Harry's been a naughty boy again

I'm glad this is news, I really am. When the likes of the Daily Mail are telling their readers that the word "paki" is unacceptable I finally have the teensiest bit of hope that the readership of said rag will finally start practicing what they rant about and stop using it.

Seriously, it's a horrible word, it makes me cringe to my very core. For a start it shows the users' complete lack of geographical awareness in lumping together anyone and everyone with vaguely off-white skin into a relatively tiny country in asia. Secondly, whilst I'm sure there are contexts where it can be used in jest, there are not many, and it is certainly not an appropriate term for describing every single sodding corner shop. It is a term loaded by history with hate, and recent history too; I'm "only" 34 years old and I vividly remember that the only time I saw that word was when it was amongst graffiti scrawled by blokes with overly short hair and overly big boots. Throughout childhood the only context I saw the word "paki" in was in "Pakis out" spray can scrawl (alongside frequently more violent missives) - this word has a horribly violent and offensive undertone and is still used in a deeply offensive manner today.

I have no doubt that this is in relatively common use in the armed forces, but that doesn't make it acceptable, and now the angry Daily Mail / News of the World are ranting about it perhaps the readership of said rags will finally realise that it isn't acceptable outside the army either.

load of mince

Originally Posted by Miss Alpinestarhero

Im wholly against racism but for goodness sake I wish the media and government would stop kicking up such a fuss everytime an apparently racial incident occurs.

Indeed. Not exactly worth reporting about, Harry didn't follow up his comment by taking a machete to the person in question did he?

Perhaps this is all just about the Royals look bad in the eyes of the nation, or just Harry. All you ever hear about William is his love woes, can't say I'm interested much in that either. My interest in the Royal family is seriously waning.

Originally Posted by MiniMatt

For a start it shows the users' complete lack of geographical awareness in lumping together anyone and everyone with vaguely off-white skin into a relatively tiny country in asia.

Not saying its right or anything, but thats not the case in this example.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by jamesrichardson

Not saying its right or anything, but thats not the case in this example.

Nigger, Wog, Wop, Spick, Jock, Taffy, Paddy, Yank, Paki, Chink, Jap, Charlie, Gook, Raghead

All just words, and only have the "power" you let them have, and many people will probably see some of those words as not belonging in that list, but all are equivalent.

This whole event, dragged up from 3 years ago, before Harry cleaned up his act (well publically at least) is just a paper-selling point.

[Biker Biggles]

When I was young the term Jew was a insult but times change and it now means what it says.The term Paki certainly had nasty undertones in the days of Paki bashing and skinheads and maybe still does,but all these terms are about context.The most horrendous insults can be entirely appropriate among close friends and colleagues as terms of endearment but far lesser insults would be very wrong when said to strangers.This example with Harry strikes me as a term of endearment among colleagues and we should all have the maturity to trat it as such.

Originally Posted by ak_uk

[...]

It's a term of racial hatred pure and simple.

How can it be if someone uses it and isn't aware that it is? I agree with Miss Alpinestarhero on this one when she says 'Yes one can argue that the term is derogatory, but this largely depends on the context and manner in which it is used.'



You hear this argument in every walk of life. for instance -

• Many people with Epilepsy get upset when the word fit is used for siezure, and they dont like the term 'epileptic' - they prefer 'person with epilepsy'.
• Many people who are deaf prefer to be referred to as hearing impaired.
• Stroke victims adamantly state they are Stroke survivors.

I could go on and on!

Originally Posted by ak_uk

It's a term of racial hatred pure and simple.

its short for Pakistani

get over it

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

All just words, and only have the "power" you let them have

Very good point. What was once a powerful word in the past may not necessarily be one now.

Originally Posted by ArtyLady

How can it be if someone uses it and isn't aware that it is? I agree with Miss Alpinestarhero on this one when she says 'Yes one can argue that the term is derogatory, but this largely depends on the context and manner in which it is used.'




You hear this argument in every walk of life. for instance -

• Many people with Epilepsy get upset when the word fit is used for siezure, and they dont like the term 'epileptic' - they prefer 'person with epilepsy'.
• Many people who are deaf prefer to be referred to as hearing impaired.
• Stroke victims adamantly state they are Stroke survivors.

I could go on and on!

+1 this argument about Harry can stretch way beyond racism: to ageism, discrimination etc....

The fact is, the news of the world have dragged up a 3 year old event for no reason at all (apart from to sell papers & make money). I wouldnt be suprised if they didnt think Harry was being racist.

Originally Posted by hovis

its short for Pakistani

get over it

Oh Hovis, stop closing your eyes to what is a nasty term of considerable offence.

Totally with MiniMatt on this one. It's a hideous 'word' and whilst I think NOTW are sensationalising it, he should never have used it.