Casual racists

It was, but makes an interesting point I think.

I took it as a troll comment, I stand by that.

Anyway I thought it was about calling a meal something not a person, most people seem to be confused and think it’s about calling Chinese people.

I am really quite annoyed at not being able to post Father Ted and the “I am Chinese” or “I hear you’re a racist now” sketches

When we’d been dating for a few months in my third year of uni I didn’t restrain myself at a drum n base night

Good times.

Dance like nobody’s watching!

Oh I give up….

Sticks and stones, eh, what a bunch. Get out and travel the world a bit guys.

It entirely depends on where you travel and who you are with. I’ve got a fair bit of experience of South Africa. I have seen and heard white south africans after a few beers have loosened their tongues using language that harks back to a bad era. In the majority of cases where I’ve seen white south africans casually dismiss ‘blacks’ or ‘coloureds’ (mostly just lazily) the response from the wronged pary seems to be more sad realisation that prejudices endure longer than good intentions.

In other places in the world you might get a knife in the guts.

And yes, a lot of the most racist attitudes I’ve come across are Indian hindus when talking about Pakistani muslims – just because it goes on elsewhere doesn’t make it alright, though.

Prejudice and ignorance are two sides of the same coin. They both show an unwillingness to think and if you’re really stupid and easily led they can be made to seem admirable qualities.

I took it as a troll comment

That ok, I’m not offended by your misunderstanding.

I am really quite annoyed at not being able to post Father Ted and the “I am Chinese” or “I hear you’re a racist now” sketches

Or the Monty Python skit, “I like Chinese”. Let alone “Never be rude to an Arab”.

😉

classic stw thread this one…

Classic the Chinese on Craggy Island 8)

It’s the 1970’s racist language such as Chinky and **** that I also will not tolerate.
If youve ever been a school kid on the recieving end you’ll understand.
Anyone who thinks its post PC to use such language or in any way sets them out as a free thinker, is a ****t.
In the Black Country (ooh the irony) I have heard white adult males say how they miss the old days, which involved a regular Friday night drink, followed by a spot of ‘**** Bashing’.
Using this language evokes a time when this behaviour was rife, and it was generally said with utter hatred.
For the ‘I’m not a racist but…’ crowd, you are just morons. But the next time a ‘mate’ down the pub starts, make sure you voice your opinion, unless you are also feeble minded, mouth breathing, squirrel eating, sh1t kicker.

pwned this thread

Only read a bit of this, but I don’t really go in for the whole classifying certain words as racist. There really has to be context involved before the racist value of a particular word or sentence can be judged.

My work colleague used to call me North Korean or Mongol (I am/was not offended) then I politely requested him to refer to me as Dear Leader then for him to ask me for forgiveness. 😆 Somehow he stopped after a while … hhhhmmm … not sure why.

I sense another thread about to be banned.

Rscott – Member
Anyway we came to the conclusion that there are certain words that are unexceptionable, but the main thing that makes it racist is the context used in. And this is a fine line, that differs from race to race and area to area.

Rscott – the best post of the thread IMO

I have worked in Japan where the difference in my skin colour and race was a topic of daily comment. Ditto, I was openly referred to with an adjective that bore this out and was discriminated against on this basis. Was it offensive? Personally no I don’t think so. I chose to live there, I was different (odd to many outside the main urban centres), it was my responsibility to fit in not vice versa. But I accept that is not an opinion shared by all.*

I have worked in Africa, where it is a relief that the adjectives black, white, coloured etc can, and are, used without fear or prejudice. A little uncomfortable (initially) for those of us schooled in the linguisitic bastardisation that characterises attempts to avoid offence in US and UK.

I have also worked in India where the use of Pak/**** is also widespread – indeed a regular headline on newspapers in the region. As Jkomo notes, **** in the UK context is almost exclusively used in an unpleasant and unacceptable context.

Context, context, context.…..(plus racism exists in all societies – not an excuse, merely an observation)

Context forms the basis of anti-racism legislation in this country which is its strength (appropriateness) and its weakness (difficulty to define or interpret at times) IMO

* edit: that should not be interpreted as meaning that I condone racism/discrimination in any way or that it “has” to be accepted.

Is someone of Pakistani and Chinese parentage a Pinky to a racist then ?

Edric 64 – Member
Is someone of Pakistani and Chinese parentage a Pinky to a racist then ?

chineseasianorientalpakistanibritish

I struggle with long sentences, but a good mate is Chinese, and runs a takeaway in Glasgow. He likes to play with it – he calls it a Chinky just to see the reaction on people’s faces. He once offered someone money for their “tasty-looking dog”. He puts on a fake “flied lice” accent.

