Racist Idioms

[Seldon2639]

Do you use idioms which have racist origins of which you weren't aware, and had someone call you on it?

I regularly use the expression "to call a spade a spade", and drew the indignation of a black girl in one of my classes who informed me (rather snottily) that "spade" was another way of referring to a black male slave, and the expression is derogatory.

Have other people had this happen? Do people say they've been gypped, or had someone be an "Indian giver" (or perhaps less overtly offensive expressions), and had someone take offense?

Minus points for: stealing lines from Clerks 2

Bous points for: having been bitched at for using "he" to indicate both males and females as in the sentence "if someone's worried about his grades, he should go talk to his professor".

 

[Pandalisk]

Many things like that have been absorbed by our culture and only a few historically educated fellows would notice etcetera

so no i haven't but thats probably because no one else knows its a Racist Idiom either

 

[Nmil-ek]

Guilty of this I must admit, trying to stop using such terms as corner shop, or ordering a chinky when ordering out a chinese takeout.

 

[Pandalisk]

Guilty of this I must admit, trying to stop using such terms as corner shop, or ordering a chinky when ordering out a chinese takeout.

i know the rascist term, but what the hell were you ordering with the word?

 

[Nmil-ek]

Guilty of this I must admit, trying to stop using such terms as corner shop, or ordering a chinky when ordering out a chinese takeout.

i know the rascist term, but what the hell were you ordering with the word?

No its just the term used in the same way like "want to order in a chinese?" - "want to order in a chinky?" not the actual order itself.

 

[Pandalisk]

Guilty of this I must admit, trying to stop using such terms as corner shop, or ordering a chinky when ordering out a chinese takeout.

i know the rascist term, but what the hell were you ordering with the word?

No its just the term used in the same way like "want to order in a chinese?" - "want to order in a chinky?" not the actual order itself.

Oh i see we just call it "the Chinese" round these parts

 

[Bofus Teefus]

Do people say they've been gypped...

Apparently, I'm a descendant of a long line of gypsies and thieves. This is at least the straightest answer that I can get out of my parents. What the hell is a gypsy, and should I be offended when people say this?

I did get eaten alive in high school once when I made some non-racial (or so I thought) crack about slaves in history class while we were going over slavery. Apparently every slave in the world who was ever enslaved was of one certain race, so it amounted to racial bigotry on my part. About half of the kids in my class were black, and most thought it was funny, especially when the racist aspect was pointed out (at which point I looked terrified...I did think I was going to get my ass severely kicked after class.) The teacher sent me to the dean's office over it. No, I wont repeat the joke.

EDIT- I wont repeat the joke because it was lame. I'm sure we can all handle it, but it really isn't worth repeating. It was funny in context, though.

 

[YuheJi]

Hmm... I recall once in Guild Wars someone called the paragon a "spearchucker" which I'm pretty now refers to black people in reference to native African hunters. I got rather confused after someone called that out.

Do people say they've been gypped...

Apparently, I'm a descendant of a long line of gypsies and thieves. This is at least the straightest answer that I can get out of my parents. What the hell is a gypsy, and should I be offended when people say this?

I did get eaten alive in high school once when I made some non-racial (or so I thought) crack about slaves in history class while we were going over slavery. Apparently every slave in the world who was ever enslaved was of one certain race, so it amounted to racial bigotry on my part. About half of the kids in my class were black, and most thought it was funny, especially when the racist aspect was pointed out (at which point I looked terrified...I did think I was going to get my ass severely kicked after class.) The teacher sent me to the dean's office over it. No, I wont repeat the joke.

You must repeat the joke.

Whites have enslaved fellow whites (not in the U.S. though), and blacks have enslaved fellow blacks (in Africa and supposedly in the U.S. as well).

The fact that whitey supposedly has to bear the guilt of slavery is complete and total hogwash (especially since no one today was around when U.S. slavery still existed).

