Taking Offense - Has It Gone Off The Rails?

oftenreading

I'm a bit short of time to read those examples right now but I wanted to say to the OP that I like the twists and turns this thread has taken. Good idea, HFD.

InHiding80

mattsl1983 said:

And still no actual evidence... lots of clever comments, but nothing of substance.

Translation: "Doesn't agree with my biased pro trump bull crap view so it magically doesn't exist to me because I'm allergic to liberal facts. Derp!"

tempo_n_groove

Doesn't this thread borderline "political correctness"?

oftenreading

tempo_n_groove said:

Doesn't this thread borderline "political correctness"?

What does that mean?

HesCalledDyer

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

unsung said:

Here is another...

Cultural Appropriation.

and you don't like that term because....?

It isn't the term I dislike, it is the concept that we can't appreciate and embrace things from other cultures for fear of retribution. In the last couple of years I keep reading articles about what Halloween costumes are inappropriate due to cultural appropriation. Also, apparently:
white girls can't wear braids now - http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/03/hampshire_college_student_face.html
And gods forbid they wear hoop earrings - http://claremontindependent.com/pitzer-college-ra-white-people-cant-wear-hoop-earrings/
White dudes shouldn't have dreads or matted hair - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDlQ4H0Kdg8
Don't use the term Sweat Lodge with your yoga studio: http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170110/anderson-feud-over-native-american-culture
In fact, white people probably shouldn't be doing yoga at all: http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/11/20/free-ottawa-yoga-class-scrapped-over-cultural-issues

These are just a few of the examples of why I think the notion that cultural appropriation is wrong or bad is bullshit. In fact, cultural appropriation is what has happened for centuries and every culture is the result of some sort of cultural appropriation. You can find it in art, in food, in music, in architecture, in clothing styles, etc... It isn't a bad thing, but these days it is treated as a some sort of sin.

ok, those are some pretty ridiculous examples. I agree, that is taking it a bit over the edge. unfortunately, many liberal "agendas" take on a ridiculous form when released out into the public consciousness. people don't know when to quit sometimes.

there is nothing wrong, in my eyes, as you said, appreciating and embracing other cultures and their traditions; it becomes a problem when it crosses over into mockery, like dressing up as an "indian" for halloween, or blackface, for instance. it seemed harmless to me as a kid, as it did my parents, which is why they find all of this particularly ridiculous, but I see now how it could be harmful to those from that culture and celebrate it.

I really don't think it's right to keep sports team names that make caricatures out of cultures. I'm shocked there has yet to be any outrage over the CFL team name Edmonton Eskimos; it is not only considered a derogatory term nowadays, but it's another example of making a culture a cartoon character.

Imagine if a team of black people called themselves the Haitian Honkies, and dressed up as white hillbillies with banjos. I'm sure there'd be comparable outrage.

I'm not too keen on the sports teams being forced to change their names & logos. Every sports team logo is a caricature regardless of what it is. Granted, there are a few cases I could see where people get upset because of racial slurs being used (e.g. Washington Redskins) but for the most part, I don't really see why anyone should have a problem with 99.9% of sports team names and logos.

The University of North Dakota was forced to change their name from Fighting Sioux to Fighting Hawks. They were actually endorsed by the Sioux Tribe of North Dakota, the very people their athletic teams were named after. The Sioux tribe even testified on their behalf and called the NCAA a bunch of racists for not allowing them to continue with the name. There was one recent year (before the name change) that the NCAA told their men's hockey team they could not wear sweaters that bore the Sioux name during the Frozen Four or they would forfeit their games. That's absolutely absurd!

Florida State University goes through the same pressure every couple years that North Dakota endured. They, like UND, are endorsed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida who has also testified on the school's behalf in front of the NCAA.

I'm not too informed on the matter, but how would someone see the term Eskimo having pejorative meaning? Are the Eskimo not an indigenous people to Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland? I'd like to know more on this, honestly. I know there are the Inuit and Yupik peoples, but isn't Eskimo inclusive to both?

