selective racism
Discussion
So how come this isn't racist.
My wife had to ring a car spares place yesterday to order a new rear hub for her RX7.
She's Japanese. Had to call a company called Jap Spares Ltd.
And it did make her uncomfortable (half-american, grew up in the US Military)
I'm sure that Paki Parts ltd wouldn't be allowed.
Who do you complain to about this? (personally I'd ignore it all, but if you defend one you have to defend all).
>>> Edited by cazzer on Friday 1st April 10:55
My wife had to ring a car spares place yesterday to order a new rear hub for her RX7.
She's Japanese. Had to call a company called Jap Spares Ltd.
And it did make her uncomfortable (half-american, grew up in the US Military)
I'm sure that Paki Parts ltd wouldn't be allowed.
Who do you complain to about this? (personally I'd ignore it all, but if you defend one you have to defend all).
>>> Edited by cazzer on Friday 1st April 10:55
Don't "oh for gods sake".
I think it's all bollox. But either you dont give a shit about any offence to any nationality, which would be my take on it. Or you do.
She's already had to have a sickle cell anaemia test at the hospital because shes "asian". Even though she can't possibly have it, the hospital insisted.
If you have anti-racism laws in a country they should be there to defend all nationalities, not just the ones that you have a majority of.
Me? I'd like to use these laws to make a mockery of the whole system, but I'm nearly 40 and can't be bothered.
So sod yer "Oh for gods sake" if my wife is offended by it then it has caused offence to someone, not you, not me, but someone.
And how hard would it be to call the company "Japanese Parts Ltd".
I think it's all bollox. But either you dont give a shit about any offence to any nationality, which would be my take on it. Or you do.
She's already had to have a sickle cell anaemia test at the hospital because shes "asian". Even though she can't possibly have it, the hospital insisted.
If you have anti-racism laws in a country they should be there to defend all nationalities, not just the ones that you have a majority of.
Me? I'd like to use these laws to make a mockery of the whole system, but I'm nearly 40 and can't be bothered.
So sod yer "Oh for gods sake" if my wife is offended by it then it has caused offence to someone, not you, not me, but someone.
And how hard would it be to call the company "Japanese Parts Ltd".
I guess there's 2 main sides of the 'racial abuse' argument...
Intention
Reception
If I intend something to be racially abusive then it is if someone receives it like that. If I don't intend something to be racially abusive but it's received as abuse then it is (which is daft imo).
In the US using the term 'Jap' is seen as denigrating 'Japanese Americans' (surely just Americans??). Here it isn't, end of argument.
We shouldn't be expected to say nothing with the fear that someone, somewhere will take offence.
A while back someone (a poster from the US IIRC) raised the issue that one of the sections on PH is called 'Jap Chat' and stated that it's offensive... what a load of arse.
Intention
Reception
If I intend something to be racially abusive then it is if someone receives it like that. If I don't intend something to be racially abusive but it's received as abuse then it is (which is daft imo).
In the US using the term 'Jap' is seen as denigrating 'Japanese Americans' (surely just Americans??). Here it isn't, end of argument.
We shouldn't be expected to say nothing with the fear that someone, somewhere will take offence.
A while back someone (a poster from the US IIRC) raised the issue that one of the sections on PH is called 'Jap Chat' and stated that it's offensive... what a load of arse.
JagLover said:
But Jap in this case is not referring to the people but to the cars-I think people have to be a bit less sensitive.
Exactly, look at the forum on here called Jap Chat, referring to talking about japanese cars. Maybe her being american is influencing this. Maybe Jap is an offensive term in america, because it certainly isn't here.
If she finds it so offensive, buy parts from somewhere else.
etymology said:
Colloquial abbreviation Jap is from 1880, not originally pejorative but became so during World War II.
As we had very little to do with Japan in WWII I cant see why its offensive in the UK
In the US yes but not over here.
There is no ill will intended, its merely a contraction.
cazzer said:
Sure it might be offensive to some but that does not make it racist in a legal sense.
So if I open an African Art shop and called it Nigger Nick Nacks that wouldn't be racist in a legal sense?
You would have to read the Race Relations Act for the finer detail
and probably the case law to get a good feel for what is and isn't.cazzer said:
Sure it might be offensive to some but that does not make it racist in a legal sense.
So if I open an African Art shop and called it Nigger Nick Nacks that wouldn't be racist in a legal sense?
Eh? How is that the same?
Perhaps if it was Slant Eye Spares you might have a point.
A cricket-mad Aussie friend of mine refers to the 'Pakis' everytime they play the 'Aussies', when i pointed out to him that the shortening of the country's name is thought offensive in certain circles in the UK, he looked at me as if i was mad. For the record, this bloke is someone that I would describe as an 'internationalist'
As for 'Jap Motor spares', your wife may be offended, but rest assured that everytime i see one of those type of signs, i don't feel any animosity to the Japanese, or think them lesser people or whatever a 'default rascist' is supposed to think.
As for 'Jap Motor spares', your wife may be offended, but rest assured that everytime i see one of those type of signs, i don't feel any animosity to the Japanese, or think them lesser people or whatever a 'default rascist' is supposed to think.
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