It’s been mentioned in other threads, but apparently some moron journalists (not myself or anybody else here, of course) are using the term “African-American” to describe black people no matter what country they’re actually from, which is insane. African-American was never a good euphemism because it’s less precise than the word it replaces. It doesn’t just leave out white South Africans, it ignores the Arabs living in North Africa. It’s really pretty ridiculous how nitpicky it’s getting.
Weirddave, I have a friend in a wheelchair who’s got a similar sense of humor about it. I was so relieved when I first heard him kid about it, I can’t even begin to explain. He sometimes does play-by-play for our sports teams, here’s a great quote he used during a football game: “That hole was so big that I could have [very long pause as he realizes that he can’t run but that people listening on the radio don’t know he’s in a wheelchair and it would take too long to explain and it’s not worth it] . . . run … through it…”
You’re a native American, but not a Native American. Small difference, but seems to be clear enough to me.
BUT…the implication of “A black” is that this is the most significant thing about the person in question. Which is hardly ever the case. There’s nothing wrong with calling Bush ‘President’, because it IS important.
And you were unfortunate in choosing ‘Blond’ for your argument - never heard of Blonde Jokes?
or Oriental, which seems to be less offensive in Britain than the USA.
I find it odd that someone would prefer Afro Caribbean over Black British, it seems to imply that you aren’t as British as white people, that you’re still classed as foreign. Not that there’s anything wrong with being foreign, but you know what I mean.
I don’t have a problem with PC, maybe because I never hear objections to the terms black, handicapped, mixed race (in fact it would be nice if some people knew that that was the preferable term to half caste) etc.
OK, I jumped to conclusions with ‘Mumbai’, but after ‘Beijing’… and have you noticed the BBC have started pronouncing ‘Newcastle’ lately? Pandering to the myth that received pronunciation is a southern accent.
I look forward to the day when I hear a BBC newsreader say 'Wist ‘am’ or ‘Lu’un’…
I won’t hold my breath though, they can’t even say ‘Millwall’ correctly.
The BBC link just proves my point…
The BBC calls him a racist, the judge called him a racialist…
While I can’t imagine him being surrounded and outnumbered by those of another race at Port Vale v Oldham, he didn’t come across as a deep-thinking theorist…
Another thing, Beeb lover, You’ll be in Alisdair Campbell’s Black Book - Come The Revolution you’ll be first up against the wall…
Again, there is no implication of importance in changing “president” from an adjective to a noun. It was done simply because “President” is shorter than “The one who is President.”
What in the world do you mean by this?
Are “blonde people jokes” somehow less offensive than “blonde jokes”?
Or do you think there wouldn’t be blonde jokes if we called them “blonde people” instead of just “blondes”?
Huh. I always thought “racialist” was just the UK way of saying “racist.” Like how you guys pronounce “aluminum.” Didn’t realize there was actually a difference between the two.
Well, if you say so, Priam, but I’ve learned on this board that for too many people, “faggot” is the last word they hear just before someone smacks the living daylights out of them with a bottle or whatever. So to demonstrate that I’m not wholly incorrigible, and because any putative hatred of gays I might have is far outweighed by the genuine hatred I do have for cruel and senseless violence, I’ve quietly resolved to restrict the use of the word to “a bundle of firewood” or “a delicious savoury English meatball, the composition of which you do not want to enquire too closely into”.
OTOH, I understand that, like the N-word, it’s okay to use it if you are one.
That sounds like something I’d say; “cripple” is the word I tend to use amongst people whom I know won’t have a coronary upon hearing it. Heehee. I hate “physically challenged” & I loathe “differently abled”. Gimme a fucking break.
Well, I’ve tried to explain why it can be offensive, but you won’t accept it. Don’t blame me if people take offence at you using that word.
Yes there is. It becomes a title, which indicates importance.
I’ve met plenty of people who hate being described as ‘a blonde’.
Should have explained myself better - the magistrate described his behaviour, ie the outspoken chanting, as racialist. From this, we can draw the conclusion that the man is racist.
This is about a euphemism I do not like. I have a mental illness. Sometimes I think about hanging myself or electrocuting myself or making a quick left into oncoming traffic. In the past these thoughts have scared me, I have checked myself into a hospital. When they interview you for admission they always ask, “Do you want to hurt yourself?”
My reply is, “No, I want to die. I don’t want to hurt anymore, that’s the whole point.”
If someone said this to me about my husband ( who is in perfect health, TYVM) I would say, " Well You just tell Jesus Christ and his Dad to get Mr. Ujest right back here, I need the screens put in for spring."
I’m being treated for depression. Before I was being treated, I was not “metally ill,” I was crazy. I wasn’t “self-destructive,” I was suicidal.
Much that contributed to my latest depression was legal problems. I was cleared. However, I am not left with “issues” about the legal problems, I become enraged when reminded of them, though this happens less and less. (I got better!)
My personality impresses some people as “curmudgeonly.” Please, just call me a prick and be done with it. Then decide whether or not you like me.
Oo! Personal pet peeve! Just let me try and get away with “Indian-American”* and see what people think. Especially since I’m very fair-skinned. I always use Native American, but I’m tired of having to say “I’m Indian.” (pause, blank look) “From India.” Sometimes I’ve even had people jump in the pause and ask me “what tribe?” I’ve resorted to saying “I was born in India.”
*Not that I would call myself that anyway. I’m American, goddamnit.
The big thing about all these terms is that they were made up, supposedly, to improve the “affected” person’s self esteem, when in actuality, it’s really for the speaker’s.
You know, deep down, they’re saying to themselves, “Oh I’m such a wonderful person because I’m being nice to the gimp!”
I’ve never known a person with physical disabilities who didn’t despise the term “differently-abled,” but if you really want to get slammed in the nuts with a wheelchair call them “handi-capable.”
OTOH, I’ve never encountered an African-American who objected to the word “black.”
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