# Semi-Offensive Terms? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 14, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065 "2010-10-14T00:16:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/21 "2010-10-14T19:58:26Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > > [@sandra\_nz](#): > > > > This is a bit confusing to me as oriental people are referred to as ‘Asian’ in New Zealand! > > Oh, the irony… What’s the irony here? In the UK, the term \*Oriental \*is used for people from East & Southeast Asia. The term \*Asian \*is for those from South Asia. In those usages, neither term is considered offensive. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/22 "2010-10-14T20:02:32Z")
Reading through this thread, all I can hear is Richard Pryor: “Dead honkey!” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/23 "2010-10-14T20:11:26Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Just semi-offensive? Southerners: don’t call us Yankees unless you’re trying to piss us off, and we won’t call you rednecks. Yankee is meant to be insulting. It has no other purpose than to piss y’all off. Admittedly it’s pretty much a white Southern thing, but still. It’s a more blunt way of calling somebody tacky. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/24 "2010-10-14T20:25:56Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > > > Oh, the irony… > > What’s the irony here? In the UK, the term \*Oriental \*is used for people from East & Southeast Asia. The term \*Asian \*is for those from South Asia. In those usages, neither term is considered offensive. Point taken. But the OP specifically pointed it out as semi-offensive, and to reply to that very post using it in that way…well, there you go. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/25 "2010-10-14T22:24:23Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > > [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](#): > > > > Haole. > > Cracker. Cracker is far and away from being “semi-offensive.” It’s every bit as pejorative as the n-word and will get you laid out just as quickly in many circles if you’re not a close personal friend of the person you say it to. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/26 "2010-10-14T22:54:53Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Reading through this thread, all I can hear is Richard Pryor: “Dead honkey!” That skit actually made me wish there were more derogatory terms for whites because there were some pretty damned funny ones for blacks. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/27 "2010-10-14T23:44:18Z")
(Here’s a link to the skit, in case anyone’s feeling sentimental: [http://www.hulu.com/watch/1477/saturday-night-live-word-association](http://www.hulu.com/watch/1477/saturday-night-live-word-association)) ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/28 "2010-10-15T00:55:55Z")
I’m just not feeling the offense for **cracker**. I learned about the term on this board and never heard anyone use it in real life. I doubt any of my friends would even know the reference. I’ve also heard that **gypsy** is supposed to be offensive, but I still hear it being used in casual conversation. Seems like a lot of people never got the memo. I can think of a half a dozen sitcom instances where the word was used in casual conversation, or as the lead-in to a joke. I’ve only seen people get worked-up about it on this board. And did Cher not know this when she sang the song, or did it only recently become offensive? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/29 "2010-10-15T01:09:22Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > I learned about the term on this board and never heard anyone use it in real life. That explains why you don’t understand the offense. The times I’ve had it used on me it was definitely meant as a pejorative. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/30 "2010-10-15T01:53:24Z")
I just don’t get _why_ it’s supposed to be offensive. It’s something equivalent to poor white trash, right? I don’t find that offensive either, just kinda silly. I guess since I didn’t grow up learning to be offended by it, that’s why I’m not. It’s like a foreign word - no significant meaning, even when it’s translated and I’m told that 'm supposed to be insulted. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/31 "2010-10-15T01:56:35Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > I just don’t get _why_ it’s supposed to be offensive. It’s something equivalent to poor white trash, right? It means “whitey”. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/32 "2010-10-15T01:58:23Z")
Still not offensive. I already know what color I am. I don’t think I’ll ever get it. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/33 "2010-10-15T02:02:11Z")
“What the fuck you looking at, blackie?” Is “blackie” offensive in that sentence? If not, cool beans for you. ---
**Author:** ![SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SevenOfTeemingMillions)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/34 "2010-10-15T08:26:23Z")
I’m surprised that Latino and Oriental would be considered offensive but I guess it depends on where you live. > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > What’s the irony here? In the UK, the term \*Oriental \*is used for people from East & Southeast Asia. The term \*Asian \*is for those from South Asia. In those usages, neither term is considered offensive. Thank you for that info. I’ve always puzzled over the use of the word “asian” in BBC News to describe someone who do not look asian to me. 😃 Now I know that the word they would use is “oriental”. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/35 "2010-10-15T10:21:34Z")
I understand that Oriental is not considered offensive in the UK, but it still makes me twitch. And I’ve heard people over there use the term Jap without the slightest clue that it could be offensive. On the other hand, after hearing people call Chinese restaurants “chinky” in Belfast nothing really should surprise me anymore. ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/36 "2010-10-15T10:42:56Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > I understand that Oriental is not considered offensive in the UK, but it still makes me twitch. Why is that? I live in the UK but tend to use “South-East Asian” as I’ve gathered that “Oriental” is frowned upon in the US and even though I don’t see the problem with it, I don’t want to cause offense to anyone. But “Oriental” is shorter and I don’t understand where the offense comes from. I’d prefer to use Oriental!! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/37 "2010-10-15T10:55:16Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I also find the Spanish terms “guero” and “gringo” to be kind of offensive, even though most Spanish-speaking people don’t seem to think of it as a big deal (the latter is considered more derogatory than the former, but both basically mean “white person”). Gringo is non-Spanish-speaking foreigner, not “white person”. Same as being “Hispanic” is not about the color of your skin, it’s perfectly possible to be anglo (“person whose first language is English”) or gringo and be black or yellow or ligth brown. “Gringo” is sometimes used to mean “non-Spanish-speaking foreigner who makes no effort to meet the locals halfway / comes here to tell us how to live our lifes”, in which case it’s not neutral but then, neither is the behavior being described. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/38 "2010-10-15T11:40:13Z")
[quote=“Nava, post:37, topic:557065”] > [@Rigamarole](#): > > I also find the Spanish terms “guero” and “gringo” to be kind of offensive, even though most Spanish-speaking people don’t seem to think of it as a big deal (the latter is considered more derogatory than the former, but both basically mean “white person”). Have no idea if this authentic or not but read somewhere that the term Gringo came about after some American/Mexican war in the past, the U.S. troops being nicknamed such because they sang “Green grow the Rushes oh”. Also (I think on the Dope) I read that Cracker originally meant cowboy. As I say I can’t vouch for the accuracy of either of these explanations. As a White Brit can I just say that I am not offended by being called a Brit, Pommie, Limey , Whitey , Honkey or whatever, maybe because I am proud to be one. Those who walk around looking to be offended by others on a daily basis might well take a long hard look at their self esteem and their own pride or lack of, in their own nationality and/or ethnicity. If an extremist Irish Republican addresses me as Brit, dripping with hatred and loathing I am not offended because ; yes I am a Brit . And no their antipathy towards my race/nationality doesn’t undermine my pride and self respect in either myself or my nationality. ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/39 "2010-10-15T12:27:05Z")
Just call me a French-Canadian-Swedish-Finlander and I’ll be happy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065/40 "2010-10-15T12:35:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@elfkin477](#): > > > > Just semi-offensive? Southerners: don’t call us Yankees unless you’re trying to piss us off, and we won’t call you rednecks. > > Yankee is meant to be insulting. It has no other purpose than to piss y’all off. Admittedly it’s pretty much a white Southern thing, but still. It’s a more blunt way of calling somebody tacky. How about being called Yanks (no matter which part of the US you are from) by the Brits? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semi-offensive-terms/557065.md?page=3)