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?

You keep using it, anyone with any brains will think radically less of you for it that's all.

It has been unacceptable to use that word for about 30 years. Certainly all my life it would have raised an eyebrow. So no, no-one's going to suddenly change the rules.

Think it through, right. Coloured - the past tense of a verb. Something which has been 'done to' a person (burnt black by the African sun, as it used to go) - something 'other' and different from the standard norm - white. You're defining everyone else in terms of their difference from whiteness.

It always reminds me of stupid people who call vanilla ice-cream 'plain'.

If you refuse to stop calling people coloured, you are using a racist term, knowingly. Why not just stop it? Would it be really upsetting not to call people coloured?

So if a black person told you that black people do!'t like being called "coloured" you'd carry on regardless?

I'm with seeker.

There's no need a for a strong argument. It's just politeness.

Why will you continue using 'coloured' MoM?

I really don't understand.

I imagine ming knows lots of coloured nannas who like being called coloured, and collect gollywogs etc etc. And a lovely coloured man at work who makes jokes about not being visible in the dark and having a massive willy.

Ming - will you really continue using it even though many black people have said the prefer black to coloured. Why would you do that, would you say coloured if you were in a group of black people or only when you are in a group where there are no black folk. Would you even use it in a group of White people unless it was a group where you knew it was accepted, maybe like the BNP or something.

.not forgetting natural rhythm and being really really good at running.

I wasn't outed as anything, and I'm taking a label from someone who uses racist terms.
"Moron" is not disabilist, its an insult. Its analogous to "idiot" (both come used to classify IQ levels). Its not disabilist, its that I am actually questioning your IQ levels

And if thats the best defence you've got, its pathetic.

OP never suggested that 'coloured' was acceptable, quite the opposite.

the OP may have suggested it was 'unacceptable'.

The fact that she thought she was being 'too politically correct' in thinking it was unnacceptable, speaks volumes. Threads like this are only designed to stir the pot...

Musicismylife

Sorry I have obviously really offended you. That was not my intention. I was shocked when my friend used that word and my question about it being used to describe a woman was honestly a genuine question.

Between you and me I am starting to regret posting this. Sorry again for any offense caused.

Well Done Part 2. Mong. You got to use the word coloured again!!!!

Oooh, can I play?

I just gave DD some COLOURED pencils!

Do I win £5?

Where are you going to continue using it ming?

At home on the internet or in a room with several black people?
Face to face with someone who might put you straight or just generally where you can get away with it?

Next time we have a big family get together would you like to come and try it out and see just how acceptable it is?

We could put the results on youtube.

WhenSheWasBad

I don't know what was said, but I don't blame you for raising the questions. It's been an interesting discussion in the main - very enlightening

Great idea mrsdv as a sequel, if you're still not convinced, you're welcome round here for round 2

I am wondering if there lies the problem. Maybe if you aren't black, your family aren't black, your friends aren't black, no one you care about is black-it is just an abstract idea. Maybe, then it seems less important to use inoffensive terms?

You'd still have to be pretty lacking in empathy

Original - thanks

It was nothing major just shouted that I was a twat again. Think this thread is really upsetting her, as I started it I guess that makes it my fault.

Whatme, please point out where I have called anyone a twat, moron or tool. I have argued against you and others on this thread without recourse to insult. Ah yes, but I remember now- you're ignoring me aren't you, so my argument doesn't count...

Apologies, not deliberate - work gets in way of MN etc and last night there was a hail of hysterical hyperbole to shovel through :o

I will rebut your rebuttal when I have more time. PS I must be truly damned, did I detect faint praise :)

I used the word twat

In my defence, I have argued cogently for paaages and paaages. I then got a bit het up and said people who use the term PC are twats. I did not name anyone.

I suppose that undermines every single thing I, or anyone else who agrees with me, has said on this thread?

Whatmeworry - It is one thing to not be up on what is acceptable language and use a word that you think is polite but is in fact not (and I still maintain that there are some pepople out there who do still think that 'coloured' is ok ). But to declare that you will continue to use a word that loads of people have said is offensive and out of date just because you think its ok and its 'politcal correctness gone mad'.....?!!!

I actually have an anecdote to illustrate this. When I was about 19 I used the phrase 'half-caste' to describe a mixed race person to my friend - I had no idea of the origin of the phrase and it was the word I had always used. My (white) friend was horrified and put me straight immediately and I have to say I was mortifed and so embarrassed. I have NEVER used it since!

(Am a bit worried now though - is mixed race ok?!)

I prefer the term mixed race to the alternative of bi racial and dual heritage.

I dont see my children as half and half or having two backgrounds.

They are a mix of many backgrounds on mine and my OH's side.

So mixed race seems fine to me. My DS1 refers to himself as MR and/or Black.

MrsDV, I agree - I prefer the term mixed race to describe my dd as the term dual heritage (or indeed, bi racial) seems to deny the complexities of her heritage.

Mixed heritage would be ok, I suppose, but that would probably apply to 99% of the country.

Just goes to show how arbitrary some of these labels are, really!