"Curt Fischer" <crf3@po.cwru.edu> wrote in message
news:2qgljoFvaacpU1@uni-berlin.de...
> necoandjeff wrote:
> > "Curt Fischer" <crf3@po.cwru.edu> wrote in message
> > news:2qg4qpFtrr38U1@uni-berlin.de...
> >> Paul Blay wrote:
> >>> "Curt Fischer" wrote ...
> >>>> necoandjeff wrote:
> >>>>> Well, Brits are forgiven for using words like Oriental because
> >>>>> they say it in such a charming way. Plus there's no chance of
> >>>>> being thought of as some hick from the Midwest or the South.
> >>>>
> >>>> necoandjeff, earlier in the thread, also wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Choosing your words based on how it may or may not make others
> >>>>> feel is the very essence of being considerate is it not?
> >>>>
> >>>> What is this huge double standard you have that makes it fine for
> >>>> British people to say "Oriental" but not for "hicks from the
> >>>> Midwest or South" to do so?
> >>>
> >>> British people are speaking English but "hicks from the Midwest or
> >>> South" are speaking American.
> >>
> >> Yeah but what Jeff wants to know is "what someone gains from
> >> continuing to use a word that some people may consider offensive?"
> >> Why does it matter where the some people that may consider it
> >> offensive are from?
> >
> > If I were a Brit who relocated to California and determined that
> > Oriental isn't a word that is looked upon well by the people around
> > me, I would stop using it. Pretty simple isn't it?
>
> If you were a Californian who moved to the Midwestorsouth and determined
> that Oriental isn't a word that is frowned upon by the people around you,
> would you start using it?  Would you at least concede that there is no
> reason the people around you should stop?

Question 1: No. Using the word Asian wouldn't be offensive in that situation
would it? So why should I change. Question 2: No. I (not being Asian) am not
in a position to judge whether Oriental is offensive or not so it isn't up
to me. But I don't really care if others use Oriental or Asian. I am only
responsible for how I talk. My only question to those who insist on using
words that may be offensive to some is, why?

Jeff