Do you say "blacks" or "African Americans?"

Actually, Orca's black.

And for the record, Indians generally aren't very PC. We're also generally not vegetarians, or any other ideologies the hippies have associated us with.

I have a friend who refers to himself as Negroid, or just 'Groid for short. He refers to his mother as a Negress. I think he does it for reaction, so I don't follow his usage. When I speak about him, he's my friend, not my black friend.

I'm Latino, but for the most part I just refer to myself as American. I'm a US citizen, so I'm entitled to that designation. When race is germane to the conversation, I don't mind Latino or Hispanic or, more specifically, Cuban. Understandably, I don't care for Greaser.
[/b][/quote]


LOL!

DMW,

I love that ! I think I am going to use that one myself. Ok folks if you see me refering to people as Groids, Soids and Loids, you will know where it came from. You saw it here first ! LOL! Oh and for people that are truly ignorant you know what "roid" stands for too! LOL!


Naughty

I've always known that and have avoided ever saying "those people" or any variation of those words when referring to another race. But after reading this earlier today, I started wondering why it is that one of those phrases are offensive.

Is it just offensive when referring to another race? B/C I don't find it the least bit offensive when referring to another group of people that are unlike myself in other situations. For instance, when talking about professional athletes: "Those people make a hell of a lot more money than me." I'm just guessing that if a professional athelete heard me say that, they wouldn't take offense.

Am I making sense, or just rambling?

I've always known that and have avoided ever saying "those people" or any variation of those words when referring to another race. But after reading this earlier today, I started wondering why it is that one of those phrases are offensive.

Is it just offensive when referring to another race? B/C I don't find it the least bit offensive when referring to another group of people that are unlike myself in other situations. For instance, when talking about professional athletes: "Those people make a hell of a lot more money than me." I'm just guessing that if a professional athelete heard me say that, they wouldn't take offense.

Am I making sense, or just rambling?
[/b][/quote]


Leslie,

You make lots of sense. I think the difference is that when you are talking about Atheletes you are refereing to a profession and there is no racial or ethnic singling out . But when we refer to other racial or ethnic groups as those people it has a slightly dismissive edge.

Naughty

I don't particularly care for the phrase at all, in reference to anyone (because I don't like it in reference to me and my kind). For example, I'll say "Professional atheletes make a lot more money than do I." THOSE PEOPLE (to me) has an inherent snobish elitism that even *I* won't touch. ;)

The thing about offensiveness is that it is all from the perspective of the person offended. I may say something with no real INTENTION of offending someone and do so just the same. Makes it hard--so i try to not say things that would offend ME and go forward with that reflective perspective. There is no reality, only perception. So I suggest (because i know someone will say--well, what if I don't THINK that I am bein goffensive) that if someone takes what you say or do as offensive--seek to understand it and learn from it and not repeat it (at least, that is what I *try* to do).

Does that make sense?

I dont believe in the word African American.

Either your American or your not. Were you born here? If so, your american.
If not, then your african, south american etc etc.

They need to get rid of the Race feature of polls, surveys, applications.
Its not supposed to matter EITHER way...so why have it?

I can't agree. I wasn't born here, but that doesn't mean that I'm not American.

In high school, my friends were Black. Then, I was in Atlanta for the Olympics and was hanging with a Black guy...."Puleeze, it is African American. Is my skin black?" I went away to Cornell and either seemed to be acceptable.

When I came out to Stanford, the guy in the apartment next door told me that he preferred "person of color." OK. So I start using person of color until a couple of guyz told me that they were Black and asked me if they looked like Indians? When I asked about African American as a descriptor, they asked, "Do you refer to yourself as English American?"

jay

They traded in the "melting pot" for the "mosaic". ;)

There is no adhesion. Jewish Americans are more loyal to Jews than to non-Jewish Americans. I am more loyal to Whites that to non-White Americans. African Americans are more loyal to Africans that to non-African Americans. "Blood is thicker than water." afterall. :happy:

Civic nationhood is arbitrary.
[/b][/quote]

Chimera,

Do not presume to know what other people prefer. We are all individuals .Though some may have racial preferences there are others who have people of all race creeds and colors who they consider their closest friends .


Naughty

Except for official government documents, or other things that require race by law,
I always select 'other' or 'prefer not to answer'. If it says 'Other' then 'Please specify',
I put 'other' in the other box. ;)

I didn't think it was allowed to be asked on job applications.

LapDog :P

What part of TAG delineating between herself and athletes has a genetic basis? Did I miss something or do you just HAVE to superimpose your genetic worldviews on EVERYTHING no matter the fit?


<!--QuoteBegin-Chimera
I have met people whom a simple "hello" angers. I no longer care if what I say is perceived as offensive. I have made more friends saying whatever I want that by being politically-correct.
[/quote]

From the rediculous to the sublime (or maybe vice versa?). Your hello example doesn't hold water and is a gross over- and mis- generalization, IMO. Sure, we can all have friends no matter how we present and behave. That does not preclude, however, the fact the a person may be perceived in a way that hinders his or her ability to make all too important inroads and connections with people across the country (world) necessary to get ahead and promote one's dreams and visions to others (and be HEARD doing so). I posit that one of the reasons that few "hear" you, despite the well-typed posts you post is due to your constant offensiveness (intentional or not). Think about it, young man.

I have a friend who refers to himself as Negroid, or just 'Groid for short. He refers to his mother as a Negress.
[/b][/quote]
Many of us do, but not when talking to a white. File it under "coonery." Funny thing is, the equivalents of these terms would be perfectly acceptable in other countries.

I've used that term on multiple occasions on this board alone. "Congoids" as well.

Don't sleep.

if your white your caucasion, but if your south west european your 'hispanic', if your from west asia your 'arab' and if your from east asia your 'oriental'

i think oriental, hispanic and arab are more offensive that black or white

so the oposite caucasion is non-caucasion, as the oposite of white is black? i think thats the best way to do it, caucasion or no-cau.

What an odd perspective! I'll be certain, in the future, to be careful what I say around people from The United Non-caucasian Emirates, and not call them arabs.

Regarding the old-fashioned Negroid/Mongoloid/Caucasoid designations... perhaps some people who appear to have descended from a garden flower should be referred to as "Asteroid."

This whole topic points out my observation that too many people in this country are overly sensitive, and actively look for reasons to be offended. My prime example is the lawsuit just a few years ago, against Southwest Airlines. There were some delays in boarding a particular flight; trying to speed up the process a bit, and get underway, the flight attendant announced on the PA system, "Eenie, meenie, minie, moe, grab a seat, it's time to go!" Two passengers felt victimized, and filed suit. I heard the old saying many times as a child, but I was an adult before I discovered that some people said the rhyme using "nigger" rather than "tiger."