The white enslavement of blacks had far more meaning than any other type of slavery though. Consider how black slaves under whites were born slaves, as would be their children which was something most other cultures did not do. Also consider how whites went specifically to Africa, dragged slaves aboard dirty, disease-ridden ships, and forced all of their traditional culture out of them. Sure there were blacks catching blacks to sell as slaves to whites, but do you think they participated in forcing the slaves onto the ships and stripping away all culture and language that the slave has ever been taught?
And slavery still gets called out because it has created an undeniable link between race and class. The enslavement of black Africans gave rise to racism, which had previously been a nonfactor (think about the Spaniards mixing with the people they conquered). That racism has created the link, and while everyone is legally the same, the average personal white income is still considerably higher than that of blacks, Latinos, or Asians.

 

[Desaari]

Do people say they've been gypped...

Apparently, I'm a descendant of a long line of gypsies and thieves. This is at least the straightest answer that I can get out of my parents. What the hell is a gypsy, and should I be offended when people say this?

Gypsies are travellers that live in caravans, mobile homes, trailers etc. They were traditionally stereotyped as being thieves, scammers, and the like, and in modern times don't fit into society as they don't own or rent land and as such are looked down upon for being social misfits.
There are also many other factors to account for society's dislike and mistrust of them, for example: often after staying on an area of land they will leave behind large amounts of waste, leaving the local councils to clean it up at the expense of the taxes from the rest of society.
You should probably take offence if someone says it to you in a malicious way, but not otherwise.

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

Jive Turkey. My friends dad took offense. I was amazed.

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

Hmm... I recall once in Guild Wars someone called the paragon a "spearchucker" which I'm pretty now refers to black people in reference to native African hunters. I got rather confused after someone called that out.

Do people say they've been gypped...

Apparently, I'm a descendant of a long line of gypsies and thieves. This is at least the straightest answer that I can get out of my parents. What the hell is a gypsy, and should I be offended when people say this?

I did get eaten alive in high school once when I made some non-racial (or so I thought) crack about slaves in history class while we were going over slavery. Apparently every slave in the world who was ever enslaved was of one certain race, so it amounted to racial bigotry on my part. About half of the kids in my class were black, and most thought it was funny, especially when the racist aspect was pointed out (at which point I looked terrified...I did think I was going to get my ass severely kicked after class.) The teacher sent me to the dean's office over it. No, I wont repeat the joke.

You must repeat the joke.

Whites have enslaved fellow whites (not in the U.S. though), and blacks have enslaved fellow blacks (in Africa and supposedly in the U.S. as well).

The fact that whitey supposedly has to bear the guilt of slavery is complete and total hogwash (especially since no one today was around when U.S. slavery still existed).

The white enslavement of blacks had far more meaning than any other type of slavery though. Consider how black slaves under whites were born slaves, as would be their children which was something most other cultures did not do. Also consider how whites went specifically to Africa, dragged slaves aboard dirty, disease-ridden ships, and forced all of their traditional culture out of them. Sure there were blacks catching blacks to sell as slaves to whites, but do you think they participated in forcing the slaves onto the ships and stripping away all culture and language that the slave has ever been taught?
And slavery still gets called out because it has created an undeniable link between race and class. The enslavement of black Africans gave rise to racism, which had previously been a nonfactor (think about the Spaniards mixing with the people they conquered). That racism has created the link, and while everyone is legally the same, the average personal white income is still considerably higher than that of blacks, Latinos, or Asians.

No I'm pretty sure its exactly the same as any other slavery. Europeans enslaved Africans because they felt they were better. Africans enslaved other Africans because they felt they were the best. Americans enslaved africans because, heres the kicker, they felt they were the best race.

 

[broadblik]

I think one problem is people are just a tad too sensitive, for example, somebody used the term 'monkey' in normal conversation, and a nearby coloured woman took offense.

Just to clarify I am against racism/segregation in every form, but are we really going to start turning inocent words into taboo.

Also some of these 'offensive' words come from very innocent origins, The N word, which I'm assuming you all know which one I'm talking about, is taken from a Germanic word, quite literally meaning the colour black, and has nothing to do with people whatsoever.

 

[kawligia]

Do you use idioms which have racist origins of which you weren't aware, and had someone call you on it?

I regularly use the expression "to call a spade a spade", and drew the indignation of a black girl in one of my classes who informed me (rather snottily) that "spade" was another way of referring to a black male slave, and the expression is derogatory.

Have other people had this happen? Do people say they've been gypped, or had someone be an "Indian giver" (or perhaps less overtly offensive expressions), and had someone take offense?

