5 ms·

Yes I always thought this is weird. For me in the UK, "Asian" always referred to (for better or worse) Indian, Pakistani, and Bengali up until somewhere in the

Yes I always thought this is weird. For me in the UK, "Asian" always referred to (for better or worse) Indian, Pakistani, and Bengali up until somewhere in the mid-2000s I think (??) when I was told by someone that "The O-word" is a racist term (I am starting to sound like my grandparents here!) Sorry to anyone I offended up until then. I'd prefer it if we just dumped this concept of needing to put everyone into a generalised named-group anyway. I am just me, regardless of my gender/ethnicity/age/favourite ice cream flavour/sexuality/politics. Articles pointing out how "my" group are failing at this or over-represented at that or that it is official "Named-Group Month" are not helpful in my opinion - they just serve to divide and highlight differences between people. We need to treat everyone equally by rooting out bias (conscious or otherwise) and I dont think this sort of thing helps us to reach that goal.

gambiting 8y ago
I'm genuinely curious - what's the "o-word"? Orient? How is that racist? English is not my first language and I have never came across Orient being used in a derogatory or offensive way - unless of course there's some other word I don't know about.
- mattlondon 8y ago
  "Oriental" is the "O-word" I was referring to.
- dagw 8y ago
  Referring to the region as the "Orient" isn't really a problematic term, even if it might be seen as a bit archaic. But using the term "oriental" to refer to the people from that region does have a disparaging and pejorative history in American English usage. Outside of the US the term is considered less disparaging and more just considered archaic.
  - mattlondon 8y ago
    In the UK it has been considered racist for a while I believe. At least that is what I have been led to believe. I am not sure who "decides" (presumably the people who are called by that name) when this happens, but there was a distinct point for me (although I cant remember precisely when that was) where I was informed that I cant use that term any more. Bit of a shock to be politely told by someone, when up until that point you had no idea. You feel bad - you had no idea.

gambiting 8y ago

I'm genuinely curious - what's the "o-word"? Orient? How is that racist? English is not my first language and I have never came across Orient being used in a derogatory or offensive way - unless of course there's some other word I don't know about.

mattlondon 8y ago
"Oriental" is the "O-word" I was referring to.
dagw 8y ago
Referring to the region as the "Orient" isn't really a problematic term, even if it might be seen as a bit archaic. But using the term "oriental" to refer to the people from that region does have a disparaging and pejorative history in American English usage. Outside of the US the term is considered less disparaging and more just considered archaic.
- mattlondon 8y ago
  In the UK it has been considered racist for a while I believe. At least that is what I have been led to believe. I am not sure who "decides" (presumably the people who are called by that name) when this happens, but there was a distinct point for me (although I cant remember precisely when that was) where I was informed that I cant use that term any more. Bit of a shock to be politely told by someone, when up until that point you had no idea. You feel bad - you had no idea.