Genuine Question ... not trolling...

The Rook

So, I realise that this may be perceived as being a bit controversial, but I’m only asking because I don’t want to make a mistake one day which would be even MORE controversial….

When you’re talking about someone who is black, is it actually PC to say that they’re “black”? I had thought it was, but then I saw this thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056455944&page=3 (post #40) and it’s perceived as being ignorant and rude.

“Coloured” is obviously out of the question (despite what the older generation may think) and clearly you can’t say “Negro” or anything of its ilk.

“African American” would (if it’s not offensive) only apply to Americans of an African origin, and I genuinely don’t know what’s right any more.

Halp!!

El Weirdo

I think that post was meant as a joke.

Fukuyama

Homie?

abouttobebanned

I try to not talk about them at all. The world has gone so PC mad now that it's almost impossible to say the right thing.

They're just people like you and me. I don't object to being called white...even though I'm actually more of a pinkish yellow. If it bothered them to be called black then they really have little to be worrying about and my guess is they are more interesting in having an argument than equality.

Cormac2791

Brotha from anotha motha!

PandyAndy

Chocolate bear(s)

flutterflye

I just say black - I don't think that's politically incorrect?
But they keep changing what is politically incorrect, so who knows!

What about people who are half black and half caucasian?
(I just noticed there that the word asian is in caucasian - is there a reason for that?)

im invisible

Black, white, yellow... we all end up the same in the end.

Feisar

Reminds me of a time I was working with an American architect. Met him at the photocopier and he asked me about this "big guy". who was he, what did he do etc. So I asked "is he black". Much stuttering and fumbling from the architect, he said he was.
Ah I said, that's such and such, he's a QS over me.

I couldn't see the problem, neither could my boss.

connundrum

Can't we all shake hands and forget that this thread ever existed?

Pherekydes

Ask their name, and refer to them by that?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Choose your words very carefully!!.

JohnnyTodd

What's wrong with using the word negro?

simonmln

Ask John Terry? He seems to be in the know.

MagicMarker

Blackie.

jester77

I find that referencing a person by name works well

kieranfitz

Dude?

Frank Black

I'm ok with people refering to me as Black Francis.

iregk

Funny how racism tends to be one way. For example you saying someone is black can be taken by some as racist however a black person saying someone is white is taken as "well he is!".

The Rook

jester77 wrote: »

I find that referencing a person by name works well

Yes, obviously Jester if you know their name you would use their name, but what if you didn't know their name. i.e. if you were describing them to someone. eg if I was going out with a girl and my sister asked me to describe her....her name would be no use at all to my sister.... so what's the "proper" term?!!

Do you think if you were living in a predominantly black country - say Kenya for argument's sake, that if someone was trying to describe you they wouldn't refer to you as white?

It's descriptive, nothing more nothing less.

Same as saying, the red head, the tall guy, the pretty girl, the bloke with the glasses, the chinese guy, the scottish fella.

Absurdum

fear dubh

Liam Byrne

MagicMarker wrote: »

Blackie.

Thanks for that, whitie!

sbsquarepants

Fear gorm.
In Irish, fear dubh means the devil:eek:

Cian92

Absurdum wrote: »

fear dubh

Well lets not go that far now...

im invisible

the blue man

Lord Trollington

Is John Terry accused of calling him a ****** rather than a negro?

What I seem to see is happening lately is that every race seems to have been subject to a form a racism except Caucasian's who live in Western Socities, doesn't seem to matter what is said to them. Its never perceived as racist.

Lord Trollington

Is John Terry accused of calling him a ****** rather than a negro?

What I seem to see is happening lately is that every race seems to have been subject to a form a racism except Caucasian's who live in Western Socities, doesn't seem to matter what is said to them. Its never perceived as racist.

Nodin

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Is John Terry accused of calling him a ****** rather than a negro?

..............

"fucking black cunt" is the expression alleged.

MagicMarker

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Thanks for that, whitie!

Racist

Batsy

The Rook wrote: »

When you’re talking about someone who is black, is it actually PC to say that they’re “black”?

Well, they aren't green or tartan, are they?

corktina

PC nonsense, its not what you say but what you mean by it. If you call someone black as if its a bad thing thats wrong, if you say they are black simply as a description, surely thats OK. Call me white if you want, it don't bother me, actually i'm fairly pink:P. I've pretty well been call allsorts in my life, none of it ever bothered me

(Im pink therefore Im spam. old joke, but then it was really new when I first heard it)

The Davestator

Slightly off topic but i was at a seminar recently and apparently using the term disabled is a no no. It's bank to being handicapped according to the tutor.

Pc brigade need to just decide and do a press release!

ABajaninCork

Well - I am BLACK!! And I do not mind being referred to as such. Most black people describe themselves as black. It's a generational thing. My parents often refer to people of colour as coloured which is frowned upon now. Personally, I don't mind.

