Poll: Racism, abbreviation, & Life.

[Ilikemilkshake]

-snip-

I don't find it offensive. That was a joke. I just think it sounds stupid.

Fair enough. Your post didn't exactly come across as a joke when reading (damn internet not being able to show emotions and all). I still don't see why anyone would find it offensive though.

 

[JasonKaotic]

Wagh crap, I voted for no, I meant to vote for the middle one.
I had no idea 'Brit' was considered racist. I'm English, being called British instead of English annoys me, but I've never been offended by 'Brit'. Never knew Aussie was thought to be racist either. And I have a friend whose family is from Pakistan, she even calls herself a Paki. Although I did know that one's considered racist.
But then you have my sister, who throws out 'Paki' like free candy, she calls dirty parts of towns 'Paki streets', constantly, constantly raves on about foreign people and how they annoy her, and yeah, you get the idea, she's pretty damn narrow-minded.
So in short, is does depend on how you mean it.

 

[AnarchistFish]

Never ever heard "Brit" or "Aussie" being called slur words or being used in that way.

The only reason I don't like being called a Brit is cos I'm very precious about my being half-French, and I generally consider my other half to be English, not British, anyway.

 

[Hazy992]

how does Paki become equivalent to "Dirty fucking stinking Brit"? Its just an abbreviation for Pakistan.

The person being insulted is French (not a Brit) and the intent is to insult/offend via applying negative connotations to the word.

Why are you insulted by being called yank, you are one - right?

Its just an abbreviation though, why be offended by that?

As for the term Yank, whenever I see Europeans use the word, they might as well be saying asshole/prick/moron/ect. Also like I said, it has an association with the American civil war, where the confederates called people from the North "Yanks", and there are still people who live below the Mason Dixie line that call Northerners "Yanks" in a pejorative way.

So if I started calling you 'a dirty fucking Canuck' or something equally pejorative even though you're American you wouldn't get offended?

I get what your saying but tbh I have no idea what a Canuk is.

A Canuck is derogatory term for Canadian

 

[Sunrider]

Paki is generally used as a slur word.

Some people use it in the same way as "Brit", "Aussie" or "Yank".

Then again I have seen some Americans get offended at the whole "Yank" things. I don't know if it's a British thing or what have you but it's a general term for American over here.

I just couldn't bring myself to be offended if someone yelled out "Oi you fucking Brit" .... why yes, yes I am. And well done you for noticing ... here have a lollipop.

Although political correctness is going insane in this country.

I give it about 10 more years and it will be an offence to maintain eye contact with anyone from a different race. You will be arrested for "glaring with racist intent".

I feel your pain. Sweden is going down that same shitdrain as we speak. Check this article out and you'll understand what I mean: http://randomprocessed.blogspot.se/2012/02/swedish-pedestrian-crossing-signs.html

A Canuck is derogatory term for Canadian

Last I checked, it was just slang for for it, and not actually derogatory. But then again, political correctness up the arse might have changed this in recent times.

OT: I wouldn't consider any of them racist, but then again, I don't really care about stuff like that. I almost never get offended about generalizations, regardless of intent.

 

[Hazy992]

Paki is generally used as a slur word.

Some people use it in the same way as "Brit", "Aussie" or "Yank".

Then again I have seen some Americans get offended at the whole "Yank" things. I don't know if it's a British thing or what have you but it's a general term for American over here.

I just couldn't bring myself to be offended if someone yelled out "Oi you fucking Brit" .... why yes, yes I am. And well done you for noticing ... here have a lollipop.

Although political correctness is going insane in this country.

I give it about 10 more years and it will be an offence to maintain eye contact with anyone from a different race. You will be arrested for "glaring with racist intent".

I feel your pain. Sweden is going down that same shitdrain as we speak. Check this article out and you'll understand what I mean: http://randomprocessed.blogspot.se/2012/02/swedish-pedestrian-crossing-signs.html

A Canuck is derogatory term for Canadian

Last I checked, it was just slang for for it, and not actually derogatory. But then again, political correctness up the arse might have changed this in recent times.

OT: I wouldn't consider any of them racist, but then again, I don't really care about stuff like that. I almost never get offended about generalizations, regardless of intent.

Oh right, well I heard it could be used that way. I was just making a general point though as he couldn't see why calling any south Asian a 'Paki' would be offensive.

 

[Rawne1980]

I feel your pain. Sweden is going down that same shitdrain as we speak. Check this article out and you'll understand what I mean: http://randomprocessed.blogspot.se/2012/02/swedish-pedestrian-crossing-signs.html

Oh dear.

I can almost, almost, understand wanting to change half the signs to "female" .... almost.

But it got me when they had to change them again for having them look like they are dressed in short skirts with pointy breasts.

 

[Sunrider]

I feel your pain. Sweden is going down that same shitdrain as we speak. Check this article out and you'll understand what I mean: http://randomprocessed.blogspot.se/2012/02/swedish-pedestrian-crossing-signs.html

Oh dear.

I can almost, almost, understand wanting to change half the signs to "female" .... almost.

But it got me when they had to change them again for having them look like they are dressed in short skirts with pointy breasts.

If they were in some way intended to show off some sort of male superiority, fine, but it's been around forever, and I dare ANYONE to find a non-crazy person who was actually bothered by the original signs.
Even if I don't mind either of the female signs (it's just a sign, who gives a toss?), my motivation to pay taxes when it's used for useless shit like this is rapidly diminishing.

 

[Still Life]

That's always confused me for some reason.


'Paki' to me, sounds very much like a racial slur, while 'Brit' and 'Aussie' don't.

Language is weird sometimes.

