Forum name change?
Poll: Forum name change?
Total Members Polled: 72
Discussion
Biker's Nemesis said:
Context dear boy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JapEdited by cybersimon on Wednesday 3rd September 12:48
Wow, this is hilarious! To those who dislike the term, why have you not raised the issue up to now?
Mods: just change it, I'm sure the people not offended by the title won't be too concerned about it being changed, but the offended parties now have a bee firmly lodged in their bonnets.
Mods: just change it, I'm sure the people not offended by the title won't be too concerned about it being changed, but the offended parties now have a bee firmly lodged in their bonnets.
Shaoxter said:
Are there actually any Japanese people on here to be offended or is this just another case of being professionally offended on behalf of others?
That only works if the people who claim to be unoffended by it are being unoffended on behalf of Japanese people too. Quick lunchtime poll of Mrs PZR (Japanese born and bred) and my Japanese work colleagues: Not a single one of them feels that the abbreviation has positive connotations in their personal experience, and if anyone used the term in front of them they'd generally think that person was being either sarcastic, passively aggressive or just a bit.... thick.
PZR said:
Shaoxter said:
Are there actually any Japanese people on here to be offended or is this just another case of being professionally offended on behalf of others?
That only works if the people who claim to be unoffended by it are being unoffended on behalf of Japanese people too. Quick lunchtime poll of Mrs PZR (Japanese born and bred) and my Japanese work colleagues: Not a single one of them feels that the abbreviation has positive connotations in their personal experience, and if anyone used the term in front of them they'd generally think that person was being either sarcastic, passively aggressive or just a bit.... thick.
PZR said:
Cyder said:
PZR said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
LordGrover said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
No, Jap is short for Japanese, it is not an insult.
No basis for an argument. A similar abbreviation for Pakistani is considered an insult, yet the same for an Australian isn't. 
In your dealings with Japanese motorcycles, I'm guessing (?) you might have met some Japanese people face to face. If that's the case, would you (did you?) call them 'Jap' to their face, or within their earshot?
I don't know if they'd find it offensive or not, but even if they did they're so polite that chances are they wouldn't let on that you'd offended them.
LordGrover said:
Does anyone still refer to the local Chinese takeaway as the 
ie? Used to be common when I was a lad but I'd feel uncomfortable saying it now.
It's a pretty awful description, but one that I hear now and then. The trials and tribulations of being in the military I guess!!ie? Used to be common when I was a lad but I'd feel uncomfortable saying it now.
endo said:
Well being Japanese myself, I couldn't give a toss.
Its all down to the context that anything is said. Say "brit" in the right way and it'll come off as a slur.
What annoys me is the holier than thou folk who are offended for the sake of being offended.
there you have it. if it does not offend this person then it does not offend me so no name change gets my voteIts all down to the context that anything is said. Say "brit" in the right way and it'll come off as a slur.
What annoys me is the holier than thou folk who are offended for the sake of being offended.
endo said:
Well being Japanese myself, I couldn't give a toss.
Its all down to the context that anything is said. Say "brit" in the right way and it'll come off as a slur.
What annoys me is the holier than thou folk who are offended for the sake of being offended.
I'd be disappointed if you included me in your group of "holier than thou" vicariously offended people. I can assure you that the term 'Jap' does carry a lot of negative weight for people like my wife and some of her friends/colleagues, but I'm pleased to hear that your own experience/reaction is different.Its all down to the context that anything is said. Say "brit" in the right way and it'll come off as a slur.
What annoys me is the holier than thou folk who are offended for the sake of being offended.
Me, I'm just trying to be positive towards Japan and the Japanese. Especially so when it comes to the things I'm interested in (cars, watches, aircraft, cameras, food, drink...) as I see a lot of negatives get chucked around and many times its little more than inherited antipathy left over from what happened in the middle of the last century.
It seems to me that it's a positive personal gesture not to abbreviate, and at the very least it's just good manners. And that's why I'll continue to say and write 'Japan' and 'Japanese' in full. Gesture it may be, but a gesture I think worth making nevertheless.
