Would you say this is racist?

[Jimmy Grimble]

Would like to here some opinions on this, is "PAKI" a word you would deem racist when refering to someone from Pakistan? For example, "That Paki annoys me me", or,"Are you going to the Paki's shop?"

Is it just the same as calling a British person a "Brit"?

 

[Beach Hut]

No I would not in this multicutural society although I am sure a shed load of lefties would say it is.

 

[SNOOBS]

I wouldn't but I'm sure if I said infront of some people 'that paki annoys me' they would deem me to be racist

 

[itszamora]

As with many things, it depends entirely on the context. It's not something I'd personally say though.

 

[RM-Taylor]

I would say it isn't.

In this country every Asian is deemed or called a "paki"

And I think they're all used to it, and don't take offence to it

 

[Lady Whistledown]

In this country every Asian is deemed or called a "paki"

And I think they're all used to it, and don't take offence to it

:thud:

 

[hart's shirt]

I would say it isn't.

In this country every Asian is deemed or called a "paki"

And I think they're all used to it, and don't take offence to it

I'd guess that more than a few Indians would probably take offence at being called a "paki" because they themselves don't actually come from Pakistan.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

depends on the context

however, in general, it is used as a racist term

 

[Lady Whistledown]

The important thing to understand here is that in the significant majority of cases, the use of the term "Paki" to describe someone of Asian origin, is done in a derogatory context, thus that is how people have come to consider it racist.

The term "Brit" has, in general, not historically been used as a term of abuse in the UK, whereas "Paki" has, and I'd suggest that it will take a long time for those on the receiving end of it- for example having the words "Pakis Out" sprayed on their shops, say- to decide that the word itself is not racist.

It may well be that some Asians now use the term to describe themselves, but that itself is a kind of reclamation thing, ie if they do it, it takes away the power of others to use it as an insult (kind of like gay men labelling themselves as "queer"). It doesn't mean they will find it acceptable for others to use it towards them.

Re the comment about "Paki shops" above- would you stand up in, say, Brixton, and suggest you're just popping into the "****** shop"? What's the difference? It's still a sweeping generalisation based on someone's perceived ethnicity. Why not just "shop"?

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I would say it isn't. YES IT IS !!!

In this country every Asian is deemed or called a "paki" NO THEY ARE NOT !!!
And I think they're all used to it, and don't take offence to it NO THEY ARE NOT, AND YES THEY DO !!!

Maybe you should go out and meet/talk to few people from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh before you come out with this ignorant racist crap For your information Asia covers a huge area from the Bosphorus to the Pacific, of which Pakistan is only a comparatively small part.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The word was invented by racists, with the intention of delivering racist abuse.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

In this country every Asian is deemed or called a "paki"

For your information Asia covers a huge area from the Bosphorus to the Pacific, of which Pakistan is only a comparatively small part.

To be precise:

Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Georgia
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kuwait
North Korea
South Korea
Laos
Lebanon
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian territories
Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
East Timor
Turkey
Turkmenistan
UAE
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen


Are all these millions & millions of people "Pakis" then?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

You've missed out the north Africans, Edna.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

You've missed out the north Africans, Edna.

Ah yes, I missed Egypt. Do you think they mind being called Pakis, Lord B?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

My ex sister-in-law certainly objects to it, Edna.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

My ex sister-in-law certainly objects to it, Edna.

Honestly LB, how over-sensitive of her! Why can't she be like the other 3,999,999,999 or so Asians on this planet and just accept being indiscriminately insulted solely on the basis of her ethnicity?

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

The world is full of people with all kind of different skins.

Those being the thick skinned, and the other being the thin skinned.


Goin by these people who say Paki is a racist terms reasoning the following could also be considered racist "Paddy", "Jock", "Taffy", "Ginger ****", "Fenian" because all these terms have been used by others in detrimental manners towards certain peoples of other cultures.

Or maybe people won't consider this racist because these people are white.

 

[readingstockport]

I would say it isn't.

In this country every Asian is deemed or called a "paki"

And I think they're all used to it, and don't take offence to it

Why don't you go up to the next Asian you see in the street and call him or her a paki to their face and explain to them why you think they aren't offended by it. Don't complain or class it as a racist assault when they punch your lights out though.

 

[Gully]

This must rate as the most stupid poll ever on NSC, of course the term is offensive, for precisely the reasons that Edna states.

 

[tedebear]

I would say it isn't.

In this country every Asian is deemed or called a "paki"

And I think they're all used to it, and don't take offence to it

HOw old are you?