Can of Worms Thread

[Squidgy]

This thread is not intended to cause offence, but I got to thinking about it after it was mentioned on another thread recently.

Why is it generally acceptable to use the likes of the words 'Jock', 'Paddy', 'Taffy', 'Frog' and 'Kraut' in reference to residents of our neighbouring countries, but not the word 'Paki' when referring to someone from Pakistan?

If anything that would seem a more acceptable term as it is clearly just an abbreviated word relating to the their country/nationality. I do understand it is offensive when a certain section of society with far right views  refer to practically anyone of Asian origin by that term, but that's just pure ignorance on their parts.

[Big_Sharps]

Don't or didnt the Aussies use that to refer to them as but other more pc countries and Pakistan themselves have said it is offensive.

[Squidgy]

I'm not sure of it's origins tbh.

Seems just like a straight forward abbreviation and someone got their knickers in a twist over the issue somewhere down the line.

[Big_Sharps]

What about spic?

[Squidgy]

What about spic?

Eh?

[Squidgy]

Oh,the term.

Dunno where that even came from.

I'm sure some liberal found it offensive at some stage though.

[Paul Comstive]

Are we allowed to say "chinky" these days?

I think it's fair to say that the PC brigade would say it's NOT acceptable to use terms such as Kraut, Paddy, Jock, etc these days.

I think the problem with "paki" is that more often than not it is something that is aimed at anyone who looks like they could be from that part of Asia regardless of whether tehy're from Pakistan.  If you were Indian you'd be a tad peeved at being called a "paki".  

I'd imagine, when used to describe someone from the correct country it's all to do with context.  For example.  If it was followed simply by the word "shop" I doubt it would cause any great offence, however if it was preceded with "dirty" and followed by "bastard" then offence will be caused.


Society nowadays, no longer likes labels.  That's the real problem.  You can't call someone old, you can;t call someone fat.  You can't even call someone disabled anymore.

[Squidgy]

You learn something every day.

SPIC:

coined around the beginning of the 20th century, referring to Spaniards, Italians, Mexicans, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders and Latin Americans and Mediterraneans in general; appears to come from the phrase "no spicka da English"; additional theories link it to spaghetti, the stereotypical Italian food.

http://phobos.ramapo.edu/~pchang/etymology_of_hate.htm

[Squidgy]

Are we allowed to say "chinky" these days?

A lad I work with is of Chinese discension. His family own a Chinky in Harrow. Even he refers to it as that and can't see what the fuss is all about.

I think the key to using terms like that is gauging or knowing the people you are having a conversation with. Most people don't give a fúck, but there are others, especially in the workplace, will happily drop you in hot water over a throw away comment.

[Big_Sharps]

A lad I work with is of Chinese discension. His family own a Chinky in Harrow. Even he refers to it as that and can't see what the fuss is all about.

I think the key to using terms like that is gauging or knowing the people you are having a conversation with. Most people don't give a fúck, but there are others, especially in the workplace, will happily drop you in hot water over a throw away comment.

I think this perfectly sums up most people are not as easily offended as the pc brigade would like to make out and some middle class white man or woman is trying to make a name for themself.

[Squidgy]

I got in bother when I worked at Heathrow for making a comment about the captain of a flight being female. It was something along the lines of not trusting anyone who bleeds for a quarter of the year and doesn't die as a result.

Some folk have no sense of humour. 

And it was a fcuking bloke that complained about it!

[DaveBWFC]

I got in trouble at school once for asking a teacher if it was her time of the month. Miserable cow didn't find it funny.

[Squidgy]

For what it's worth I don't, nor have I ever, used 'paki' as a reference to anyone or anything.

I've become a victim of political correctness myself to some degree over the years (although I am generally the least politically correct person you are ever likely to meet). I do, for some reason, find it offensive, but that may just be my upbringing and the context in which it is generally used.

[DaveBWFC]

We used to call the local newsagents 'Pakis' when I was a kid. Everyone did. I was actually mates with a couple of the family. They didn't mind that the shop was known as that.

[Paul Comstive]

I do, for some reason, find it offensive, but that may just be my upbringing and the context in which it is generally used.

... and there we have the magic word.

"Context".

[bigsamsarmyusa]

Over here you definitely couldn't say chinc.  Hell, you can't even say "oriental"!  They are 'all' Asian as a grouping and then named depending on the country they are from.

I want to be known, from this day forward, as either English-American or European-American and NOT listed on surveys as "white" or "Caucasian".  If it is good enough for African-Americans and Latin-Americans...

[Paul Comstive]

How about if we just call you Honky?

[DaveBWFC]

I want to be known, from this day forward, as either English-American or European-American and NOT listed on surveys as "white" or "Caucasian".  If it is good enough for African-Americans and Latin-Americans...

Why not just be known as English? If I moved to another country, say Australia, I doubt I'd ever start calling myself English-Australian.

[Big_Sharps]

Why not just be known as English? If I moved to another country, say Australia, I doubt I'd ever start calling myself English-Australian.

stick to cúnt.

[aarons2009]

I got in bother when I worked at Heathrow for making a comment about the captain of a flight being female. It was something along the lines of not trusting anyone who bleeds for a quarter of the year and doesn't die as a result.

Some folk have no sense of humour. 

Haha! you have no sense of humour if you don't find that funny IMO.

[DaveBWFC]

stick to cúnt.

I think English cúnt is more appropriate for this thread.

[Paul Comstive]

... but not pommie cnut.  That might be deemed offensive.

[DaveBWFC]

... but not pommie cnut.  That might be deemed offensive.

I'm not sure this is true but someone told me pommie, or pome, stands for prisoner of mother england.

I think we should demand they stop using that word. Not because it offends me but it'd píss the abbo shaggers off.

[bangerhard]

I'm not sure this is true but someone told me pommie, or pome, stands for prisoner of mother england.

Must admit I do prefer this for the origin of Pommie....

Comes from English cricket tours of Australia where the English gentlemen amateurs would drink Pommery Champagne in preference to Australian beer

I think we should demand they stop using that word. Not because it offends me but it'd píss the abbo shaggers off.

Saying that di you know that the Aussies deemed it no longer offensive and was allowed to be used in any material from 2006 and in New Zealand from 2010.  The South Africaans have always been allowed to use the term!

[DaveBWFC]

What is no longer offensive? Abbo?