Did I make this up?

[Rich]

They were probably surprised as well at you not spouting racial slurs this time in their business... See, hanging out around here has had a positive effect on you

 

[Rich]

Thats very good Steve. I agree with you.

We, ('er indoors and me) didn't have a chinky last weekend, we had fish n chips from the chippy in the end.

Anyone in the UK remember "Love Thy Neighbour"? The TV show from the 70's, blatantly what would now be racist, but remember how the "white honky" always came off worse and was shown to be totally stupid.

That series was extremely well written - its now hailed as one of the classics in UK TV history.

Col

Dare we mention "Till death us do part"?

 

[ColinEssex]

Dare we mention "Till death us do part"?

Just imagine if that was shown on national US TV
Jeeeze, they'd have a fit and die quietly

Col

 

[Rich]

The silly old moos

 

[BarryMK]

Anyone in the UK remember "Love Thy Neighbour"? The TV show from the 70's,

That series was extremely well written - its now hailed as one of the classics in UK TV history

Col

ER far be it from me to contradict the gifted and talented source of so much of my vast personal wealth but I may have to take issue with you Col. In my humble opinion Love thy Neighbour is about as much a classic piece of UK TV history as On the Buses. Personally I'd rather sit through a re-run of the entire series of Gurney Slade looking for funny bits.

 

[Rich]

Gurney Slade looking for funny bits.

 

[ColinEssex]

Yes, I know what you're saying Barry. I understand its rated quite highly in the Channel 4 top 100

Col

 

[ColinEssex]

Gurney Slade is a small village in North Somerset, not far from Bristol.

Col

 

[Rich]

Gurney Slade is a small village in North Somerset, not far from Bristol.

Col

Did it feature in a tv series, or something?

 

[ColinEssex]

Did it feature in a tv series, or something?

Yes, I recall my Grandmother telling me about it.

Col

 

[dan-cat]

I think Brian is right. Generally it's the context that determines whether a word is offensive or not.

The only reason I have a problem with this is because you rely on the listener to understand the intended context of the user.

Let's take one Chinese individual, and one pakistani individual. The first has been called a "chinkie" in a derisive manner, the second with the term "paki". At some point in their life.

Here are two quotes from these forums. Forget about who posted them or in what context. This is not in anyway an attack on them.

Just thought I'd mention that since I don't have an oven at the minute I had two Chinkies this weekend, I must say I was highly suprised at their friendly greeting toward this racist when I entered the premises.

Yes, we have a paki newsagent across the road from us. He's very nice, he's open from 6am to 7pm, very handy.

In their contexts they don't refer to any individual. They are not intended as racial slurs. That's fine.

However can you see how easy it would be to miss the context if you had been on the receiving end of racial abuse which used the word "paki" or "chinkie". In both phrases there is a fair bit of room for misinterpretation don't you think?

Ok, so you explain to the listener, "Hey, no offence intended. I wasn't calling YOU a 'paki' or a 'chinkie'. Just talking about your shop or restaurant".

Now you're asking that person to put aside all their past shitty experiences that that word reminds them of so you can carry on using the word in your chosen way.

So what do you?
a) Tread more carefully next time?
b) Carry on the same as before. I've explained to them my use of the word. The rest is up to them.

 

[Brianwarnock]

In my original post I did say that if the hurt was pointed out apologies should be made and care taken, but can you seriously critisize somebody who does not think they are giving offense, some people would be hurt by being called baldy but I don't give a damn, others by Brit, but no Brits on here have ever objected.

Can I tell you a story, please feel free to skip it.

First some background.
I was raised on the very edge of Liverpool, only Farms and fields after us, and it being the 40s no TV to influence us only our peers. I went to school nearer the city which drew kids from a more urban area and at the age of 5 learnt that you could insult other kids by calling them "a dirty arab", I duly did this to a kid in our road, this brought the wrath of his mother onto me and she pointed out that he was proud to be part Arab, when I asked what an Arab was the truth dawned, I cried and friendships were restored, but I've been careful ever since, but was I really bad?

Brian

 

[dan-cat]

No I don't, I think you were just being naive. There have been plenty of occasions where I have been cut short by somebody telling me I was being offensive when I had no idea. As soon as it was pointed out to me, I shut the hell up.

If you've used a word with no offense intended that's fine. Then when somebody informs you that they find it offensive, it should dawn on you that the word does have an alternative meaning. In this case, the original meaning.

It's then up to the individual whether they take into account these factors when they next use the word. Let's face it, if I got ticked off by a bald person for calling him 'baldy', it would be callous of me to come up to you in the street, not knowing your opinion, and calling you the same thing.

I know it may upset you, it isn't very funny, what good reason do I have for using it? Isn't it just common sense?

 

[Kraj]

I probably have used the term "Chinky" in respect of a Chinese meal but never in regard to a person, much like most of my fellow English people. [...] You can refer to me how you like - I don't give a toss - I'm too busy taking care of things that matter.

Surely 90% of the time it is the context of the word that makes it offensive or not,[...] Of course if somebody objects they would apologise and refrain, but if we follow that path on an international forum then I guess we need a sticky with forbidden words and phrases.

If I may, I'd like a offer a simple scenario which will hopefully put this issue to rest:

1.) Forum Member 1 uses a word that is innocuous in his or her local slang but is offensive in Forum Member 2's slang.
2.) Forum Member 2 expresses his or her offense to the word without getting overly upset.
3.) Forum Member 1 explains the non-offensive usage and intent of the word.
4.) Forum Member 1 apologizes for any offense and promises to make an effort to avoid using the offensive word in the future.
5.) Forum Member 2 accepts apology, understands that Forum Member 1 is not intentionally being offensive, and promises to be mindful that words carry different meanings in different cultures.

We do not need a sticky of forbidden words and we do not need to walk on eggshells. All we need is a little civility and a little class. And there is no sense spending 6 pages analyzing the behavior of a forum member who has neither.

 

[Rich]

. All we need is a little civility and a little class. .

Pity your government doesn't follow the same criteria

And there is no sense spending 6 pages analyzing the behavior of a forum member who has neither

Who elected you to sit in judgement on others ?

 

[KenHigg]

Pity your government doesn't follow the same criteria

Who elected you to sit in judgement on others ?

.
.
.
duh...

 

[Rich]

.
.
.
duh...

E h?

 

[ColinEssex]

1.) Forum Member 1 uses a word that is innocuous in his or her local slang but is offensive in Forum Member 2's slang.
2.) Forum Member 2 expresses his or her offense to the word without getting overly upset.
3.) Forum Member 1 explains the non-offensive usage and intent of the word.
4.) Forum Member 1 apologizes for any offense and promises to make an effort to avoid using the offensive word in the future.
5.) Forum Member 2 accepts apology, understands that Forum Member 1 is not intentionally being offensive, and promises to be mindful that words carry different meanings in different cultures.

Shouldn't Forum Member 2 not be so touchy in the first place?

Col

 

[Rich]

Shouldn't Forum Member 2 not be so touchy in the first place?

Col

Shouldn't forum member two also accept the fact that the vast majority of British members here have quite clearly stated that the term here has absolutely No racial connotations whatsoever and the phrase is totaly inocuous.?

 

[ColinEssex]

Shouldn't forum member two also accept the fact that the vast majority of British members here have quite clearly stated that the term here has absolutely No racial connotations whatsoever and the phrase is totaly inocuous.?

shouldn't Forum Member 2 let it drop? its been a week now

Col