racist words commonly used
I get so upset that some racist words seem to be ok to use and others are ohhhh thats bad.
When people say the word gyped I say oh, why,are you a nigger? They seem to think a racist slam against romany is ok but not against blacks?
Or the ignorant losers that use the word eskimo, which is a horrid demeaning word, I also call those people a racist name back that pertains to their race everytime someone asks me if I am an eskimo. I figure if they can use a word thats completely horrid I can to.
To those who are still idiots that cannot read or learn, eskimo is the single most horrid word you can use, there really is no other word that demeans a culture as much as that word, if you dont know why, then go back to a real school, not a public school.
(zhinka If you don't rescue,don't breed!, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 0:32, 26 replies)

Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that it is possible to learn outside of an academic institution.
And so I present to you my request: teach me.

Why is "eskimo" such a horrid word? It's the only term I was ever taught to describe people who live in the Arctic tundra of North America. No-one ever complained, until this evening, that it is offensive.

Is there a more appropriate term? (I assume from your "if you don't know, I can't be bothered to tell you" rant that there is) If so, then what is it?
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 0:45, closed)

Apparently you are supposed to say Inuit now
The word Eskimo is only considered offensive in some areas. No-one has ever explained to me why it's so offensive. I have never heard it used in a derogatory way. The Inuit Circumpolar Council, uses both "Inuit" and "Eskimo" in its official documents.
( Peej, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 0:59, closed)

I wonder if it's similar to "negro".
When I was growing up, "negro" was an accepted term for a black person. There was no malice intended by it, and it wasn't used in a derogatory fashion; it was simply common parlance at the time.

Of course now, in these oh-so-enlightened times in which we live, we realise that "negro" is no longer quite so palatable. It occurs to me to wonder if "eskimo" might be the same: we use it unthinkingly, accepting it as a perfectly inoffensive term for a group of people, without realising that the people in question might have an entirely different meaning for it.
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 1:08, closed)

From what I heard...
Eskimos and Inuits are two similar but different groups of people. It all depends on the area from where they come from, however I'm sure the all-knowing sphere that is QI was not wrong on this.
(General_Manchego, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 1:18, closed)

Speaking from relatively close to the frozen tundra, the reason ``Eskimo'' is considered offensive is that it means ``eaters of raw meat.'' It comes from the language of the Dene, another native tribe in Canada's far north. It was used by them as a perjorative description of their rivals/remote neighbours. When white folks showed up and asked what the Inuit (which means ``the people,'' in the inuit language) were called, the Dene replied ``Eskimo.''
As far as who finds it offensive, most Inuit I've met will patiently explain the history to people who use the word Eskimo. And most people, if reasonable, will understand why it's offensive. Once in a while, you can get someone radical (usually some morally superior twat who's taken a first-year Political Science course in Native Studies, like perhaps the original poster) who will deliver a stern lecture and really get their nose out of joint.
(tuqueboy has been in a medically -induced coma since, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 1:56, closed)

yeah there was a big uproar recently about the 'eskimo' lollies here
And yes I claim TOTAL ignorance on this too, because I really had no idea it was so offensive. I guess I grew up with the mental image of the big parka, hole in the ice with a fishing rod. I'm not outlining this to BE offensive, but to inform you I guess.
Growing up in the 80's in UK I wonder how many other people have the same mental image. If it had been put forward that it was offensive between me being a child and getting to 30 odd, I probably would have questioned it, and maybe rearranged my thinking (ie like with golliwog toys).

For the record, my fellas dad calls me Gypo, has done for 10 years. Affectionately.
Because I'm always on the move. I guess to someone thats only moved a few streets from where they were born and barely ever left the area let alone the country, I would appear that way.

Thinking back to the "e' word, I don;t think it really made much difference here, people saw it as over-reacting I think.Much of the attitude seemed to be 'we've always called them eskimo lollies, we're not going to change because a tourist finds fault with what we called our sweets x years ago"

Thanks for your thought-provoking post though, I'm gonna edumacate myself on it
(maggotriddendirtbox fast, feral and sharp as a tack since, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 0:48, closed)

"For those idiots that can't read or learn"

(Also for those that don't know the difference between 'to' and 'too' and don't know the difference between a full stop and a comma....)
(god_is_a_ghoti Carpe Deum., Sat 10 Apr 2010, 1:37, closed)

what a bunch of horseshit
i am Canadian and nowhere have i seen or heard any furor over the term eskimo

*in canada
(goorf, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 3:18, closed)

I think its a wind up....
If it is well done....if not stop whinging, nobody really truely gives a shit about the usage of the word Eskimo.
(Moominator missing the good stuff cos' the swear filter is on, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 5:05, closed)

