[afx114]

[quote=flu]For example, how is a white person suppose to know calling someone “oriental” is racist? If it happens, is that considered “threatening”?[/quote]

Through education. Of course no one can ever know every single cultural nuance and avoid offensive words completely. But at least make an effort to lower the percentage. If a white person calls someone ‘oriental’ and doesn’t know that it is racist, they should be educated of that fact. Once they are, if they continue to use the word in a derogatory manner, then it is no doubt considered “threatening.” Hell, I didn’t even know that it is racist — thanks for educating me! Not that I ever use ‘oriental’ to describe people anyway. But at least I know for sure not to use it if the desire had ever crept up.

In this case though, the onus also falls on the offended to educate. I’ll be the first to admit that both sides are at fault here. If the offended doesn’t make an effort to make it known that they are offended, how will the offender know otherwise?

I suppose you can argue “but I didn’t know that calling blacks monkeys was offensive.” Well now you do. Are you still going to use it?

[afx114]

[quote=flu]For example, how is a white person suppose to know calling someone “oriental” is racist? If it happens, is that considered “threatening”?[/quote]

Through education. Of course no one can ever know every single cultural nuance and avoid offensive words completely. But at least make an effort to lower the percentage. If a white person calls someone ‘oriental’ and doesn’t know that it is racist, they should be educated of that fact. Once they are, if they continue to use the word in a derogatory manner, then it is no doubt considered “threatening.” Hell, I didn’t even know that it is racist — thanks for educating me! Not that I ever use ‘oriental’ to describe people anyway. But at least I know for sure not to use it if the desire had ever crept up.

In this case though, the onus also falls on the offended to educate. I’ll be the first to admit that both sides are at fault here. If the offended doesn’t make an effort to make it known that they are offended, how will the offender know otherwise?

I suppose you can argue “but I didn’t know that calling blacks monkeys was offensive.” Well now you do. Are you still going to use it?

[afx114]

[quote=flu]For example, how is a white person suppose to know calling someone “oriental” is racist? If it happens, is that considered “threatening”?[/quote]

Through education. Of course no one can ever know every single cultural nuance and avoid offensive words completely. But at least make an effort to lower the percentage. If a white person calls someone ‘oriental’ and doesn’t know that it is racist, they should be educated of that fact. Once they are, if they continue to use the word in a derogatory manner, then it is no doubt considered “threatening.” Hell, I didn’t even know that it is racist — thanks for educating me! Not that I ever use ‘oriental’ to describe people anyway. But at least I know for sure not to use it if the desire had ever crept up.

In this case though, the onus also falls on the offended to educate. I’ll be the first to admit that both sides are at fault here. If the offended doesn’t make an effort to make it known that they are offended, how will the offender know otherwise?

I suppose you can argue “but I didn’t know that calling blacks monkeys was offensive.” Well now you do. Are you still going to use it?

[afx114]

[quote=flu]afx114, yes but again the point is if AN or I were your friend, and said “Sup my xxxxx?” would that be ok with you?[/quote]

My friends have already come up with a way around this: “Sup my ninja?” (apologies in advance if I’ve offended any Asians with my remarks).

I personally haven’t heard anyone say ‘Hang the xxxxxx’ but my point was to illustrate the historical significance of the word. Words have history attached to them, and I think that it is easy to forget that history means different things to different people depending on their perspective. Just as history has different meaning for different people, so do words. And I think that it’s intellectually lazy not to consider others perspectives when it comes to both history and language.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]afx114, yes but again the point is if AN or I were your friend, and said “Sup my xxxxx?” would that be ok with you?[/quote]

My friends have already come up with a way around this: “Sup my ninja?” (apologies in advance if I’ve offended any Asians with my remarks).

I personally haven’t heard anyone say ‘Hang the xxxxxx’ but my point was to illustrate the historical significance of the word. Words have history attached to them, and I think that it is easy to forget that history means different things to different people depending on their perspective. Just as history has different meaning for different people, so do words. And I think that it’s intellectually lazy not to consider others perspectives when it comes to both history and language.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]afx114, yes but again the point is if AN or I were your friend, and said “Sup my xxxxx?” would that be ok with you?[/quote]

My friends have already come up with a way around this: “Sup my ninja?” (apologies in advance if I’ve offended any Asians with my remarks).

