4 ms·

I already do this exactly, in the case where it's one woman it would be humorous to use that statement and would lighten the mood. If someone is looking to be

I already do this exactly, in the case where it's one woman it would be humorous to use that statement and would lighten the mood. If someone is looking to be offended then they will find a reason no matter what is said or how it's said. Intent is the thing that should be judged, anything else is a foolish way to live and you will constantly find yourself offended.

Frondo 11y ago
I'm sure the old people I know who still refer to black folks as "negros" don't mean anything by it. I also bet the people who throw around "gay" as a generic pejorative aren't thinking of actual gay people when they use the word as an insult. That doesn't make either one acceptable here in the 2010s. Same with telling a woman that doing something "manly-man" style is doing it skillfully. And even if you know it's going to be taken as humorous, let me give you a hint: it's not very funny. It's just not very good as humor. There is much better material out there if you're going for a joke.
- joenathan 11y ago
  I am black and would not be offended if someone referred to me as a negro, if they mean no offense, then I take no offense. I've been referred to as African American, Afro American, colored, person of color, black, negro, etc. It makes no difference to me personally. Unless intended otherwise, it's just a point of reference.
  - Frondo 11y ago
    Would you say that your personal experience is generalizable to many/most people of color? If, say, someone from another company who's visited your offices for a day later refers to you as "that negro in product development," would it be typical that other people of color would take no offense at that use of language? I'm curious about it. I don't have that lived-in experience, so all I can do to understand is ask and listen.
    - joenathan 11y ago
      I have customers from Latin America and negro in Spanish simply means black. Why would I ruin my day and relationship with someone by taking offense to a word when there was no malice intended?
      - Frondo 11y ago
        That may be, but I would appreciate if you could also lend me your insight into the questions I had asked.

Frondo 11y ago

I'm sure the old people I know who still refer to black folks as "negros" don't mean anything by it. I also bet the people who throw around "gay" as a generic pejorative aren't thinking of actual gay people when they use the word as an insult. That doesn't make either one acceptable here in the 2010s. Same with telling a woman that doing something "manly-man" style is doing it skillfully. And even if you know it's going to be taken as humorous, let me give you a hint: it's not very funny. It's just not very good as humor. There is much better material out there if you're going for a joke.

joenathan 11y ago
I am black and would not be offended if someone referred to me as a negro, if they mean no offense, then I take no offense. I've been referred to as African American, Afro American, colored, person of color, black, negro, etc. It makes no difference to me personally. Unless intended otherwise, it's just a point of reference.
- Frondo 11y ago
  Would you say that your personal experience is generalizable to many/most people of color? If, say, someone from another company who's visited your offices for a day later refers to you as "that negro in product development," would it be typical that other people of color would take no offense at that use of language? I'm curious about it. I don't have that lived-in experience, so all I can do to understand is ask and listen.
  - joenathan 11y ago
    I have customers from Latin America and negro in Spanish simply means black. Why would I ruin my day and relationship with someone by taking offense to a word when there was no malice intended?
    - Frondo 11y ago
      That may be, but I would appreciate if you could also lend me your insight into the questions I had asked.