# Pet peeve: it's "Jews" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 2, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018 "2015-07-02T02:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/61 "2015-07-03T15:51:21Z")
I can see how “Jewish people” might fit in with a general trend towards using language that includes “people” (or “person”) when talking about people in categories that are Other. This still makes it problematic to say “Jewish people” and not “Protestant people,” but in a different way. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/62 "2015-07-03T20:17:24Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > …Who decided Jews were the chosen “people”? Oh, that’s just too easy… ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/63 "2015-07-03T21:22:51Z")
Aren’t you the guy who has faced so much oppression in your life that small stuff never bothers you? I’m so disappointed that you aren’t as [tough](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18457070&postcount=340) as you portrayed yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/64 "2015-07-03T21:32:14Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Aren’t you the guy who has faced so much oppression in your life that small stuff never bothers you? Pet peeve does not equal being butthurt from “microaggressions”. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/65 "2015-07-03T22:27:25Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Pet peeve does not equal being butthurt from “microaggressions”. How is it any different? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/66 "2015-07-03T22:58:46Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > How is it any different? I am not in any way hurt by people saying “Jewish people” instead of “Jews”. It just sounds stupid, and comes from the mistaken notion that “Jew” is a slur. Another one of my pet peeves is people writing “it’s” when it should be “its”. Or “Me and my friend went to the movies” instead of “My friend and I”. Do you think that is a “microaggression” as well? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/67 "2015-07-03T23:02:22Z")
How does the fact that most of us don’t give a flying fuck about this particular pet peeve of yours make you feel? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/68 "2015-07-03T23:06:02Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > How does the fact that most of us don’t give a flying fuck about this particular pet peeve of yours make you feel? I don’t really care. You (plural) are obviously free to continue with the stupidity. Lots of stupid things people do or say are somewhat annoying. This is just one. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/69 "2015-07-04T00:22:54Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I don’t really care. You (plural) are obviously free to continue with the stupidity. Lots of stupid things people do or say are somewhat annoying. This is just one. I do happen to be really pissed off at people who are texting ‘Jewish people’ in their car in front of me in line at the light. They’ll just sit there forever instead of going. I’m sure they must be texting ‘Jewish people’ instead of ‘Jews’ because they are annoying me so much. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/70 "2015-07-04T01:29:57Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Again, would the “Uncle Hari, tip like an Italian, not like a Jewish person” have been better? > > It’s the sentiment that can be offensive, not the word. Absolutely agree. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/71 "2015-07-04T04:41:00Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > [World's Jewish Population Approaching Pre-Holocaust Numbers - CBS San Francisco](http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/06/30/worlds-jewish-population-approaching-pre-holocaust-numbers/) > > Why why why do writers (and/or copy editors) keep trying to avoid the word “Jews”? To the point of being ungrammatical as in: > > “California is home to 1.2 million Jewish, according to The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE).” > > Seriously - WTH. Same with the previous paragraph: > > “The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) estimates there are currently 14.2 million Jewish people in the world today. That estimate approaches 16.2 million, the number of Jewish people in the world before World War II, when Nazis and their collaborators killed 6.1 million Jews.” > Wait until you use the word “negro”; then, you will have full understanding. > Just because the organization name is “Jewish People Policy Institute” (which is a perfectly cromulous name and you couldn’t substitute “Jews” in there), you don’t have to use “Jewish people” where “Jews” would work perfectly well everywhere. Especially if you decide, finally, to use the dreaded word “Jews” at the end of the paragraph. As soon as you use the word “negro”, all of your questions will be answered. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/72 "2015-07-04T05:37:15Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Because it’s damn nigh impossible to keep up with which descriptive words are offensive to whom, particularly when writing a public message that could be read across the globe. (The following isn’t specifically about the main Jew/Jewish discussion and is speaking more generally). I understand part of this sentiment, but it’s because I hate the idea of offending or hurting someone, even unintentionally. You, on the other hand, seem to go in a completely different direction – you didn’t know X was an offensive term to use, so you get defensive when someone calls you out on it. Your post sounds like, “hey, I can’t keep track of every word or phrase that’s apparently offensive, so I’m not gonna even try. Deal with it!” What’s wrong with something like, “oh, whoa, I didn’t know that was/could be considered offensive. I’m sorry about that!” and make a little mental note for the future? Everyone puts their foot in their mouth from time. It’s what you do _afterwards_ that’s telling. Personally, I think a genuine apology and good faith effort in the future is better than focusing on your own embarrassment and getting defensive. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/73 "2015-07-04T12:25:31Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > What’s wrong with something like, “oh, whoa, I didn’t know that was/could be considered offensive. I’m sorry about that!” and make a little mental note for the future? Yep. In my life I’ve been corrected about “retard” by my then 12 year old son, and “oriental” by a friend. The correct terminology when discussing gender/sex stuff is something I’m currently playing catch-up with. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/74 "2015-07-04T17:20:06Z")
“Also, Dude, ‘Chinaman’ is not the preferred nomenclature - please, ‘Asian American.’” - Walter, _The Big Lebowski_ ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/75 "2015-07-05T11:16:50Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > It’s like freaking nails on a blackboard. > > “Jew” is not a slur. I am sure that 99.9% of Jews in the world will not be offended at a sentence that read “The thing is, maybe most **Jews** won’t be offended.” You seem to have trouble with the concept. I don’t care if it annoys you a little bit. As you yourself admit, it’s not an offensive thing. The people who would be offended matter. Your annoyance doesn’t mean more than other people’s offense. In fact, that would be a good lesson for a lot of people to learn. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/76 "2015-07-05T15:37:18Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Those who want to hang on to words like thug, Jew, etc.; aren’t you concerned that one day you will be like Lou? > > Lou is a guy who frequents my bar. He is in his 70s. The other day he told us he was shocked by how young his new doctor was, and a colored guy, to boot! The rest of us quietly rolled our eyes and changed the subject. I don’t ever wanna be Lou. So if Lou had said “and a black guy/African American to boot!” none of you would have rolled eyes? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/77 "2015-07-05T15:48:24Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > You seem to have trouble with the concept. You seem to have trouble with the concept. No Jew, anywhere, for even one second, would be offended if you used the word “Jew” in a sentence like: “The thing is, maybe most Jews won’t be offended.” So why are you substituting “Jewish people”? ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/78 "2015-07-05T18:01:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > You seem to have trouble with the concept. I don’t care if it annoys you a little bit. As you yourself admit, it’s not an offensive thing. The people who would be offended matter. Your annoyance doesn’t mean more than other people’s offense. > > In fact, that would be a good lesson for a lot of people to learn. You’re goysplaining. That’s offensive. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/79 "2015-07-05T18:54:12Z")
Another Jew here who gets annoyed when people say “Jewish people” to mean “Jews”. It’s not a huge deal, but to me, it sends the message that there’s something wrong with being a Jew, and we need a euphemism. So yes, it offends me. > [@Terr](#): > > Oh sure, if he said “Well, you know you Jewish people can’t go to heaven.” that would have been so much more polite, right? > [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s a little better than being told I’m going to Hell because I’m a Jew. How so? I can’t see any difference between the two. Well, unless there’s an intermediate state between going to hell and going to heaven, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![CerebrAl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@CerebrAl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CerebrAl)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018/80 "2015-07-05T19:45:40Z")
There are things in life you need to worry about…this is not one of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-peeve-its-jews/724018.md?page=5)