I'm confused. Is 'N---o' an offensive word or not?

[Robodog]

Apologies to anyone who is offended by the word (i am mixed race and do not find the word offensive, nor have i EVER heard of it being considered an offensive term until this series of BB. As far as i knew it was a perfectly acceptable and commonly used word for a racial type.

I just wondered what everyone else thought about it.

Of course we know that the word 'N----r' is offensive. That is undeniably clear to us all.
But 'Negro'? When did that become a racial slur? I thought it was a generally acceptable racial category like Caucasian, Hispanic, Nordic, Oriental, Inuit etc.

So if 'White' is described as 'Caucasian' - what is the acceptable 'Black' equivalent then?

And check out this Wikipedia page; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro

Martin Luther King used to the word 'Negro' to describe his race (and he didn't like the term 'Black')
Whereas Malcolm X preferred the term 'Black' and didn't like the term 'Negro'.

Confused? I am! It goes on;

The U.S. census of 2010 - still uses the word 'Negro' as a racial category.

There is also the 'United Negro College Fund' and the 'Negro League' in sports.

So how is it offensive if it is still being used in an official capacity ??

So what terms ARE we allowed to use? And who decides what's right and wrong? And how do we know if (and when) the rules change? A word that's ok one day might be offensive the next. How would you know??

It's all gone a bit mad i think!

[DemolitionRed]

There has already been a lot of talk about this on the thread about Ken's eviction.

Like you, I'm mixed race and don't understand why BB have decided this word is racially offensive in the way it was used.

I watched the original version of Robinson Crusoe over Christmas. Prime time viewing and that word was used a few times.

[Pincho Paxton]

I don't think that the word should be offensive, but if it is taken as offensive by some then C5 have to be careful.

[Stevep]

All about context. Well it's not in today's PC world, but it should be.

[Caballo]

it's a recent social phenomenom too many people are trying to be offended, followed by group (social media) hysteria.

[arista]

Apologies to anyone who is offended by the word (i am mixed race and do not find the word offensive, nor have i EVER heard of it being considered an offensive term until this series of BB. As far as i knew it was a perfectly acceptable and commonly used word for a racial type.

I just wondered what everyone else thought about it.

Of course we know that the word 'N----r' is offensive. That is undeniably clear to us all.
But 'Negro'? When did that become a racial slur? I thought it was a generally acceptable racial category like Caucasian, Hispanic, Nordic, Oriental, Inuit etc.

So if 'White' is described as 'Caucasian' - what is the acceptable 'Black' equivalent then?

And check out this Wikipedia page; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro

Martin Luther King used to the word 'Negro' to describe his race (and he didn't like the term 'Black')
Whereas Malcolm X preferred the term 'Black' and didn't like the term 'Negro'.

Confused? I am! It goes on;

The U.S. census of 2010 - still uses the word 'Negro' as a racial category.

There is also the 'United Negro College Fund' and the 'Negro League' in sports.

So how is it offensive if it is still being used in an official capacity ??

So what terms ARE we allowed to use? And who decides what's right and wrong? And how do we know if (and when) the rules change? A word that's ok one day might be offensive the next. How would you know??

It's all gone a bit mad i think!


Its simple
On TV - Its banned



Yes its a word that is used

[Mokka]

Its simple
On TV - Its banned



Yes its a word that is used

But it's not banned on TV otherwise they would have edited it out and we would never have seen it

I agree with the rest of the posters in here,

context and intent come into play when using or hearing this word. Personally I don't use it in my everyday language b/c it was never common language where I am from.

[Beso]

I find it strange that you can produce a well written and grammatically correct fairly long post, yet get confused about this matter1

[Robodog]

Word like 'n----r' and 'p--i' have an obvious history of offence attached to their use, and it is generally agreed upon now to avoid using them.

My fear is how we could very easily find ourselves being unable to describe any racial or social differences for fear of being branded 'offensive'.

One person could take offence to the word 'Caucasian' or 'Geordie' or 'Leftie'. Does that mean we should ALL stop using them altogether?

