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What constitutes bad manners? - by D. Armenta

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What constitutes bad manners? - March 2007

What may we call each other?

March 22nd 2007 01:31

The other day I was reading a post by youranter, who mentioned the word "Abos" referring to Aborigines. Someone commented that that was a very offensive word. Ranter didn't know, and apologised.
I didn't know either, and am glad to now because I wouldn't want to use an offensive term for any group of people. When I read it, I assumed it was a shortening of the word "Aborigines", like "Aussie" is a shortening of "Australian".
In the interest of promoting better relations, I'm asking if the following terms are offensive or not. I'm American; others call us "Yanks" (not offensive) "Colonials" (too outdated to offend; it's kind of funny, actually) and "You Americans", which usually precludes a launch into everything that's wrong with George Bush. You're preaching to the choir, folks. There aren't many of us left who support Bush.

I'm not the right American to ask if "You Americans" offends, because (believe it or not) I don't get offended easily.
Here's what I have heard or read about nicknames for some other countrymen. Please tell me if any are offensive, because I will spread the word here.
Also, if you've got some good nicknames for Americans, post 'em here! Like I said, I don't offend easily.

Aussies: offensive or not?

Brits, Pommies,Limeys: Any offensive nicknames in there?

Kiwis: Yes or no?

Hosers/Canucks: I heard "Yes" about Canucks from a French Canadian. I heard "No" about both from a Western Canadian. I'm still mystified.

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Comment by Joel Fortune

March 22nd 2007 01:49

Arthur Fortune

While it is an abbreviation of 'Aboriginal' it is viewed as being highly offensive and derogatory. I've found this to be a useful guide in referring to Aboriginal Australians. I don't find the use of 'Aussies' offensive but I think the others listed may be found offensive by their respective people.

Comment by D. Armenta

March 22nd 2007 02:25

The Florida Keys and Everglades
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What constitutes bad manners?
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Thanks, Joel! I appreciate the info. ***Remember, folks--I'm asking for clarification here, not because I condone insulting terms. I'm trying to establish what's an affectionate nickname and what's an insult.

Comment by Damo

March 22nd 2007 03:09

Offense normally occurs after the word has been used as a form of oppression or discrimination.

Even POMS call themselves POMS so the offence is questionable.
However adding the an adjective to enforce collective guilt makes it offensive.

Calling police COPS was once considered a crime.
Now it is all over the world. The offence is diminished with time.

Yanks call themselves Yanks. So the offence is also questionable.

The term Abo's fell out of favour due to its ability to create collective guilt and racist slurs.

Context and history changes much.

Comment by Lilla

March 22nd 2007 03:58

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D. Armenta

... perhaps the best way to offer an analogy like this (and I am only saying this word as an example : DISCLAIMER: this is not an opinion, okay?)...

Saying Abo or Abo's in Australia, is the equivalent of saying Negro in America... it is considered a white supremist slurr, against basic ethnic origins and human rights ... and rightly so.

Hope that helps clarify it for you... I think it's great that you asked.

Lilla ...

Comment by katyzzz

March 22nd 2007 04:15

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I don't use the word ABO as I think it is offensive.

Another, for Asians, is slopes, which I think is also offensive.

Incidentally, I do not fall into either of those categories but I try to be as respectful as I can when talking to and about other people.

katyzzz

Comment by Nina

March 22nd 2007 07:22

Some people I know from Sri Lanka refer to each other as 'Curries' - certainly a term that I would have thought to be offensive, but one they use as self-identification.
I actually always thought that 'Yank' would be considered quite offensive, mostly because the people I know that use it tend to do so in a derogatory sense.

Comment by Brenton

March 22nd 2007 12:33

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I hasve to say, from a language P.O.V I Love all the racial slurs. I just dislike the associated hatred.

In Aus some of us refer Americans as Sepos. It's from old rhyming slang - Septic Tank for yank. Alot of them do get offended, but its generally a term of enderement.

Abo used to be ok, but the racist use of it has put it in the no touching basket.

Call aussies almost anything you want, i don't think there's any offencive ones really.

Comment by Cibbuano

March 22nd 2007 21:38

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A Canuck is pretty non-offensive, but a hoser, by definition, is an insult.