It starts getting into dangerous territory when you make people rename things that are named in honor of a people or peoples. The problem herein with renaming sports teams is if we're going to do that, we have to rename most of the states in the US and provinces/territories in Canada, about 30% of our cities, almost every river, a bunch of mountains and ranges, and thousands of other landmarks & institutions. It's ridiculous.

tempo_n_groove

oftenreading said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Doesn't this thread borderline "political correctness"?

What does that mean?

Offending and political correctness have similarities.

One shouldn't be offended and one should be politically correct.

HughFreakingDillon

HesCalledDyer said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

unsung said:

Here is another...

Cultural Appropriation.

and you don't like that term because....?

It isn't the term I dislike, it is the concept that we can't appreciate and embrace things from other cultures for fear of retribution. In the last couple of years I keep reading articles about what Halloween costumes are inappropriate due to cultural appropriation. Also, apparently:
white girls can't wear braids now - http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/03/hampshire_college_student_face.html
And gods forbid they wear hoop earrings - http://claremontindependent.com/pitzer-college-ra-white-people-cant-wear-hoop-earrings/
White dudes shouldn't have dreads or matted hair - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDlQ4H0Kdg8
Don't use the term Sweat Lodge with your yoga studio: http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170110/anderson-feud-over-native-american-culture
In fact, white people probably shouldn't be doing yoga at all: http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/11/20/free-ottawa-yoga-class-scrapped-over-cultural-issues

These are just a few of the examples of why I think the notion that cultural appropriation is wrong or bad is bullshit. In fact, cultural appropriation is what has happened for centuries and every culture is the result of some sort of cultural appropriation. You can find it in art, in food, in music, in architecture, in clothing styles, etc... It isn't a bad thing, but these days it is treated as a some sort of sin.

ok, those are some pretty ridiculous examples. I agree, that is taking it a bit over the edge. unfortunately, many liberal "agendas" take on a ridiculous form when released out into the public consciousness. people don't know when to quit sometimes.

there is nothing wrong, in my eyes, as you said, appreciating and embracing other cultures and their traditions; it becomes a problem when it crosses over into mockery, like dressing up as an "indian" for halloween, or blackface, for instance. it seemed harmless to me as a kid, as it did my parents, which is why they find all of this particularly ridiculous, but I see now how it could be harmful to those from that culture and celebrate it.

I really don't think it's right to keep sports team names that make caricatures out of cultures. I'm shocked there has yet to be any outrage over the CFL team name Edmonton Eskimos; it is not only considered a derogatory term nowadays, but it's another example of making a culture a cartoon character.

Imagine if a team of black people called themselves the Haitian Honkies, and dressed up as white hillbillies with banjos. I'm sure there'd be comparable outrage.

I'm not too keen on the sports teams being forced to change their names & logos. Every sports team logo is a caricature regardless of what it is. Granted, there are a few cases I could see where people get upset because of racial slurs being used (e.g. Washington Redskins) but for the most part, I don't really see why anyone should have a problem with 99.9% of sports team names and logos.

The University of North Dakota was forced to change their name from Fighting Sioux to Fighting Hawks. They were actually endorsed by the Sioux Tribe of North Dakota, the very people their athletic teams were named after. The Sioux tribe even testified on their behalf and called the NCAA a bunch of racists for not allowing them to continue with the name. There was one recent year (before the name change) that the NCAA told their men's hockey team they could not wear sweaters that bore the Sioux name during the Frozen Four or they would forfeit their games. That's absolutely absurd!

Florida State University goes through the same pressure every couple years that North Dakota endured. They, like UND, are endorsed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida who has also testified on the school's behalf in front of the NCAA.

I'm not too informed on the matter, but how would someone see the term Eskimo having pejorative meaning? Are the Eskimo not an indigenous people to Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland? I'd like to know more on this, honestly. I know there are the Inuit and Yupik peoples, but isn't Eskimo inclusive to both?

It starts getting into dangerous territory when you make people rename things that are named in honor of a people or peoples. The problem herein with renaming sports teams is if we're going to do that, we have to rename most of the states in the US and provinces/territories in Canada, about 30% of our cities, almost every river, a bunch of mountains and ranges, and thousands of other landmarks & institutions. It's ridiculous.

