Sony Kowtowing to North Korea

[jmorgan]

greygoose said:

Tunku said:

iphonedyou said:

'Kowtowing' is a phrase that should never, ever be used.

Why ever not?

Yes why not?

I always took it to be a throwback to upstairs downstairs type of life, lord of the manor and all that and along with many throw backs, rather safe to use.

[Brian Fantana]

Did Saddam kick off over Hot Shots - Part Deux? They killed him in that whilst he was still alive...after splicing him with his dog, T-1000 style.

[pork911]

jmorgan said:

greygoose said:

Tunku said:

iphonedyou said:

'Kowtowing' is a phrase that should never, ever be used.

Why ever not?

Yes why not?

I always took it to be a throwback to upstairs downstairs type of life, lord of the manor and all that and along with many throw backs, rather safe to use.

really?

...and in particular with reference to Korea?

[WinstonWolf]

pork911 said:

jmorgan said:

greygoose said:

Tunku said:

iphonedyou said:

'Kowtowing' is a phrase that should never, ever be used.

Why ever not?

Yes why not?

I always took it to be a throwback to upstairs downstairs type of life, lord of the manor and all that and along with many throw backs, rather safe to use.

really?

...and in particular with reference to Korea?

It means to genuflect, to doff one's cap to a master.

[KrazyIvan]

WinstonWolf said:

It means to genuflect, to doff one's cap to a master.

According to the dictionary it means to be subservient.

Still not sure why it shouldn't be used.

Seems to fit aptly for this situation.

[benjj]

Sony have played this so badly it's sickening.

As a penalty I hope NK release everything they've got anyway.

[KrazyIvan]

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/engli...

[WinstonWolf]

KrazyIvan said:

WinstonWolf said:

It means to genuflect, to doff one's cap to a master.

According to the dictionary it means to be subservient.

Still not sure why it shouldn't be used.

Seems to fit aptly for this situation.

Yup, seems entirely accurate to me

[pork911]

WinstonWolf said:

pork911 said:

jmorgan said:

greygoose said:

Tunku said:

iphonedyou said:

'Kowtowing' is a phrase that should never, ever be used.

Why ever not?

Yes why not?

I always took it to be a throwback to upstairs downstairs type of life, lord of the manor and all that and along with many throw backs, rather safe to use.

really?

...and in particular with reference to Korea?

It means to genuflect, to doff one's cap to a master.

strangely , as with many things, those phrases don't carry all the same meaning and history as that the OP chose to use

[jmorgan]

pork911 said:

really?

...and in particular with reference to Korea?

As my understanding of the word before this thread. I took it to be a UK derived thing but google says it is a throw back to China and a particular meaning.

So my understanding of its etymology is revised but I think, on reflection, it still fits?

[Alex]

"If you really believe the DPRK is behind this, I have a bridge to sell you"

http://marcrogers.org/2014/12/18/why-the-sony-hack...

[SilverSixer]

Etymologically speaking, kowtow is a loan word in English and originates in the Chinese language:

"kowtow (n.) Look up kowtow at Dictionary.comalso kow-tow, 1804, from Chinese k'o-t'ou custom of touching the ground with the forehead to show respect or submission, literally "knock the head," from k'o "knock, bump" + t'ou "head." The verb in the figurative sense of "act in an obsequious manner" is from 1826. Related: Kowtowed; kowtowing."

Lots of words in English are loan words from other languages, actually English is almost entirely an accidental contstruct. Why the use of this word in reference to North Korea should be proscribed or deemded offensive escapes me. It is never used derogatively with s[ecific reference to East Asian people and does not stem from any abuses meted out upon Asian people. Puzzled as to why some think it inappropriate in this context.

[WinstonWolf]

SilverSixer said:

Etymologically speaking, kowtow is a loan word in English and originates in the Chinese language:

"kowtow (n.) Look up kowtow at Dictionary.comalso kow-tow, 1804, from Chinese k'o-t'ou custom of touching the ground with the forehead to show respect or submission, literally "knock the head," from k'o "knock, bump" + t'ou "head." The verb in the figurative sense of "act in an obsequious manner" is from 1826. Related: Kowtowed; kowtowing."

Lots of words in English are loan words from other languages, actually English is almost entirely an accidental contstruct. Why the use of this word in reference to North Korea should be proscribed or deemded offensive escapes me. It is never used derogatively with s[ecific reference to East Asian people and does not stem from any abuses meted out upon Asian people. Puzzled as to why some think it inappropriate in this context.

Looking exceptionally hard for offence I suspect.

[KrazyIvan]

WinstonWolf said:

Looking exceptionally hard for offence I suspect.

Agreed even with the historical origins of the word, I am unsure why it would be inappropriate to use it.

As for Sony and this hack, it would not suprise me to find Sony were behind it themselves. Any publicity is good for business in the entertainment industry.

[pork911]

jmorgan said:

pork911 said:

really?

...and in particular with reference to Korea?

As my understanding of the word before this thread. I took it to be a UK derived thing but google says it is a throw back to China and a particular meaning.

So my understanding of its etymology is revised but I think, on reflection, it still fits?

yes it really sounds like olde english doesn't it?


and the your revised understanding of its etymology doesn't include the history of the act in relation to Korea

[BrabusMog]

KrazyIvan said:

WinstonWolf said:

Looking exceptionally hard for offence I suspect.

Agreed even with the historical origins of the word, I am unsure why it would be inappropriate to use it.

As for Sony and this hack, it would not suprise me to find Sony were behind it themselves. Any publicity is good for business in the entertainment industry.

Glad I'm not the only one thinking the same on both points made here.

[SpudLink]

KrazyIvan said:

According to the dictionary it means to be subservient.

Still not sure why it shouldn't be used.

Seems to fit aptly for this situation.

The first word that came to mind when I heard this story was "capitulate".

[pork911]

BrabusMog said:

KrazyIvan said:

WinstonWolf said:

Looking exceptionally hard for offence I suspect.

Agreed even with the historical origins of the word, I am unsure why it would be inappropriate to use it.

As for Sony and this hack, it would not suprise me to find Sony were behind it themselves. Any publicity is good for business in the entertainment industry.

Glad I'm not the only one thinking the same on both points made here.

given your depth of knowledge on kowtowing and korea?

[BrabusMog]

pork911 said:

BrabusMog said:

KrazyIvan said:

WinstonWolf said:

Looking exceptionally hard for offence I suspect.

Agreed even with the historical origins of the word, I am unsure why it would be inappropriate to use it.

As for Sony and this hack, it would not suprise me to find Sony were behind it themselves. Any publicity is good for business in the entertainment industry.

Glad I'm not the only one thinking the same on both points made here.

given your depth of knowledge on kowtowing and korea?

I know nothing about Korea and I like a good conspiracy theory. Can you prove Sony wasn't involved in some way?

[anonymous-user]

pork911 said:

given your depth of knowledge on kowtowing and korea?

It would be more helpful if you stated what you think the issue is, rather than making critic comments about other people's knowledge.