Comment by D. Armenta

March 22nd 2007 23:29

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Interesting!! Damo, good point. Terms do take on different meanings over time; well put. Lilla, thank you-that does clarify things. I haven't been fortunate enough (yet) to travel to beautiful Australia, but I will and really appreciate knowing how not to "blunder". Katyzzz, I know what you mean. I truly appreciate the courtesy that everyone extends to one another on this site, and am glad I wasn't misconstrued by asking. Nina, you can call me a yank anytime you want! I'd rather hear "yank" than "You Americans" any old day.."Sepos"??Now that IS funny!! Thanks Brenton! Cibbuano:Really? So is "hoser" a term that only Canadians can call one another? I think Rick Moranis started that in the 80s, but I was under the impression that it was affectionate. My best friend is from Alberta, and I always call him a hosehead..but if that is an offensive term, I'll certainly not use it on any Canadians I've just met; thank you!

Comment by youranter

March 23rd 2007 08:59

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'Kiwis'. I have an uncle who lives in New Zealand. When he and his wife visited here, I called them 'Kiwis' and he took no offense. She went ballistic. 'I am NOT a Kiwi' she let me know. So I really don't know about that one. I thought it was the same as calling me a 'Canuck'. I take no offense at that. Your French-Canadian friend is overly sensitive. Quebec wants to be a separate country so some people don't want to hear anything remotely connected to being Canadian. 'Hoser' has to be taken in context. It can be an insult I suppose, but like you say, the MacKenzie Brothers turned it into a joke. The other day, on Jeopardy, there was a Canuck who taught Constitutional Law over in the states. He said his only problem was that when he read the preamble, he had to say 'You Americans' instead of 'We the peolpe'. I don't think 'Yanks' is insulting. It defines a people and is much better than breaking it into stereotypes like 'hillbillies', 'renecks', 'white trailer trash', etc.

Comment by Lily

March 23rd 2007 10:52

Ars Poetica

For a significant number of Australian males to have a crashing hangover is to be respected, to be able to drink vast quantities well beyond the call of thirst is commendable, to 'chunder' this unnecessary liquid is hilarious, and to collapse paralytic on the floor from intoxication is magnificent. If conditions allow a fight then the ultimate plane has been reached. It is all part of the ocker syndrome and heavy drinking is much more important than sexual prowess.

Jonathan King, Waltzing Materalism, 1976
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does anyone remember or heard of 'ocker'? (okah)

~Lily

Comment by Brenton

March 23rd 2007 13:23

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Ocker describes a type of ozzie though.

Comment by D.Armenta

March 23rd 2007 21:18

Go figure. I have a friend here in the Keys from New Zealand who calls himself Kiwi.
You know, I've heard that term "ocker" before in reference to Aussie men but never what it meant...

Comment by Brenton

March 24th 2007 05:08

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An Ocker is an old bloke called Les who burps and farts and drinks beer with the boys and says "Good onya luv!"
and "Hot enough for you eh?" and gets disproportionately passionate about football.

Comment by D. Armenta

March 26th 2007 14:32

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What constitutes bad manners?
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LOL!! Too funny!

Comment by MelissaA

April 2nd 2007 03:58

Fun Facts

Brenton beat me to it, but yes, basically when we call you guys 'Yanks', we're calling you 'septic tanks'.

Now it that deemed offensive?

Comment by D. Armenta

April 10th 2007 20:05

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

I'm not the best one to ask..personally, I think "sepos" is funny. Generalisations never offend me..how could they? I guess you could find someone with no sense of humor just about anywhere that will take offense to just about anything, though.

Comment by MelissaA

April 16th 2007 07:14

Fun Facts

Too true!

Comment by kiwiauthor

February 3rd 2008 04:46

Interesting post about slang, I have been living in NZ for 9 years and never had a problem calling locals 'Kiwis' although Aussies don't like it lol. Having been born in Aus but lived in UK for 20 years I get called 'Pom and Aussie' but its never worried me or any other poms that I know.

Some terms could be deemed offensive but guess it depends alot on your outlook to life and how openminded and tolerant you are?

Aussie Pommy now living in 'Godszone' as they call it over here

Comment by Morgan Bell

April 24th 2008 17:24

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in australia if i come across someone who has an american sounding accent my number one rule is NEVER ask them if theyre american because 9 times out of 10 theyre canadian and will try to rip your head off for not being able to tell the difference . . . just say, "interesting accent, where is that from?" or if pushed guess canadian by default because i dont think an actual american would care if you got it wrong

similar rule of thumb for aussies and kiwis, NEVER presume the accent is australian or you will receive some very harsh looks haha

Comment by Anonymous

June 4th 2008 21:03

Your text goes hereYour text goes hereHow would you liked to be called a " GRINGO " by people who are in your country illegally???

Comment by Anonymous

June 4th 2008 21:08

Wouldn't bother me, especially if I lived in Texas or California.

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