I had heard about the Fighting Sioux issue, but did not hear that the tribe itself was fine with the name. interesting.

there is no issue, as far as I am aware, with naming things in honour of people, like streets, cities, etc. It's when it becomes a mockery, or perceived mockery, cartoonery, caricature, etc. like when you have a mascot of a baseball team that encourages the fans to "chop" the air in a scalping motion.

here is the reason some find Eskimo to no longer be the appropriate term:

Inuit or Eskimo: Which name to use?

by Lawrence Kaplan

Although the name "Eskimo" is commonly used in Alaska to refer to all Inuit and Yupik people of the world, this name is considered derogatory in many other places because it was given by non-Inuit people and was said to mean "eater of raw meat."

Linguists now believe that "Eskimo" is derived from an Ojibwa word meaning "to net snowshoes." However, the people of Canada and Greenland prefer other names. "Inuit," meaning "people," is used in most of Canada, and the language is called "Inuktitut" in eastern Canada although other local designations are used also. The Inuit people of Greenland refer to themselves as "Greenlanders" or "Kalaallit" in their language, which they call "Greenlandic" or "Kalaallisut."

Most Alaskans continue to accept the name "Eskimo," particularly because "Inuit" refers only to the Inupiat of northern Alaska, the Inuit of Canada, and the Kalaallit of Greenland, and it is not a word in the Yupik languages of Alaska and Siberia.

however, as you can see, it's not across the board. So I guess that's why the little-to-no outrage.

yet.

2-feign-reluctance

HughFreakingDillon said:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kirker-butler/dont-be-offended_b_2838657.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

Don’t Be Offended. Seriously, Don’t.
By Kirker Butler
5.1k
Recently, our country was shaken to its core by two events that future historians will mark as the point-of-no-return for America’s long slide into moral depravity. I am speaking of course about The Oscars, and a sketch on Saturday Night Live called “Djesus Uncrossed.” I am not going to rehash either here because this is a time for healing. However, I would like to take a moment to address the people who have spent hours blogging, boycotting, emailing, and tweeting their disgust. In short, I would like to speak to the offended, and I would like to say this:

No one cares that you’re offended.

Literally no one. Okay, maybe your mom, but even she wishes you would take it down a notch. The offense you’ve taken at something you saw on TV is completely and utterly irrelevant to anyone other than yourself. Taking offense is just that, something you willingly take, and you have every right to do so. But once you take it, that mess is yours and yours alone.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t be offended by anything. There are plenty of things in this world that are truly offensive and worthy of our thoughtful attention. But I would argue that your hypersensitive overreaction to some televised comedy bits is far more harmful to our nation’s wellbeing than the bits themselves. I mean, how can we continue calling ourselves The Home of the Brave if we collectively shit our pants over every little boob and/or Jesus joke?

I know you’re going to say that you’re just trying to protect your children, but ask yourself what kind of message your reactionary hissy-fits are sending them? Certainly not one of bravery. At your funeral, do you think your kids will stand up and say, “My mother was so brave. In 2013 she got Sears to pull their ads from ‘Saturday Night Live’ for six whole weeks because she didn’t think a sketch they did was funny.” Probably not. But they might remember you sitting at a computer sending angry emails while they really just wanted you to take them to the park.

But I don’t blame you entirely. Being offended has become an epidemic in America. In fact, it’s become an industry. Scores of non-profit organizations have been created with the sole purpose of getting butthurt at things, and then trying to convince you that you should be butthurt, too. The Parent’s Television Council, One Million Moms, The American Family Association, etc.—all exist solely to spread phony outrage about one perceived offense or another. Their goal, they say is to inform and advise, but in reality they’re just humorless busybodies who believe that their opinions are more valid than others. Oh, and it’s also a good way to make money.

They’ll start some online boycott or petition, which will then trend on Twitter for a couple hours. Some cable news producer, desperate for content, will put them on TV, which only validates the busybody’s already overinflated sense of entitlement. Their website gets more traffic; they get more tax-exempt donations; and another finger wagging, “family-advocacy” organization gets more control over what we all see and hear. But what makes this dangerous is that these people embolden other busybodies watching at home to “take a stand” (i.e. cry like a bitch) when anything, no matter how insignificant, “offends” them. And their incessant whining is making us weaker as a nation.