I'm sure I have and I make no apologies for it. Those expressions are ingrained in the public discourse and have lost any former racial connotations. Racism is the belief that certain races are inferior to other races. If there is no belief and no intent to be racist, then it isn't racist. It's not possible to be "accidentally" racist.

Bous points for: having been bitched at for using "he" to indicate both males and females as in the sentence "if someone's worried about his grades, he should go talk to his professor".

Many cultures use "he" when referring to both males and females. We are one of them. We do not have a word that encompasses both males and females and I refuse to use both of them every single time.

If someone wants to use "she" for both, I won't correct them. But I won't be going along.

 

[YuheJi]

No I'm pretty sure its exactly the same as any other slavery. Europeans enslaved Africans because they felt they were better. Africans enslaved other Africans because they felt they were the best. Americans enslaved africans because, heres the kicker, they felt they were the best race.

The difference is that Europeans enslaving Africans meant that there would be a difference that could easily be exploited (obviously skin color). To prevent a rebellion of black slaves and white indentured servants (and Native Americans), the rich white people called out that difference of skin color, something that could not happen to any other types of slavery throughout history. So that difference of skin color continued to deepen, even after slavery in America was officially abolished in 1865 with the black codes introduced and lynching becoming increasingly popular. So that one specific race was picked on for all those years, with obviously no way of blending in (which was what Jews had done when they started emigrating to America). Most of the other types of slavery based on race eventually ended because the slaves assimilated into the culture of their conquerors (such as the Spanish and the central Americans that they had enslaved).
Other types of slavery that was not race-based was very different. For example, in ancient Athens the slaves could not be separated from the citizens due to the fact that they dressed alike. Rape of slaves was illegal, though the penalties were less, and newly bought slaves were typically welcomed.

 

[Weaver]

Do you use idioms which have racist origins of which you weren't aware, and had someone call you on it?

I regularly use the expression "to call a spade a spade", and drew the indignation of a black girl in one of my classes who informed me (rather snottily) that "spade" was another way of referring to a black male slave, and the expression is derogatory.

Have other people had this happen? Do people say they've been gypped, or had someone be an "Indian giver" (or perhaps less overtly offensive expressions), and had someone take offense?

I'm sure I have and I make no apologies for it. Those expressions are ingrained in the public discourse and have lost any former racial connotations. Racism is the belief that certain races are inferior to other races. If there is no belief and no intent to be racist, then it isn't racist. It's not possible to be "accidentally" racist.

Bous points for: having been bitched at for using "he" to indicate both males and females as in the sentence "if someone's worried about his grades, he should go talk to his professor".

Many cultures use "he" when referring to both males and females. We are one of them. We do not have a word that encompasses both males and females and I refuse to use both of them every single time.

If someone wants to use "she" for both, I won't correct them. But I won't be going along.

"if someone's worried about their grades, they should go talk to their professor".

 

[kawligia]

Do you use idioms which have racist origins of which you weren't aware, and had someone call you on it?

I regularly use the expression "to call a spade a spade", and drew the indignation of a black girl in one of my classes who informed me (rather snottily) that "spade" was another way of referring to a black male slave, and the expression is derogatory.

Have other people had this happen? Do people say they've been gypped, or had someone be an "Indian giver" (or perhaps less overtly offensive expressions), and had someone take offense?

I'm sure I have and I make no apologies for it. Those expressions are ingrained in the public discourse and have lost any former racial connotations. Racism is the belief that certain races are inferior to other races. If there is no belief and no intent to be racist, then it isn't racist. It's not possible to be "accidentally" racist.

Bous points for: having been bitched at for using "he" to indicate both males and females as in the sentence "if someone's worried about his grades, he should go talk to his professor".

Many cultures use "he" when referring to both males and females. We are one of them. We do not have a word that encompasses both males and females and I refuse to use both of them every single time.

If someone wants to use "she" for both, I won't correct them. But I won't be going along.

"if someone's worried about their grades, they should go talk to their professor".

"They" is the PLURAL form of "he."

It would be like using "we" instead of "I." That only works if you're Sméagol or a medieval king.

 

[Weaver]

Do you use idioms which have racist origins of which you weren't aware, and had someone call you on it?

