Big Brother 8

[da_poker_monkey]

Prolly not really contributing to this thread (which is the norm for me) but I always find that the old sayings always prove to have much value in what they preach.  A stitch in time saves nine, one in the hand etc.......ever heard the one sticks and stones..... I can't help but feel that most people aren't really offended by many of the "politically incorrect" words used, they just jump on the bandwaggon and make a mountain out of a molehill.  Most will prolly disagree with me but......

[LLevan]

On a slightly different note, several people have mentioned the word/term Paki which most Asian people take to be racially offensive. Surely there is no difference between calling a person from Pakistan a Paki and someone from Britain a Brit, in my eyes both are just abbreviations of Pakistani and British which I believe are the correct definitions of a person from either country. I certainly don't get offended by being called a Brit when I'm abroad.

[AndrewT]

I can't help but feel that most people aren't really offended by many of the "politically incorrect" words used, they just jump on the bandwaggon and make a mountain out of a molehill.  Most will prolly disagree with me but......

As a white, English, able-bodied heterosexual, I have absolutely no experience of what it is like to be called names purely on the basis of my skin colour, nationality, disability or sexual orientation. I do not know where 'the line' is and when it has been crossed. How could I? I rely on people who do suffer that kind of abuse to indicate what is, and isn't, acceptable.

As a result, I'm not going to sit in judgement of what other people find offensive. There's a large element of 'I am offended by this and I think you should be too' running through much of the discussion I've read about this (in lots of places). If that comes from a black person then it has a lot of power behind it and should be heeded. Coming from a white person, not so much.

[Rod Paradise]

Here's a simple guide for white folks on the use of the word.

http://www.glumbert.com/media/nword

Nice one Andrew.

[AdamM]

On a slightly different note, several people have mentioned the word/term Paki which most Asian people take to be racially offensive. Surely there is no difference between calling a person from Pakistan a Paki and someone from Britain a Brit, in my eyes both are just abbreviations of Pakistani and British which I believe are the correct definitions of a person from either country. I certainly don't get offended by being called a Brit when I'm abroad.

Paki is used to describe someone from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Derby, Leicester, Bradford, Nottingham......etc that's the problem with the term.

[Rod Paradise]

On a slightly different note, several people have mentioned the word/term Paki which most Asian people take to be racially offensive. Surely there is no difference between calling a person from Pakistan a Paki and someone from Britain a Brit, in my eyes both are just abbreviations of Pakistani and British which I believe are the correct definitions of a person from either country. I certainly don't get offended by being called a Brit when I'm abroad.

Because in most places Brit is not & never has been used as a derogatory term (although go to a pub in the Falls Road of Belfast & you'll soon realise it is used offensively). You can't tell me you've not heard Paki used as an abusive term in the UK surely?

[The_nun]

So that makes me a huddi...

[tantrum]

On a slightly different note, several people have mentioned the word/term Paki which most Asian people take to be racially offensive. Surely there is no difference between calling a person from Pakistan a Paki and someone from Britain a Brit, in my eyes both are just abbreviations of Pakistani and British which I believe are the correct definitions of a person from either country. I certainly don't get offended by being called a Brit when I'm abroad.

Res est magna tacere.

[AndrewT]

On a slightly different note, several people have mentioned the word/term Paki which most Asian people take to be racially offensive. Surely there is no difference between calling a person from Pakistan a Paki and someone from Britain a Brit, in my eyes both are just abbreviations of Pakistani and British which I believe are the correct definitions of a person from either country. I certainly don't get offended by being called a Brit when I'm abroad.

Paki is used to describe someone from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Derby, Leicester, Bradford, Nottingham......etc that's the problem with the term.

As far as I can tell, the term is only really ever used pejoratively. Even if it isn't (like in an early episode of Only Fools and Horses, where Del gives a kid 50p to 'go down the Paki shop and buy some sweets') someone who usually only ever hears it used pejoratively is going to associate it with a negative connotation.

[da_poker_monkey]

White people face rasism in this country all the time on several differnet levels, to say that your "not black how could you know what its like" is utter b%^&^%S

[AndrewT]

White people face rasism in this country all the time on several differnet levels, to say that your "not black how could you know what its like" is utter b%^&^%S

You can't really have racism without an imbalance in power. Where is the loss of power for whites in this country?

[Colchester Kev]

I have also heard "Brit" used in an offensive way too. any word can be deemed offensive if there is venom and vitriol behind it.

My 15 year old son is into rap music (heaven help me) and regularly plays his music loudly, all i hear is Nigger this, Nigger that etc etc  .... I must admit to being extremely embarrassed when i hear him singing along etc, and have told him so ... His reply is all the kids at school listen to it, black and white alike and they use the word "Nigger" as a sort of friendly greeting.

And it seems that the word "Nigger" has been reclaimed by the Black community much to their credit i think. He also told me how they have regular discussions in class regarding this issue, and to be honest, racism is dying as our children are growing up in a multi cultural environment, there will always be ignorance in the world, but hopefully tolerance and understanding will take over in the next generation.

[Rod Paradise]

White people face rasism in this country all the time on several differnet levels, to say that your "not black how could you know what its like" is utter b%^&^%S

Who's said the utter b%^&^%S that you are complaining about?

I also very much doubt that the average member of the majority will encounter the same amount of racism as the average member of the minority in any country/community.

[AndrewT]

White people face rasism in this country all the time on several differnet levels, to say that your "not black how could you know what its like" is utter b%^&^%S

Who's said the utter b%^&^%S that you are complaining about?

I did - the thread of my earlier post was 'how could a white person understand what it feels like to be called a nigger.'

[Rod Paradise]

White people face rasism in this country all the time on several differnet levels, to say that your "not black how could you know what its like" is utter b%^&^%S

Who's said the utter b%^&^%S that you are complaining about?

I did - the thread of my earlier post was 'how could a white person understand what it feels like to be called a nigger.'

Ah, I forgot that. I'd think anyone who has been racially abused would have some idea.