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**Macht** · 09-21-2005, 01:39 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Try using this word in Sony's Message board, it'll bleep it out. Just the word is considered a racial word even though it's only a shortening of Japanese like Brit or Scot, but unlike Brit or Scot they are not so much the same as being considered a racial word.

**Keji** · 09-21-2005, 01:42 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Originally posted by gix

them japs on my server get pissed when we bring it up around HNM camps.

. . .

**--e** · 09-21-2005, 01:46 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Wow a JP reduced to tears in a very public area!? Dang what did the person say? Couldn't have just been the term "jap" becuase they are not ones for public displays.

There is a lot of insensitivity that stems from ignorance, and she was on the receiving end of such insensitivity. It wasn't necessarily with malicious intent or open hostility. Just another xenophobic ethnocentric twit at a cab stop in New York.

She's also a touch on the sensitive side ~_^

BTW: jpn aren't immune to public displays of emotion, I had 3 classes of 3rd graders cry when I left, and a couple of the friends that saw me to the shinkansen (OL, teachers, housewives, at 5am, bless their hearts)

**Tipsy** · 09-21-2005, 02:03 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

thats stupid they dont get offend about it, were not in ww2 no more, possibly ww3 but not ww2...my friends call me nazi (cuz im german) idc lol

"Jap" is just "[Jap]anese" i dont get offend if someone calls me Amer or Merican, id just say wtf? lol

**TheGrandMom** · 09-21-2005, 02:52 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Originally posted by --e

There is a lot of insensitivity that stems from ignorance, and she was on the receiving end of such insensitivity. It wasn't necessarily with malicious intent or open hostility. Just another xenophobic ethnocentric twit at a cab stop in New York.

She's also a touch on the sensitive side ~_^

BTW: jpn aren't immune to public displays of emotion, I had 3 classes of 3rd graders cry when I left, and a couple of the friends that saw me to the shinkansen (OL, teachers, housewives, at 5am, bless their hearts)

After I made my post I got to thinking. Most of my JP friends are older. I don't associate too much with the younger generation besides the children of my friends. I guess the new generations has "lightened up" a bit.

**Macht** · 09-21-2005, 02:57 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Originally posted by Tipsy

thats stupid they dont get offend about it, were not in ww2 no more, possibly ww3 but not ww2...my friends call me nazi (cuz im german) idc lol

"Jap" is just "[Jap]anese" i dont get offend if someone calls me Amer or Merican, id just say wtf? lol

I take this must be the "xenophobic ethnocentric twit at a cab stop in New York" your friend met --e

Anyway I'm just kidding, but Tipsy do consider that other peoples feeling are not your feelings. You could be called nazi (weak racial representation, especially since it was actual nazi's that used more racial slurs then most other places) so of course it has a very weak function of insulting. That word for Japanese has been and is used with the intent of throwing racial slander.

**711rocks** · 09-21-2005, 03:09 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Gotta agree with Tipsy here, people are WAY too uptight about racial terms and being politically correct. Call me a Mick, Cracker, Honky, Pecker-wood whatever, we'll still be friends. Now it's offensive to say "Oriental", you have to say "Asian". BTW racial jokes are the funniest kind there are, they kick the crap out of dirty jokes. If any of that made me sound racist, I'm not, I just think people should calm down a bit and take time to laugh at our faults.

**Macht** · 09-21-2005, 03:38 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Originally posted by TheGrandMom

After I made my post I got to thinking. Most of my JP friends are older. I don't associate too much with the younger generation besides the children of my friends. I guess the new generations has "lightened up" a bit.

I'm in my mid-20s if that's young enough then I would say nope, racial words that were racial before for most part still are, it's only select few and who you address them to that has the lesser impact. As to keep people for un-intentionally insulting someone by a racial slur there is actually a database created with it.

It has a total count of around 2,368 known racial words. Some of them are quite bad, some of them I'm sure people would laugh if they heard. That is part of the intent on some is to get a third party to laugh to further depen the hurt given to someone who is the focus of the racial slander.

Double Post Edited:

Originally posted by 711rocks

Gotta agree with Tipsy here, people are WAY too uptight about racial terms and being politically correct. Call me a Mick, Cracker, Honky, Pecker-wood whatever, we'll still be friends. Now it's offensive to say "Oriental", you have to say "Asian". BTW racial jokes are the funniest kind there are, they kick the crap out of dirty jokes. If any of that made me sound racist, I'm not, I just think people should calm down a bit and take time to laugh at our faults.