People are having to remove t-shirts before they board planes so as not to offend other passengers. They’re having to peel bumper stickers from their cars so offended co-workers won’t have to see them in the parking lot. Textbooks are being rewritten, stand-up comics are second-guessing their jokes, all because some thin-skinned brats think the world should bend over backwards so they don’t have to experience a single moment of discomfort.

How does that make us better, or stronger, or smarter, or more prepared for the difficult challenges we all must face in our lives? It doesn’t. It just makes us a nation of pussies.

And if that offends you, who cares?

A result of social media and over sharing IMO.

HughFreakingDillon

2-feign-reluctance said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kirker-butler/dont-be-offended_b_2838657.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

Don’t Be Offended. Seriously, Don’t.
By Kirker Butler
5.1k
Recently, our country was shaken to its core by two events that future historians will mark as the point-of-no-return for America’s long slide into moral depravity. I am speaking of course about The Oscars, and a sketch on Saturday Night Live called “Djesus Uncrossed.” I am not going to rehash either here because this is a time for healing. However, I would like to take a moment to address the people who have spent hours blogging, boycotting, emailing, and tweeting their disgust. In short, I would like to speak to the offended, and I would like to say this:

No one cares that you’re offended.

Literally no one. Okay, maybe your mom, but even she wishes you would take it down a notch. The offense you’ve taken at something you saw on TV is completely and utterly irrelevant to anyone other than yourself. Taking offense is just that, something you willingly take, and you have every right to do so. But once you take it, that mess is yours and yours alone.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t be offended by anything. There are plenty of things in this world that are truly offensive and worthy of our thoughtful attention. But I would argue that your hypersensitive overreaction to some televised comedy bits is far more harmful to our nation’s wellbeing than the bits themselves. I mean, how can we continue calling ourselves The Home of the Brave if we collectively shit our pants over every little boob and/or Jesus joke?

I know you’re going to say that you’re just trying to protect your children, but ask yourself what kind of message your reactionary hissy-fits are sending them? Certainly not one of bravery. At your funeral, do you think your kids will stand up and say, “My mother was so brave. In 2013 she got Sears to pull their ads from ‘Saturday Night Live’ for six whole weeks because she didn’t think a sketch they did was funny.” Probably not. But they might remember you sitting at a computer sending angry emails while they really just wanted you to take them to the park.

But I don’t blame you entirely. Being offended has become an epidemic in America. In fact, it’s become an industry. Scores of non-profit organizations have been created with the sole purpose of getting butthurt at things, and then trying to convince you that you should be butthurt, too. The Parent’s Television Council, One Million Moms, The American Family Association, etc.—all exist solely to spread phony outrage about one perceived offense or another. Their goal, they say is to inform and advise, but in reality they’re just humorless busybodies who believe that their opinions are more valid than others. Oh, and it’s also a good way to make money.

They’ll start some online boycott or petition, which will then trend on Twitter for a couple hours. Some cable news producer, desperate for content, will put them on TV, which only validates the busybody’s already overinflated sense of entitlement. Their website gets more traffic; they get more tax-exempt donations; and another finger wagging, “family-advocacy” organization gets more control over what we all see and hear. But what makes this dangerous is that these people embolden other busybodies watching at home to “take a stand” (i.e. cry like a bitch) when anything, no matter how insignificant, “offends” them. And their incessant whining is making us weaker as a nation.

People are having to remove t-shirts before they board planes so as not to offend other passengers. They’re having to peel bumper stickers from their cars so offended co-workers won’t have to see them in the parking lot. Textbooks are being rewritten, stand-up comics are second-guessing their jokes, all because some thin-skinned brats think the world should bend over backwards so they don’t have to experience a single moment of discomfort.

How does that make us better, or stronger, or smarter, or more prepared for the difficult challenges we all must face in our lives? It doesn’t. It just makes us a nation of pussies.

