[Closed] Casual racists

Dunno? Same as Itai, can we still use that when going for an Italian meal?

I too have always referred to chinese food as a chinky without ever meaning to be racist or offend as I merely used it as a shortening of chinese - even if I was buying a readymeal from Asda.

As a result of this thread I will desist from calling my dinner a chinky as the word obviously causes offence to some.

Up here in Huddersfield we also call Indian meals a 'mucky'. Got me thinking now, is this also a term of offence I have been using inappropriately? Anyone know? Is it used elsewhere? What does it mean?

[quote=V8]I shall continue to use 'black' to describe black people
[quote=jamie]Back on track now.

I take it from your reply you have an issue with that, and you seem to imply its somehow racist to use that term ?

But your reply doesn't really explain why ?

Is it ok to describe black people as black? I think it is, isn't it?

Ask them.

What, all of them? Are 'they' going to give me all the same answer?

Great Scott!!! Its a Northern thing, isn't it? I reckon it's all Southerners who have never heard 'chinky' as a simple nickname for a type of food, but have heard it as a racial thing. Northern(ish)ers; vice versa.

(am I allowed to say Southerner? I understand they can be sensitive but I [i]genuinely[/i] mean no offence...) 😉

[quote=Drac ]Dunno? Same as Itai, can we still use that when going for an Italian meal?

Straw poll of all Italians (in my office, so one) suggests they're not at all familiar with the term so would probably never feel it was racist. My grandfather used it as a pejorative so I assumed it was to be avoided along with some of his more "colourful" descriptions of other races. Oddly he was never discriminatory (except towards people from Lancashire), but the choice of language was certainly on the VERY far side of unacceptable today. Which is basically what we're talking about.

I'm struggling to understand what is wrong with using the word "black" to describe people with very dark skin.

e.g. http://mobo.com/

I take it from your reply you have an issue with that, and you seem to imply its somehow racist to use that term ?

But your reply doesn't really explain why ?

TBF, I took it that he meant that the thread had moved back towards the original subject. However, in the interests of the thread, I could take offence, and he'd have to take it back, and promise never to say it again...

he was never discriminatory (except towards grumpy people [s]from Lancashire[/s]), but the choice of language was certainly on the VERY far side of unacceptable today. Which is basically what we're talking about.

Same as my granddad

'when are you bringing that little darkie lad round for some grub again..?'

was a regular question, as he'd got on really well with an Iranian mate I had at school..

TBF, I took it that he meant that the thread had moved back towards the original subject.

If that's the case, then fair enough.

I read it wrong, ignore me 😉

I reckon it's all Southerners who have never heard 'chinky' as a simple nickname for a type of food

Nope - I remember it being used quite a lot when I was younger, but it has fallen into disuse because we have made progress since then.

In the "south", evidently...

Great Scott!!! Its a Northern thing, isn't it? I reckon it's all Southerners who have never heard 'chinky' as a simple nickname for a type of food, but have heard it as a racial thing. Northern(ish)ers; vice versa.

Nah I'm northern and I've definitely heard it used for both many times.

Also, how is chinky short for Chinese? Same number of syllables no?

I'm struggling to understand what is wrong with using the word "black" to describe people with very dark skin.

Not a definitive answer but a few people I have spoken to from African countries wanted a distinction between them being pure blooded as opposed to 'tainted' Afro-caribbeans (that is tainted by mixing with whites).

[quote=dangerousbeans ]
Not a definitive answer but a few people I have spoken to from African countries wanted a distinction between them being pure blooded as opposed to 'tainted' Afro-caribbeans (that is tainted by mixing with whites).
That sounds very racist of them.

I'm struggling to understand what is wrong with using the word "black" to describe people with very dark skin.

I dunno but I'm guessing in at least some cases its to do with not wanting to be defined by the colour of your skin. Probably a bit hard for white people on a majority white country to understand. Some people are quite happy to be called black though.

I don't think being racist is an exclusively white thing.

Nah I'm northern and I've definitely heard it used for both many times.

