Anti-politically Correct

[Paper Hearts]

I was messing with you... since you didn't direct your reply to any particular comment. :-)

I'm such an asshole.

[Der Nister]

*Edited so as not to offend anyone*

I'm offended.

[BrassFusion]

So what about the notion of laziness? Are people being lazy when they won't change speech patterns.... even though they may know what they're saying is offensive/annoying/etc?

Connotations are ever changing based on people's bullshit hypersensitivities, so fuck connotations. Just because people used the word "colored" for hundreds of years and it picked up a negative connotation based on its context doesn't make it a BAD word or even a hateful one. A five-year-old using the word "colored" because he heard his great-grampaw say it probably isn't thinking "stupid lazy colored folk."

As for "Rice Burner..." It's obviously a figure of speech, because probably no one's ever made a car that ran on rice... but that doesn't mean it has to carry racist connotations. It refers to rice because that's a staple food in the country that the cars are manufactured in. I don't understand how that's "racist." And hell, maybe you know by now that I think Japanese people are generally nuts, but there ARE a handful of Japanese people who are not of southeast-asian descent. They eat rice, too.

Damn, what's the big f'n deal already...

[BrassFusion]

Ben, you're offending the spellchecker.

[phee]

So you would have no problem with term "watermelon wagon" if a car was manufactured in Africa then? Because "stereotypically" black people like watermelon?

[BrassFusion]

So you would have no problem with term "watermelon wagon" if a car was manufactured in Africa then? Because "stereotypically" black people like watermelon?

Not all blacks are Africans, not all Africans are black, and watermelon isn't a staple food anywhere in the world.

However, all Japanese cars are Japanese and rice is pretty popular over there, from what I hear.

[phee]

Not all blacks are Africans, not all Africans are black, and watermelon isn't a staple food anywhere in the world.

However, all Japanese cars are Japanese and rice is pretty popular over there, from what I hear.

Correct... one of my bestest friends ever is aboriginal...

But you are missing the point, this term is used to talk DOWN on a paticular product based upon the nationality/race of those who make it.

[BrassFusion]

Correct... one of my bestest friends ever is aboriginal...

But you are missing the point, this term is used to talk DOWN on a paticular product based upon the nationality/race of those who make it.

Nationality.

So YOU aren't racist for assuming that all Japanese people are yellow slope-eyes?

[phee]

Nationality.

So YOU aren't racist for assuming that all Japanese people are yellow slope-eyes?

When did I make such an assumption?

[BrassFusion]

When did I make such an assumption?

Broadly generalizing all Japanese people to be of the same race. I'm not saying you're wrong... I'm not THAT ignorant, I know Japan has maybe a 0.000000001% minority of non-southeast Asian phenotype.

But the minority is still there. It's like assuming that all Detroiters are black and that a dig on a product produced in Detroit is a direct offense to black people. I'm sure the correlation is often implied, but it does us no good to assume racism where it's not absolutely intended.

Edit: I guess I didn't exactly answer your question. But you used the words "nationality" and "race" interchangeably, with a slash between them.

[Msterbeau]

Connotations are ever changing based on people's bullshit hypersensitivities, so fuck connotations. Just because people used the word "colored" for hundreds of years and it picked up a negative connotation based on its context doesn't make it a BAD word or even a hateful one. A five-year-old using the word "colored" because he heard his great-grampaw say it probably isn't thinking "stupid lazy colored folk."

As for "Rice Burner..." It's obviously a figure of speech, because probably no one's ever made a car that ran on rice... but that doesn't mean it has to carry racist connotations. It refers to rice because that's a staple food in the country that the cars are manufactured in. I don't understand how that's "racist." And hell, maybe you know by now that I think Japanese people are generally nuts, but there ARE a handful of Japanese people who are not of southeast-asian descent. They eat rice, too.

Damn, what's the big f'n deal already...

OK. First... we're not talking about children reciting words they heard. Bad example. Bzzzt! Two points deducted.

And whether the person hearing it is sensitive or not... If you say something mean-spirited or racist... it still is. Sure some phrases/words have multiple meanings.. or have aquired certain connotations over time. But that doesn't mean you should choose your words carelessly... just because it's the easiest way out, or is the top of mind phrase of the hour.

I wouldn't call it implicitly racist... but I'm pretty sure when it was first coined it wasn't intended to be complimentary to the country that manufactures those cars nor the people from that country/culture. Basically saying that the cars are shit because of where their from? (And who made them) Smells like racism to me... even if the term has broadened in meaning.

[phee]

Broadly generalizing all Japanese people to be of the same race. I'm not saying you're wrong... I'm not THAT ignorant, I know Japan has maybe a 0.000000001% minority of non-southeast Asian phenotype.

But the minority is still there. It's like assuming that all Detroiters are black and that a dig on a product produced in Detroit is a direct offense to black people. I'm sure the correlation is often implied, but it does us no good to assume racism where it's not absolutely intended.

Edit: I guess I didn't exactly answer your question. But you used the words "nationality" and "race" interchangeably, with a slash between them.

It also does no good to use a term that is "generally" considered racist... Some of the terms used by racist people include "Rice eaters" which is where the term came from in question.

