PC and such

[KARL]

Someone told me recently that to refer to a non-white-race individual as coloured (a catch-all expression, although perhaps not covering orientals, simply to indicate non-european origins) is now frowned upon. If that is so then I have failed to notice the onset of this development. Is he correct or is this something that is taking root among the ultra-PC only ?

[Harry-Wragg]

I don't know how it came about but your friend is correct. In this neck of the woods (West Scotland) the term 'coloured' is regarded as demeaning. Again, don't ask me why. I've asked some of my Pakistani acquaintances and they don't know either.

[Marijn]

coloured has been taboo for ages. It's not recent.

[Maggoty]

I was told that it was a term used in South Africa to denote a person of mixed race - therefore someone not welcomed by the black or the white South Africans.

[jno]

yes, it was one of the categories used by apartheid South Africa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloured

and so has unpleasant connotations. Otherwise neautral words can become tainted by association with the sort of people who use them.

[Mortartube]

I bet the person who first deemed this as offensive had skin whiter than snow.

It frequently seems to be people who are not of the group that is being referred as being the ones who tell others they are wrong.

Talk about getting offended on somebody elses behalf.

Sorry, just needed to get that off of my chest.