Casual racists

If people still think its ok to use that term in any context there’s not much that this thread can achieve anymore.

If you’re going to use a term that may offend people, why continue using it?

Unless you don’t care about offending people.

I’ve just remembered a mate at school whose nickname was Kong. Huge strong as an ox Ghanaian lad, there’s no way anyone meant that as a term to offend him as he could and would batter the crap out of all of us if he wanted to (it was already his nickname when I joined the school). Quite embarrassing now though.

Strangely or not as we got older the name seemed to fizzle out and by the time we were 13/14 he just used to get referred to by his surname (as most of us did).

If you’re going to use a term that may offend people, why continue using it?
Unless you don’t care about offending people.

But the problem with that is, almost any word can offend, depending on the context, and the intent of the speaker. The comedian on radio 4 last night made much hilarity about the fact that residents of Whitehaven use the expression ‘jam eater’ as a pejorative and insulting way to describe the residents of the next town along. Should we all stop referring to people who partake in concentrated food products this way, lest we cause offence?

I’m not particularly defending the chinky word, but when I have used it I can honestly say it was said without any intent to offend. I probably won’t use it again, no real loss.

If you’re going to use a term that may offend people, why continue using it?

Unless you don’t care about offending people.I don’t go out of my way to offend people, but equally I’m not going to walk on eggshells my entire life just because someone, somewhere might get their knickers in a twist otherwise. If you can genuinely say that from this point on you will never say anything that anyone will be offended by then more power to you.

Noone’s suggesting you spend your life walking on eggshells. (Another PC-gone-mad brigade canard is paraded) As posters periodically say in this thread, I can’t believe some people don’t get it. Is it really that taxing to consider the words you use when referring to people?

Clearly that is the case DD

Clearly 😐 PM!

🙂

Hoisted by his own canard…

Noone’s suggesting you spend your life walking on eggshells. (Another PC-gone-mad brigade canard is paraded) As posters periodically say in this thread, I can’t believe some people don’t get it. Is it really that taxing to consider the words you use when referring to people?[/b]

Well clearly it is.

As people have already said.

One person told “coloured” was offensive and the person preferred “black”
Another person told “coloured” was preferred

So even when people are trying to do the right thing and take opinions on board, it’s not always as simple as you want to make it sound ?

One person told “coloured” was offensive and the person preferred “black”
Another person told “coloured” was preferred

So even when people are trying to do the right thing and take opinions on board, it’s not always as simple as you want to make it sound ?
Might one assume that a better idea would be to find some other way of identifying the person in question in place of colour or race? Might one assume that neither coloured nor black are acceptable?
Or is this too obvious?

Might one assume that a better idea would be to find some other way of identifying the person in question? Might one assume that neither coloured nor black are acceptable?
Or is this too obvious?

So it’s now considered racist even to make to reference a persons ethnicity ?!

Also neither of the people in question found them both unacceptable

So that’s not the answer is it ?

So it’s now considered racist even to make reference a persons ethnicity ?!

Did I say that?

Well you did say…..

Might one assume that a better idea would be to find some other way of identifying the person in question

I presumed by that, you meant that its not a good idea to reference the persons ethnicity.

Maybe I read it wrong.

So even when people are trying to do the right thing and take opinions on board, it’s not always as simple as you want to make it sound ?

You can imply whatever you want for the sake of argument, but clearly it’s not simple at all…of course, I didn’t say it was “simple”, but let’s just forget that for now.

However, it seems rather taxing for some people, and that level of difficulty is relative, and can be reduced with enlightenment. I find that a little exasperating, but not at all surprising.

I presumed by that, you meant that its not a good idea to reference the persons ethnicity.

It was a response to choosing your words carefully and as you’ve already stated how confused you are in selecting the correct term. I was merely suggesting another way of describing a person might stop people from looking foolish.
TBH I’m not even sure that a reference to a person’s skin colour in terms of black or coloured has anything to do with ethnicity.

You can call me “that whitish/greyish fella” during the winter and “that magnolia fella” if I’ve had a bit of sun by August. 🙂

I’ve been in Scotland for a few years now, can I be ‘translucent’?

One person told “coloured” was offensive and the person preferred “black”
Another person told “coloured” was preferred
So even when people are trying to do the right thing and take opinions on board, it’s not always as simple as you want to make it sound ?

You could just do your best to be sensitive and accept that sometimes people might still not be 100% happy.

