Slightly related to the topic, so I apologise . . .
but I've glanced through the entries so far this week and noticed a recurring theme: the use of racist words by the ethnicity they refer to - in plain English, me calling myself a "wog" - and how this is viewed. Some see it as a way of turning the tables on racism, others see it as misguided ethnic pride.

Here's my theory:
Once upon a time, these phrases were horribly taboo, and vicious insults. For those of my parents' generation, they were whispered, and hinted at, or said quickly in the hope the non-native-English speaker would miss it. This generation never wants to hear them spoken again...

Next came their children - they heard these funny names when they younger, and as adults, they use them to identify themselves . . . now, whether this is to diffuse the effect of those words, or as a misguided attempt at being ironic, I can't say . . . I will use the word wog (and watch Legless cringe as I say it) to mean two different things: the big, brash second generation Greek (usually male) who acts like their father, and wants a doormat wife like their Mum was/is, and brags about how big their car/house/job is compared with yours . . . all with the help of Mama and Mpampa of course; I also call those who "ham up" their Greekness to piss of the non-Greeks wogs.

I'm sure there are those out there who use these words to reclaim them - make them sting less because they're now used by the minority they were aimed at. Whatever works for you, I suppose.
( Mrs Legless . . . belongs to, well, you know . . . :), Fri 15 May 2009, 4:30, 2 replies)

ok, I'll bite.
Let me break it down for you, wog in Australia has evolved and now is pretty much an inoffensive term for someone of Mediterranean origin or appearance.

In the UK, wog is still a derogatory term for someone of black/african/caribbean origin or appearance.

That's why we don't use the word, that's why you do.
(b3tamax Mate, you're fat and I'll throw you in the river, Fri 15 May 2009, 11:24, closed)

I
guess this is like black people calling each other "nigger"? Still makes me feel uncomfortable. But words gain and lose power; Cunt was very inoffensive, wheras Zounds was a terrible word to say in 17th Century Britain, now its the other way round.
(kitescreech still here, Mon 18 May 2009, 19:41, closed)