# Zeeshan, a word please? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 13, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeeshan-a-word-please/29216 "2000-08-13T21:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zeeshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c4cdca/32.png) [@Zeeshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeeshan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeeshan-a-word-please/29216/61 "2000-08-15T21:01:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kaz \* > \*\*Zeeshan, you are misinterpreting at least what I said. I am definatly not accusing you of being a racist. It’s just that that word may offend some people. I represents the oppression of the African-(fill in the blank) race, and the time when they were slaves to white people. Therefore, no matter how Anti-racist a white person, or any other color of person, may be, the use of that word can still be offensive. It’s my personal choice for me not to use that word. \*\* Yeah i know what you mean.That is exactly why i stopped using it,even though the context was not in terms of racism but if anyone finds it offensive then the least i can do is stop offending them. Bye Zeeshan ---
**Author:** ![Baglady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Baglady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baglady)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeeshan-a-word-please/29216/62 "2000-08-15T21:22:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ruffian \* > \*\*All I ask is to fix “defence” to “defense.” \*\* Ruffian – I hope you realize “defence” is a British variant of the word and is considered perfectly acceptable. Has anyone stopped to wonder if perhaps Zeeshan is black? Would that change your perspective? If so, why? Maybe it’s a declarative statement about the damnation of blacks in our country. If you look at it THAT way, why would it make a difference if Zeeshan were black or white? The statement is an accusation against our society, and it’s a brilliant one, if you ask me. Has our society become **so** brainwashed with PCism that we can’t even deal with a WORD? What, _if we don’t see it, we can pretend it doesn’t exist?_ What mediocre education system taught you THIS (instead of the three R’s)? You should know better than to be so shallow. This is Straight Dope, after all – we pride ourselves on being knowledgeable. Next thing you know, you’ll be taking offense at Mark Twain for using “the n word” (ooooo… the n word! whisper whisper) in _the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn_, just like a lot of parents who want the book banned from schools and libraries. Forget that it’s one of the greatest American novels. Noooo. Forget that it’s by Mark Twain. It’s got “the n word” in it! How could it be good? How could it have merit??? – Sign me disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Zeeshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c4cdca/32.png) [@Zeeshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeeshan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeeshan-a-word-please/29216/63 "2000-08-15T21:54:52Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Baglady \* \*\* > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Ruffian \* > The statement is an accusation against our society, and it’s a brilliant one, if you ask me._\* You’re the best man.That was exactly the response i wanted the sig to generate.I wanted people to think of this but instead i got a lot of offended dopers.Yep baglady as i said once before you’re the coolest.Thanx. Actually at the moment i am neither black nor white,infact i am green see 😃 Well that was better.Anyway the abolition of slavery in the states was pretty slow since mental slavery continued well into the second half of this century and is still present even now. There is no such thing as inferior people.Just because you exploited innocent human beings into slavery,by force and cruelty,you cannot consider yourself superior.This very thing makes you inferior.A person lacking compassion is neve above the others.A person who has to find a justification for looking down upon others just so that he can feel that he is not a loser,is the biggest loser of all. Bye Zeeshan ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeeshan-a-word-please/29216/64 "2000-08-18T00:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by foolsguinea \* > \*\*I like the old sig. > Anyone who thought it was really a racist sig _scares_ me, as that implies they do accept without blinking that to kill all makes one divine. \*\* I agree. ---
**Author:** ![FreakFreely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@FreakFreely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FreakFreely)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeeshan-a-word-please/29216/65 "2000-08-18T02:02:52Z")
Why don’t you read our posts before you judge? I’ve said it several times before, and I’ll say it again. I **like** the sig. A lot. No one’s calling him a racist, at least, no one here is. However, the word does bear heavy connotations. Whether or not these connotations are true isn’t the point. The point is, that word _does_ offend people. And using that in his sig _will_ stir up a bunch of shit that no one wants to see. Granted, those people who get pissed off will be wrong. But you aren’t going to convince them of that. It would be better for everyone involved if he just didn’t use that word. It doesn’t do anyone any good, it just shakes the ant farm. So WTF is the point of using it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeeshan-a-word-please/29216.md?page=3)