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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think mumsnetters have overreacted

156 replies

mother2b · 22/06/2007 12:04

i think that racism is worng and am very anti racism, but i also think that its things like over reacting to chinky when all the poor lady meant was to go for a chinese is what is making our world so overly PC, was a little thoughtless but wasnt meant to be racist.

i just think that its was completely blown out of all proportion!!!

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 22/06/2007 12:05

don't agree.
it's an offensive word.

colditz · 22/06/2007 12:05

I know, it's those dashed inconvenient Chinese people! Thoughtless of them to take offence at a trivialisation of a very racist term, when all we want to think about it the lovely Chow Mein.

MamaG · 22/06/2007 12:06

YABU

HappyDaddy · 22/06/2007 12:06

I'm, personally, surprised that anyone still tries to defend using an expression that has caused offence.

If it offends someone, even if you never meant it to or in that way, then apologise and stop using it.

It's not rocket science, is it?

compo · 22/06/2007 12:07

fgs do we really need another thread on it and do you really need to post the word again? It is offensive to Chinese people and you shouldn't use it. That's all you need to know.

dejags · 22/06/2007 12:09

It's a slippery slope mother2b. Chinky food today, Chinky person tomorrow (the two are inextricably linked).

Racism is racism - in this instance, possibly ignorance.

Have a long hard think about how you would feel if you were Chinese and somebody referred to you (even obliquely) as a Chinky.

It is an offensive term, were I Chinese, it would most certainly piss me off.

So in my book YABU.

dejags · 22/06/2007 12:10

Agree though that should be left to lie.

NineUnlikelyTales · 22/06/2007 12:11

How would you feel if you lived in China and every time someone went to a Harvester (God forbid they should ever have such establishments) they described it as "going for a whitey"? It's a stupid term and if it causes offence you shouldn't use it.

BigGitDad · 22/06/2007 12:12

Part of the reason why words are offensive is the nature and the context you use them in. I can see where Paki and Nigger are offensive but Chinky? Has anyone ever been called Chinky in an offensive fashion?
(BGD runs to hide in the bunker)

HappyDaddy · 22/06/2007 12:12

BGD, of course they have. Don't be daft, man.

colditz · 22/06/2007 12:12

Right, how about this.

You are a waitress in a restaurant, and a gang of men come in, saying thins is the best whore food in town.

They call it whore food because the restaurant is run by young women.

But they aren't saying those women are whores! Oh no, they would never use such a term about people, just the food. They have always called it whore food.

That ok by you?

Molesworth · 22/06/2007 12:12

oh for fuck's sake

compo · 22/06/2007 12:13

yes BGD they have. Do you know any Chinese people?

Marina · 22/06/2007 12:13

YABU
I did not post directly to the OP in question but I agree completely with HappyDaddy on this.

Mercy · 22/06/2007 12:14

BGD - why don't you ask the Chinese mums on MN?

BigGitDad · 22/06/2007 12:15

Just read the other points and I can see where you are coming from , maybe I am just being Naive in this, if so I apologise. But I have never heard a Chinese person referred to in that manner.

BigGitDad · 22/06/2007 12:18

Compo you are right I do not know any Chinese people other than the guys in my local take away but I am suprised to hear that word. Never heard it before here.

ProfYaffle · 22/06/2007 12:20

It wouldn't occur to me to use that word, thought it was obvious to all it was racially offensive.

Mrbatters · 22/06/2007 12:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StevetheSturgeon · 22/06/2007 12:33

YABU.

That 'oh it's pc gone maaad' argument as an excuse to say what you want regardless of how it may make some people feel is lazy and rude.

Original poster
mother2b · 22/06/2007 12:52

oh NUT do you think that it would be a 'whitey' its not like we call an idian a 'browny' now i think you are being unreasonable

OP posts:
Original poster
mother2b · 22/06/2007 12:54

and i dont think its lazy and rude to think that the whole world is too pc, i dont believe in rascim but i think it is unfair that we cant call 'chalkboards' 'blackboards' anymore yet still call whiteboards whitesboards, do you no tthink that is a little ott???

OP posts:
HappyDaddy · 22/06/2007 12:55

Surely it's not unfair that we don't call blackboards, blackboards. It's hardly robbed us of a wonderful part of the English language, has it?

I still call them that, anyway. So does DW.

Boco · 22/06/2007 12:59

I don't think the debate that rose out of the use of the word chinky was out of proportion.

It wasn't aimed at one person, it wasn't a witch hunt - (in fact i don't know who actually said it) - but its a good and useful debate.

Several people didn't know it was racist - some of those may have been persuaded to stop using it. That is learning to adapt, its a good thing, we can and should all do it all the time, no one is above that - its not over the top.

What i hate is when people refuse to learn and adapt, claiming that it is pc gone mad - they believe they're talking about food, so its ok, and just because someone is offended, why should they change. That is lazy and rude.

DoubleBluff · 22/06/2007 13:00

There is a world of diffenerce between referring toa chalkboard as a blackboard, and using the word Chhinky ti refer to a Chinese meal.
It is offensive ( and I am so un PC)
cannot believe that phrase is still being used tbh.

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