He says it’s much more fun than getting angry at the casual racism. It probably makes people think, too.

It probably makes people think, too

It makes me think your mate is a bit of a donut for messing with people.*

*donuts were invented by the Chinese, right?

I have worked in Japan where the difference in my skin colour and race was a topic of daily comment. Ditto, I was openly referred to with an adjective that bore this out and was discriminated against on this basis. Was it offensive? Personally no I don’t think so. I chose to live there, I was different (odd to many outside the main urban centres), it was my responsibility to fit in not vice versa. But I accept that is not an opinion shared by all.*

Japan’s profound racism is an issue for the rest of the world considering what it has led to in the past.

It makes me think your mates a bit of a donut for messing with people.*

Interesting point Bwaarp. Racism, imperialism, nationalism…are they the same, intertwined, different….? Is Japan much different to others?

it was my responsibility to fit in not vice versa

No it wasn’t. You just couldn’t be arsed challenging prejudice.

I understand context is important…but more to comedy than racism.

@bwaarp

Stephen K Amos is not the answer to anything.

Especially humour based.

Interesting point Bwaarp. Racism, imperialism, nationalism…are they the same, intertwined, different….? Is Japan much different to others?

I do believe there can be difference, the Philippines for example is a hell of a lot more laid back when it comes to ethnicity than Japan.

If you can’t mess with people’s heads occasionally, what’s the point of life?

DD, that’s your interpretation! Given that I have to work in different countries, I would prefer to call it placing sensitivities of local contexts, cultures, norms etc above personal ones. Same as wearing appropriate clothing, not drinking etc.

DD, that’s your interpretation! Given that I have to work in different countries, I would prefer to call it placing sensitivities of local contexts, cultures, norms etc above personal ones. Same as wearing appropriate clothing, not drinking etc.

That’s why I wouldn’t want to work in the middle east or Japan. I’m intolerant of their intolerance – those societies are utterly opposed to my own ideals. I can’t stand egotistical arrogant cultures, I’m glad Britain and Germany started to an extent losing our national arrogance after the second world war ended.

Each to their own then Bwaarp? I also believe there is/can be a difference re my Japan ? BTW.

I struggle with long sentences too.
casual racism? whats that?
surely a racist by definition is malicious, calculating, intent on hurting with words or deed.

thoughtless people who say words without considering their impact cannot be called racist.

I would prefer to call it placing sensitivities of local contexts, cultures, norms etc above personal ones. Same as wearing appropriate clothing, not drinking etc.

depends on whether what they are doing is right wrong or just a convention really.

For example i worked in a community abroad with many foreigners[me included]. One group thought it ok to beat their women[ no ownership implied]. One group obbjected. I did not put their norms above right and wrong.
I know nothing of japan so cannot comment but would not put up with racism because i was abroad.

Interesting that a woman picked up on the ‘casual sexism’ in my post, it took longer than I expected.

@ McHamish, I just assumed your “owner” comment was heavily sprinkled with ground irony.

+1

It was, but makes an interesting point I think.

That most of us got the irony?

Protection of the wider community? As a white teacher I didn’t get any protection from the wider community, nor did my white female head of department.

So when you left the school you were still subjected to racist abuse in the street or at home, excluded from local facilities, targeted hate campaigns etc? No? Or does it serve your purpose to selectively quote to make a point as I actually wrote

but you had the protection of the wider community outside that closed environment.

ie. where you returned to being one of the stronger majority.

My grandfather is the only white person on his street in Bradford, however according to the 2001 census Bradford is
74.9% White
20.5% Asian or Asian British
1.6% Black or Black British
1.9% Mixed Race
1.1% Chinese and other

So locally he is in a minority, but only locally.

Teamhurtmore, would the term used to describe you in Japan be Gaijin, by any chance? As it happens, I have a t-shirt with a rising sun on the front, and ‘Baka Gaijin’* in Kanji written across it. I personally find it amusing to see Japanese tourists expressions whenever they see me wearing it, especially the cute girls. 😀
*’Stupid Foreigner’, for those who don’t know.

Count Zero – I though ‘Gajin’ was Foreign Devil?
It used to be implied as a very racist term but has kind of lost its meaning due to most westerners using it as a term of reference for themselves, I guess very similar to Gweilo here in HK or the N word in the States.

Interesting that Japan has come up, I travel out here quite a bit for work (currently in our Japanese office now), and have always said the place makes the UK look tolerant when it comes to racism.

Everyone always picks up on language as racist, but I think actions are more so and it is actions that set the Japanese seperate from the rest.