Gypped was a word my dad used quite often, as in "my tooth is giving me gyp, I must go and see the dentist"

I could only find one dictionary definition for the way my dad used to use it:

2 gyp
n
Brit and NZ slang severe pain; torture
his arthritis gave him gyp
[probably a contraction of gee up!; see gee]

Don't think his way had anything to do with gypsies though - in fact his was the only way I'd ever heard the word used until I read yours
(Freakmandu, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 7:28, closed)

I was told the the term 'gyp
Came from army forces in the war stationed in North Africa. Dodgy food fed to them in Egypt often led to a 'Gyppy' stomach.
( Anthropos Was making beer on, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 11:11, closed)

Could be worse
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nEBdTzlQrI
(the_icks has the sweet essence of giraffe, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 7:32, closed)

No
If somebody uses Eskimo, not realising that it can cause offense, they are just making an innocent slip.

Your response, designed to cause upset, makes you the horrible cunt in the situation. You clearly carry bitterness and rage in you and use these slips by people as an excuse to release some anger.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Sat 10 Apr 2010, 8:25, closed)

I bet there are less that 12 people in the world ....
...that feel your kind of rightious indignation over the word 'Eskimo' and (as tuqueboy posted) I bet 10 of those 12 have had their passions stoked during their first year of a political science degree. I bet the average hard working native-bloody-Northern Canadian really couldn't give two hoots.

Personally I feel sorry for the 11.37 million 'Wigga' people in China who derive from two distinct populations the Turkic and Tocharian.
Just because they are born to white (mainly middle class) families but choose to dress, talk and listen to rap and gangta music that is 'percieved' as black they are the subject of much prejudice within many Chinese cities. Personally myself and Mrs Moominator have adopted a lovely little 'Wigga' by the name of Sabastian. The challenge at the moment is trying to widen his music away from Tupac and Niggaz With Attitude (so early 90s) and to stop calling our two daughters 'Ho's and Bitches'.
(Moominator missing the good stuff cos' the swear filter is on, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 9:39, closed)

"...average hard working.." fantastic!
I hear the next Horne and Corden fillum is about a group of Hertfordshire Wiggas who travle to China to visit their natural homeland. Much hilarity ensues.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Sat 10 Apr 2010, 9:52, closed)

Ummm...
While studying Anthropology at uni, we had several Canadian staff who were of native parents. They refered to themselves and their relatives as Eskmos or Esquimaux.
( Anthropos Was making beer on, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 11:16, closed)

You want to be careful on your high horse
on the moral high ground, you might fall off!
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Sat 10 Apr 2010, 17:31, closed)

Don't be silly,
Eskimos don't have horses.
( Anthropos Was making beer on, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 17:45, closed)

'Eskimo is the single most horrid word....' now that my Tundra chum sounds like a challenge...
Don't blow a seal over this next one but i reckon its the work of a flawed genius....

'Eskihomo' .....it's a double whammy!

Do I win anything?
(Moominator missing the good stuff cos' the swear filter is on, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 19:41, closed)

Why do Eskimos like tupperware parties?
They can't resist a nice tight seal....
( Anthropos Was making beer on, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 20:14, closed)

The Esk- er, Inuit takes his snowmobile to the mechanic to be repaired.
"Looks like you've blown a seal", says the mechanic.
"Nah, that's just frost on my moustache."
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Sat 10 Apr 2010, 21:38, closed)

You guys sleigh me...
On a technical note i believe that if you take a native Alaskan and divide his circumference by his diameter you get Eskimo pi.
(Moominator missing the good stuff cos' the swear filter is on, Sun 11 Apr 2010, 18:19, closed)

Oh fuck off you silly sod.

( Richard Shitheels, Sun 11 Apr 2010, 22:16, closed)

Being, presumably, a gypsy eskimo do you live in an igloo caravan? Fascinating.
(Crayola Oblongata Is it Monday?, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 10:30, closed)

You seem to have a massive chip on your shoulder about being an eskimo
Judge people by their intent - what they think they're saying - and you'll be a happier person. And less of a cunt.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 21:45, closed)

no no no
no.

the word eskimo is actually a derrivation of the Montagnais word assime·w meaning 'she laces a snowshoe' - the eaters of raw meat thing has been generally considered to be bullshit.

Inuit is a term that can be used for the indiginous people of Canada and Greenland, whereas Eskimo refers to these peoples, plus those of Alaska and Siberia. They're not the same thing.

It's all about intent, and if you're using the terms in a derogatory way, then you're being a cunt. if not, then you're not.
(Alphabet Soap boshboshboshbosh, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 9:26, closed)