But if you called me the 'N' or 'W' word, then we would seriously fall out. Where I come from, that would be followed by a Millwall handshake (or worse!).

Sunnyisland

The Devastator wrote: »

Slightly off topic but i was at a seminar recently and apparently using the term disabled is a no no. It's bank to being handicapped according to the tutor.

Pc brigade need to just decide and do a press release!

Afaik there called special needs now.

flutterflye

realies wrote: »

Afaik there called special needs now.

Additional needs actually I'll have you know! :rolleyes:

Sunnyisland

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Well - I am BLACK!! And I do not mind being referred to as such. Most black people describe themselves as black. It's a generational thing. My parents often refer to people of colour as coloured which is frowned upon now. Personally, I don't mind.

But if you called me the 'N' or 'W' word, then we would seriously fall out. Where I come from, that would be followed by a Millwall handshake (or worse!).

And what about all the rap songs & singers that constantly refer to each other in the N word .motherfcuker:cool:

The Rook

Batsy wrote: »

Well, they aren't green or tartan, are they?

No, but they're not black either .....they're brown, same way we're not white,we're a pinkie colour....

The Rook

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Well - I am BLACK!! And I do not mind being referred to as such. Most black people describe themselves as black. It's a generational thing. My parents often refer to people of colour as coloured which is frowned upon now. Personally, I don't mind.

But if you called me the 'N' or 'W' word, then we would seriously fall out. Where I come from, that would be followed by a Millwall handshake (or worse!).

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much.

Nodin

flutterflye wrote: »

Additional needs actually I'll have you know! :rolleyes:

....ever time I bring up my 'additional needs' they just call me a pervert....

Davidth88

You know , my daughter 5 is a big strictly come dancing fan.

Last week , I was asking her who was ' in danger ' , she told me it was the big guy with curly hair. I was a bit confused who she meant so I said , do you mean the black guy ? , her answer was no , he is wearing a blue shirt .

She genuinely didn't see what I meant by the black guy.


Anyway back on thread , I don't see any harm in describing someone as black if they are . As for the posters saying ' ask their name etc' , you could be talking about someone in a crowd or something where you can't ask their name.

MagicMarker

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Well - I am BLACK!! And I do not mind being referred to as such. Most black people describe themselves as black. It's a generational thing. My parents often refer to people of colour as coloured which is frowned upon now. Personally, I don't mind.

But if you called me the 'N' or 'W' word, then we would seriously fall out. Where I come from, that would be followed by a Millwall handshake (or worse!).

What's the 'W' word?

Skid

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Well - I am BLACK!! And I do not mind being referred to as such. Most black people describe themselves as black. It's a generational thing. My parents often refer to people of colour as coloured which is frowned upon now. Personally, I don't mind.

But if you called me the 'N' or 'W' word, then we would seriously fall out. Where I come from, that would be followed by a Millwall handshake (or worse!).

Is it just me who has no idea what the 'W' word is?

Welsh? Weird?

paulieeye

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Well - I am BLACK!! And I do not mind being referred to as such. Most black people describe themselves as black. It's a generational thing. My parents often refer to people of colour as coloured which is frowned upon now. Personally, I don't mind.

But if you called me the 'N' or 'W' word, then we would seriously fall out. Where I come from, that would be followed by a Millwall handshake (or worse!).

W word??

Nodin

MagicMarker wrote: »

What's the 'W' word?

Wog, I'd imagine.

Davidth88

Western Oriental Gentleman

Term used in the Raj ( IIRC )

Interestingly you don't hear it at all now

MagicMarker

Nodin wrote: »

Wog, I'd imagine.

Wigga?

flutterflye

Nodin wrote: »

Wog, I'd imagine.

I used to have a doll.
It was a gift from a family member from when they went to Cuba I think.
I always knew it as a wog doll (or something like that). (edit: golliwog - that's what the doll was called!)
I mentioned it to someone a few years ago and they had a fit at me.
I never knew that it was a derogatory term, and I still have no idea what it means exactly.

iregk

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Well - I am BLACK!! And I do not mind being referred to as such. Most black people describe themselves as black. It's a generational thing. My parents often refer to people of colour as coloured which is frowned upon now. Personally, I don't mind.

But if you called me the 'N' or 'W' word, then we would seriously fall out. Where I come from, that would be followed by a Millwall handshake (or worse!).

W = WOG?

I'm interested to find your thoughts on rappers then using the 'N' word? Surely racism is either racist or it's not, it can't be selective?

Nodin

MagicMarker wrote: »

Wigga?

Possibly, one never knows what these delightful scamps might feel the urge to share.

Blatter

iregk wrote: »

I'm interested to find your thoughts on rappers then using the 'N' word? Surely racism is either racist or it's not, it can't be subjective?

Context is everything, it can be very subjective.