I personally haven’t heard anyone say ‘Hang the xxxxxx’ but my point was to illustrate the historical significance of the word. Words have history attached to them, and I think that it is easy to forget that history means different things to different people depending on their perspective. Just as history has different meaning for different people, so do words. And I think that it’s intellectually lazy not to consider others perspectives when it comes to both history and language.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]afx114, yes but again the point is if AN or I were your friend, and said “Sup my xxxxx?” would that be ok with you?[/quote]

My friends have already come up with a way around this: “Sup my ninja?” (apologies in advance if I’ve offended any Asians with my remarks).

I personally haven’t heard anyone say ‘Hang the xxxxxx’ but my point was to illustrate the historical significance of the word. Words have history attached to them, and I think that it is easy to forget that history means different things to different people depending on their perspective. Just as history has different meaning for different people, so do words. And I think that it’s intellectually lazy not to consider others perspectives when it comes to both history and language.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]afx114, yes but again the point is if AN or I were your friend, and said “Sup my xxxxx?” would that be ok with you?[/quote]

My friends have already come up with a way around this: “Sup my ninja?” (apologies in advance if I’ve offended any Asians with my remarks).

I personally haven’t heard anyone say ‘Hang the xxxxxx’ but my point was to illustrate the historical significance of the word. Words have history attached to them, and I think that it is easy to forget that history means different things to different people depending on their perspective. Just as history has different meaning for different people, so do words. And I think that it’s intellectually lazy not to consider others perspectives when it comes to both history and language.

[afx114]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]You would be amazed what sitting down with someone over a period of hours or days can produce in terms of useful intelligence.[/quote]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but didn’t Saddam reveal some stuff to his guards after months of being buddy-buddy with them? What we should do with suspected terrorists is throw back a few beers with them, play some Lego Star Wars, break the ice, and shoot the shit — who knows what they might reveal.

[afx114]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]You would be amazed what sitting down with someone over a period of hours or days can produce in terms of useful intelligence.[/quote]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but didn’t Saddam reveal some stuff to his guards after months of being buddy-buddy with them? What we should do with suspected terrorists is throw back a few beers with them, play some Lego Star Wars, break the ice, and shoot the shit — who knows what they might reveal.

[afx114]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]You would be amazed what sitting down with someone over a period of hours or days can produce in terms of useful intelligence.[/quote]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but didn’t Saddam reveal some stuff to his guards after months of being buddy-buddy with them? What we should do with suspected terrorists is throw back a few beers with them, play some Lego Star Wars, break the ice, and shoot the shit — who knows what they might reveal.

[afx114]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]You would be amazed what sitting down with someone over a period of hours or days can produce in terms of useful intelligence.[/quote]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but didn’t Saddam reveal some stuff to his guards after months of being buddy-buddy with them? What we should do with suspected terrorists is throw back a few beers with them, play some Lego Star Wars, break the ice, and shoot the shit — who knows what they might reveal.

[afx114]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]You would be amazed what sitting down with someone over a period of hours or days can produce in terms of useful intelligence.[/quote]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but didn’t Saddam reveal some stuff to his guards after months of being buddy-buddy with them? What we should do with suspected terrorists is throw back a few beers with them, play some Lego Star Wars, break the ice, and shoot the shit — who knows what they might reveal.

[afx114]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Arraya: It’s interesting, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but the rightists on the board (Partypup, me) are finding more and more in common with the leftists/left leaning (you, Afx) as of late.[/quote]

I’ve definitely noticed this. I’ve had constant political and philosophical battles with my dad over the past 8 years. He’s always been a Bush 18%’er and originally belonged to the “Obama’s a Muslim” crowd. However, something these past few months has changed, and my dad has actually approached me on a few issues and we actually came away agreeing on a lot of things. I thought this would never happen. He still doesn’t like Obama, but now he’s criticizing Bush and the GOP — basically everyone in power. When I start agreeing with my dad on political issues, you know something is afoot.

[afx114]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Arraya: It’s interesting, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but the rightists on the board (Partypup, me) are finding more and more in common with the leftists/left leaning (you, Afx) as of late.[/quote]

I’ve definitely noticed this. I’ve had constant political and philosophical battles with my dad over the past 8 years. He’s always been a Bush 18%’er and originally belonged to the “Obama’s a Muslim” crowd. However, something these past few months has changed, and my dad has actually approached me on a few issues and we actually came away agreeing on a lot of things. I thought this would never happen. He still doesn’t like Obama, but now he’s criticizing Bush and the GOP — basically everyone in power. When I start agreeing with my dad on political issues, you know something is afoot.

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