Rather than going ‘oh well if its not completely clear cut in every possible situation then let’s not even bother trying to be considerate’, as some seem to be implying.

you’ve already stated how confused you are in selecting the correct term

Well, I highlighted how two other people have been told two different and conflicting things are offensive and acceptable.

Neither of the people in question were being racist, and both were trying to use the accepted term and not cause offence.

Are they to be classed as “Casual Racists” ?

You could just do your best to be sensitive and accept that sometimes people might still not be 100% happy.

Rather than going ‘oh well if its not completely clear cut in every possible situation then let’s not even bother trying to be considerate’, as some seem to be implying.

Not what I was implying.

Not in the slightest.

Just so we are clear.

Some seem very keen to say ‘ooh they can’t even make their minds up can they’ and use that as an excuse not to bother trying to be considerate. Fair enough if that’s not what you mean, but it’s a prevalent attitude.

It’s only as hard as you make it IMO.

So that’s why the forum was so quiet today – everyone’s on here.

Anyway, I struggle with long sentences but it’s not hard. Just don’t say chinky, **** etc. Easy. If I can manage it, so you can you.

It looks like it’s more difficult to be part of the PC-gone-mad-brigade than to be part of the hand-wringing professionally offended brigade.

Some seem very keen to say ‘ooh they can’t even make their minds up can they’ and use that as an excuse not to bother trying to be considerate. Fair enough if that’s not what you mean, but it’s a prevalent attitude.

Some might think that, but its not what I was saying. Not at all.

I was simply saying that its not as simple as some people have been making it out to be.

As was highlighted by two people who were trying to say the right thing, but still getting it wrong.

Despite thinking about what they were saying, and thinking about other people perception of their words.

So I was replying to :

Is it really that taxing to consider the words you use when referring to people?

And no, it’s not taxing in the least to do that.

But it doesn’t mean you won’t be branded a “casual racist” if you accidentally get it wrong.

Are they to be classed as “Casual Racists” ?

I’m really struggling to see what you’re still trying to say.
Person A doesn’t like to be referred to as coloured.
Person B doesn’t like to be referred to as black.
Why even think that using either is a good idea?
Are they casual racists? Not for me to say, but if they can’t see past the colour of someones skin I have to wonder what preconceived ideas are running rampant through their mind with nothing to slow them down.
I’ll tell you what, I’ll continue judging people by what they say and how they behave and you do your thing. Agreed?

I find that deeply offensive DD

I used to work with a guy who had a poster up in the office along the lines of

You go pink in the sun
White in the winter
green when you’re sick
red when you’re embarrassed
blue when you’re cold
and you’ve got the nerve to call me coloured…

But it doesn’t mean you won’t be branded a “casual racist” if you accidentally get it wrong.

I’m struggling to understand you too, tbh. (Maybe it’s a bit taxing for me 🙂 )

In general, I’d say that people “getting it wrong” doesn’t happen that often does it? And if they do, well, they can apologise and learn from it can’t they?

DD, getting it wrong accidentally shouldn’t be an issue no.

However…..

Are they casual racists? Not for me to say, but if they can’t see past the colour of someones skin I have to wonder what preconceived ideas are running rampant through their mind with nothing to slow them down.
I’ll tell you what, I’ll continue judging people by what they say and how they behave and you do your thing.

I’ve read all of the posts in this thread, and I wish I hadn’t tbh

In summary, it really is very simple. And I’ve seen nothing to suggest it isn’t.

Am a OOOOOOT

I’ll continue to use it yes as I said many pages back in my experience no one has taken offence in calling some food a name. Find it odd that they do anyway just grabbed me itai must got.

Glitchy arse.

Is this still going, time to put the argument to bed… 🙂
Allan Patridge and the use of Chinky

Example in the OP is not a good one, Chinky for a chinese takeaway is refering to the food and has no racist connotation wheras words like **** are flat out insulting and are meant to offend

So people have been told that a certain term is offensive to certain people but they refuse to stop using that term.

Quite frankly you’re an arse.

I’ll add you to the list of people I do not want to meet.

*I’m referring to ‘casual racists’ in general, no one specifically.

What you do and what you believe in matters much more than what you say. If you know that someone finds being referred to in a particular way offensive and you can’t be bothered t stop using that word or phrase then you are showing them no respect. So yes using a term based on ethnicity that the other person finds offensive is racist. I offer no comment on whether it’s “casual” or otherwise

Well said machamish

CFH, your amusing little GIF is most appropriate, under the circumstances. 😆

people have been told that a certain term is offensive to certain people but they refuse to stop using that term.

Er, who’s said that, exactly? Are we reading the same thread?