Quote:
Originally posted by TexAssgirl+Sep 27 2005, 12:33 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TexAssgirl @ Sep 27 2005, 12:33 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Lex@Sep 26 2005, 05:31 AM
On topic with 2 points:
1.* As Axex just noted, saying THEM or THOSE PEOPLE can be offensive as well (to whomever you are referring).
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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?
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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