Paddy?

machete happy · 03-05-2011 03:33AM

I find it irritating because of its derogatory context. It was first used by the British media in the 1700s to portray paddy as the Irish muck savage simpleton. Political historians have published works on the British newspapers sterotyping of the Irish during the period 1700-1900s, an interesting book is ''The eternal Paddy: irish identity and the British press'' by Michael de Nie.
So yes, naturally I find being called a Paddy offensive given its unsavoury orgins and still present derogatory colonial undertone. :pac:

Lanaier · 03-05-2011 04:14AM

machete happy wrote: »

I find it irritating because of its derogatory context. It was first used by the British media in the 1700s to portray paddy as the Irish muck savage simpleton. Political historians have published works on the British newspapers sterotyping of the Irish during the period 1700-1900s, an interesting book is ''The eternal Paddy: irish identity and the British press'' by Michael de Nie.
So yes, naturally I find being called a Paddy offensive given its unsavoury orgins and still present derogatory colonial undertone. :pac:

Indeed but thats not it's origin.

It's origin is a nickname for "Patrick" or "Padraig", all that propaganda stuff came later.

Paddy Cow · 03-05-2011 04:41AM

hondasam wrote: »

I find it offensive when anyone other than an Irish person say's it.

That's right. It's our word :mad: It doesn't actually bother me :P

OPENROAD · 03-05-2011 04:44AM

Paddy Cow wrote: »

That's right. It's our word :mad: It doesn't actually bother me :P

dey tuk our words :mad:

Paddy_Smith · 03-05-2011 04:46AM

No, I don't care to be honest.

hatrickpatrick · 03-05-2011 05:30AM

It's my name.

Azureus · 03-05-2011 07:59AM

Doesnt bother me in the slightest.
My thesis was pretty much about this-national indentity in relation to art representations/terminlology like paddy/n*gger, and it happens in every society as does stereotyping. The nice thing about Irish people in my opinion is that we kind of embrace these things and take the piss with them, where a lot of other cultures tend to get all high and mighty/defensive. Then again, maybe we are just too lazy to bother with all that

Joey the lips · 03-05-2011 08:06AM

I have a cousin in england who named his child paddy. Not patrick but paddy. So go figure. It must be the irish equiv of naming your child hubert or something (sorry hugh)

anyway we might be paddies but they are english B.....abes?

Predator_ · 03-05-2011 08:25AM

Its the same as calling someone a 'paki'. Of course its offensive.

Biggins · 03-05-2011 08:42AM

Jay Kay (of Jamiroquai) when we'd meet called me it as a tease and rib pulling but there never is no maliciousness in it, rather said in an understanding of friendship, one close enough to take the friendly pee out of each other - and we do.
I take no insult from it directly - it ALL depends (in each instance) in the context and conditions, mood, etc of which its used - just like any other word.

Coriolanus · 03-05-2011 08:48AM

Harden the fúck up. Were not a nation of pussies.

WindSock · 03-05-2011 09:19AM

Like everything else it depends on the intent behind it. I hate the its our word thing, we call it paddys day, so what. I think this is a case where 'oh well we can't say Paki' or whatever, therefore we must have our own word to get offended by.

Skerries · 03-05-2011 09:31AM

i think we should boycott China as it is full of Paddy fields!

up for anything · 03-05-2011 09:41AM

Azureus wrote: »

Doesnt bother me in the slightest.
My thesis was pretty much about this-national indentity in relation to art representations/terminlology like paddy/n*gger, and it happens in every society as does stereotyping. The nice thing about Irish people in my opinion is that we kind of embrace these things and take the piss with them, where a lot of other cultures tend to get all high and mighty/defensive. Then again, maybe we are just too lazy to bother with all that

No, that's not it. It's because we're too hungover and busy looking for the nearest open pub to be bothered.

03-05-2011 09:43AM

Biggins wrote: »

Jay Kay (of Jamiroquai) when we'd meet called

There's either a good story here or Biggins needs to be taught about dream versus reality again.

sbsquarepants · 03-05-2011 09:48AM

I have no problem whatsoever being refered to as a paddy.
I'm sick of all this political correctness, it doesn't matter what someone calls you if they don't like you - whatever they call you is, by default, a derogatary term.
If some racist hillbilly hates black people for example - he hates them whether he calls them níggers or if he calls them perfectly lovely people of dark complexion or whatever the politicaly correct term is. The word doesn't matter the INTENT does.
If Jay-Z for example, a man i greatly admire, is happy enough to call himself a nígger then he should be happy for me or for anyone else to call him one too (he probably wouldn't be, but i think he should), and by the same token he can call me a paddy without any problems. I think if more people adopted this stance there would be a lot less racial tension in the world.