Also, how is chinky short for Chinese? Same number of syllables no?

Ah, fair enough. thought I could see a trend, maybe not.

I never said chinky was short for chinese, I said it was a nickname for chinese. To (over)use my McDonalds example, lots of people say MaccyDee's rather than McDonalds. Someone cleverer than me could probably explain why, I just accept it as a little bit of colour in what is the great tapestry of the english language.

Not a definitive answer but a few people I have spoken to from African countries wanted a distinction between them being pure blooded as opposed to 'tainted' Afro-caribbeans (that is tainted by mixing with whites).

I once asked someone online if she was black, she replied she was brown. I thought maybe she was taking exception to the inaccurate term 'black' (being brown in reality) but she meant she was mixed race. I had no idea this was used.

I just accept it as a little bit of colour in what is the great tapestry of the english language

Well quite, but the problem is that these words start off being used flippantly and with derision so they accrue baggage.

An ex gf (white) said I shouldn't use the term 'oriental' to describe people from east Asia because that was a type of furniture. Well, ok, but oriental actually means 'eastern'. And the N word is just short for negro which means black.

It's about baggage, not etymology.

Chippy is no different from Maccys is no different to Chinkys. This lunchtime I will have a Chinky. Get over yourselves. Seriously.

I don't think being racist is an exclusively white thing.

Careful now; I got told that I had 'a massive issue with the oppresion of the white man' for daring to suggest the same... (in fairness I think (hope) I was misconstrued)

So, do you think that Chinese people who are offended by the word "chinky" should get over THEM selves also? "Seriously"?

This lunchtime I will have a Chinky

i am saddened. it is considered as offensive as ****, but you didn't realise, which is fair enough, but you seemingly don't care that i and many other people are geniunely upset by it.

itai.. do you mean eyeti?

Well quite, but the problem is that these words start off being used flippantly and with derision so they accrue baggage.

Completely accept this, but to label someone (such as I, for example) as a 'casual racist' as the OP did, or a 'monobrowed person of low education' as Hora did because they weren't aware of any such baggage and use the term entirely without racist intent, now that IS offensive.

it is considered as offensive as ****,

Oh, hello OP! Even after all this, I'm fairly sure it isn't. THAT word is in a different order of magnitude all together.

thats not for you to decide is it. jesus. does it hurt you or offend you because someone else takes offence to a word you didnt think was offensive?

someone at work here asked a muslim what his christian name was. it was pointed out that some might/would take offense, and he modified his behavoir and everyone moved on.

all i know is when i was a kid and i was pinned down and had the crap beaten out of me by some kids chanting chinky bastard, i wasn't keen.

sorry if i am being too hang wringing.

and he [b]modified his behavoir[/b] and everyone moved on

Still waiting for that bit here, from some...

thats not for you to decide is it. jesus. does it hurt you or offend you because someone else takes offence to a word you didnt think was offensive?

A) I Think its for society to decide, not me OR you. Of course you can find it as offensive as you like, but that's your personal view.

B) Could you please refrain from blasphemy on a public forum. Some people may find it HIGHLY offensive...

Diversionary tactic from an unreconstructed casual racist, albeit unconciously so. Allegedley.

itai.. do you mean eyeti?

Possibly but the nickname some use for Italian food.

Diversionary tactic from an unreconstructed casual racist, albeit unconciously so. Allegedley.

My actual point is that to offend racially does not make one a racist. I'm sure that Porter_jamie holds no particular predjudice against the more sensitive members of the christian faith, but religious offence may well have been caused.

This is getting a little silly.

v8ninety. i am sorry if using that might have upset you, i wont do it again.

using chinky if you didnt know it offends people does not make you a racist, of course not.

using it after someone pointed out that some people are offended makes you a defacto racist.

Chippy is no different from Maccys is no different to Chinkys. This lunchtime I will have a Chinky. Get over yourselves. Seriously.