[BrassFusion]

OK. First... we're not talking about children reciting words they heard. Bad example. Bzzzt! Two points deducted.

BZZZZZT!!!! This is ABSOLUTELY relevant!! Very few words are annotatively negative, so why assume neutral words are all the time? Not only does it cramp our language, it invites misinterpretation on the part of paranoid oversensitive people. You KNOW what I'm talking about.

And whether the person hearing it is sensitive or not... If you say something mean-spirited or racist... it still is. Sure some phrases/words have multiple meanings.. or have aquired certain connotations over time. But that doesn't mean you should choose your words carelessly... just because it's the easiest way out, or is the top of mind phrase of the hour.

I wouldn't call it implicitly racist... but I'm pretty sure when it was first coined it wasn't intended to be complimentary to the country that manufactures those cars nor the people from that country/culture. Basically saying that the cars are shit because of where their from? (And who made them) Smells like racism to me... even if the term has broadened in meaning.

I first heard the phrase "Rice Rocket" in reference to tricked-out Hondas. It was funny, so I laughed. Then I started shoving Japanese people into internment camps because the cars their country produces are horrible.

[BrassFusion]

It also does no good to use a term that is "generally" considered racist... Some of the terms used by racist people include "Rice eaters" which is where the term came from in question.

It does us no good to needlessly cripple our language. In fact, it's harmful.

Let's say a Japanese person learning English hears the term "rice eater." You think he'd really give a shit? Would his "Offensive English Idiom Alarm" start going off?

Does it raise your ire to be called a "gringo," or perhaps a "gaijin?"

[phee]

BZZZZZT!!!! This is ABSOLUTELY relevant!! Very few words are annotatively negative, so why assume neutral words are all the time? Not only does it cramp our language, it invites misinterpretation on the part of paranoid oversensitive people. You KNOW what I'm talking about.

I first heard the phrase "Rice Rocket" in reference to tricked-out Hondas. It was funny, so I laughed. Then I started shoving Japanese people into internment camps because the cars their country produces are horrible.

Yes... I have heard an ignorant person refer to a black person as a "nigger" as well and not mean anything by it. But the fact that he didn't mean anything by it, doesn't mean that it's OK to use whenever.... If I found myself using a term, and it was pointed out to me that it was generally construed as racist... then I might reconsider my using it. Crippling the language or not.

[BrassFusion]

Yes... I have heard an ignorant person refer to a black person as a "nigger" as well and not mean anything by it. But the fact that he didn't mean anything by it, doesn't mean that it's OK to use whenever.... If I found myself using a term, and it was pointed out to me that it was generally construed as racist... then I might reconsider my using it.

When people who don't make negative judgments based on race use the same slang terms as those who do, their power is neutralized. So let's do it.

[phee]

When people who don't make negative judgments based on race use the same slang terms as those who do, their power is neutralized. So let's do it.

I think that is healthy...

But also at least some sensativity can be used to balance it out.

I am not going to go around calling my black co-workers niggers to neutralize the KKK. I think in fact that would do a shitload more harm than good.... Wouldn't you agree?

Kind of like calling them "ricemobiles"

[Paper Hearts]

^Thus if a man refers to products made by females as "cunt wares", and he won't buy "cunt wares", it's perfectly alright for him to say so, because women do in fact have cunts? Or would the man really be making an indignity towards women with a term like that, would such a term imply that women are somehow inferior for their cunts?

[phee]

^Thus if a man refers to products made by females as "cunt wares", and he won't buy "cunt wares", it's perfectly alright for him to say so, because women do in fact have cunts? Or would the man really be making an indignity towards women with a term like that, would such a term imply that women are somehow inferior for their cunts?

exactly

[phee]

From henceforth, the terms "rice burner" and "rice rocket" shall be replaced with "slant-eye burner" and "slant-eye rocket" so that offense is broadly given.

Heh... the sarcasm makes my point exactly thanks!!!

[Paper Hearts]

And if an emperor of Japan tells his people to not buy "hamburger-mobiles", referring to American cars, no American can be offended.

[BrassFusion]

I think that is healthy...

But also at least some sensativity can be used to balance it out.

I am not going to go around calling my black co-workers niggers to neutralize the KKK. I think in fact that would do a shitload more harm than good.... Wouldn't you agree?

Kind of like calling them "ricemobiles"

Maybe, maybe not. And calling black people "ricemobiles" makes no fucking sense at all. How could that be offensive?

And if an emperor of Japan tells his people to not buy "hamburger-mobiles", referring to American cars, no American can be offended.

That would just be hilarious.

[BrassFusion]

Wouldn't that be in referrence to German cars? I believe an accurate "offensive" term might be "McDonald's Mobile".

I wanna own a "McRocket"! LoL

I would have SO much more respect for Japanese people...

[phee]

Maybe, maybe not. And calling black people "ricemobiles" makes no fucking sense at all. How could that be offensive?

That would just be hilarious.

Calling "them" as in the cars that we were discussing

[BrassFusion]

Calling "them" as in the cars that we were discussing

Oh right. Well, as I was saying...

Slope-eyes and niggers and cunts and crackers and guineas and krauts all figuratively refer to people.

Rice refers to rice.