# If "Paki" is acceptable to use then what other slurs are? Nigger? Spic? Homo? Jap? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 16, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375 "2012-07-16T02:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/261 "2012-07-18T16:57:08Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And rightly so, which was my entire point. So if someone called a motorcycle a “jap bike”, would they get a warning? This motorcycle is a sweet-ass jap bike. > **[JAP Motorcycles and Engines](https://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/jap/)** > > J.A.Prestwich of Tottenham - Photographs and Diagrams 1900s to 1950s. I’d love to have a jap bike like that to cruise around town. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/262 "2012-07-18T17:04:51Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/263 "2012-07-18T17:20:38Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > This motorcycle is a sweet-ass jap bike. > > [JAP Motorcycles and Engines Gallery](http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/jap/JAP_500_Speedway_1949.htm) > > I’d love to have a jap bike like that to cruise around town. I won’t give you a formal warning, but don’t be a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/264 "2012-07-18T17:31:04Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > This motorcycle is a sweet-ass jap bike. > > [JAP Motorcycles and Engines Gallery](http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/jap/JAP_500_Speedway_1949.htm) > > I’d love to have a jap bike like that to cruise around town. [Moderator Note] **Drunky Smurf** , “jap” is a term that is commonly understood to be offensive in the United States, where this board is located. I understand that you are linking to a site for bikes made by J.A. Prestwich, but your (apparently deliberate) failure to capitalize the name appears to be an attempt to cause confusion as to your intent.😉 Let’s not use the term “jap” in the future in order to avoid offense. Colibri Look guys, like I said above, don’t play games. Use some common sense. I know you can come up with convoluted scenarios in which these terms may not be offensive. If someone inadvertently uses an offensive term, they will probably receive a mod note to refrain in the future. If they use it knowingly and deliberately, they could receive a warning. ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/265 "2012-07-18T17:33:55Z")
Here is a young Japanese person talking about use of the term “JAP”. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4jelOcalwU) ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/266 "2012-07-18T17:39:01Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > snip…but don’t be a jerk. > [@Colibri](#): > > [Moderator Note]…snip…Let’s not use the term “jap” in the future in order to avoid offense…snip Will do. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/267 "2012-07-18T17:47:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > We agree more than you think: > > 1. I concur (although out here we see it once in a great while, but that’s mainly on a Pakistani owned business or club.). But it’s also not a slur outside of GB, such as in Pakistan, etc. In other words, it is only commonly used as a slur on one small island. > > 2. “Jap” _can_ be used as a slur in the USA, depending\* heavily \*on context. > > 3. I overstated my case, but “Brit” is certainly a slur on Ireland- yet another small island. > > Thus, “Brit” is a slur every bit as much as “Paki” is- both are mostly used as a slur only on one small island. [Edit - actually, never mind. I’m outta here.] ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/268 "2012-07-18T18:22:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > We agree more than you think: > > 1. I concur (although out here we see it once in a great while, but that’s mainly on a Pakistani owned business or club.). But it’s also not a slur outside of GB, such as in Pakistan, etc. In other words, it is only commonly used as a slur on one small island. > > 2. “Jap” _can_ be used as a slur in the USA, depending\* heavily \*on context. > > 3. I overstated my case, but “Brit” is certainly a slur on Ireland- yet another small island. > > Thus, “Brit” is a slur every bit as much as “Paki” is- both are mostly used as a slur only on one small island. Yes, and “redneck” and “peckerwood” are just as offensive as “nigger”. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/269 "2012-07-18T18:45:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > We agree more than you think: > > 1. I concur (although out here we see it once in a great while, but that’s mainly on a Pakistani owned business or club.). But it’s also not a slur outside of GB, such as in Pakistan, etc. In other words, it is only commonly used as a slur on one small island. > > 2. “Jap” _can_ be used as a slur in the USA, depending\* heavily \*on context. > > 3. I overstated my case, but “Brit” is certainly a slur on Ireland- yet another small island. > > Thus, “Brit” is a slur every bit as much as “Paki” is- both are mostly used as a slur only on one small island. Okay, we agree on 1. On 2, we disagree – I’m sorry, but it doesn’t depend as much as you think it does on context – there are very few contexts where it can avoid the danger of being assumed to be a slur. On 3, I didn’t know that – thank you for fighting my ignorance! (I should know better, considering my “[namesake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kelly_of_Killanne)”.) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/270 "2012-07-18T21:25:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > 1. I overstated my case, but “Brit” is certainly a slur on Ireland- yet another small island. > > Thus, “Brit” is a slur every bit as much as “Paki” is- both are mostly used as a slur only on one small island. I don’t think the term Brit is typically used as a slur. I cited the only context where it is used as a negative term, and given the context it is in no way equivalent to how the term Paki is often used in Britain. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/271 "2012-07-19T01:49:43Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > As always, context matters. I’d probably give a mod note regardless, but if I thought they were really not saying anything negative about Japanese people I wouldn’t give a warning. Well, mod note then. I basically meant, would it be noticed or commented on. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/272 "2012-07-19T02:06:05Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I don’t think the term Brit is typically used as a slur. I cited the only context where it is used as a negative term, and given the context it is in no way equivalent to how the term Paki is often used in Britain. Apparently in Ireland, _Brit_ is most definately a slur. Mind you, in parts of the American South, so is “Yank”. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/273 "2012-07-19T02:30:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Apparently in Ireland, _Brit_ is most definately a slur. > > Mind you, in parts of the American South, so is “Yank”. The term “Brits Out” as described by me is a political statement not an ethnic slur. FWIW I’d say that “yank” is more of a slur in Ireland than Brit is, for extra venom “septic” is used, from “septic tank”. This is also apparently current in UK/Australia. ETA: And what’s with the green font? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/274 "2012-07-19T02:30:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Apparently in Ireland, _Brit_ is most definately a slur. You do realize the **An Gadai** is Irish and lives in Dublin, don’t you? Why do you think your opinion on the subject is superior to his? > [@](#): > > Mind you, in parts of the American South, so is “Yank”. It’s not a slur probably 99.9% of the time it’s used on this board. If that’s your comparison to “Brit,” you don’t have much of a case. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/275 "2012-07-19T02:39:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You do realize the **An Gadai** is Irish and lives in Dublin, don’t you? Why do you think your opinion on the subject is superior to his? To be clear there’s probably some anti-English (specifically English) feeling amongst a certain cohort of the population. However, the term “Brit” is never really used as an ethnic slur. Down here in the republic “Brits Out” is nearly a joke. In NI it was/is a political slogan. Without getting too mired in it, the power relationship is completely different from an (for want of a better term) ethnically English person using the term “paki” in a derogatory manner to refer to a person of South Asian origin. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/276 "2012-07-19T03:34:27Z")
**DrDeth** , you could always try saying “[whoosh](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=529372)” every time you use a racial slur. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/277 "2012-07-19T04:03:32Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > To be clear there’s probably some anti-English (specifically English) feeling amongst a certain cohort of the population. However, the term “Brit” is never really used as an ethnic slur. Down here in the republic “Brits Out” is nearly a joke. In NI it was/is a political slogan. Without getting too mired in it, the power relationship is completely different from an (for want of a better term) ethnically English person using the term “paki” in a derogatory manner to refer to a person of South Asian origin. So, you’re saying it’s more of a Political than Ethnic slur? Sure, I can buy that. Still, it’s hardly used in a complimentary manner. The Irish poster said “When I use “Brit” I certainly mean it as one (slur)”. But here in the USA, Paki is just a abbreviation. It’s not a slur, political or ethnic. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/278 "2012-07-19T04:19:46Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > **DrDeth** , you could always try saying “[whoosh](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=529372)” every time you use a racial slur. As a bona fide native of Whooshistan I am highly offended by this. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/279 "2012-07-19T04:21:59Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > As a bona fide native of Whooshistan I am highly offended by this. But do you feel the term “Whooshi” is offensive? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375/280 "2012-07-19T04:24:39Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > But do you feel the term “Whooshi” is offensive? Hey, how about all the “_Who_s” in _Who_ville then, huh? Huh? So there. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-paki-is-acceptable-to-use-then-what-other-slurs-are-nigger-spic-homo-jap/628375.md?page=15)