Is it a Racist word?

[D_Humper E Bogart]

Not necessarily. Like you yourself have said, the intent of the word is what makes it racist. It's not PC to say "the Paki shop" or "eating a chinky tonight", but not everybody that has used those terms is a racist.

"Fucking albinos!" :biggrin1:

Hmmm, doesn't quite sound as funny in that kind of context.

 

[D_Helmer Heighballs]

that local shopkeeper is a coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside) pussy, self loathing conformist SOB. his desire to conform to the social norms of the community around him are to ease himself integration into the community. however in doing so he is seen as and probably referred to as "that paki" or "the paki corner shop". thus resulting in his dismissal from his original and ethnic community and the point of ridicule for his new friends, he has then lost any desires to resist against the social norms enforced on him at the time, and without the desire for resistance or agency he humiliates himself as punishment purposefully putting himself a the but of the jokes in his community.

thats just a light POSSIBLE social explanation for his behaviour.

sorry people like that annoy me.

the word is offensive, end of.

 

[D_dtgt65rg]

I've never heard of the term, especially directed toward a minority group, such as people of southern, central asia.

In the 1960's "Paki" was used in a derogatory way by British tabloids as a label for all south Asians. Not just those from Pakistan. It is considered offensive in Canada as well. But I don't know about the US.

Any word can be turned into a pejorative label depending on the context it's use in. Yes Pole isn't offensive, but "Pollack" can be.

If the word "Paki" had never been used in a hateful way, in a way that connects Pakistani's to negative imagery, it's usage wouldn't be racist today.

 

[D_Gunther Snotpole]

What happened to "sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me" as taught in primary schools in england for years.

I think people realized it's not true and was never true.
Words can be deadly.

 

[dreamer20]

Pardon my ignorance,but is the word "Paki" a racist comment?.
Paki Harry's, ...the owner is from Pakistan and ...he also introduces himself as Paki Harry.
Listening to the politics show today about the Lisbon treaty etc, Polish people were refered to as Poles, British people were brits and the people from Checoslovaquia were refered to as Checs.

In the late 1940's Britain granted India independence, but split it into two parts - Pakistan and India. This situation was abhorred by many persons as the result was two nations at odds with each other instead of the former unified India. As you stated above, the person from Pakistan was not offended by being called a Paki. But UK citizens exist who deliberately seek to offend those who hail from India, or other parts of asia, by calling them Pakis in a derogatory manner.

 

[dolfette]

In the late 1940's Britain granted India independence, but split it into two parts - Pakistan and India. This situation was abhorred by many persons as the result was two nations at odds with each other instead of the former unified India. As you stated above, the person from Pakistan was not offended by being called a Paki. But UK citizens exist who deliberately seek to offend those who hail from India, or other parts of asia, by calling them Pakis in a derogatory manner.

utter nonsense.

the word does offend most pakistanis, because it has been used as a slur for so long.

and you really believe the ignorant bastards can tell the difference between indian, bangladeshi and pakistani? really??
''they all look the same to me.''
most of them have no idea about the history you speak of either...it's not taught in schools or printed in the sun. they don't give a shit about that. they just like short, catchy words that offend.

 

[D_Doewell Dadong]

I think people realized it's not true and was never true.
Words can be deadly.

if anyone has seen "mean words" as a cause of death on a death certificate let me know.

 

[dolfette]

if anyone has seen "mean words" as a cause of death on a death certificate let me know.

suicide.

 

[D_Doewell Dadong]

suicide.

words aren't a cause of suicide. circumstances can cause suicide, but words on their own? no.

i'm not going to talk anymore about suicide. its going off topic.

 

[starstruck]

It depends on who is saying it and in what context. I avoid saying "Paki" because I find it possibly offensive to others. Thus, I say "Pakistani."

I have been to Pakistan many times. The cock size of Pakistanis is IMPRESSIVE and easily available. Okay, I will stop now because certain things in every culture are meant to remain secretive.

 

[Rugbypup]

I think it's a word that has a assumed neutral banter context to some, though largely, it is a derogatory term.

As a kid, people saying things like 'Paki shop', 'go home Paki', 'bood bood ding, two ninety nine, Pakis rip you off, all of the time' were very common and meant in a racist manner. Not to mention Paki jokes.

But it's like anything really, all if not most cultures have a slang or a derogatory name for another.

The Brits call the French frogs, the French call us roast beef... it's nothing new, if anything, it's part of cultural identity. Is it right? No, not really. Will it always happen? Of course.

The Brits call the Pakistanis Pakis, the Pakistanis call the Brits Whities.

Alternative names for the British - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[bigjpgh]

my take?
i suspect there is a cultural thing here. in the uk at least, the word paki is on a par with the word nigger. to a brit it's that offensive.

These two words are nowhere near on par with each other. The fact that thread exists is proof of that because you would never have any ambiguity about the racist nature of the word nigger in the US. The fact that you can question and discuss the racist association of paki shows that it does not attach to the same level of racism and vulgarity as nigger in the US. Just totally different levels

 

[dolfette]

These two words are nowhere near on par with each other. The fact that thread exists is proof of that because you would never have any ambiguity about the racist nature of the word nigger in the US. The fact that you can question and discuss the racist association of paki shows that it does not attach to the same level of racism and vulgarity as nigger in the US. Just totally different levels

yes it is IN THE UK

the question was asked by a non-brit.
you are a non-brit.

the world is not america.

 

[SilverTrain]

yes it is IN THE UK

the question was asked by a non-brit.
you are a non-brit.

the world is not america.

Hey!

Wait, what do you mean by that? [reflects] I think that's a very un-american statement you're making. You must be unpatriotic. Probably a socialist. Or communist or something.

 

[dolfette]

Hey!

Wait, what do you mean by that? [reflects] I think that's a very un-american statement you're making. You must be unpatriotic. Probably a socialist. Or communist or something.

i know, i know.

imagining that there are other cultures and that words may have different meanings within those cultures.

why do i hate america???

 

[SilverTrain]

i know, i know.

imagining that there are other cultures and that words may have different meanings within those cultures.

why do i hate america???

Because you've made the choice to be a Frenchy lesbo socialist.

 

[dolfette]

Because you've made the choice to be a Frenchy lesbo socialist.

oh yeah!

but seriously. it's a british uproar about a british show.
how inoffensive the term seems to yanks is actually completely irrelevant.

 

[SilverTrain]

Well, perhaps not completely. I've found the "real" parts of this thread to be informative and interesting.

Good on ya', ya' Frenchy lesbo.

 

[dolfette]

Well, perhaps not completely. I've found the "real" parts of this thread to be informative and interesting.

Good on ya', ya' Frenchy lesbo.

i'm been to the states a few times, i have many american friends, but i wouldn't ever claim to completely understand the culture.
in many ways it's just a completely different world.

frenchy?
now i really hate you!

 

[SilverTrain]

i'm been to the states a few times, i have many american friends, but i wouldn't ever claim to completely understand the culture.

Me neither!