I regularly use the expression "to call a spade a spade", and drew the indignation of a black girl in one of my classes who informed me (rather snottily) that "spade" was another way of referring to a black male slave, and the expression is derogatory.

Have other people had this happen? Do people say they've been gypped, or had someone be an "Indian giver" (or perhaps less overtly offensive expressions), and had someone take offense?

I'm sure I have and I make no apologies for it. Those expressions are ingrained in the public discourse and have lost any former racial connotations. Racism is the belief that certain races are inferior to other races. If there is no belief and no intent to be racist, then it isn't racist. It's not possible to be "accidentally" racist.

Bous points for: having been bitched at for using "he" to indicate both males and females as in the sentence "if someone's worried about his grades, he should go talk to his professor".

Many cultures use "he" when referring to both males and females. We are one of them. We do not have a word that encompasses both males and females and I refuse to use both of them every single time.

If someone wants to use "she" for both, I won't correct them. But I won't be going along.

"if someone's worried about their grades, they should go talk to their professor".

"They" is the PLURAL form of "he."

It would be like using "we" instead of "I." That only works if you're Sméagol or a medieval king.

My statement is not grammatically invalid. In English it is possible to represent in a sentence an individual person (obviously in the general tense or there would be no need for generality) in a gender neutral way.

 

[cptjack42]

The phrase 'no more comments from the peanut gallery' comes from the segregated theaters where blacks would buy peanuts because they were cheaper.

 

[kawligia]

Do you use idioms which have racist origins of which you weren't aware, and had someone call you on it?

I regularly use the expression "to call a spade a spade", and drew the indignation of a black girl in one of my classes who informed me (rather snottily) that "spade" was another way of referring to a black male slave, and the expression is derogatory.

Have other people had this happen? Do people say they've been gypped, or had someone be an "Indian giver" (or perhaps less overtly offensive expressions), and had someone take offense?

I'm sure I have and I make no apologies for it. Those expressions are ingrained in the public discourse and have lost any former racial connotations. Racism is the belief that certain races are inferior to other races. If there is no belief and no intent to be racist, then it isn't racist. It's not possible to be "accidentally" racist.

Bous points for: having been bitched at for using "he" to indicate both males and females as in the sentence "if someone's worried about his grades, he should go talk to his professor".

Many cultures use "he" when referring to both males and females. We are one of them. We do not have a word that encompasses both males and females and I refuse to use both of them every single time.

If someone wants to use "she" for both, I won't correct them. But I won't be going along.

"if someone's worried about their grades, they should go talk to their professor".

"They" is the PLURAL form of "he."

It would be like using "we" instead of "I." That only works if you're Sméagol or a medieval king.

My statement is not grammatically invalid. In English it is possible to represent in a sentence an individual person (obviously in the general tense or there would be no need for generality) in a gender neutral way.

Yes, it IS grammatically invalid because you are using a plural word to refer to a singular subject.

It's possible to refer to to a person in a gender neutral way by doing one of three things: 1) raping the English language by purposefully misusing words 2) using multiple, unnecessary words 3) using the archaic "one" as in "one should go talk to one's professor."

None of which are attractive options IMO. Especially when all I would accomplish is giving in to whiney PC people.

 

[bookboy]

Do people say they've been gypped...

Apparently, I'm a descendant of a long line of gypsies and thieves. This is at least the straightest answer that I can get out of my parents. What the hell is a gypsy, and should I be offended when people say this?

Gypsies are travellers that live in caravans, mobile homes, trailers etc. They were traditionally stereotyped as being thieves, scammers, and the like, and in modern times don't fit into society as they don't own or rent land and as such are looked down upon for being social misfits.
There are also many other factors to account for society's dislike and mistrust of them, for example: often after staying on an area of land they will leave behind large amounts of waste, leaving the local councils to clean it up at the expense of the taxes from the rest of society.
You should probably take offence if someone says it to you in a malicious way, but not otherwise.

okay, to clarify here, A Gypsy is simply an Itinerant person, basically they still insist on living nomadic lifestyles and refuse to settle down in one place.

the term "Gypsy" was created by the Nazi's. it was simply their generic name for all Itinerant people.