The Orient and Other PC Discussion

[topazg]

I expect we're not really allowed to talk about this kind of thing though. So I do wonder why this thread hasn't been locked yet.

If it is a) civil and polite, b) not offending people enough to complain about it, and c) not a direct and unequivocal breach of TOS, then it can make for a useful discussion in my opinion - hopefully those who have a narrower experience of such issues can be exposed to more people's thoughts and opinions on the subject. There's never going to too many opportunities to reduce narrow-mindedness

[deja]

It's interesting to learn the cultural background behind these terms.
Admining on KGS I learnt that scumbag (normally a comedy insult in the UK) is considered to be very rude in the USA. On an international server, differences like this make decision making difficult sometimes. I take it that Oriental has become offensive because of the inability of people in the USA to tell Orientals apart? Or is that combined with the inability to visualise Orientals belonging to the 21st century (AKA expecting people from Africa to live in jungle huts a la Tarzan syndrome)? Maybe somebody could elaborate on that, but that seems to be the suggestion from what has been said here. In Europe (well the UK and Ireland at least) it seems that hasn't been the case. So I don't believe that in Europe one should (yet) expect to treat the word Oriental as taboo. It's not yet something I have encountered - indeed, this year in London there was an Oriental Occidental Go team match recently IIRC. Certainly in regards to the original statement, I would believe that all of them are reasonably educated in the differences between Oriental countries. Has anyone in Europe experienced a problem when using this word?

I expect we're not really allowed to talk about this kind of thing though. So I do wonder why this thread hasn't been locked yet.

That's cute, Javaness

[daniel_the_smith]

Admining on KGS I learnt that scumbag (normally a comedy insult in the UK) is considered to be very rude in the USA.

It is? I live in the US and I didn't know that... I certainly wouldn't have ranked it anywhere near a*****e (you folks across the pond can add an extra *) in terms of rudeness.

[Joaz Banbeck]

I expect we're not really allowed to talk about this kind of thing though. So I do wonder why this thread hasn't been locked yet.

At least three admins/mods are participating, so it is being looked at regularly. As Topazg says, it has not gone over the edge. I'm rather impressed by that fact, that a potentially explosive topic has been handled in such a civil manner.

On that idea...

In private discussions, I've been an advocate of a 'way off topic' sub-forum, in which there would be no restrictions about religion and politics, but still rules against insulting fellow forum members.
I think this discussion shows that people here could handle it.

[Bantari]

In private discussions, I've been an advocate of a 'way off topic' sub-forum, in which there would be no restrictions about religion and politics, but still rules against insulting fellow forum members.
I think this discussion shows that people here could handle it.

Love the idea...
I would REALLY vote for that!!!

This way, the threads/parts which have gone more off that Off Topic could just be transferred there.
If people are afraid this could be inappropriate for a certain portion of the audience, maybe only optional listing in the Unread/New Posts categories? With the default being Off?

[topazg]

It is? I live in the US and I didn't know that... I certainly wouldn't have ranked it anywhere near a*****e (you folks across the pond can add an extra *) in terms of rudeness.

Hahaha, my other half (who's from the US) calls me that one all the time

[deja]

The Family Guy on the "inability of people in the USA to tell Orientals apart"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jopstEt1kQ

[Javaness]

It is? I live in the US and I didn't know that... I certainly wouldn't have ranked it anywhere near a*****e (you folks across the pond can add an extra *) in terms of rudeness.

Hahaha, my other half (who's from the US) calls me that one all the time

*shrugs* could be an Age thing then.

[topazg]

Hahaha, oh dear, I'm derailing the thread into my personal life ... try again:

Admittedly, she often leaves off the last 4 letters of that one, but it's clear when she says it she doesn't mean I'm stubborn However, I made the point because it returns to some of the things that have been core points of this thread: I know when she says it, it is (nearly!) always lighthearted, and normally in a response to a tease. I could choose to take it insultingly and offensive, but I don't, because I have a fairly good idea how it is intended. It ties in very nicely with some of Kirby's points: she wouldn't say it if it was going to upset me, and I assume that she isn't trying to offend me, and this is all because we have taken the time and effort to get to know each other (good job really!)

She's not called me a scumbag yet - somehow, it's hard to make that sound endearing (I have no idea why the way she says a** is endearing, but it is).

Most offense I suspect is due to ignorance. Both on behalf of the communicator in not understanding the societal sensitivities he is communicating to, and on behalf of the communicated for not realising that the offense may be due to the offender not understanding. Sometimes assuming good faith can go a long way

[willemien]

Off Topic:

reminds me of that joke of a reply to person who wrote a bit angry letter to somebody.

"Thank you for your friendly letter, but i noticed you made a mistake it is arse*** not Ass***. please refrain from words you don't know how to spell"

[Bill Spight]

Admining on KGS I learnt that scumbag (normally a comedy insult in the UK) is considered to be very rude in the USA.

It is? I live in the US and I didn't know that... I certainly wouldn't have ranked it anywhere near a*****e (you folks across the pond can add an extra *) in terms of rudeness.

The proper term is anally challenged.

[ethanb]

Admining on KGS I learnt that scumbag (normally a comedy insult in the UK) is considered to be very rude in the USA.

It is? I live in the US and I didn't know that... I certainly wouldn't have ranked it anywhere near a*****e (you folks across the pond can add an extra *) in terms of rudeness.

The proper term is anally challenged.

I would have thought they had a surfeit of the quality in question! Should we donate ours' (or its product?)