harry remarks...

[whattheheck]

With all the coverage of Prince Harry's '****' (short for Pakistani) 'racist' remarks, I was just wonderin' if the term 'Brit' (short for British) or 'Scot' (short for Scottish) or any shortening of a persons race for that matter is classed as racist too,or is it all just 'one way' ?.
Any thoughts ?.

[keyplus90]

With due respect, you just browse down and would see so many threads on the same subject.

[whattheheck]

You're right keyplus90, sorry to waste everyone's time, I feel a right 'pric' (short for *****) now !.

[Gromit]

P�ki means pure in Urdu and Persian, so the word itself is harmless. However, if it is meant in a derogatory way when it is used or as a catch all for all asians then that is not acceptable.

P�ki Shop became a common slang description for a cornershop run by Asians. No malice was meant by it. However, P�ki is most commonly used in a sneering, disparaging manner.

As you say no one takes Brit as a derogatory, but there are other offensive ethnic terms that are. Chink, ****** for example.

[andy-hughes]

The suposed logic of saying that Brit and Scot are similar terms is simply flawed.

The term Pak! was originally used with the word 'bashing' after it, as a phrase to describe the violence delivered to Asians by skinhead gangs in the 1970's.

Any word or adjective can be offesnive - or not - depending on the context and individuals involved. Harrry may not have meant it to be offensive, but as I have pointed out on other threads, he is not a standard solider, he is a Prince, and as such, he has to watch his language in a manner unique to him and his family - it's time he learned that simple lesson.

[drocto]

Throughout this (and the many many other threads on the matter) whole saga, I've read people justifying the use of this word along with the use of the word "Brit" or "Scot" etc... And stating that to simply shorten a word is not offensive, ergo not racist.

I've thus far failed to read anywhere the ONLY point that really matters - if a word (ANY word) is RECEIVED as offensive/rascist, then it IS racist. End of matter.

Other than the fact that if that person takes it as such, then it is offensive, this is actually also covered in British Law:

Racism is
�Any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person. The incident does not have to be a crime for you to report it. The main types of incident are:

Assault - when someone is physically attacked
Damage - when property is damaged e.g. broken window
Abuse - when verbal abuse is given e.g. name calling
Harassment - continual nuisance however minor.

So, in short - if a word is perceived or taken as Racist, then it IS - regardless of the intent of the user, so if you genuinely are offended by the use of the word "Brit" then, yes it IS racist.

[whattheheck]

Good answer drocto. It's a real tricky one this, my name is Michael and I'm nearly always referred to as Mick and I'm certainly not offended by it, but maybe an Irishman (who's name wasn't Michael) would be. I've been called a few things over the years (mostly in jest) and you can usually tell if it is jest or meant to be harmful or not and if I thought it was said in spite or hate then I would have certainly said something at the time.
So if Harry's colleague was not offended by the remarks (which I'm sure were intended as a 'term of endearment) then surely that's where it stops?. It (nearly) always seems to be 'other people' who take more offence than the person directly involved.
Now, being a Country music fan I'm slightly worried...can I still call it Honky Tonk ?.

[ludwig]

'Racism is any incident that is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person'.

Not sure where that comes from but it's a pretty weird definition. Are you seriously telling us that for something to be racist, all that has to happen is for someone to say it's racist. Wow, that puts racism in a weird category along with Art, and not much else.

[anotheoldgit]

Much more easy in a free speaking country, for there not to be a ban on any word.

There are many words that cause an offence to someone or other, it would be impossible to ban them all.

Who would make the final choice of offensive words?

There are many words and actions that years ago would be a definite no,no. but times move on.

[drocto]

Ludwig

It's in law...

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/crime-reduc tion/crime-victim-hate.asp

[ludwig]

drocto, that's not the law. It's West Midlands Police definition of what they view to be a 'racist incident'. It's there for the purpose of providing guidance for those thinking of reporting an incident.

[drocto]

Actually it comes from the The Macpherson Report � (recommendation 16) from which all UK Police forces derive the definition from, as do all other organisations and companies...

It is the accepted definition throughout the land and is used in courts to decide what is and isn�t applicable!

A simple google search will reveal it's widespread use.

[jno]

during the Sydney Olympics Australians were asked to stop referring to Brits as poms, because the term is derogatory. As poms hadn't realised they were being got at, it didn't make much idfference.

[Quinlad]

The P-word isn't banned.

This is the fundamental misunderstanding about political correctness and freedom of speech. Use words like that and people are free to say why it's outdated and ignorant and wrong. And if you disagree, you're free to point out why.

Everyone's happy. People only complain that they're being censored because they're not able to argue back very well. If they have a point, they might get somewhere.

[A.Guest]

Interesting to note that the licence plate of the Pakistani ambassador's car is PAK 1.

[Supernick]

For heaven's sake, no word is more intrinsically offensive or rude than any other. It relies entirely on context and the appropriateness of the situation, most often both. I'm quite free with my use of c**t, or f**k in company where it is acceptable. Using it in front of my Gran at chistmas or in a board meeting is totally unacceptable. There are times when I have used traditionally racist terms such as 'p**i' when I'm parodying the kind of knuckle dragging attitude, but only in company where I'm 100% certain that the company is intelligent enough to unsderstand the point that I'm making. I would never, ever say it in public, and to do so on film is mind numbingly stupid. In fact it makes me more sure that Harry is not really aware about how offensive it might be.

I think you need to ask yourself, why try to use the 'Brit' argument? It can only mean that a) you have zero concept odf what is offensive, and thus there's no hope for you. Or b) you're fighting to be able to keep saying something that's offensive and that makes you the kind of person that society could do without. So why don't you take option c) which is to just not use it anymore, no-one gets offended, no-one loses anything and society benefits.

[whattheheck]

Supernick, exactly which 'company' do you need to be in to make the use of the 'c', 'f' & 'p' words acceptable ?.
I feel you're arguing with yourself on this one 'cos if Harry uses the 'p' word in company where it's acceptable, namely to a colleague who doesn't give a toss....need I go on !.

[Quinlad]

Yes, you do. Because you don't understand what irony means. Or 'parodying'.

[BertiWooster]

I know what irony means .

It's the same as goldy and bronzy

[BertiWooster]

Or even -

I know what irony is .

It's like goldy and bronzy - only it's made of iron

[whattheheck]

I refer the gentleman to the answer A.Guest gave earlier, how ironic do you need to be for pity's sake !.