒̅̔̕f̵̱̀o̴̦̤͈̳͌r̸̹͆͛̍͗ ̷̢͌t̶̝̗̊̿̊h̷̭͉͒̿͘e̵̡̗̖̽͂ ̸̛̩̮̮̮█̷͍̟̳̯̊̊█̵̞̎̌█̴̛̻̻͋█̸̧͕̔̿̕█̵͓̆̈█̵̩̪̉͜█̴̡͂̔̕█̶̨̫̻̄̽͝█̵̢̳͗█̶̼̮̎͛͑͊
 * [[File:Traumacore.png]] Traumacore - I was planning to shank this junkie dog, but that idea wouldn't work since she finds that eetswa for some reason. Now I have no idea what do now lad!
 * [[File:Weirdcore.png]] Weirdcore - I found who caused those two gronks above to exist! He thinks he started something, and he's gonna fuckin pay for that, lad!

[[file:Wikipedia.png]] Wikipedia

 * [[file:Wikipedia.png]] Eshay

Encylopedia

 * Sydney Youth Gangs Wiki

Subreddits

 * [[File:Reddit.png]] r/Eshay

Documentaries

 * [[File:YouTube.png]] Eshay: The Documentary

Games

 * [[File:Roblox.png]] Eshay Simulator (Roblox)