And if that offends you, who cares?

A result of social media and over sharing IMO.

agree. I read another op-ed a while back that basically stated social media has given rise to the idea that everyone has a voice, when in reality, they don't, or shouldn't.

being outraged over everything has muddied the waters of what really matters.

tempo_n_groove

HughFreakingDillon said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kirker-butler/dont-be-offended_b_2838657.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

Don’t Be Offended. Seriously, Don’t.
By Kirker Butler
5.1k
Recently, our country was shaken to its core by two events that future historians will mark as the point-of-no-return for America’s long slide into moral depravity. I am speaking of course about The Oscars, and a sketch on Saturday Night Live called “Djesus Uncrossed.” I am not going to rehash either here because this is a time for healing. However, I would like to take a moment to address the people who have spent hours blogging, boycotting, emailing, and tweeting their disgust. In short, I would like to speak to the offended, and I would like to say this:

No one cares that you’re offended.

Literally no one. Okay, maybe your mom, but even she wishes you would take it down a notch. The offense you’ve taken at something you saw on TV is completely and utterly irrelevant to anyone other than yourself. Taking offense is just that, something you willingly take, and you have every right to do so. But once you take it, that mess is yours and yours alone.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t be offended by anything. There are plenty of things in this world that are truly offensive and worthy of our thoughtful attention. But I would argue that your hypersensitive overreaction to some televised comedy bits is far more harmful to our nation’s wellbeing than the bits themselves. I mean, how can we continue calling ourselves The Home of the Brave if we collectively shit our pants over every little boob and/or Jesus joke?

I know you’re going to say that you’re just trying to protect your children, but ask yourself what kind of message your reactionary hissy-fits are sending them? Certainly not one of bravery. At your funeral, do you think your kids will stand up and say, “My mother was so brave. In 2013 she got Sears to pull their ads from ‘Saturday Night Live’ for six whole weeks because she didn’t think a sketch they did was funny.” Probably not. But they might remember you sitting at a computer sending angry emails while they really just wanted you to take them to the park.

But I don’t blame you entirely. Being offended has become an epidemic in America. In fact, it’s become an industry. Scores of non-profit organizations have been created with the sole purpose of getting butthurt at things, and then trying to convince you that you should be butthurt, too. The Parent’s Television Council, One Million Moms, The American Family Association, etc.—all exist solely to spread phony outrage about one perceived offense or another. Their goal, they say is to inform and advise, but in reality they’re just humorless busybodies who believe that their opinions are more valid than others. Oh, and it’s also a good way to make money.

They’ll start some online boycott or petition, which will then trend on Twitter for a couple hours. Some cable news producer, desperate for content, will put them on TV, which only validates the busybody’s already overinflated sense of entitlement. Their website gets more traffic; they get more tax-exempt donations; and another finger wagging, “family-advocacy” organization gets more control over what we all see and hear. But what makes this dangerous is that these people embolden other busybodies watching at home to “take a stand” (i.e. cry like a bitch) when anything, no matter how insignificant, “offends” them. And their incessant whining is making us weaker as a nation.

People are having to remove t-shirts before they board planes so as not to offend other passengers. They’re having to peel bumper stickers from their cars so offended co-workers won’t have to see them in the parking lot. Textbooks are being rewritten, stand-up comics are second-guessing their jokes, all because some thin-skinned brats think the world should bend over backwards so they don’t have to experience a single moment of discomfort.

How does that make us better, or stronger, or smarter, or more prepared for the difficult challenges we all must face in our lives? It doesn’t. It just makes us a nation of pussies.

And if that offends you, who cares?

A result of social media and over sharing IMO.

agree. I read another op-ed a while back that basically stated social media has given rise to the idea that everyone has a voice, when in reality, they don't, or shouldn't.

being outraged over everything has muddied the waters of what really matters.

Preach!

unsung

Screw political correctness.

HesCalledDyer

HughFreakingDillon said:

HesCalledDyer said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

unsung said:

Here is another...

Cultural Appropriation.

and you don't like that term because....?

