| Arya Stark |
03-29-2013 08:45 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trollheart
(Post 1301855)
Oh right. I wasn't sure if she meant my NINJA thing.
Yes of course it is. No question. Point is, when you don't work with balck people (there weren't that many around in Ireland at this time) you tended to say that a little more than you should. Mind you, in one way it was always meant as a compliment in a rather stupid offhand way --- working so hard. I know of course that refers to slaves, so don't get on my back about it being in no way a compliment. I'm just saying that we would say things like "working like a nig ger" to mean industrious, busy etc whereas "tight as a Scotsman" etc would be a negative thing.
Anyway, as I said it was said in joke manner, not meant to hurt anyone and had Gerry realised who he was talking to he would never have said it. The REAL point is that Americ, the black guy, just laughed. Of course, deep down he may have been offended, but it's just one of those things that happens and I think you have to look at the spirit it's said in. Like if someone called me a "thick Paddy" or something I wouldn't necessarily take offence. Course, if they started talking about "Cromwell having the right idea" (see this coming Sunday's post on the Easter Rising in two days if you don't know what I mean) then I would be angry.
Back to the Ninja thing: I think it was a flip, funny remark and I doubt the guy would have taken offence. Had she said "You're a slanty-eyed bastard" or talked about Hiroshima, yes he would have been annoyed, angry even. I think people are too touchy both about what they can say, and about what others say about them. Of course you have to be sensitive (Mister Super Sensitive here, after all!) but you also have to use a bit of Cop-On, as we say here...
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You're being less racist and most race apologist, in my opinion. You're saying it's okay that he said something racist cause he didn't mean it that way. If you say a racist word and don't mean it in a rude way, it doesn't make it less offensive to the person.
If he wasn't specifically offended, fine, he doesn't have to be. Not all people are. BUT, if he was someone else, in a different place, he would have kicked your boss's ass. It's how life goes and you just shouldn't talk that way, whether it's meant as a "compliment" or not.
The same way as if I called someone gay a "***" but rather than intending it to be mean I said "LOL YOU SILLY *** I LOVE YOU." It's not nice, and while one person will laugh, another will be greatly offended by that. For that reason, you don't go calling people offensive words.
I feel like it's common sense. If the word doesn't pertain to you and many will be offended by it, why can't you just use a different word? "We're so busy, I didn't even have time to _____!" would have sufficed just the same. I'm sure he would have gotten the point. And if he was offended deep down, then it is a big deal, because he would have gone out of his way to make YOU feel comfortable saying something that made him feel the opposite. That's screwed up.
ANYWAY the tl;dr is: Racist is racist no matter the tone. |
