Chinese Whispers?

[essentialbushcraft]

In the 1970s/80s we used to play 'Chinese Whispers' at school and at Brownies, for fun and also as a way of teaching us how rumours escalate. Now I often use the phrase Chinese Whispers metaphorically when misinformation is being spread, and I think many other people do to. But yesterday someone used it in a Whatsapp Group that includes a Chinese family and I wondered if it would seem offensive. I realised the name was probably originally a racial stereotype.

The photo shows what Wikipedia says about the etymology. It also says the game is called Telephone in some countries, including the US. Given modern sensitivity over language, aibu in thinking that school teachers etc probably no longer call it Chinese Whispers and that therefore the metaphor may soon have had its day too?

If so, what can we replace the metaphor with? 'Fake News' is the only thing that springs to my mind but doesn't quite mean the same thing.

In Germany it's called Stille Post (literally silent post/mail), which isn't particularly logical, so not sure it needs a logical name. Perhaps something like 'Pass it On'?

Yeh I think the term 'Chinese whispers' is probably not ok these days.

We used to give each other Chinese burns as kids. I’m not sure why they were called that but I imagine that’s not appropriate now too.

You could be very literal and call it 'Mixed Up Messages'.

I think in the states it’s called piggy has a message or something like that have played it with my nieces and nephew

Ds calls what we used to call a Chinese burn an arm burn

Both are very obviously better

Rumour? You're right of course. So many of these to root out.

How about "That's not what I f***g said!"

I assumed "Chinese Whispers" was called that because to most Europeans the language isn't immediately understandable. If you read French or Italian, you might pick out the odd word here and there, but reading Chinese with no prior knowledge is practically impossible.

Presumably you think the phrase "it's all Greek to me" is inappropriate too?

Googling suggests that the name was used because people found Chinese incomprehensible or that Chinese people were thought to be devious, so a name to avoid now.

In my mother tongue it's called Broken Telephone.

I can see how Chinese Whispers or a Chinese Burn are potentially offensive, because they perpetuate a racist stereotype, but I don't think "It's all Greek to me", or "It's double-Dutch", or "C'est tout l'hébreu" (the equivalent in French) are at all racist.

God, I don't think it's racist but I just wouldn't say it these days in case someone accuses me of racism. Chinese whisper because its a hard language.

I think we can safely say that when used now no insult is intended which is the most important thing.

I grew up with it being telephone and being told the name was associated with gossip and/or the issues with old rural telephone lines.

I didn't hear it called Chinese Whispers until I was in the UK for several years. When my kids have played it at various places, it's either been telephone or just 'whispers' and again either about gossip and/or the need to be accurate.

@BiBabbles

I grew up with it being telephone and being told the name was associated with gossip and/or the issues with old rural telephone lines.

I didn't hear it called Chinese Whispers until I was in the UK for several years. When my kids have played it at various places, it's either been telephone or just 'whispers' and again either about gossip and/or the need to be accurate.

Yep, it's a colloquial metaphor that doesn't easily translate for a multicultural audience, so even though there is no intent to be offensive it's time to ditch it.

@WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat

How about "That's not what I f***g said!"

Hmm, not sure that would have gone down too well in the context

I second 'Pass it on' because that it what you also say to the next person when you tell them the info.

It's still referred to as Chinese Whispers in schools today. I'm a teacher, and I've played it with my classes as that name.

I've honestly never considered it a problem, but I see how it could be. Would be an interesting one to discuss with the children, and see if they wanted to re-name it!