Well depending on who you use those words to some people will take offense to it. Big part of depends on the other people present, not a oh they won't care attidute. If you've never had an actual racial slur directed at you with an intent to used as such you really can't grasp it's effects.

It's not very fun when I'm in a room with a bunch of racists white guys and they find out I'm only white by apperance. Then getting joked on it over and over with the jokes being intentionally directed at me it starts to get really annoying. It isn't solely the word but the verbal use of it. However when the word is used enough to that intent then the word itself is as destructive.

I'm sure if you were visiting a place new to you and you feel out of place that having many racial words thrown at you will have more of an effect then if you are with people you know to some degree.

**JP_Ikari** · 09-21-2005, 04:43 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

I say, if we don't want any conflict, avoid the term overall. People will have different opinions about these type of things. To us (the new generation), it's nothing. We shrug it off, then move on. But in fairness. We all have to be considerate about it. If they don't use it, we don't use it. We know why they don't use it. That's why we shouldn't. For what happened before, we can't let that affect us. Nor let it influence us. Both sides suffered. We suffered, they suffered. We all have. In the end, it's up to us whether or not we live with the hatred in our hearts. Or we move on, and learn from what happened back then. That's it plain and simple.

JP

P.S. And btw, I'm filipino. I learned whta they did to my country during WW2. And trust me, it wasn't pretty.

**lionx** · 09-21-2005, 04:57 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Jap is the equivalent to nigger, chink, and whatever racist comment out there. some might not care, but why take the chance? Just be nice

**tdh** · 09-21-2005, 04:57 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

I was actually instructed to use JPN. I was told some of our Japanese friends don't really like the JP abbreviation either. So I've been using the JPN for some time now.

As far as the term "Jap." In a way I agree with people. They should really just stop being up tight about things, but then again there are things you can't just forget and the animosity isn't just going to go away with the new younger generation. They're things that just aren't going to be forgotten, (Or forgiven.) that will still be something hard for them to forget for future generations.

I know there are shortened versions of various references, like the ones mentioned; Brit, Scot, and the like. And there's "Jew" and "Jap." Both have been used in such frame of reference that they almost always sound derogatory in nature at all times.

I mean I'll have to admit that I think being "politically correct" has gotten out of hand. Yeah, don't step on anybody's toes, but censoring yourself at all times is a bit much. However, now having said that, if somebody were to call me any number of things in reference to race or some other sort of classification, my first reaction may be a violent one. And I know for a fact that I'm not the only person here that might have that reaction.

People shouldn't have to walk around on egg shells when they're talking to people, but at the same time there's a big difference from not walking on egg shells and chucking the eggs at people. One's too careful, and the other is deliberately make a mess with the things you say. I think a happy medium is what we should all shrive for, and I believe most people here would agree with that notion.

**Jei** · 09-21-2005, 05:14 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

maybe off topic here. But once, my college in thailand held a musical exchange acticities and had some japanese music students over to our campus. There was a girl who was so excited about thailand and so excited to try our food. And... on her first bite, she started crying. Saying the foods are too smelly (._.) .... she couldn't eat anything AT ALL except plain rice...

**Kagerou** · 09-21-2005, 06:06 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

too smelly? Wth is that supposed to mean lol. Who cares about the smell if it tastes good?

**tdh** · 09-21-2005, 06:14 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Originally posted by Kagerou

too smelly? Wth is that supposed to mean lol. Who cares about the smell if it tastes good?

Honeslty, a lot of people are more revolted by the smell of things then they are about the taste. Have you ever seen somebody drink/eat something you really dislike and pinch their nose closed while they do it? I've seen a number of people do this with chocolate milk, and the idiots that actually sign up to go on Fear Factor. lol

If I find something smells really awful, it can make my stomach go into knots before I get the utensil to my lips. However, I'm one of those people that truly tries to enjoy food. My sister makes fun of me because I won't eat in the dark. (Like we start a movie with the lights off and I'm eating) because seeing and smelling the food is party of the enjoyment for me. (Yes, I do know this is a tad weird. lol) So if I have something that looks good and smells good, it enhances the taste for me. I'd like to think conversely, the same could be said for something that doesn't smell too good.

EDIT:
But I really like Thai food. (Unfortunately the good Thai place we had in town left.

) So I haven't had any in a while. Think you could me some Jei?

**Coinspinner** · 09-21-2005, 06:24 PM

Re: Why is the term "Jap" offensive?

Originally posted by Kagerou

too smelly? Wth is that supposed to mean lol. Who cares about the smell if it tastes good?

Smell and taste are nearly the same thing. :p

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