What is offensive??

[Sybarite]

I think many words may have been used insensitively in the past with no specific ill intentions but we have been made to be more sensitive to PC. Up to a point this is a good thing but beyond that, it is a pain. Some examples :

I was pulled up in a business meeting because I had referred to the manpower of the group (in the context of total numbers). Henceforth I was supposed to use peoplepower. I tried (in vain) explaining the Germanic origin in that "man" could also mean "one".

American trade descriptions issue because there is no ham in hamburger.

The term nigger has always been offensive but now negro is also apparently unacceptable. This was from a long discussion I had with an Afro-American family who sailed with me this summer. I was however brought up to use that as the PC technical term.

Context and attitude are important. People often jokingly refer to me as a mick and I take it as intended. But home in Ireland this denotes a specific religious connotation and is normally used offensively.

One no longer refers to North American Indians ; they are First Nation people. Maybe the others now find this title presumptious.

People are no longer blind, deaf or dumb but ----- - impaired. Dwarfs and midgets are out as well. ?? Vertically challenged.

Calling somebody who is blind, blind. I mean how can this be considered to be disparaging?

Somebody else has mentionned the high-jacking of that lovely word "gay". What a pity.

But if one thinks the PC situation is bad here you should see the US!

John









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[kimhollamby]

Now that...

...is quite a thought, is it not? I guess we won't see her up in the Pool of London then!

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[Jeremy_W]

>>>The term nigger has always been offensive but now negro is also apparently unacceptable. This was from a long discussion I had with an Afro-American family who sailed with me this summer. I was however brought up to use that as the PC technical term.

The situation's more confusing now because Afro-Americans themselves are, in rap music and elsewhere, reclaiming the term nigger. Meanwhile the resident band on the Jonathan Woss Show, doubtless all as alternatively-orientated as a seven bob note, call themselves "Four Poofs and a Piano".

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[aod]

I agree with you. I guess the term 8 man liferaft could be interpreted as exclusionary to women and thus women aren't allowed in one when the ship goes down.

I suppose like all things in life common sense needs to be applied and while most people understand that some terms are blatantly offensive there are many terms that we are all unaware of because they are personal to the listener.

It surprises me that your black friends find the word Negro offensive because it's a pretty established form of describing a particular race. As indeed is Caucasion, but there again if they do they do, although I must confess from a learning perspective I am interested in the 'why'



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