In a recent topic, I really screwed things up. In an attempt to spell “Pakistan” I spelled it “Pakistain”, which is both incorrect, and interperatable as a racial slur. I also phrased my question quite poorly, and could have done better.
I apologise sincerely to anyone who was offended by this accidental racial remark. I have a mild dislexia; if you go back and read many of my posts, its somewhat apparent. I had never intended, no would I ever intend to, make racist remarks about any nationality or backround. That stuff is just a cowardly low blow, and has no place anywhewre. This was a typo, and not at all what I wanted to say. I also did not mean to imply that all crap pipes are made in Pakistan.
I’m sorry, I hope I can be forgiven, and I’ll try harder in the future to make sure what I write is both written correctly, and what I mean to say.
I didn’t interpret anything you said as racist and I would question anyone that would label it as such. What a horrible accusation to label against someone.
I agree with Steamwalker. I actually thought you were making a comment on how pipemakers from that part of the world stain rosewood to make it look like ebony or blackwood. Some people either just have a hair trigger when it comes to a knee-jerk reaction, or use things like this to beat their breast to announce to the world how loving and wonderful they are. You really don’t have anything to apologize about in my estimation.
Well spoken Steamwalker and BC so nice to see someone on this forum has some good old common sense
No apology necessary as I took it to be a slip of the keyboard and it is not racist. Whilst on this touchy subject it should be known that abbreviating the name of a country or origin is not new and if it was several members of this forum would be classified as racist - it all depends upon the context and how it is used
i.e.
British are referred to as ’ Brits’ (ChasR - Rowsome set in Jersey post a week ago)
No different to referring to Pakistanis as Pakis (other than the words use different letters)
Examples of common abbreviations of nationalities
Australians - Aussies
Australia - Oz (land of?)
New Zealanders - Kiwis (small green things in need of a shave)
Americans - Yanks
So basically what is being said is do not operate dual standards because if it is alright to write ‘get a grip Brits’ then it is also OK to write ‘get a grip Pakis’ - didn’t notice any of you opening your big fat mouths to shout down and shame CHasR for being a racist
Are you US citizens going back to the McCarthy era chasing proverbial ‘Reds under the bed’
Alas, unfortunately the culprit in Lordofthestrings’ case was a fellow Canadian. And, yes, they are going back to a McCarthyesque era, only this time not from the right but from the left, at least with regard to political correctness. I’ve always thought of it more as a Maoist-type self-criticism movement. I mean, look at what happened here: (1) LofS makes typographical error, (2) the worst accusation imaginable is lodged against him (to be called a bigot/racist in the US is worse than murder, just ask that Mark Furman guy in the O.J. Simpson case), (3) then LofS becomes a “non-person” (off to the gulag/countryside with you, you political criminal), then (4) he “redeems” himself with a public apology and self-criticism.
And now the Yanks are going to visit O.J. Simpson upon us (the rest of the world) again!
Thanks for your words, guys. I’m glad I didn’t offend everyone, and some people got what happened. I just wanted to make sure everyone did, and I realized I wasn’t intending to be derrogatory.
I don’t want this to be intended to harp on anyone. We are all entitled to our views; I just wanted to make crystal clear what my intentions were.
I’ve always thought of it more as a Maoist-type self-criticism movement. I mean, look at what happened here: (1) LofS makes typographical error, (2) the worst accusation imaginable is lodged against him (to be called a bigot/racist in the US is worse than murder, just ask that Mark Furman guy in the O.J. Simpson case), (3) then LofS becomes a “non-person” (off the the gulag/countryside with you, political criminal), then (4) he “redeems” himself with a public apology and self-criticism.
And now the Yanks are going to visit O.J. Simpson on us (the rest of the world) again!
British are referred to as ’ Brits’ (ChasR - Rowsome set in Jersey post a week ago)
No different to referring to Pakistanis as Pakis (other than the words use different letters)
Sorry I can’t let this go. Words have meanings embedded in them which are not always apparent, and this is a case in point. It’s a bit like the “N” word. Living in Bradford I particularly find “Paki” offensive and highly inflammatory.
I realise that this was not the original poster’s idea but just couldn’t keep quiet . . . sorry Lord Of The Strings
Brits do not have a recent and painful history of “Brit bashing” for one thing.
The worst is yet to come. O.J. is just a another distraction - a wave of the hands with magic words to keep (y)our eyes and ears busy during the slight of hand.
Well Elmek, if youre offended I publicly apologise. Guess I just have thicker skin + am not offended as easily. One thing not aparent to you was that I spent the first 7 years of my life living in the UK, so your accusation(s) is/are a bit unfounded. Call me a yank? fine. Je m’en fiche.
The ‘B’ word is fairly common usage to describe residents of the UK in my region. And finally, Im voting for Obama. So there. Locking up now, or shall we have more of this un-uilleann talk?
Indeed, Pazziato! You are quite correct. Dear Uilliam must be turning over in his virtual grave right now (Requiem im Pace, Uilliam… God how we need you back at times like this).
The reality is that the term Brits might offend a few people but it is used by the British themselves.
The term Paki is usually derogatory and is commonly used to refer to any person from the Indian sub-continent (many of whom are Indian) and is therefore fairly ignorant.
I’d any hate Yanks to walk around the land where Brits live calling people Pakis (many of whom are Brits) as a result of reading this board.
The same is true of the (dreaded) N word vis-a-vis people of African descent (ever listen to Rap/Hip Hop?), but I doubt you go around down there using that one in public!
You’re abolutely right in that case, but Brit is used so widely without any negative connotation, e.g. the the Brit awards, Brit Pop (not that I’m advocating listening to it).
The problem with these issues is that words have so many overloaded meanings socially and culturally. There are plenty of accidental mis-steps between English and US English possible even though we speak the same language. But I would assert that the P word is widey considered to be offensive.
As for Yank, I don’t think that the British are being particularly friendly when they use that term either (ignoring the fact that they typically are unaware of it’s narrow historical meaning).
Anyway, I think this horse is glue or at least should trot off to the pub.
Just to clarify, I’ve never heard that Pakistani is considered offensive. Every reference I have seen for the people of Pakistan is Pakistani. Is there another word often used to denote people from Pakistan?
I love it! God bless you, Beau Comiseau!!
