The "P" word

[Nervous Jock]

I understand it it perfectly acceptable in Australia, its not the word, its how its used.

[KFCarter]

I never knew it was supposed to be an offensive term. No different when people refer to Americans as Yanks.

In certain parts of the U.S. you could easily offend by calling someone a Yank (or Yankee).

[Lallans]

In Canada, again, I think it was the usual harmless abbreviation until it was co-opted by skinhead types and their ilk. For instance, when used as a compound word, it's generally heard in the context of "----bashing," "----pounding," "----bastards," and so on. So it's condemned by association.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I understand it is perfectly acceptable in Australia, it's not the word, it's how its used.

right on... so can we please drop all the PC stuff and get back to something that IS offensive? Like wearing white socks...

[Lallans]

right on... so can we please drop all the PC stuff and get back to something that IS offensive? Like wearing white socks...

[sathor]

I don't care if I get called a Yank. In Michigan I remember referring to people as Yooppers (spelled in some random way) and Trolls (those who live under the bridge)

I personally don't think abbreviations of correct words being insults make any sense. Of course, I have been chewed out a few times for calling someone an African American, once because the person wasn't American and was offended, and a few time when I was in SC and they said they rather just be called black.

I think that is the part of the challenge is that in the range below the outright bad ones, there are some that don't mind the 'insults' Hindu used to be a generic term for a large group of people, and they accepted it and now identify with it. (Silly British. ) Then again, there is no pleasing everyone, I got chewed out for referring to a cleaning rag as a rag once, because it was offensive to a girl that was working at the place at that time. (something to do with periods) I told the manager "This is a rag, from the word ragged, as this item clearly is. I find stupidity offensive, go tell the other person to quit offending me." I walked out of that job a few weeks later.

[Tobus]

I've never used the term "****", nor did I know it was a derogatory term. So I'm glad this came up - I won't make that mistake in the future, should I ever have the need to refer to a Pakistani person.

I suppose it has much the same negative connotation as the term "Jap" when referring to a Japanese person. It's certainly not the worst you could call someone, but it's not exactly a respectful term. It wasn't originally meant that way, but its historic context has unfortunately made it derogatory. People can't help where they were born, so if they are going to be disrespected, it should be because of what they've done as individuals, not because of where they're from!

But speaking of shortened nationality monikers, do British people take offense at being called Brits? Do Finnish people take offense at being called Finns? And the big question, do Scottish people take offense at being called Scots?

Oh, and how do you shorten the term for someone from Iceland? Do you call them Icies?

[McClef]

Nobody has alleged that those who have used the abbreviated term meant it to be pejorative or offensive.

But no matter whether it's OK in Australia or not, or it's considered less offensive than white socks or not, it has been previously established it's not acceptable on X Marks.

It has caused more complaints and landed more posts in the sick ward and morgue than just about anything else.

So PLEASE bear this in mind when posting and add "stani" to the word.

And also spare a thought for all those in Pakistan who are currently suffering devastating floods too.

[Nervous Jock]

But speaking of shortened nationality monikers, do British people take offense at being called Brits?

Actually from some parts , yes

[wildrover]

I am going to use an ugly word, in just a minute, to illustrate a point. I think it's necessary, and wouldn't use it otherwise.

I don't believe I've ever heard "****" used here in the States. There isn't enough commerce between the States and Pakistan to result in abbreviations or stereotypes.

I can tell "****" is derogatory, the way you use it--I've known it's derogatory for decades--but don't tell me and your Empire to shut up. Change the situation so that there is no longer a negative connotation to "****", any more than "Finn", "Yank" or "Canuck".

"****" is not the same as "******"...at least, I hope not. That word's been a festering sore on America's hide for generations, so if that's how you use "****", well...sucks to be you, for choosing so simplistic a derivation for such a hideous epithet. The aforementioned Stateside epithet is the Muad Dib of American slang...a killing word. Is that how "****" stands, in the Empire?

You chose the word, you chose it to be an epithet, and you are now choosing to be offended by it...why? What does it make you think of? How does it make you feel, when you hear or read "****"? Guilt? Anger? Frustration? Or...guilt? I can't imagine that there are a lot of Pakistanis on the board here...but I can certainly imagine a lot of guilty white folk reacting badly to the word. This is a racial issue, and it is your racial issue, and I appreciate the reminder, but you've more to deal with than a bunch of white people saying "****".

Seeing as how it's a natural foreshortening of the word "Pakistani", I suggest that rather than telling everyone to start using "They-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named", you sort out why you have this negative cultural view of Pakistanis, and do something to change it at the source...because the way things seem to be going, you'll stop saying "****", and then you'll stop saying "Pakistani", and then you'll tell everyone to stop saying "those people", and you'll still be labeling an entire culture as an out-group within Empire society without ever once having addressed the core issue.

If you'd chosen something other than the first four letters of a legitimate regional identifier, you could wave it away...but...you didn't. Find a way to bring people together and remove the negative connotation of that abbreviation, since it's not something you can easily sweep under the historical rug. Telling everyone not to use the hidden secret power word is not a solution...they'll find another word, and everyone is gonna know exactly what it means.

Personally, I wouldn't use the term anyway. It sounds...well, it sounds as silly to me as "brolly" and "wellies", and "pants" being a Bad Word...so I don't think you've anything to sweat over, on my account.

AFA goods and services...you are voting with your wallet. Tired of junk? Stop voting that way.

If you think I've stepped over the line with this post, please keep in mind that it is absolutely necessary to recognize, and sometimes reference, the full extent of the moral spectrum in order to place something on it.

-Sean