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?

Startail : Please can some one link to a Web site that lists once and for all what is and isn't PC and non racist this week.

I could do with this too :(

Custardowhatever What's with your link and startail...oh how i laugh
i dont have a tv and i read bronte daily. ?
Are you taking the P**s?

startail black isn't a description of the actual skunk colour, no one is actually black, or white. It's a political/social description

Skunk should be skin

If people find it too difficult/ tedious/pointless to keep up with which terms or language are considered acceptable; that's their decision. Not causing offence doesn't have to be a priority. But don't then be shocked and incensed when you do indeed cause offence

exactly bejeezus. It's not very difficult.

There seems to be a bit of an undercurrent of "why should I?" from people who use the dismissive term "PC"

Kitty

this is a good start in thinking about race and terminology

the whole website is aimed at children - useful stuff

Being old doesn't automatically absolve you of responsibility

*Are you old?

When you're old and the new term for black is coloured are you still going to say black?

Will you be au fait with changing goalposts?*

Possibly not, but I hope when I am in my seventies that I will not use words that have been considered offensive since my forties. The word "coloured" has been offensive for decades. You would have to be very old indeed to be able to use age as an excuse in this case.

Also, though I am not old myself, I spend plenty of time with older people, and I do not find that they become less intelligent or thoughtful with their age. Indeed, I always find it rather offensive when people suggest that the elderly are incapable of learning anything new or acting flexibly.

Im 47 and have always said coloured, I know you are supposed to say black but when you cannot use that word now in so many contexts in certain environments as not politically correct what the fuck are you supposed to say.

You've answered your own question Fabby- black

The OP said:

".. He said. Oh was she a coloured lady? I said yes and we each knew who it was I had met .."

Fairly clear then.

'Plenty of black people use the N word - and we are fed all this bullshit about 'reclaiming the word'. Sorry but if a black man can call another black man a N, then so should I be allowed to. '

Sounds like something a member of the BNP would say.

Flangelina the correct term for that particular group of people would be Cape Malay.

The majority of Cape Coloureds are not Malays.

I love that the PC fraternity feel "people of colour" is Not Offensive but "Coloured People" is.

This year anyway, it will all have changed when you look again.

Intellectual bankruptcy by people with too much time on their hands IMO

Whatme! I wondered where you were...

What I 'feel' is offensive is of no bearing to language, the meaning of words and what they signify.

The term 'coloured' is offensive.

I can't believe this is being debated, actually.

Me neither, nor can I believe that people think it's acceptable to try to justify their own racism. The reason people say 'it's pc gone mad' is because they don't want to change the way they are.

'twas ever thus. :(

And in twenty years time, the same people will probably be claiming that the word "coloured" can't possibly be offensive because they have been saying it for years. And of course, by that time they will be far too old to change the habits of a lifetime.

Its not really that hard, is it? Try not to be a total cunt in your dealing with others, a general motto to live by.

Oh shocker, fabbychic and whatmeworry are here to tell us that coloured is just fine and we're all pathetic for being bothered by something as inconsequential as racist terminology. Now we just need daftpunk to reappear and tell us all that its the forriners fault for being here at all and we have the triumverate!

Jack Sparrow: You know, for all that pirates are clever-called, we are an unimaginative lot when it comes to naming things.

Gibbs: Like?

Jack Sparrow: I once sailed with a geezer lost both his arms and part of his eye.

Gibbs: What did you call him?

Jack Sparrow (after a pause): Larry.

my post dissapeared!

i was going to say that this coloured term is crap. im coloured, im white but im not see through.

i

"Intellectual bankruptcy by people with too much time on their hands IMO"

Agreed.

I use 'coloured' when its hard to identify the origins of the person I am talking about. Never had anyone raise an issue about this and no, it isnt racist.

Yes, its only those who aren't very busy who get bothered by such things.

You know that people think "what a twat" when they hear you say "coloured" don't you? Up to you, but as long as you're aware.

Of course people don't 'raise an issue' because most people don't want a confrontation with someone in the middle of their day, they think a lot though, let me assure you.

You may think it PeppyNephrine, but you certainly don't speak as someone I would listen to.

'Coloured' has never been used as a racist term in this country. If it is now deemed inappropriate by the language police then so be it, but one thing the term isn't is racist.

Ming have a