You can use derogatory language if you wish but dont try and pretend their is no difference between chippy maccy and chinky and **** for it makes you looke
a) stupid
b) racist
c) Both a and b

If this is how you want to be perceived then carry on...Seriously

Chink (also chinki, chinky, chinkie) is an English ethnic slur referring mainly to a person of Chinese ethnicity but sometimes generalized to refer to any person of East Asian descent. Use of the term is broadly considered offensive and has garnered a great deal of media attention.

****
(United Kingdom) used as a derogatory term directed towards South Asians (and sometimes Middle Eastern people), it is usually considered offensive when used by a non-Asian in the UK.
Chippy
A shop serving the traditional British dish fish and chips

Feel free to ignore what the words mean and carry on using them as it is only fair that you let everyone know you are an idiot and not just us

I'm now confused.

My right hand man at work is black (black Caribbean of Bajan origin). I am of mixed Irish/Romany gypsy origin with gingery reddish hair.

The other week a new starter on another floor was told to come up and see either the sales manager or the sales team leader. He asked which ones that was and was told "either the black guy or the ginger one".

Should we have been offended?

or what junkyard said.

v8ninety. i am sorry if using that might have upset you, i wont do it again.

using chinky if you didnt know it offends people does not make you a racist, of course not.

using it after someone pointed out that some people are offended makes you a defacto racist.

It didn't upset me, I was just making a simple point. (I'm fairly hard to upset, but being called a monobrowed casual racist of low education has come close). Well that's a relief Porter_Jamie, I didn't realise that I wasn't a racist until you said so. 😉 As I have previously said on this thread;

v8ninety - Member
I shall probably stop using the word 'chinky' to describe a Chinese takeaway. I probably didn't use it that much anyway (and never to describe a person; that wouldn't even have occurred to me) and when I did it would have been as a pure abbreviation in the same way as I'd abbreviate McDonalds to ‘Maccys’ every now and then. That it could cause racial offence to do this genuinely hadn't even occurred to me. That said, I'm happy to bin it and move on, on the evidence of this thread.

Should we have been offended?

I've got a Northern Irish mate that gets offended if you DON'T call him Paddy, figure that one out...

[b]Everyone[/b] knows racists come from all races, I wouldn't worry about that.

"either the black guy or the ginger one".

Should we have been offended?

The [i]other [/i]guy, it's up to him.

You, No. You have yet to achieve the right to be offended. Now close the curtains, it's sunny and you'll get burnt

I've got a Northern Irish mate that gets offended if you DON'T call him Paddy, figure that one out...

He's proud of being what he is and wants everyone to know that he embraces a little bit of banter.

Or that he's not affected by childish insults (where intended)

Good on him.

Just to clarify piemonster... tell me [i]which[/i] guy has the right to be offended? 😉

v8ninety - HTH 🙂

ps, i re read what you posted and i misread what you were on about, so sorry about that too.

No problem. Giz a hug gorgeous. 😛

Well why I admitted to using the term chinkies for Chinese food I can say one thing I am not is racist, sorry to disappoint and break stereotyping of someone who uses the word but it's the truth. I'll admit it never occurred to me that it could be offensive when talking about food and as I say I may stop using it but how likely that is I can't be sure. I am still not a racist though.

I'll admit it never occurred to me that it could be offensive when talking about food and as I say I may stop using it but how likely that is I can't be sure.

I suppose it very much depends on the company you are in at the time, now that you know that it [i]could[/i] cause offense. In a family environment, where everyone has used the word for years without any malicious intent, I guess its no harm no foul. But in any sort of public arena, armed with the knowledge that it might offend, its best avoided, it seems.

I'm just stopping saying it, its easier!

Chink (also chinki, chinky, chinkie) is an English ethnic slur referring mainly to a person of Chinese ethnicity but sometimes generalized to refer to any person of East Asian descent. Use of the term is broadly considered offensive and has garnered a great deal of media attention.

That's from the Wiki page for "Chink"

when used as the name of a type of restaurant or meal, rather than as an adjective applied to a person or group of people, the word carries no racist connotation.

And that's from the Wiki page for "Chinky"

Both selective quotes obviously as cutting and pasting the whole article would be daft.