Sony Kowtowing to North Korea

[Colonial]

I'm one of the first to get offended but what is wrong with kowtowing?

Unless you thought because it sounded a bit Asian it must be offensive. Which is racist in itself.

[98elise]

PZR said:

groucho said:

PZR said:

[obvious simpleton]Why?[/obvious simpleton]

Sorry, I can't think of any yellow/slope/etc 'comedy' punchlines for the end of my post.

You don't get it, do you? The OP wasn't being offensive!!!

The OP wasn't being intentionally offensive. He says.

I think there's something you're not getting.

So you are offended that someone used a non offensive word without being intentionally offensive?

You and pork911 are fking idiots (no offense intended).

[PZR]

98elise said:

So you are offended that someone used a non offensive word without being intentionally offensive?

First of all, who has decided that it's "non offensive"? Who are you speaking for? Secondly, when did I say that I was offended by it? I simply asked why it was chosen in this context.

The OP answered that it was intended humorously. Maybe he - along with most of the people on this thread who are telling us that it is "non offensive" - doesn't realise that it would be expedient (not to mention polite) to be careful when using it in certain countries, and in certain contexts.

I'm not trying to be cryptic here. It seems so obvious to me that it's painful to have to spell it out.

98elise said:

You and pork911 are fking idiots (no offense intended).

And you are simply not getting it, old son.

It's a wonder that some of you lot have got beyond your own village gates, let alone been issued a passport and travelled on it. Maybe HSBC need to make a special advert for you?

[pork911]

WinstonWolf said:

wolves_wanderer said:

WinstonWolf said:

pork911 said:

WinstonWolf said:

I concur, put up or shut up. If you're not willing to explain how it's offensive you'll just have to kowtow to all of us.

This better be good...

as good for you as your happiness in total ignorance? probably not

even the fount of all PH knowledge wikipedia gives a slight introduction but of course froth mouthed posters demand packaged enlightenment to 'disprove' their entirely uninformed yet fixed opinion

ah well, hardly a surprise really

I'm waiting....

If you have to consult an article which doesn't really explain why it *might* be offensive you're definitely clutching at straws.

So, humour my ignorance, pretty please, with sugar on top, explain the fking insult.

I think he's too yellow to admit he's wrong

Careful, you're on a very slippery slope there...

oh dear

[Zoobeef]

PZR said:

98elise said:

So you are offended that someone used a non offensive word without being intentionally offensive?

First of all, who has decided that it's "non offensive"? Who are you speaking for? Secondly, when did I say that I was offended by it? I simply asked why it was chosen in this context.

The OP answered that it was intended humorously. Maybe he - along with most of the people on this thread who are telling us that it is "non offensive" - doesn't realise that it would be expedient (not to mention polite) to be careful when using it in certain countries, and in certain contexts.

I'm not trying to be cryptic here. It seems so obvious to me that it's painful to have to spell it out.

98elise said:

You and pork911 are fking idiots (no offense intended).

And you are simply not getting it, old son.

It's a wonder that some of you lot have got beyond your own village gates, let alone been issued a passport and travelled on it. Maybe HSBC need to make a special advert for you?

Yes, actually telling all of us why you 2 find it offensive would be kowtowing to the masses. Just keep it shrouded in mystery.

[WinstonWolf]

pork911 said:

WinstonWolf said:

wolves_wanderer said:

WinstonWolf said:

pork911 said:

WinstonWolf said:

I concur, put up or shut up. If you're not willing to explain how it's offensive you'll just have to kowtow to all of us.

This better be good...

as good for you as your happiness in total ignorance? probably not

even the fount of all PH knowledge wikipedia gives a slight introduction but of course froth mouthed posters demand packaged enlightenment to 'disprove' their entirely uninformed yet fixed opinion

ah well, hardly a surprise really

I'm waiting....

If you have to consult an article which doesn't really explain why it *might* be offensive you're definitely clutching at straws.

So, humour my ignorance, pretty please, with sugar on top, explain the fking insult.

I think he's too yellow to admit he's wrong

Careful, you're on a very slippery slope there...

oh dear

:taps fingers: We're waiting

So come on, explain for everyone what's possibly offensive about Sony kowtowing to NK.

Pretty please?

If we don't know we'll just do it all the more in a "I fart in your general direction" style.

[Colonial]

The only positive response to "is kowtowing an offensive word" on google is this thread.

[dudleybloke]

The 2 posters who are offended by the term please explain why its offensive or shut the fk up!

[98elise]

PZR said:

98elise said:

So you are offended that someone used a non offensive word without being intentionally offensive?

First of all, who has decided that it's "non offensive"? Who are you speaking for? Secondly, when did I say that I was offended by it? I simply asked why it was chosen in this context.

The OP answered that it was intended humorously. Maybe he - along with most of the people on this thread who are telling us that it is "non offensive" - doesn't realise that it would be expedient (not to mention polite) to be careful when using it in certain countries, and in certain contexts.

I'm not trying to be cryptic here. It seems so obvious to me that it's painful to have to spell it out.

