Poll: Racism, abbreviation, & Life.
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"Paki" as a term has a similar history of usage in Britain to that of "******" in the United States, referring to anyone of South-Asian descent; a racial slur only used by fascist morons, or occasionally by members of the group which the slur targeted, in an attempt to reclaim it.
Yes, technically it's an abbreviation. Just as ****** was a variation of negro in dialect. They've both taken on offensive connotations with usage, and their usage is best avoided.
Brit, Aussie, Yank, Canuck and so on don't carry the same offensive connotations.
(Though admittedly I base this upon my perception of Yank as used by fellow Britons, as a jovial, outdated term for Americans.)
Yes, technically it's an abbreviation. Just as ****** was a variation of negro in dialect. They've both taken on offensive connotations with usage, and their usage is best avoided.
Brit, Aussie, Yank, Canuck and so on don't carry the same offensive connotations.
(Though admittedly I base this upon my perception of Yank as used by fellow Britons, as a jovial, outdated term for Americans.)
Paki is offensive simply because it is generally used to offend. Whereas Brit and Aussie aren't.
No British person would bat an eyelid at being called a Brit because it's simply not used as an offensive word. But someone from Pakistan is well within their rights to get annoyed at being called a Paki simply because the usual context for the word (in London at least) is something like this:
"What you f**king lookin' at, you f**king Paki!"
Or this:
"Did you see those f**king Pakis hanging around outside?"
Or this:
"If that f**king Paki tries anything, I'm going to punch his f**king lights out."
In fact, I can't actually think of any time I've heard someone in London use the word Paki without the word "f**king" on the front. So yeah, it's generally pretty offensive!
No British person would bat an eyelid at being called a Brit because it's simply not used as an offensive word. But someone from Pakistan is well within their rights to get annoyed at being called a Paki simply because the usual context for the word (in London at least) is something like this:
"What you f**king lookin' at, you f**king Paki!"
Or this:
"Did you see those f**king Pakis hanging around outside?"
Or this:
"If that f**king Paki tries anything, I'm going to punch his f**king lights out."
In fact, I can't actually think of any time I've heard someone in London use the word Paki without the word "f**king" on the front. So yeah, it's generally pretty offensive!
Fair enough. Your post didn't exactly come across as a joke when reading (damn internet not being able to show emotions and all). I still don't see why anyone would find it offensive though.manic_depressive13 said:
Wagh crap, I voted for no, I meant to vote for the middle one.
I had no idea 'Brit' was considered racist. I'm English, being called British instead of English annoys me, but I've never been offended by 'Brit'. Never knew Aussie was thought to be racist either. And I have a friend whose family is from Pakistan, she even calls herself a Paki. Although I did know that one's considered racist.
But then you have my sister, who throws out 'Paki' like free candy, she calls dirty parts of towns 'Paki streets', constantly, constantly raves on about foreign people and how they annoy her, and yeah, you get the idea, she's pretty damn narrow-minded.
So in short, is does depend on how you mean it.
I had no idea 'Brit' was considered racist. I'm English, being called British instead of English annoys me, but I've never been offended by 'Brit'. Never knew Aussie was thought to be racist either. And I have a friend whose family is from Pakistan, she even calls herself a Paki. Although I did know that one's considered racist.
But then you have my sister, who throws out 'Paki' like free candy, she calls dirty parts of towns 'Paki streets', constantly, constantly raves on about foreign people and how they annoy her, and yeah, you get the idea, she's pretty damn narrow-minded.
So in short, is does depend on how you mean it.
Never ever heard "Brit" or "Aussie" being called slur words or being used in that way.
The only reason I don't like being called a Brit is cos I'm very precious about my being half-French, and I generally consider my other half to be English, not British, anyway.
The only reason I don't like being called a Brit is cos I'm very precious about my being half-French, and I generally consider my other half to be English, not British, anyway.
I feel your pain. Sweden is going down that same shitdrain as we speak. Check this article out and you'll understand what I mean: http://randomprocessed.blogspot.se/2012/02/swedish-pedestrian-crossing-signs.htmlRawne1980 said:
Last I checked, it was just slang for for it, and not actually derogatory. But then again, political correctness up the arse might have changed this in recent times.Hazy992 said:
OT: I wouldn't consider any of them racist, but then again, I don't really care about stuff like that. I almost never get offended about generalizations, regardless of intent.
If they were in some way intended to show off some sort of male superiority, fine, but it's been around forever, and I dare ANYONE to find a non-crazy person who was actually bothered by the original signs.Rawne1980 said:
Even if I don't mind either of the female signs (it's just a sign, who gives a toss?), my motivation to pay taxes when it's used for useless shit like this is rapidly diminishing.
I was going to say.Daystar Clarion said:
It has always seemed to me that for Australians and British, those sort abbreviations have come from a quasi-shared history, reflected in the cross-pollination of cultural language.
I think it's different for 'Paki' as it's a term used by English speakers in the absence of cultural relativity. I suppose if a Pakistani native came up with the term it would be entirely acceptable, but I've only ever heard non-Pakistani English speakers use it and not in a particularly nice way either.
Let's get one thing sorted. In no way, shape or form is the term "Aussie" racist or offensive (some may feel differently as stated by a member a few posts ago). The majority of Australians refer to ourselves as "Aussies" because that is what we are.
"Paki" has definitely been used for abusive purposes.
"Paki" has definitely been used for abusive purposes.
That's crazy. You should come over here to America and glare at people, especially at the darker ones. See what happens to you.Rawne1980 said:
You spelled offense wrong by the way.