I think it's because 'Paki' is used to refer to asian people, whether or not they actually come from Pakistan.

It basically generalises an entire race.

I was going to say.

It has always seemed to me that for Australians and British, those sort abbreviations have come from a quasi-shared history, reflected in the cross-pollination of cultural language.

I think it's different for 'Paki' as it's a term used by English speakers in the absence of cultural relativity. I suppose if a Pakistani native came up with the term it would be entirely acceptable, but I've only ever heard non-Pakistani English speakers use it and not in a particularly nice way either.

 

[SirDeadly]

Let's get one thing sorted. In no way, shape or form is the term "Aussie" racist or offensive (some may feel differently as stated by a member a few posts ago). The majority of Australians refer to ourselves as "Aussies" because that is what we are.

"Paki" has definitely been used for abusive purposes.

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

Paki is generally used as a slur word.


I give it about 10 more years and it will be an offence to maintain eye contact with anyone from a different race. You will be arrested for "glaring with racist intent".

That's crazy. You should come over here to America and glare at people, especially at the darker ones. See what happens to you.

You spelled offense wrong by the way.

 

[Rawne1980]

You spelled offense wrong by the way.

Hate to do it but I have to be incredibly mature now....

*clears throat*

Ner ner no I didn't

offence UK, offense US
n
1. a violation or breach of a law, custom, rule, etc.
2.
a. any public wrong or crime
b. a nonindictable crime punishable on summary conviction
3. annoyance, displeasure, or resentment
give offence (to) to cause annoyance or displeasure (to)
take offence to feel injured, humiliated, or offended
6. a source of annoyance, displeasure, or anger
7. (Military) attack; assault
8. Archaic injury or harm
9. (Team Sports / American Football) American football (usually preceded by the)
a. the team that has possession of the ball
b. the members of a team that play in such circumstances
offenceless US, offenseless adj

I'm British, i'll stick to the British way of spelling things cheers bud....

By the way, it's bloody coloUr

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

You brits were spelling it color during WWII, mate. Wait, do brits say mate?

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

I think the reason it is considered a slur is pretty much the same as why ****** is considered a slur, even though people will use it ironically (sometimes not) as a term of endearment for their friends.

The word was originally intended to be derogatory. It was a jingoistic slur that people used to dehumanise south Asian immigrants.

But yea, that's always seemed odd to me too.

For instance, if I call a Japanese fellow a 'Jap' people will assume I'm being racist. But if he called me a Brit, a limey, a tea sipper. Whatever, I'd be expected to either not raise an eyebrow or take it as a light hearted joke.

Double standards, whadya gunna do?

And here we are, right on time. It's like a fucking endless cycle.

 

[redisforever]

All of them are correct, even "Paki". Calling someone a "Pakistani" is something of a tautology as Pakistan means "Land of Pakis (or is it Pak?). However, it's considered the more polite term nowadays as Paki has acquired negative connotations, unlike Kazakh or Afghan.

Well, Afghan is actually the correct word for people from Afghanistan.

You are right, though, it's all because of the negative connotation. It literally means someone from Pakistan.

 

[Crenelate]

I would say Paki is only because I don't think I've ever heard the word used not as a racial slur. I have never heard anyone say Brit in a derogatory manner, and while Aussie may be us poking fun at Australians for living in a prison, we are totally jealous of the beaches. They call us poms anyway.

 

[catalyst8]

I think the reason it is considered a slur is pretty much the same as why ****** is considered a slur, even though people will use it ironically (sometimes not) as a term of endearment for their friends.

The word was originally intended to be derogatory. It was a jingoistic slur that people used to dehumanise south Asian immigrants.

But yea, that's always seemed odd to me too.

For instance, if I call a Japanese fellow a 'Jap' people will assume I'm being racist. But if he called me a Brit, a limey, a tea sipper. Whatever, I'd be expected to either not raise an eyebrow or take it as a light hearted joke.

Double standards, whadya gunna do?

And here we are, right on time. It's like a fucking endless cycle.

Could you explain that please, For? I'd have to agree with Abandon's point that it's a double standard:

The abbreviation Paki itself isn't inherently racist any more than Brit or American, it's the accuracy, context & intent with which it's used. The word Jew/Yehudah has been used even more insultingly, even to the point of slavery & genocide a number of times over 3,000 years. Ergo 'Jew' must be an infinitely more racist term, yet is legitimate & in common use. As for so-called reclaimed words, a reclaimed term is divisive because it creates a double standard; some people may use it & others are prohibited (think '******'), so it's racial inequality - racism.

They call us poms anyway.

Incorrectly by the way. Ironically enough 'P.O.M.E.' is an abbreviation of Prisoner Of Mother England, which is how the convicts were labelled on their voyage to Australia.

 

[Woodsey]

Paki is a racial slur because it's been consistently used as a racial slur. Brit and Aussie haven't.

I don't see why that's complicated.

 

[catalyst8]

Paki is a racial slur because it's been consistently used as a racial slur. Brit and Aussie haven't.

I don't see why that's complicated.

I suggest you read my comment immediately previous to yours.

 

[direkiller]

Then again I have seen some Americans get offended at the whole "Yank" things. I don't know if it's a British thing or what have you but it's a general term for American over here.

Yank=Yankie refers to north east of the US(Civil war Mason/Dixon line basically)
I suppose it is more like that England/Britain/UK are the same thing in the US

Southerners tend to take offence more. Most people don't care. I doubt it ever amounts to more then a scornful look.

(if you let me indulge my history geek for a moment)
its rather funny as the whole Yankee doodle dandy tune was originally a British tune saying everyone in the states is a flamboyant homosexual, but in true american fashion it sounded cool so we took it blissfully humming an insult.