It isn't the term I dislike, it is the concept that we can't appreciate and embrace things from other cultures for fear of retribution. In the last couple of years I keep reading articles about what Halloween costumes are inappropriate due to cultural appropriation. Also, apparently:
white girls can't wear braids now - http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/03/hampshire_college_student_face.html
And gods forbid they wear hoop earrings - http://claremontindependent.com/pitzer-college-ra-white-people-cant-wear-hoop-earrings/
White dudes shouldn't have dreads or matted hair - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDlQ4H0Kdg8
Don't use the term Sweat Lodge with your yoga studio: http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170110/anderson-feud-over-native-american-culture
In fact, white people probably shouldn't be doing yoga at all: http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/11/20/free-ottawa-yoga-class-scrapped-over-cultural-issues

These are just a few of the examples of why I think the notion that cultural appropriation is wrong or bad is bullshit. In fact, cultural appropriation is what has happened for centuries and every culture is the result of some sort of cultural appropriation. You can find it in art, in food, in music, in architecture, in clothing styles, etc... It isn't a bad thing, but these days it is treated as a some sort of sin.

ok, those are some pretty ridiculous examples. I agree, that is taking it a bit over the edge. unfortunately, many liberal "agendas" take on a ridiculous form when released out into the public consciousness. people don't know when to quit sometimes.

there is nothing wrong, in my eyes, as you said, appreciating and embracing other cultures and their traditions; it becomes a problem when it crosses over into mockery, like dressing up as an "indian" for halloween, or blackface, for instance. it seemed harmless to me as a kid, as it did my parents, which is why they find all of this particularly ridiculous, but I see now how it could be harmful to those from that culture and celebrate it.

I really don't think it's right to keep sports team names that make caricatures out of cultures. I'm shocked there has yet to be any outrage over the CFL team name Edmonton Eskimos; it is not only considered a derogatory term nowadays, but it's another example of making a culture a cartoon character.

Imagine if a team of black people called themselves the Haitian Honkies, and dressed up as white hillbillies with banjos. I'm sure there'd be comparable outrage.

I'm not too keen on the sports teams being forced to change their names & logos. Every sports team logo is a caricature regardless of what it is. Granted, there are a few cases I could see where people get upset because of racial slurs being used (e.g. Washington Redskins) but for the most part, I don't really see why anyone should have a problem with 99.9% of sports team names and logos.

The University of North Dakota was forced to change their name from Fighting Sioux to Fighting Hawks. They were actually endorsed by the Sioux Tribe of North Dakota, the very people their athletic teams were named after. The Sioux tribe even testified on their behalf and called the NCAA a bunch of racists for not allowing them to continue with the name. There was one recent year (before the name change) that the NCAA told their men's hockey team they could not wear sweaters that bore the Sioux name during the Frozen Four or they would forfeit their games. That's absolutely absurd!

Florida State University goes through the same pressure every couple years that North Dakota endured. They, like UND, are endorsed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida who has also testified on the school's behalf in front of the NCAA.

I'm not too informed on the matter, but how would someone see the term Eskimo having pejorative meaning? Are the Eskimo not an indigenous people to Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland? I'd like to know more on this, honestly. I know there are the Inuit and Yupik peoples, but isn't Eskimo inclusive to both?

It starts getting into dangerous territory when you make people rename things that are named in honor of a people or peoples. The problem herein with renaming sports teams is if we're going to do that, we have to rename most of the states in the US and provinces/territories in Canada, about 30% of our cities, almost every river, a bunch of mountains and ranges, and thousands of other landmarks & institutions. It's ridiculous.

I had heard about the Fighting Sioux issue, but did not hear that the tribe itself was fine with the name. interesting.

there is no issue, as far as I am aware, with naming things in honour of people, like streets, cities, etc. It's when it becomes a mockery, or perceived mockery, cartoonery, caricature, etc. like when you have a mascot of a baseball team that encourages the fans to "chop" the air in a scalping motion.

here is the reason some find Eskimo to no longer be the appropriate term:

Inuit or Eskimo: Which name to use?

by Lawrence Kaplan

Although the name "Eskimo" is commonly used in Alaska to refer to all Inuit and Yupik people of the world, this name is considered derogatory in many other places because it was given by non-Inuit people and was said to mean "eater of raw meat."