It can be difficult as a westerner out here but in the 10 years I have been coming things are improving, but it really depends how sensitive you are as to how much it annoys you.

There are a few terms that are used which are derogatory that I tend to ignore, and probably a few I don’t know, no point in getting upset or worked up about it.

The tendancy to ignore anyone who isn’t Japanese can grate occasionally, but generally only happens away from the tourist areas, only ever been refused service in one shop, at times people go out their way to help as they like to use the english language they have learned. Although they don’t like letting westerners into their ‘adult’ night clubs as my colleagues found out a few years ago when they tried to drag me along to one in Tokyo one night after being on the beer most of the evening. LOL
Actually, on this trip the very noticeable difference between how the Japanese and Westerners are treated started in the Business lounge at Heathrow (a Japanese Airline). I arrived and was basically waved into the lounge, the Japanese travellers arrived and the Japanese girls working in the lounge were running after them, showing them to seats, getting them drinks etc etc.

I always just found it amusing that on a train even if the only seat available was the one next to me they would actively avoid sitting next to me, this doesn’t happen so much now.

But if you are sensitive then you will struggle out here, you don’t get invited to important meetings, they keep stuff from you and outright lie at times, they laugh at the crap they drop onto us as they can’t be bothered as it’s not for Japan etc. Just had an email on my project from one of the guys here, who speaks almost perfect english, and the email is fully in Japanese! Out comes google translate.

Most of the guys I work with are great, but you do come across the occasional one who still thinks Japan are the master race and everyone else is inferior and will quite literally ignore you or will give you some irrelevant menial tesk to complete, this is few and far between thankfully as I don’t take kindly to that sort of thing so tend to tell them to get stuffed which goes down great, not. I once basically sat on a Managers desk until he acknowledged my presence and answered my question (I had been warned he was a ****).

To take teamhurtmores point about fitting in, I’m 6’4 so not that easy, but I tend to stick to the same rules as everyone else in Japan does, don’t deliberatley go out to antagonise or annoy, unlike a US colleague who seemed to want to do all the don’t do stuff you get told about, chopsticks in the rice bowl etc, just to wind up the locals, and make Hiroshima comments, I told him he was an arse and didn’t socialise with him every again. However, I won’t do something I don’t agree with just to fit in, If there is something they do that is okay for Japan but doesn’t meet the European way and it’s a European product I’ll do it our way, it almost got me banned from one of out facilities but I will explain why. Mostly it’s accepted, although I’m sure they call me stuff in Japanese behind my back, I don’t understand it so don’t really care.

I struggle with long sentences. indeed.

murdered to death
Only midly amusing as its getting so old now.

I’d not worry about it either, but it’d be a good pointer as to whether he or she is the type of person with whom I’d associate.
^^^ This.

If you and your peers use that type of language, then fine, get on with it.

For the rest of you whom object to that stuff. Are you for real ?.
You’re complaining cos the world ain’t the way YOU want it to be ?.
If the world can be a beautiful place for its diversity in some many things and so many ways.
Then it stands that there will always be those parts of it that you might not like as much. But this only illuminates the good stuff, surely ?.
No light without dark, etc, etc.

So, OP. Your friend appears to be the type of person you’d rather not associate with….. So, don’t try and change them. That would make you just another type of monster. Instead just jog-on and find other people to hang about with.

Threads such as this are utterly useless. Can’t you lot find a better use for this place ?.

Threads such as this are utterly useless. Can’t you lot find a better use for this place ?.

Which begs the obvious question…

Which begs the obvious question…

Jamie – Member

@bwaarp

Stephen K Amos is not the answer to anything.

Especially humour based.

Hhhmmm. Like your contribution was, err, really ACE !.
While you’re here, give Phil a nudge will you. Get him to pop in on this one now and post something like Ooohh, deary me.

As you know, I’m not one to miss out on a laugh and special guys are so funny.
😆

Some interesting points by andermt, which to me suggests the old “when in Rome” quote. What annoys me a tad I’d when the laws of the country don’t seem to apply to other cultures, whereas on some countries I’d be expected to obey their laws as soon as I crossed the border.

There have been plenty of Brits incarcerated or facing death penalties for drug offenses in the Middle East for example. In my view, you come to this/a country and accept our/their laws. If you want to be british behave in the interest out our nation at all times, take the test and welcome. . I appreciate this is a different issue but I don’t understand why Britain is now trying to be all things to all men.

I guess this is post EU generic humanitarianism at work. Thing is, it doesn’t – Afghanistan being the prime example of a failing attempt at westernisation of a deep rooted culture.

Chinky is a white term from a bygone era. So is Coon. Why is the former still acceptable? Because it sounds cute to some?