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 Originally Posted by boost
Being a white Englishman it is no surprise that you are deft to the idea that using these labels can rightfully cause great offense.
Well boost, being an asian (I think) in a society that panders to the needs of everyone's littlest sensitivity it's no surprise you're overly sympathetic.
Originally Posted by boost
I think it is completely unfair for you to call people's sensitivities "pathetic" when you yourself are not subjected to the same sensitivities. The offense comes from the fact that the initial grouping was done by oppressive or elitist cultures to categorize cultures they dominated and/or felt superior to. For example, "negro" doesn't really carry any negative meaning as a word, except that it was implemented as a way to describe black people by their oppressors.
Whilst I completely agree with your point, where does one draw the line? In the example you used above, you are stating that the historic derogatory use of the word has lead to the current offence attached to the term. I am fully aware through books, films and education of the way black people have been treated and the terms that have become offensive on the grounds of that. I do not use words such as Negro or any variation of it.
I am not however fully aware of who may have dominated and controlled various different parts of asia or the terminoilogy such people may have used. You could argue that perhaps I should learn more. But I disagree. I don't intend to learn the histories of every dam country in the world, I have neither the time nor the desire. Or perhaps should we learn the history of every country and nation while in school? There are a hell of a lot of tribes and nations out there and it would probably be a bit too much of an ask to cover all of them, so maybe just groups who make up a certain percentage of the country you are educated in? But then what if we have an increase in immigration from a particular country? What exactly should be knocked off the syllabus to ensure a random group are not offended?
Whilst I completely agree in removing racism from our world, I also think it is acceptable to want to be able to describe someone. If I was held up in a bank robbery by an a group of asians, I wouldn't know how to describe the origin of my attackers in any detail without potentially offending someone. That can't be right. If a particular group doesn't want to be called a certain term, they should make sure everyone is aware of this and why and what they would like to be called.
I do not know how to differentiate between a person from Vietnam, Malaysia or Thailand based on looks alone. I do not know how to differentiate between black people from Botswana or Zambia on looks alone. I do not know how to differentiate between white people from France and Germany on looks alone. It seems it is perfectly acceptable to call the second group black, it is perfectly acceptable to call the third group white. I have no idea what I would call the first group accept asian, which gives no real idea as to who the fuck has robbed the bank.
FWIW, I never use the term oriental in describing someone and certainly won't now I know it's potentailly offensive. I guess my point is I think people can be a bit too sensitive. If a term is universally accepted as offensive (ie the "negro" example you used) and is still used then you can't complain when someone is offended. But if a word that is still used for decriptive reasons with regard to objects and isn't commonly known as being offensive is used and no offence is intended what so ever, then it is a bit pathetic to be offended.
I can only imagine the term "American" will be next. I can't think of any place of origin that has as many negative connotations with it. The term American is generally associated with being loud mouthed, brash, arrogant, self centered, rude and liable to offend. If I was from Alaska say, would I really want to be known as American? Associating me with those gun toting, racist rednecks from the south?
I am almost certain this post is likely to have pissed someone off. That's not my intention. I just go annoyed by the "white Englishman" comment.
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