Shocked at my friend.

pollyanna24

I get why to say "coloured" is racist, but I have heard people say "woman of colour" as in describing themself. Is this racist? I'm just curious.

FreddieFrugal

pollyanna24 wrote: »

I get why to say "coloured" is racist, but I have heard people say "woman of colour" as in describing themself. Is this racist? I'm just curious.

Some people call themselves the 'N' word as well. I don't know, I really don't think there is a grand objectively defined set of rules about this.

What one person finds offensive another will just see as perfectly normal and acceptable. I think it's the intent with which something is said that's more important than the actual words used. Which is what I've been trying to get at.

Take these two examples:

1. A child in a school is doing some Geography work looking at similarities and differences between a school in Africa and their own school. They see a picture of a class, put their hand up and say "one difference is that all the children are brown". Another boy accuses that child of saying something 'racist'.

Clearly it wasn't intended to cause offence, the child was just making a simple observation and described it in the best way they knew how. But some people, especially young children or childlike people, have such a rudimentary understanding of what racism is, that they would consider merely the mention of a word like black or chinese as being a racist comment.

2. A child in a school is talking about what they did at the weekend, he says that his family went for a meal out at the local Chinese restaurant. Another child hears the word Chinese, places a finger at the sides of his eyes and pulls back, before making a stupid faux impression of what he thinks someone from China sounds like.

Clearly that is racist because he is purposefully making fun of people that look or speak differently to him, based on race.

It's all about intent.

pollyanna24

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

Some people call themselves the 'N' word as well. I don't know, I really don't think there is a grand objectively defined set of rules about this.

What one person finds offensive another will just see as perfectly normal and acceptable. I think it's the intent with which something is said that's more important than the actual words used. Which is what I've been trying to get at.

Take these two examples:

1. A child in a school is doing some Geography work looking at similarities and differences between a school in Africa and their own school. They see a picture of a class, put their hand up and say "one difference is that all the children are brown". Another boy accuses that child of saying something 'racist'.

Clearly it wasn't intended to cause offence, the child was just making a simple observation and described it in the best way they knew how. But some people, especially young children or childlike people, have such a rudimentary understanding of what racism is, that they would consider merely the mention of a word like black or chinese as being a racist comment.

2. A child in a school is talking about what they did at the weekend, he says that his family went for a meal out at the local Chinese restaurant. Another child hears the word Chinese, places a finger at the sides of his eyes and pulls back, before making a stupid faux impression of what he thinks someone from China sounds like.

Clearly that is racist because he is purposefully making fun of people that look or speak differently to him, based on race.

It's all about intent.

Yes, I can see what you mean. My girls have commented on people with different coloured skin to us or asked why. They are just curious and I've explained as best I can. I said that mixed race children are a combination of the best of both, not sure if that was the right way to explain it, but hey ho.

My mum and dad refer to "coloured" people, but they don't mean it in a negative way, they are just used to saying it. I just tell them it's not done thing to say any more, but it comes up so rarely that by the time they say it again, they've forgotten.

KARO

merlin68 wrote: »

I go to lunch on a Wednesday and this week there was two new people there.
My friend was telling me that she couldn't get any adaptions done or extra money and shouted out really loud that it was because her face wasn't black.
I tried to explain to her that this wasn't the case. That they go through the same assessment as we do and don't get any extra money.
I had no problem getting adaptions, but she was adamant. Felt so sorry for the women as it was her first time there.
Why on earth do people believe this rubbish, my Aunt is terribly racist as well.

Unfortunately the OP has had to edit her post so many times due to the offence takers that the meaning is now unclear. I assume the two 'new people' were black (or whatever adjective she's allowed to use) and hence this caused the embarrassment when the Alf Garnett among them made comments about being at a disadvantage due to not having a black face.

There really are people who think that way, OP, they're a lost cause. I would try and avoid them if possible.

gabriel1980

I know that in America, "colored" is considered racist, probably because it harks back to the day of "white" and "colored" restrooms etc. I don't see it as racist over here yet. I think you're fine saying black or dark-skinned. I'd steer of "darkies" though.

pollypenny

I assume the OP is talking about 'adaptations' too.

No such thing as 'adaptions' as far as I know.

Lily-Rose_3

The professionally offended strike again. :rotfl:

OP, if you find your friend offensive, then give her a wide berth or just drop her. Even better, tell her what you think!

Where I come from, (Warwickshire) I am not aware that people get special treatment depending on their skin colour. I think that is a myth actually.

(Being very careful with what I say here so as not to upset anyone. )

Lily-Rose_3

pollypenny wrote: »

I assume the OP is talking about 'adaptations' too.

No such thing as 'adaptions' as far as I know.

So many people say this pollypenny, and I am sure it's wrong too!!!

Like when people say ALUMINUM instead of ALUMINIUM (usually Americans,) (and they also say 'I could care less' instead of I COULDN'T care less.)

And one of my pet hates, people saying FEBREE, instead of FEBR-U-ARY! :mad:

And I hate it when people say 'relay-ship' instead of 'RELATIONSHIP,' (Jeremy Kyle does this!) and when people do double plurals, (putting an S on a word that already has an S!) Eg breakfasts's. So it sounds like BREAKFASTIZ.

Sorry, I am just ranting now.:rotfl:

benjus

Lily-Rose wrote: »

So many people say this pollypenny, and I am sure it's wrong too!!!

Like when people say ALUMINUM instead of ALUMINIUM (usually Americans,) (and they also say 'I could care less' instead of I COULDN'T care less.)

And one of my pet hates, people saying FEBREE, instead of FEBR-U-ARY! :mad:

And I hate it when people say 'relay-ship' instead of 'RELATIONSHIP,' (Jeremy Kyle does this!) and when people do double plurals, (putting an S on a word that already has an S!) Eg breakfasts's. So it sounds like BREASKFASTIZ.

Sorry, I am just ranting now.:rotfl:

Not sure about those... Aluminum is standard American English - and why should they follow how we say English should be used? Talking about ownership of languages doesn't make sense. The USA has been using English for a long time, and it's evolved separately to our English.

As for FEBREE - if you expect all English words to be pronounced as they are written, you're not going to get very far. Do you think cough, tough, dough, bough and through should all rhyme with each other? Do you pronounce Gloucester as GLOU-CES-TER or GLOSTER?

Don't think I've ever noticed the other two.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with having a few irrational pet hates...

Lily-Rose_3

benjus wrote: »

Not sure about those... Aluminum is standard American English - and why should they follow how we say English should be used? Talking about ownership of languages doesn't make sense. The USA has been using English for a long time, and it's evolved separately to our English.

As for FEBREE - if you expect all English words to be pronounced as they are written, you're not going to get very far. Do you think cough, tough, dough, bough and through should all rhyme with each other? Do you pronounce Gloucester as GLOU-CES-TER or GLOSTER?

Don't think I've ever noticed the other two.

It's just my opinion. And I was just having a laugh! Lighten up.

What is wrong with people on here today? People taking things so seriously, and having a go at things I say when it is just my opinion!

I think I'll leave for bit, and get back to real life, where people are smiling and pleasant.