“Niggardly” is the one that really drives me nuts, because it has NO RELATION to and a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ETYMOLOGY than “nigger” !!!
It just happens to sound similar, akin to “trigger” or “bigger.”
http://www.cnn.com/US/9901/27/word.flap/
Read that link for the tale of a DC mayoral aid who was forced to resign for using the word!
Probably greenback.
My dad lost literally the oldest friend he ever had because he used the word ‘squaw’ to describe his native american wife, meaning it as a compliment, not knowing it was supposed to be offensive. Turns out it isn’t offensive at all; some dickwad just made up the whole squaw = cunt thing.
I don’t really care for the phrase ‘politically correct,’ which as far as I can determine means, ‘We’ve been insulting you for a hundred years, why are you so cranky about it now?’
But most of youre examples aren’t really ‘politically correct,’ they’re just words that are insulting. If you insult a person, then you want them to be offended, so you can hardly be surprised when they are, right?
Derogatory. As far as I know, was always derogatory. Still acceptable as long as you want to be insulting.
A person with Down’s syndrome, derogatory. Was once used by doctors and regular people, so has changed from a medical term to an insulting one, like many other terms for mental retardation. “Politically incorrect” in the sense that one should never use it.
Derogatory. Has always been derogatory. Insulting homosexuals was just more acceptable once than it is now. “Politically incorrect” in the sense that one should never use it.
I have never heard this word before in any context.
Very casual reference to a mechanic. Should really only be used by close friends or peers. “Hello, fellow grease monkey,” is fine, but “You, grease monkey, have you finished with my radiator?” is insulting because it implies that the speaker is better because he doesn’t have to do work that gets him or her dirty.
Derogatory. Has always been derogory. A reference to illegal Mexican immigrants who have recently swum a river to get to the states, but often used to describe anyone of Mexican descent. “Politically correct” could here be a synonym for “hideously racist and always has been.” Should not be used, ever.
Derogatory, referring to an effeminate man. I think it’s a pretty stupid word, as it’s usually attached to behavior like not hitting someone else, not taking some wild physical risk, or having compassion for others. But you’re welcome to use it as long as you meant to be insulting.
Derogatory reference, in general to someone who is lazy or useless. Has always been insulting and continues to be, but you are welcome to use it as an insult.
Insulting reference to a person with alcoholism. Really very rude. I wouldn’t use it even to alcoholics, who are not known for being level-headed about taking insults graciously, but heaven knows, if you want to be really nasty to someone you think is alcoholic, you go right ahead.
More derogatory than it used to be. Now that we’ve shifted to using the word ‘homeless,’ ‘bum’ is more insulting, implying a homeless person who is that way because he is too lazy/ stoned/ drunk to work. A ‘homeless’ person might deserve compassion, a ‘bum’ does not. Like ‘alchy,’ its use involves insulting someone who might be mentally unwell or dangerous, and therefore is not so much ‘politically incorrect’ as ‘rather stupid.’
‘Hobo’ means what it has always meant, a homeless person who wanders the country by jumping onto unattended freight trains. Alas, railroad security has improved, and there just aren’t as many hoboes as there used to be. Fallen out of use not because it’s insulting but because it’s becoming archaic.
Anyway, those are my opinions, and you’re welcome to them.
gyp, the verb
jew, the verb, and sometimes also the noun
On the theory that “Not Politically Correct” means things you shouldn’t put in an inter-office memo or on your resume, rather than words you shouldn’t say to your family and friends:
Garbage man.
Housewife.
Janitor.
Stewardess.
‘Sissy’ = ‘effeminate man’? News to me…it’s always meant ‘wimp’ in any context I’ve heard it, as applicable to women as men.
Janitor?! What the hell’s wrong with that??
…and the main problem with ‘garbage man’ and ‘stewardess’ is that as job descriptions, they breach sex discrimnation regulations.
OH MY GOD! When I insult people, they get mad! Stop interfering with my freedom of speech!
