# Apology for my insensetive comment in GQ. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 13, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573 "2004-11-13T16:36:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/1 "2004-11-13T16:36:51Z")
As a joke I used the term ‘towel-head’ in a GQ thread. I refered of course to the people who shoot machine guns in the air, and not Arabic people in genral. Someone compared it with using the N word. I believe some terms are more offensive than others and resent the comparrison. However it was insensetive so I apologise. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/2 "2004-11-13T16:42:44Z")
It doesn’t matter how offensive _you_ think a term is, it’s how offensive it is to the _subject_ of the term. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/3 "2004-11-13T16:44:27Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Someone compared it with using the N word. I believe some terms are more offensive than others and resent the comparrison. Although you personally might not find it as offensive as “nigger”, you should realize that those reading your post might reasonably think it’s as offensive or worse. Folks of Arab decent, of course, might. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/4 "2004-11-13T16:50:35Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > It doesn’t matter how offensive _you_ think a term is, it’s how offensive it is to the _subject_ of the term. Well, there are reasonable limits. I’ve heard of some Canadians (I’m a Canadian, btw) saying that “Canuck” is as bad as “nigger.” Personally, I think anyone who says that is actually just looking for an excuse to be offended. We have a hockey team called the Canucks, for God’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/5 "2004-11-13T16:54:25Z")
If you are going to aploogize, just do so. Adding in rationalizations dilutes the apology. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/6 "2004-11-13T16:54:38Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > We have a hockey team called the Canucks, for God’s sake. Maybe people are offended because they’re being compared to such a crappy team. D&R ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/7 "2004-11-13T17:08:09Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, there are reasonable limits. I’ve heard of some Canadians (I’m a Canadian, btw) saying that “Canuck” is as bad as “nigger.” Personally, I think anyone who says that is actually just looking for an excuse to be offended. We have a hockey team called the Canucks, for God’s sake. But do you think an Arab being offended at “towelhead” is as unreasonable as a Canadian being offended at “Canuck”? My personal opinion is that is isn’t. I’ve heard “Canuck” used as a neutral term pretty frequently, but I cannot think of “towelhead” ever used in a non-negative manner. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/8 "2004-11-13T17:18:46Z")
Alright… I apologise for making excuses in my original apology. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/9 "2004-11-13T17:28:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > We have a hockey team called the Canucks, for God’s sake. Must… resist… urge… to make joke… about black people playing hockey… ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/10 "2004-11-13T17:30:19Z")
I am the compar-er. I’d like to point out that I was using “nigger” as hyperbole, as I am not an Arab. However, the term “towel-head” not only denotes mass generalizations (as in every single person who sports Islamic or Sikh headgear) but is personally offensive to me for a number of reasons. I was simply pointing out that what I knew was a joke was not a very funny one and one that could be offensive to a number of people. I appreciate the apology. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/11 "2004-11-13T17:35:31Z")
Though shooting in the air is awfully dangerous. It seems to be a common celebratory trait amongst many Arab peoples. (And non-Arabs on the New Years as well.) If I was in the middle of nowhere, I might even do it myself. I’d probably just wear a ball cap though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/12 "2004-11-13T18:24:27Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > It doesn’t matter how offensive _you_ think a term is, it’s how offensive it is to the _subject_ of the term. Really? I find every term you use offensive. Please stop posting. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/13 "2004-11-13T18:42:11Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Really? I find every term you use offensive. Please stop posting. All right, smartass. If I reasonably thought you actually felt that way, I might. Go ahead and tack a reasonability clause onto my post if it makes you feel better. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/14 "2004-11-13T19:21:16Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, there are reasonable limits. I’ve heard of some Canadians (I’m a Canadian, btw) saying that “Canuck” is as bad as “nigger.” Personally, I think anyone who says that is actually just looking for an excuse to be offended. We have a hockey team called the Canucks, for God’s sake. And we have a football team called the “Redskins”. Still offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/15 "2004-11-13T19:35:52Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Must… resist… urge… to make joke… about black people playing hockey… [They’re rare at the professional level](http://www.factmonster.com/spot/bhmhockey1.html), but not without their successes. The best of them was Vezina-winning goalie Grant Fuhr. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/16 "2004-11-13T21:18:07Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > All right, smartass. If I reasonably thought you actually felt that way, I might. Go ahead and tack a reasonability clause onto my post if it makes you feel better. Actually, your calling me “smartass” cheered me up. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/17 "2004-11-13T23:21:48Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Must… resist… urge… to make joke… about black people playing hockey… Must… resist… urge… to make joke… about Scott Gomez … ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/18 "2004-11-14T01:34:07Z")
Plus, you know, they don’t wear actual towels. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/19 "2004-11-14T01:43:58Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Must… resist… urge… to make joke… about Scott Gomez … Must… resist… urge… to make joke… about Richard Park… ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/20 "2004-11-14T03:08:20Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > And we have a football team called the “Redskins”. Still offensive. There is a oilfield supply company called REDMAN that was started by an INDIAN. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573.md?page=2)