To not know if describing a person as coloured is politically incorrect.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

Was talking to a friend today and I mentioned I had met one of his colleagues (but I wasn't sure who). He said. Oh was she a coloured lady?

I said yes and we each knew who it was I had met. I was a bit taken aback as you don't really hear the word coloured used anymore. But it was probably the best way to describe her (kind of Mediterranean / Indian).

Was I being too politically correct for being at the way he described her?

Curses! you caught me out in my sneaky posting (please note it is NOW past 9.30)

Mrsdv

V v interesting report on NBC news just now. Dwellings ......

BBC - bloody ipad

My mum told me something about that earlier. Missed it!
My neighbouring borough has a dedicated team for That Sort of Thing.
My borough seems to think Ignoring is the best way to go

I have to wonder why whatme will go to such lengths to deny 'coloured' is an offensive word. But now I do now remember her on another thread trying to justify it's ok for a teacher to encourage racist stereotypes........what's the point eh?

My point was not about coloured per se, but about the capricious nature of PC definitions leading to a turnover of taboo words.

In the teacher case you mention, I see you have (predictably) omitted that it was foreign students being taught English, the OP was complaining that the forriners language and attitude was racist - by English measures.

My opinion then, as now, is you cant judge forriners by English PC mores - especially if they are still students of English and thus don't have a full grasp of the English language, never mind the PC lobby's latest definitions of taboo words.

PS it is bad form to bring up other threads, for precisely the omission of context reason above.

As I said, just say nigger. Sure that'll be fine. Evolution of language and all.

As I said, just say nigger. Sure that'll be fine. Evolution of language and all.

And as I said, given that black American kids now call each other "nigga" I woudn't be surprised if it becomes acceptable, nay essential, over time.

What will amuse me no end is that as a paid up PC Pro, you will be the one howling from the rafters that "nigga" is the new In word and "black" or whatever it is then is the new Un PC Out word.

'black American kids' do not call each other nigga. Some people use it with the notion of reclaiming it as a term. I doubt, for example, that Sasha and Malia Obama go about calling one another nigger.

Nigga is not the new In word.

You have had it explained to you time and time again why 'coloured' is offensive. Most people got it first time around, which is why they stopped using it about 30 years ago. It's not caprice, it's about thinking things through a bit.

The foreign students are just as capable of understanding this as anyone else. Just like if you had a French exchange student who kept saying she was 'going for a shit' you'd probably explain to her that that wasn't really the way to say it.

Actually it wasn't that thread - it was the Chinese New Year one. And yes it is bad form to bring up old threads but I feel it's a waste of time debating with you about this because you've stubbornly shown in the past that you aren't prepared to change your position from thinking it's ok to perpetuate racism.

It is bad form. But I decided that since you don't believe in the social niceties like being polite to people, you wouldn't actually care. I could have said plenty more about your previous form, but I'd say most remember you.

You can waffle all you like about language change, the simple fact is that you see nothing wrong with using offensive words, instead using your time to attack those who would prefer that society uses the least offensive words to describe each other. You can't really be surprised that people view you in a certain way?

oh, and FYI, your hyperbolic shreiking makes you sound hysterical, if not unhinged.

OK, whatme. So what's stopping you using "nigger" then?

Why do you mind so much whatme?

The consensus is that language changes and words can pick up negative connotations, so it's best to not use them. Not that you should be lynched if you do, or denied anything, just that life is easier if you don't offend people.

It's hardly rocket science, why is it so upsetting to you?

Because the bloody PC brigade in their JACKBOOTS and with their GUNS (which they've also banned because of health and safety, obv) are denying you the BASIC HUMAN RIGHT right to call people COLOURED! It's like 1984 all over again!!!1

All these outrageous fascist PC types trampling over people's human rights and freedom of speech by insisting on GOOD MANNERS!

I never realised when I signed the Pact and became a fully paid up member of the PC brigade that things would get this bad. I've had my 24 years of not saying coloured, crippled or spacker, but now will pay for it by being ripped from limb to limb and cast into a hell consisting of Whatme chanting Nigga Nigga Nigga at some black Americans for all eternity....

Don't worry- she won't survive long- they are all gangstas after all.......

I've read some but not all of this post so this may have already been brought up.

Did anyone see the ITV news report on racism in football the other day which referred to 'coloured players', 'coloured managers' throughout. I was fairly shocked, I know there are older/ignorant people who use it but in a national news report... Bizarre and pretty offensive esp considering the topic. It wasn't live so presumably a news editor had passed it.

Political incorrectness gone mad if you ask me.

'Coloured' is still widely used blonderthanred, because its always been the word that was used in the past and never in a racist way. The TV presenters didn't mean any offense by it.

Dont be offended. No-one else is.

When someone uses 'coloured' I question the user's awareness.

Ming, I'm pretty sure that people are genuinely offended. TV presenters have a choice and in a factual context should choose to use the word that is acceptable to the people it describes. choosing the alternative, particularly in the context of talking about racism in football was disrespectful.

I had a look on Twitter and it seemed to have caused offence to some people there, and not in a Twitterstorm/professionally offended way. Just normal people wanting to watch a TV programme and not feel condescended to.

"'Coloured' is still widely used blonderthanred, because its always been the word that was used in the past and never in a racist way. The TV presenters didn't mean any offense by it.

Dont be offended. No-one else is."

This is so bizarre I can't leave it. Why would you carry on using a word once you've been told that people don't like it? Don't we always tell our children to stop teasing/using a nickname the minute the person concerned asks them to?

Also, I think earlier posters have pointed out that it has been used as a racist term in SA and Southern America.

The new 'people of color' term used in the US is an interesting development though.

'Coloured' makes me absolutely cringe, but I know there are people out there who use it because they think that it is still the current PC way to refer to someone. A few years ago it was.

At worst they are slightly ignorant, but I dont think that most people who use it are using it with malicious racist intent. However, you would think that TV broadcasters would not be among the ignorant!

Don't they use 'people of colour' as quite a PC way of describing non-white people in the USA?