I agree it's all about context. Only if there is malicious INTENT behind the use of words - then there is a problem. Words themselves alone have no power.

Ken had no malicious intent in his use of the word 'negro' when recalling his story about Frank Bruno. If anything the joke was on his own 'whiteness' by calling himself 'Lord Fauntleroy' in asking Frank to turn his rhythms down.

Yet Perez can shout 'disgusting pig' in Ken's face with full malicious intent to cause upset and it is not considered as offensive as Ken's comedy use of a term which is still socially acceptable (see my wikipedia link above).

I understand BB are on eggshells but who is calling the shots?

We can all take offence to one thing or another - does it mean we should all censor ourselves into a corner, afraid and unable to say anything?

Who knows, in 20 years time - people might be arrested for saying 'shut up' or 'idiot' or 'i don't like you' because someone got offended. Will that be progress?

[Cherie]

it's a recent social phenomenom too many people are trying to be offended, followed by group (social media) hysteria.

:thumbs:

[Cherie]

Word like 'n----r' and 'p--i' have an obvious history of offence attached to their use, and it is generally agreed upon now to avoid using them.

My fear is how we could very easily find ourselves being unable to describe any racial or social differences for fear of being branded 'offensive'.

One person could take offence to the word 'Caucasian' or 'Geordie' or 'Leftie'. Does that mean we should ALL stop using them altogether?

I agree it's all about context. Only if there is malicious INTENT behind the use of words - then there is a problem. Words themselves alone have no power.

Ken had no malicious intent in his use of the word 'negro' when recalling his story about Frank Bruno. If anything the joke was on his own 'whiteness' by calling himself 'Lord Fauntleroy' in asking Frank to turn his rhythms down.

Yet Perez can shout 'disgusting pig' in Ken's face with full malicious intent to cause upset and it is not considered as offensive as Ken's comedy use of a term which is still socially acceptable (see my wikipedia link above).

I understand BB are on eggshells but who is calling the shots?

We can all take offence to one thing or another - does it mean we should all censor ourselves into a corner, afraid and unable to say anything?

Who knows, in 20 years time - people might be arrested for saying 'shut up' or 'idiot' or 'i don't like you' because someone got offended. Will that be progress?

Perez, as soon as Jeremy was sent packing, he saw an opportunity to get rid of Ken, and he and "call the police" Nadia made sure it happened.

[Robodog]

Perez, as soon as Jeremy was sent packing, he saw an opportunity to get rid of Ken, and he and "call the police" Nadia made sure it happened.

True. Perez strikes me as that dangerous sort of person who would call the police in real life over a small dispute with a neighbour or a colleague, just to get one up on them. I feel he's the kind of guy who'd know the exact type of language to use to frame someone as a threat and to force authorities to act on his behalf.

And yeah, Nadia is obviously quite similar with her actual 'call the police' threat - which i never would have expected from her when she entered the house.

Ooh it's a moody BB this one. Probably my worst one yet. Lunatics running the asylum.

[Denver]

I dont find it offensive and neither does my family had it been the other word then it would have been a different sorry but i think Political Correctness will destroy this country

[Kizzy]

it's a recent social phenomenon too many people are trying to be offended, followed by group (social media) hysteria.

Totally agree... 'offended' is the new black (no racism intended)

[RichardG]

I, and everyone I know, only use the word 'black'. There's something a little sinister sounding about the word 'negro' and I never would use it myself, but I admit that I never knew it was quite as offensive as the other 'n word'.

[Kizzy]

I, and everyone I know, only use the word 'black'. There's something a little sinister sounding about the word 'negro' and I never would use it myself, but I admit that I never knew it was quite as offensive as the other 'n word'.

That's because it isn't.

[lostalex]

i loved the response from Alexander!

When Ken tried to explain it away as "well negro just means black in spanish", and

Alexander replied "but you aren't Spanish".with a stern look on his face. lol

[Robodog]

Totally agree... 'offended' is the new black (no racism intended)

:joker: funny point and sadly true

It's similar to the way people exploit the law to 'sue' others over a small thing. Like falling over in a supermarket and trying to claim a million pounds for it.