Cut the martyr act. “Mongoloid”, “homo”, and “wetback” are slurs (whether or not they used to be is hardly relevant). The rest are just words that are potentially insulting. They’ve always been, and always will be. Most people don’t want to admit to being cheapskates. So when you call someone that, they feel insulted. Big freaking whoop. Your wife would probably be peeved if you called her family “a bunch of prostitutes” as well. It has nothing to do with being “politically correct” at all. She just doesn’t like you insulting her family.
Sheesh . . .
As soon as I saw garbage man I busted out laughing because I had a flashback of highschool when some friends were at lunch…they were done with their food and they were about to throw it away but the janitor (yeah I said it) was coming so my friend said don’t worry the “trashlady” is coming to pick it up, and the janitor got really pissed off and said “I ain’t no trashlady!!!”…all right guess you had to be there good god I can’t stop laughing. 
I’ve always seen it spelled “alky.” “Alch y” looks like something Welsh…which as a verb is another offensive term.
Since people who perform – um – janitorial services have historically been objects of ridicule or contempt, the term “custodian” was adopted (at least in the USA) in hopes of sounding more professional, and thus conferring more respect on a person with that job title. But since custodian has now been around for a while, and people who perform such tasks as clean floors and operate boilers are still subject to more-than-occasional ridicule, the term du jour is “building engineer”.
Similarly, such female-specific terms as comedienne, aviatrix, and actress have fallen by the wayside, at least in the linguistically trendy neighborhoods.
Most of the words mentioned in this thread are labels for groups of people, terms that often tread on thin ice:
darky
colored
cripple
“Dutch boy” or “Dutchy” for kids who don’t pronounce their r’s very well
white trash (thankfully becoming less acceptable)
oriental
indian giver
Do not use ‘turd-herder’ as a term of affection for your plumber. Trust me. 
Black
Negro
elderly
lame
welsh (on a bet)
An old Pit thread on this subject: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=168532
Re: Alchy.
One of my neurology instructors told us that we weren’t supposed to use the word “alcoholic” anymore. Apparently the new phrase to describe people who drink to excess is “person with alcohol dependence.”
Persons With Alcohol Dependence Anonymous, anyone?
gyp
Jew’s harp
lady / ladies (seen as demeaning in some circles)
rapeseed
liberal
master/slave (when referring to computer hard drives; considered offensive by the City of Los Angeles government)
Canadian bacon (offensive to Canadians, now called “bacon of the north”
I wonder if folks in Buffalo still refer to “Italian parking” (parking in two or more spaces in a parking lot) or “Italian lawns” (a front yard that is completely paved over in concrete, and often painted green).
This is a good example of what happens when the PC euphamism treadmill gets WAY out of hand. Thanks for the good example.
Oh no! I called the janitor a janitor, he’ll be devastated! :rolleyes:
How bad is that? I’ve worked closely with several black women, and they have always used “black” and never seemed offended when I had occassion to use the term.
Jesus Christ :eek:
Black, elderly, jew’s harp*, liberal, master, slave, lady/laides?!!!
Fuck it, I give up. Political correctness is a slippery slope that will never stop unless we stop it.
[sub]*I grew up thinking it was a “juice harp.” I don’t even understand the jewish connection, much less understand how or why it is offensive.[/sub]
Good grief, “bum” is supposedly no good? I use that to describe anyone who is a mooch or doesn’t have a regular job—sort of in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Kind of like “deadbeat.” Many a time I’ve filled out my occupation as “deadbeat.” (No matter what job I currently have, I just call myself a deadbeat.)
We’ve got a cat called “The Bum.” That’s his name. “The Bum” (or more accurately, “Da Bum”). He was a stray cat that kept hanging around, mooching food, so we took him in. He fits the description of “Bum” to me.
I got reamed out by a bunch of PC police types because I used “squaw” once. I’ve read old western novels, I’ve seen old Western TV and movies. That’s the term they used. It sure didn’t mean “cunt” then, did it?
I also got reamed out by the same PC police types because I used the term “Indian gaming.” I was seeing a whole lot of political ads on TV, where there were copious messages about voting for something regarding Indian Gaming. That’s what the Indians who were speaking in the political ads called it—Indian Gaming. But I was supposed to somehow translate that to “Native American Gaming” as to not offend—whoever? Bullshit. That’s what the Indians who made the ads called it, that’s what I was going to call it.