98elise said:

You and pork911 are fking idiots (no offense intended).

And you are simply not getting it, old son.

It's a wonder that some of you lot have got beyond your own village gates, let alone been issued a passport and travelled on it. Maybe HSBC need to make a special advert for you?

I spent a decade in the RN so I've travelled a fair bit more than most.

Is not offensive because nobody is offended by it other than you and Pork911 being self righteous. You ARE being cryptic as to what you are offended about, because there is no substance to your indignation.

Now you are saying its just polite not to use it in some contexts?

As many have asked, why not educate us? A simple link to something on google would do.

I still maintain you are both idiots.

Edited by 98elise on Saturday 20th December 10:43

[PZR]

98elise said:

PZR said:

98elise said:

So you are offended that someone used a non offensive word without being intentionally offensive?

First of all, who has decided that it's "non offensive"? Who are you speaking for? Secondly, when did I say that I was offended by it? I simply asked why it was chosen in this context.

The OP answered that it was intended humorously. Maybe he - along with most of the people on this thread who are telling us that it is "non offensive" - doesn't realise that it would be expedient (not to mention polite) to be careful when using it in certain countries, and in certain contexts.

I'm not trying to be cryptic here. It seems so obvious to me that it's painful to have to spell it out.

98elise said:

You and pork911 are fking idiots (no offense intended).

And you are simply not getting it, old son.

It's a wonder that some of you lot have got beyond your own village gates, let alone been issued a passport and travelled on it. Maybe HSBC need to make a special advert for you?

I spent a decade in the RN so I've travelled a fair bit more than most.

Is not offensive because nobody is offended by it other than you and Pork911 being self righteous. You ARE being cryptic as to what you are offended about, because there is no substance to your indignation.

Now you are saying its just polite not to use it in some contexts?

As many have asked, why not educate us? A simple link to something on google would do.

I still maintain you are both idiots.

Edited by 98elise on Saturday 20th December 10:43

Having to spell it out to you, then: Try to imagine what it might mean to the (Japanese/Korean/Chinese) people concerned in the context of SPE Inc. and Sony Corp. vs PRK.

The fact that you and many others on this thread claim to be unoffended by it means very little. All the more so since you don't seem to be able to imagine what it might signify to the people to whom it is being applied.

We had the same thing here a few months ago with regard to the term 'Jap'. Most of the people involved in the thread had no clue that the abbreviation was seen by some as disrespectful at the least, and that it is offensive to the majority of Japanese people. Would those people call a Japanese person a "Jap" to their face? Maybe they would be gauche enough to do it when at home (they are certainly gauche enough to use the term with glee on this forum) but how about in Japan?

As I've written (and has been ignored), I am not offended by the term because it is not being applied to me and means little to me culturally. I'm just interested in the choice to use it in this context (with a Japanese-owned multinational corporation and a despotic and much lampooned regime as the two protagonists), and wondered what was behind it. I think we've cleared that up now, but some of the usual suspects are whining about the question being asked.

Do you really expect this to be explained with a - presumably English language - Google link, FFS?

People like you seem to have no concept of what this whole Sony Pictures hacking thing might mean to Japan and the Japanese. It's a very small part of a much wider problem and a much bigger threat than you appear to understand. You might not feel very threatened by PRK, but take a look at a map and remind yourself how close Japan is to ROK and PRK. The downfall of the PRK's ruling regime and a re-united Korea might sound like a good thing in theory but may lead to far bigger trouble in the region. Especially with a newly ambitious PRC flexing its muscles on the sidelines.

I was in Japan just last week. Believe me, this is a daily news topic.

[LimaDelta]

PZR said:

Having to spell it out to you, then: Try to imagine what it might mean to the (Japanese/Korean/Chinese) people concerned in the context of SPE Inc. and Sony Corp. vs PRK.

The fact that you and many others on this thread claim to be unoffended by it means very little. All the more so since you don't seem to be able to imagine what it might signify to the people to whom it is being applied.

We had the same thing here a few months ago with regard to the term 'Jap'. Most of the people involved in the thread had no clue that the abbreviation was seen by some as disrespectful at the least, and that it is offensive to the majority of Japanese people. Would those people call a Japanese person a "Jap" to their face? Maybe they would be gauche enough to do it when at home (they are certainly gauche enough to use the term with glee on this forum) but how about in Japan?

As I've written (and has been ignored), I am not offended by the term because it is not being applied to me and means little to me culturally. I'm just interested in the choice to use it in this context (with a Japanese-owned multinational corporation and a despotic and much lampooned regime as the two protagonists), and wondered what was behind it. I think we've cleared that up now, but some of the usual suspects are whining about the question being asked.

Do you really expect this to be explained with a - presumably English language - Google link, FFS?

People like you seem to have no concept of what this whole Sony Pictures hacking thing might mean to Japan and the Japanese. It's a very small part of a much wider problem and a much bigger threat than you appear to understand. You might not feel very threatened by PRK, but take a look at a map and remind yourself how close Japan is to ROK and PRK. The downfall of the PRK's ruling regime and a re-united Korea might sound like a good thing in theory but may lead to far bigger trouble in the region. Especially with a newly ambitious PRC flexing its muscles on the sidelines.