Linguists now believe that "Eskimo" is derived from an Ojibwa word meaning "to net snowshoes." However, the people of Canada and Greenland prefer other names. "Inuit," meaning "people," is used in most of Canada, and the language is called "Inuktitut" in eastern Canada although other local designations are used also. The Inuit people of Greenland refer to themselves as "Greenlanders" or "Kalaallit" in their language, which they call "Greenlandic" or "Kalaallisut."

Most Alaskans continue to accept the name "Eskimo," particularly because "Inuit" refers only to the Inupiat of northern Alaska, the Inuit of Canada, and the Kalaallit of Greenland, and it is not a word in the Yupik languages of Alaska and Siberia.

however, as you can see, it's not across the board. So I guess that's why the little-to-no outrage.

yet.

Great info, much appreciated. As the line goes in Into the Wild, everything by its right name. I can definitely understand people wanting to be referred to correctly.

Go Beavers

unsung said:

Screw political correctness.

Please make sure you have consent first.

HughFreakingDillon

unsung said:

Screw political correctness.

if there ever was a predictable response to anything on AMT, ever, it is this.

CM189191

unsung said:

Screw political correctness.

I was reading a book (about interjections, oddly enough) yesterday which included the phrase “In these days of political correctness…” talking about no longer making jokes that denigrated people for their culture or for the colour of their skin. And I thought, “That’s not actually anything to do with ‘political correctness’. That’s just treating other people with respect.”

Which made me oddly happy. I started imagining a world in which we replaced the phrase “politically correct” wherever we could with “treating other people with respect”, and it made me smile.

You should try it. It’s peculiarly enlightening.

I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking “Oh my god, that’s treating other people with respect gone mad!”

-Neil Gaiman

HughFreakingDillon

CM189191 said:

unsung said:

Screw political correctness.

I was reading a book (about interjections, oddly enough) yesterday which included the phrase “In these days of political correctness…” talking about no longer making jokes that denigrated people for their culture or for the colour of their skin. And I thought, “That’s not actually anything to do with ‘political correctness’. That’s just treating other people with respect.”

Which made me oddly happy. I started imagining a world in which we replaced the phrase “politically correct” wherever we could with “treating other people with respect”, and it made me smile.

You should try it. It’s peculiarly enlightening.

I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking “Oh my god, that’s treating other people with respect gone mad!”

-Neil Gaiman

excellent post.

HughFreakingDillon

now, to @unsung end, this is a perfect example of political correctness has gone off the rails:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/27/manitoba-licence-plate_n_16303128.html

Manitoba Revokes 'Star Trek' Licence Plate Deemed Offensive

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Public Insurance has revoked a Star Trek fan's personalized licence plate after receiving complaints that its message — ASIMIL8 — is offensive to indigenous people.

Nick Troller has been driving around with the plate for two years.

It's held within a Star Trek licence frame that also bears the quotes, "We are the Borg," and "Resistance is Futile."

Troller tells CTV Winnipeg that on his favourite show, an enemy race of aliens called the Borg travel through the galaxy trying to assimilate other cultures into their own.


He says he thought the plate was funny and notes strangers and other Trek fans have complimented him and asked to take photos with the plate.

But Troller got a phone call Wednesday from a staff member at Manitoba Public Insurance who told him two people had complained that the word "assimilate" is offensive to indigenous people.

He also received a letter from MPI on Thursday demanding he "surrender" the plate immediately, telling him he can either get a new plate or a refund on the $100 charge.

"Words like that, meant or not, have an actual impact on many people."
"But that's not the point," says Troller. "We've become way too sensitive. You can't say anything anymore to anybody."

Ry Moran, from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, insists the word "assimilate" is too offensive to be on a licence plate.

"For basically the entirety of this country's history, indigenous peoples have been forcibly assimilated through really extremely destructive means and ways," he says.

"Words like that, meant or not, have an actual impact on many people."