Scary stuff. That mentality needs to be squashed, not encouraged - for all our sakes. That's why these BB situations attract so much debate.


.

[Cherie]

i loved the response from Alexander!

When Ken tried to explain it away as "well negro just means black in spanish", and

Alexander replied "but you aren't Spanish".with a stern look on his face. lol

and that is the point of BB, to see who can survive both mentally and physically in that environment, it should not be down to the HMs to turf people out they can't get along with that is the public's job. Alexander handled it superbly but people still decide to be offended on his behalf, his exit interview will be interesting.

[tanussa]

if we dont know which words are deemed racist cos what one person thinks is offensive another doesnt, how has poor ken ended up being turfed out and branded a racist, and surely its the manner in which something is said thats an indicator. it goes too far sometimes

[lostalex]

if we dont know which words are deemed racist cos what one person thinks is offensive another doesnt, how has poor ken ended up being turfed out and branded a racist, and surely its the manner in which something is said thats an indicator. it goes too far sometimes

Oh yes, poor poor Ken, he was a such a sweet old man, he clearly didn't intend to offend anyone.... lol :joker: :wavey: :nono:

He was a prick who was intentionally trying to offend as many people as possible. when it coms to trolling, he made the 2 REAL trolls in the house (katie and perez) look like reasonable human beings. He was the TROLL KING.

[Firewire]

If you're not black you don't really have a say

[Northern Monkey]

It's only offensive if the person you say it to is offended i suppose.Alexander acted as though he was offended so that made it offensive.Similar to robegate where it was Chloes reaction which sealed Jeremy's fate.I did'nt think it was offensive either but new things become offensive every week these days.

[wendywillow]

yeah, its all about context and how you use the word, I did cringe the way Ken said it as if doing a comedy routine but I don't think he meant it maliciously, alex's response was perfect, and true, there are some places that would've ended with a punch to the face

[Pincho Paxton]

yeah, its all about context and how you use the word, I did cringe the way Ken said it as if doing a comedy routine but I don't think he meant it maliciously, alex's response was perfect, and true, there are some places that would've ended with a punch to the face

Kids are called a Pikinini lol!

comes from the owners asking the kid if they were "pickin any" cotton

[wendywillow]

I did get some knowledge out of that so that was nice :blush:

[jennyjuniper]

Apologies to anyone who is offended by the word (i am mixed race and do not find the word offensive, nor have i EVER heard of it being considered an offensive term until this series of BB. As far as i knew it was a perfectly acceptable and commonly used word for a racial type.

I just wondered what everyone else thought about it.

Of course we know that the word 'N----r' is offensive. That is undeniably clear to us all.
But 'Negro'? When did that become a racial slur? I thought it was a generally acceptable racial category like Caucasian, Hispanic, Nordic, Oriental, Inuit etc.

So if 'White' is described as 'Caucasian' - what is the acceptable 'Black' equivalent then?

And check out this Wikipedia page; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro

Martin Luther King used to the word 'Negro' to describe his race (and he didn't like the term 'Black')
Whereas Malcolm X preferred the term 'Black' and didn't like the term 'Negro'.

Confused? I am! It goes on;

The U.S. census of 2010 - still uses the word 'Negro' as a racial category.

There is also the 'United Negro College Fund' and the 'Negro League' in sports.

So how is it offensive if it is still being used in an official capacity ??

So what terms ARE we allowed to use? And who decides what's right and wrong? And how do we know if (and when) the rules change? A word that's ok one day might be offensive the next. How would you know??

It's all gone a bit mad i think!

I agree it's confusing. Especially as many 'black' people aren't black, but many shades of brown.

[lostalex]

I agree it's confusing. Especially as many 'black' people aren't black, but many shades of brown.

That's just silly. Most white people aren't white, they are many shades of pink.

[Lee.]

That's just silly. Most white people aren't white, they are many shades of pink.

Or blue if you come from Scotland

[smudgie]

If in doubt, then refrain.

It js difficult at times as words and meanings change.