ISDW · 03-05-2011 09:59AM

I lived in the UK for years, don't find it offensive, my Dad was always called Paddy in work, I think some people thought that was actually his name:rolleyes: A lot of his mates used to call him Paddy McGinty, just messing, I think Val Doonican might have had something to do with that?:P

It is different though to the word Paki, that is a derogatory word used for people from the Indian sub-continent, not just for people from Pakistan, I think its a racist term.

sh1tstirrer · 03-05-2011 10:01AM

What about silly surnames that they have in the UK like Shufflebottom, Ramsbottom, Ball, Daft, Cock, Pratt and theres plenty more silly surnames.

Lando Griffin · 03-05-2011 10:17AM

Not really bothered with it, we would be the first to use it to our advantage for instance Paddy Wagan tours. Hardly a group of racist tourists travelling around Ireland.
What I do not agree with is the Charliville cheese add on telly, showing us to be a load of dancing idiots wearing peak hats and Aran jumpers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypMYqT9sXTE

rainbowdrop · 03-05-2011 10:19AM

The thing is, when English people call you 'Paddy' or use the phrases 'that's a bit Irish' (stupid) or 'having a paddy' (having a tantrum), they don't actually mean to be derogatory cos most of them don't know that it is offensive. I'm sure most of them, if they knew they were offending you would stop using the word/phrase. They just don't know that we don't like it.

pragmatic1 · 03-05-2011 10:23AM

Depends on who says it and how its said.

ISDW · 03-05-2011 10:31AM

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

What about silly surnames that they have in the UK like Shufflebottom, Ramsbottom, Ball, Daft, Cock, Pratt and theres plenty more silly surnames.

Used to work with a man who's surname was Head - his parents decided for reasons known only to themselves to call him Richard:rolleyes:

major bill · 03-05-2011 06:43PM

ISDW wrote: »

I lived in the UK for years, don't find it offensive, my Dad was always called Paddy in work, I think some people thought that was actually his name:rolleyes: A lot of his mates used to call him Paddy McGinty, just messing, I think Val Doonican might have had something to do with that?:P

It is different though to the word Paki, that is a derogatory word used for people from the Indian sub-continent, not just for people from Pakistan, I think its a racist term.

I disagree.. the word paddy is used on both people in the north and south and i wouldnt think a northern Unionist would take too kindly to been called a Paddy so which brings me back to the original point why are some words more tolerant than others?.

Paddy Cow · 03-05-2011 07:20PM

major bill wrote: »

I disagree.. the word paddy is used on both people in the north and south and i wouldnt think a northern Unionist would take too kindly to been called a Paddy so which brings me back to the original point why are some words more tolerant than others?.

If you don't have something to be offended about these days, some people feel left out. Personally I couldn't care less. If someone uses it in an offensive way, then they are not worth my time. If they are just taking the p!ss, then I'll probably laugh.

*generalisation alert* I think the Irish slag each other off a lot more than other people and it washes over our heads easier.

Thatnastyboy · 03-05-2011 07:28PM

They call me paddy
I call them a filthy tan
They get confused
??????
PROFIT!

tallaghtmick · 03-05-2011 07:33PM

abbey clancy can call me anything she wants the sexy minx:pac:

weldoninhio · 03-05-2011 07:40PM

I'm Irish, have been born and raised here, and i'd use the word Paddy. Like to describe the national football team, if a friend asked me if i saw the match, i'd tell him i wouldn't open the curtains if the paddys were playing in my front garden.

Look at the state of the country, the way the govt take and take and take and nothing ever changes. The referral letter scandal at Tallaght hospital, the other HSE scandals and nothing happened. And numerous other things from the banks, to giving the gas off the coast away.

Why do these things happen? Because the country is so full of backward Paddys!!

Edit: I know i'm a paddy too, but i've acceted it and hope to get out of here one way or the other as soon as possible.

Intensive Care Bear · 03-05-2011 07:54PM

I don't think any word by itself can be offensive or racist, its the context in which it is used that determines that.

Irish Guitarist · 03-05-2011 08:26PM

It's alright when an Irish person says it.

I've heard two members of my favourite band, Pink Floyd, use the word Paddy when describing Irish people. I'm not over sensitive or anything, but it kind of pissed me off to hear two of my favourite musicians use the word.

aido179 · 03-05-2011 08:34PM

Its like our version of the N word. we should use it more often between ourselves really. 'Sup Paddy!

Paddy?

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