PZR said:
Me, I'm just trying to be positive towards Japan and the Japanese. Especially so when it comes to the things I'm interested in (cars, watches, aircraft, cameras, food, drink...) as I see a lot of negatives get chucked around and many times its little more than inherited antipathy left over from what happened in the middle of the last century.
I rarely hear any negative things said about Japanese cars, cameras, food, etc. or Japanese people in general. In my experience the only negative vibes that people have towards Japan are because of what happened during the war. But that's another can of worms...Every minority group does get some degree of stereotyping or negative connotations but it sounds to me like you're taking it a bit too seriously.
Shaoxter said:
PZR said:
Me, I'm just trying to be positive towards Japan and the Japanese. Especially so when it comes to the things I'm interested in (cars, watches, aircraft, cameras, food, drink...) as I see a lot of negatives get chucked around and many times its little more than inherited antipathy left over from what happened in the middle of the last century.
I rarely hear any negative things said about Japanese cars, cameras, food, etc. or Japanese people in general. In my experience the only negative vibes that people have towards Japan are because of what happened during the war. But that's another can of worms...Every minority group does get some degree of stereotyping or negative connotations but it sounds to me like you're taking it a bit too seriously.
Actually I've experienced the anti-Japanese negativity on a personal level here on Pistonheads. I was told that my opinion on a topic was biased/not valid because I have a "Jap wife" ( not a 'Japanese wife' ).
So it's here all right.
PZR said:
Actually I've experienced the anti-Japanese negativity on a personal level here on Pistonheads. I was told that my opinion on a topic was biased/not valid because I have a "Jap wife" ( not a 'Japanese wife' ).
So it's here all right.
No way, someone on PH said that?? So it's here all right.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=205&t=1394330&nmt=UKIP+-+The+Future+-+Volume+2
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=205&t=1394172&nmt=If+there+was+a+general+election+tomorrow+how+would+you+vote%3F
In real life I think most people (even those whose countries were raped by the Japanese in the war) hold a positive view of Japan and Japanese people. Certainly more positive than almost any other Asian nation.
PZR said:
I'd be disappointed if you included me in your group of "holier than thou" vicariously offended people. I can assure you that the term 'Jap' does carry a lot of negative weight for people like my wife and some of her friends/colleagues, but I'm pleased to hear that your own experience/reaction is different.
Me, I'm just trying to be positive towards Japan and the Japanese. Especially so when it comes to the things I'm interested in (cars, watches, aircraft, cameras, food, drink...) as I see a lot of negatives get chucked around and many times its little more than inherited antipathy left over from what happened in the middle of the last century.
It seems to me that it's a positive personal gesture not to abbreviate, and at the very least it's just good manners. And that's why I'll continue to say and write 'Japan' and 'Japanese' in full. Gesture it may be, but a gesture I think worth making nevertheless.
Everyone will react differently, which is simply down to their own personal experiences, education, which is neither right or wrong.Me, I'm just trying to be positive towards Japan and the Japanese. Especially so when it comes to the things I'm interested in (cars, watches, aircraft, cameras, food, drink...) as I see a lot of negatives get chucked around and many times its little more than inherited antipathy left over from what happened in the middle of the last century.
It seems to me that it's a positive personal gesture not to abbreviate, and at the very least it's just good manners. And that's why I'll continue to say and write 'Japan' and 'Japanese' in full. Gesture it may be, but a gesture I think worth making nevertheless.
There are far worse words, and I've even heard quite a few, on those occasions where I've been trying to avoid brain damage while having my head kicked in by a group of less than savory individuals.
You know what, I survived and have been fortunate to live on pretty much every continent, and found there's uneducated, bigots, racists and elitists in every walk of life and every country, who'll use pretty much anything to put down someone else just because they need to feel superior.
I'm not arguing that there is a history, and one that's still in the memories of some people living right now. Despite this, times move on, language evolves (even if a contraction, is laziness) and if we don't move past the negatives, the word Jap will always maintain its offensive connotation (and power).
Like i said, it is the context in which the word is used,
We live in a world where we have slurs for something as ridiculous as the people in the next village, so context is everything.
or should all "hair-dressers" get upset by derogatory description of small, cute but good handling Japanese roasters...
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