# Older Words Deemed Not Politically Correct **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 5, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680 "2004-07-05T19:25:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr.Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Roboto)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/1 "2004-07-05T19:25:59Z")
1. Cheapskate 2. Mongoloid 3. Homo 4. Tired-Queen 5. Grease Monkey 6. Wetback 7. Sissy 8. Jerk-off 9. Alch y 2. Bum/Hobo ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/2 "2004-07-05T19:29:43Z")
We used “CheapSkate” not to long ago when I was in the Ice Rink Business. It pertained to a discount on skate rental on certain nights of the week Jake ---
**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:** [July 5, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/3 "2004-07-05T19:48:16Z")
“Cheapskate”, really? That’s the first I heard of that not being PC. Is there an explanation, or is it just generally insulting to frugal people? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/4 "2004-07-05T19:55:34Z")
I second the query of ‘why cheapskate?’ ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/5 "2004-07-05T20:03:54Z")
> [@Mr. Roboto](#): > > 1. Cheapskate > 2. Mongoloid > 3. Homo > 4. Tired-Queen > 5. Grease Monkey > 6. Wetback > 7. Sissy > 8. Jerk-off > 9. Alch y > 2. Bum/Hobo Not Politically Correct? Thank all the ghods those words are in my daily vocabulary! ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/6 "2004-07-05T20:04:56Z")
And what’s wrong with **jerk-off**? Hell, everybody does it… Unless it’s because it pisses off the Right-to-Lifers and Catholics… ::sings:: Every Sperm is Sacred… 😃 ---
**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 5, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/7 "2004-07-05T20:11:31Z")
I’m not sure what your point is. Most of those words were always regarded as derogatory. “Mongoloid,” in the sense of someone with Down’s Syndrome, is about the only one that has changed drastically in acceptability in the last 50 years. And I agree that I don’t see why ‘cheapskate’ is politically incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/8 "2004-07-05T20:23:49Z")
> [@Mr. Roboto](#): > > 1. Homo > > 2. Bum/Hobo [Futurama] Bum 1: Hey, a new robo! Bender: What did you call me??? Bum 1: A “robo.” You know, a robot hobo. Bender: Oh, I thought you called me a “romo.” [/Futurama] ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/9 "2004-07-05T20:32:32Z")
“Niggardly” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr.Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Roboto)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/10 "2004-07-06T00:26:54Z")
I have been chastized by mrs. roboto for refering to others in the roboto family as cheapskates. I have been told the person is frugal or thrifty and that my reference is derogatory. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/11 "2004-07-06T00:30:44Z")
I have a friend who puts “Grease Monkey” in the “position you are applying for” field of **every** job application he fills out, no matter what kind of job it is. AFAIK it’s never kept him from getting a job. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/12 "2004-07-06T00:33:51Z")
> [@Mr. Roboto](#): > > I have been chastized by mrs. roboto for refering to others in the roboto family > as cheapskates. > > I have been told the person is frugal or thrifty and that my reference is derogatory. So you’re being chastised simply for using the word in its correct context? ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/13 "2004-07-06T00:41:06Z")
> [@Mr. Roboto](#): > > I have been chastized by mrs. roboto for refering to others in the roboto family > as cheapskates. > > I have been told the person is frugal or thrifty and that my reference is derogatory. One shouldn’t underestimate the sensitivity of the [skate community.](http://www.forest-bird.org.nz/bestfishguide/species/skates.asp)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/14 "2004-07-06T01:58:53Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > “Niggardly” Because it sounds like _nigger_? What about all the other words that sound or look like but aren’t derived from nigger? Niger, trigger, digger? ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/15 "2004-07-06T01:59:15Z")
What’s an alch y? ---
**Author:** ![Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_to_be_Queen)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/16 "2004-07-06T02:11:29Z")
Mehitabel- It’s probably short for alcoholic. You probably knew this and were kidding around about the spelling. But if not, there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Never\_to\_be\_Queen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_to_be_Queen)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/17 "2004-07-06T02:12:52Z")
Umm…what’s a Tired-Queen? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/18 "2004-07-06T04:33:19Z")
“I’m tired. T-A-R-D. I’m tired of lookin’ for a man who will treat me like the Queen that I am. The Swamp Boogie Queen…” --a certain imperial presence, in a duet with B.B. King ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/19 "2004-07-06T04:56:52Z")
I’ve heard of the term “queen”, but never “tired-queen”. I’ve heard the word “wetback” before, but never knew what it meant until now, when I checked the dictionary. (For some reason, I had the impression that it had something to do with money. What am getting it mixed up with?) According to [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com), the shortened, slang term for an alcoholic would be spelled “alky”. That’s how I would have spelled it as well. That one, along with “mongoloid”, “homo” and “bum/hobo” I can see being considered not “politically correct”. (I like the word “vagrant”.) The rest - “cheapskate”, “sissy”, “jerk-off” and “grease monkey” - I don’t understand. Sure the first three can be considered insults, but “politically incorrect”? I don’t know. I can only see “grease monkey” as being un-PC in that “monkey” has gotten a bad rap due to its use by racists to describe black people. Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680/20 "2004-07-06T05:05:18Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > I second the query of ‘why cheapskate?’ Pisses off the tightwads and scrooges. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-words-deemed-not-politically-correct/253680.md?page=2)