MPI's policy states that "plates cannot contain a slogan that could be considered offensive." MPI says it takes such complaints "very seriously" and will investigate why the plate was approved in the first place.

Licence plates are property of the Crown and there is no appeal process.


Troller's situation is reminiscent of a controversy in Nova Scotia, where a man named Lorne Grabher's personalized GRABHER plate was revoked after a complaint that it was offensive to women.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said earlier this month that it plans to sue the Nova Scotia government over the revocation, which it sees as an infringement on freedom of expression.

The JCCF's John Carpay said the GRABHER licence plate revocation is part of a wider trend in Canadian society.

"Canadians are becoming increasingly less tolerant of free expression," he said. "You have more and more people who believe that they have a legal right to go through life without seeing or without hearing things they find to be offensive."

InHiding80

unsung said:

Screw political correctness.

So you're okay with antifa making jokes about Nazi scalps referencing a Tarantino movie then. Oh wait! Only white make rethuglicans can be pic and intolerant! Got it, double standard hypocrite. Libs can't call you names but you can use cuck, snowflake, libtard et al all you want. It's a two way street. Suck it up buttercup.

oftenreading

HughFreakingDillon said:

now, to @unsung end, this is a perfect example of political correctness has gone off the rails:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/27/manitoba-licence-plate_n_16303128.html

Manitoba Revokes 'Star Trek' Licence Plate Deemed Offensive

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Public Insurance has revoked a Star Trek fan's personalized licence plate after receiving complaints that its message — ASIMIL8 — is offensive to indigenous people.

Nick Troller has been driving around with the plate for two years.

It's held within a Star Trek licence frame that also bears the quotes, "We are the Borg," and "Resistance is Futile."

Troller tells CTV Winnipeg that on his favourite show, an enemy race of aliens called the Borg travel through the galaxy trying to assimilate other cultures into their own.


He says he thought the plate was funny and notes strangers and other Trek fans have complimented him and asked to take photos with the plate.

But Troller got a phone call Wednesday from a staff member at Manitoba Public Insurance who told him two people had complained that the word "assimilate" is offensive to indigenous people.

He also received a letter from MPI on Thursday demanding he "surrender" the plate immediately, telling him he can either get a new plate or a refund on the $100 charge.

"Words like that, meant or not, have an actual impact on many people."
"But that's not the point," says Troller. "We've become way too sensitive. You can't say anything anymore to anybody."

Ry Moran, from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, insists the word "assimilate" is too offensive to be on a licence plate.

"For basically the entirety of this country's history, indigenous peoples have been forcibly assimilated through really extremely destructive means and ways," he says.

"Words like that, meant or not, have an actual impact on many people."

MPI's policy states that "plates cannot contain a slogan that could be considered offensive." MPI says it takes such complaints "very seriously" and will investigate why the plate was approved in the first place.

Licence plates are property of the Crown and there is no appeal process.


Troller's situation is reminiscent of a controversy in Nova Scotia, where a man named Lorne Grabher's personalized GRABHER plate was revoked after a complaint that it was offensive to women.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said earlier this month that it plans to sue the Nova Scotia government over the revocation, which it sees as an infringement on freedom of expression.

The JCCF's John Carpay said the GRABHER licence plate revocation is part of a wider trend in Canadian society.

"Canadians are becoming increasingly less tolerant of free expression," he said. "You have more and more people who believe that they have a legal right to go through life without seeing or without hearing things they find to be offensive."

It amuses me that his name is Troller.

tempo_n_groove

CM189191 said:

unsung said:

Screw political correctness.

I was reading a book (about interjections, oddly enough) yesterday which included the phrase “In these days of political correctness…” talking about no longer making jokes that denigrated people for their culture or for the colour of their skin. And I thought, “That’s not actually anything to do with ‘political correctness’. That’s just treating other people with respect.”

Which made me oddly happy. I started imagining a world in which we replaced the phrase “politically correct” wherever we could with “treating other people with respect”, and it made me smile.

You should try it. It’s peculiarly enlightening.

I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking “Oh my god, that’s treating other people with respect gone mad!”

-Neil Gaiman

Sandman author. Nice.