I was in Japan just last week. Believe me, this is a daily news topic.

Ah, so (desu ka) you are one of those who feels offended on behalf of others. Great, the world needs more like you.

[Zoobeef]

PZR said:

Having to spell it out to you, then: Try to imagine what it might mean to the (Japanese/Korean/Chinese) people concerned in the context of SPE Inc. and Sony Corp. vs PRK.

The fact that you and many others on this thread claim to be unoffended by it means very little. All the more so since you don't seem to be able to imagine what it might signify to the people to whom it is being applied.

We had the same thing here a few months ago with regard to the term 'Jap'. Most of the people involved in the thread had no clue that the abbreviation was seen by some as disrespectful at the least, and that it is offensive to the majority of Japanese people. Would those people call a Japanese person a "Jap" to their face? Maybe they would be gauche enough to do it when at home (they are certainly gauche enough to use the term with glee on this forum) but how about in Japan?

As I've written (and has been ignored), I am not offended by the term because it is not being applied to me and means little to me culturally. I'm just interested in the choice to use it in this context (with a Japanese-owned multinational corporation and a despotic and much lampooned regime as the two protagonists), and wondered what was behind it. I think we've cleared that up now, but some of the usual suspects are whining about the question being asked.

Do you really expect this to be explained with a - presumably English language - Google link, FFS?

People like you seem to have no concept of what this whole Sony Pictures hacking thing might mean to Japan and the Japanese. It's a very small part of a much wider problem and a much bigger threat than you appear to understand. You might not feel very threatened by PRK, but take a look at a map and remind yourself how close Japan is to ROK and PRK. The downfall of the PRK's ruling regime and a re-united Korea might sound like a good thing in theory but may lead to far bigger trouble in the region. Especially with a newly ambitious PRC flexing its muscles on the sidelines.

I was in Japan just last week. Believe me, this is a daily news topic.

So it's not offensive? You're just saying we might be winding someone up and they'll get a little scared?

Do Japanese not call each other Japs? Should I stop calling my fellow country men Brits?

[PZR]

Zoobeef said:

So it's not offensive? You're just saying we might be winding someone up and they'll get a little scared?

I'm saying it might be wise to be careful how you use words like this in certain contexts.

It's an offensive concept for Japanese/Koreans/Chinese to have to do it. What part of that don't you understand? It's not a swearword.

Zoobeef said:

Do Japanese not call each other Japs? Should I stop calling my fellow country men Brits?

It's not the same thing at all.

[PZR]

LimaDelta said:

Ah, so (desu ka) you are one of those who feels offended on behalf of others.

What's that supposed to mean? I'm urging caution and a little bit more thought for the wider connotations, that's all. I'm not being vicariously offended (although it's interesting to see the vicariously 'unoffended' being so evangelical when they get the faintest sniff of a bit of PC), I'm just possibly a bit closer to another side of all this than you are.

LimaDelta said:

Great, the world needs more like you.

Unless you feel that your fellow man needs to be more parochial, more xenophobic, more crass and less civilised?

Onwards and upwards, eh?

[Pesty]

"If Kim Jong Un and his henchmen were upset before, wait till they see the movie we're going to make," Hustler founder and chairman Larry Flynt said as he announced plans to make a pornographic parody of The Interview.


http://www.wsbtv.com/news/entertainment/hustler-vi...

[unrepentant]

hidetheelephants said:

unrepentant said:

Umm... Because I imagine that they're scared stless that their premises will get bombed, executives houses targetted etc...

A reality check is required; what track record do NK have for acts of terrorism overseas? None in the US or Europe, a few kidnappings in Japan 30 years ago and assassination attempts in South Korea in the same period, and that's it. No suicide bombing, fire bombing, dive bombing or love bombing. They don't do it. It's bks.

Yeah, nobody thought they were capable of this hack either. Sony are scared and I'd imagine they have good reason. There were reports here yesterday that individual executives had been personally contacted by the group. I would think they are even more jittery in Japan.

[Colonial]

So it's racist because it's a word of Chinese origin being used in the context of 2 different Asian countries?

[PZR]

Colonial said:

So it's racistperhaps unwise to use it in this context because it's a worddeeply loaded concept of Chinese origin being used in the context of 2 different Asian countries which both understand its connotations far better than someone from the west midlands?

There, how's that? Are you open to the idea of being steered in the right direction?

[Ayahuasca]

Sony is not scared of North Korea.

The threat has been made against independent cinemas, not against Sony.

Sony is scared of American lawyers suing them if a cinema is attacked and someone is hurt.

That is why they are kowtowing.

(Edited because I forgot to include a kowtow)

Edited by Ayahuasca on Saturday 20th December 13:08

[PZR]

Ayahuasca said:

Sony is not scared of North Korea.

The threat has been made against independent cinemas, not against Sony.

Sony is scared of American lawyers suing them if a cinema is attacked and someone is hurt.

Christ, does it have to be spelled out?

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BLOODY FILM!