I had this problem with the Chinese takeaway nickname always used in this area when growing up, now I inow it is wrong, so it won't pass my lips again.

[JoshBB]

I've always thought it's the intention behind the word and not the word itself.

For example;

A person saying "hey *****" as a friendly term (such as bro, or dude) has no racist intentions and therefore would probably not be taken as offensive or discriminatory towards africans.

A person saying "ew... filthy n*ggers" obviously is incredibly offensive because of the racist and discriminatory intentions behind the words and would be wholly unacceptable.

[MB.]

If you're not black you don't really have a say

[2]

Saying "I asked my white family and they weren't offended" doesn't really prove any points.

[GiRTh]

Its an old fashioned word. Avoid it if you can.

[Dash Darington]

It's funny how people actually believe that the producers don't want to participate in the race-baiting, and are getting dragged along by some outside pressure. They want to race-bait. They pretend that people of different races (genders, sexual orientations, religions, etc.) are constantly looking to harm one another, and set themselves up as the authority to which these factions appeal "injustices."

A divided population is powerless. Neo-liberal social politics are intended to disempower the public through factionalization. Divide-and-conquer is a simple enough concept for anyone to understand.

They have succeeded in sensitizing you to a new word. You'll notice that the black and mixed-race people here have said repeatedly that they didn't even know that they were supposed to be offended by the word "negro." You're being conditioned to be offended.

[Jose Mourinho]

Apologies to anyone who is offended by the word (i am mixed race and do not find the word offensive, nor have i EVER heard of it being considered an offensive term until this series of BB. As far as i knew it was a perfectly acceptable and commonly used word for a racial type.

I just wondered what everyone else thought about it.

Of course we know that the word 'N----r' is offensive. That is undeniably clear to us all.
But 'Negro'? When did that become a racial slur? I thought it was a generally acceptable racial category like Caucasian, Hispanic, Nordic, Oriental, Inuit etc.

So if 'White' is described as 'Caucasian' - what is the acceptable 'Black' equivalent then?

And check out this Wikipedia page; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro

Martin Luther King used to the word 'Negro' to describe his race (and he didn't like the term 'Black')
Whereas Malcolm X preferred the term 'Black' and didn't like the term 'Negro'.

Confused? I am! It goes on;

The U.S. census of 2010 - still uses the word 'Negro' as a racial category.

There is also the 'United Negro College Fund' and the 'Negro League' in sports.

So how is it offensive if it is still being used in an official capacity ??

So what terms ARE we allowed to use? And who decides what's right and wrong? And how do we know if (and when) the rules change? A word that's ok one day might be offensive the next. How would you know??

It's all gone a bit mad i think!Bored of this debate tbh. In a nutshell Alexander kindly explained to Ken that his use of the word might get his "Ass kicked". There is no doubt there was a time when the word was acceptable, but as Alex kindly taught us all, that time is no longer and it is clearly no longer acceptable. Who are we to argue with a man of his experience? Hope this answers your question.

[lostalex]

It's funny how people actually believe that the producers don't want to participate in the race-baiting, and are getting dragged along by some outside pressure. They want to race-bait. They pretend that people of different races (genders, sexual orientations, religions, etc.) are constantly looking to harm one another, and set themselves up as the authority to which these factions appeal "injustices."

A divided population is powerless. Neo-liberal social politics are intended to disempower the public through factionalization. Divide-and-conquer is a simple enough concept for anyone to understand.

They have succeeded in sensitizing you to a new word. You'll notice that the black and mixed-race people here have said repeatedly that they didn't even know that they were supposed to be offended by the word "negro." You're being conditioned to be offended.

but why did Ken say it again, after he was already warned by big brother, and after Alexander had already told him that he was offended by it. Alexander explained it to him in the most forgiving manner possible. Alexander was clearly offended, but he reacted in a calm cool and collected manner and explained it calmly and with some humor.

I can accept that maybe the word is not as well known in the UK as an offensive term, but he was told twice not to use it, both by big brother and Alexander, and then he went on to use it again.

Just like when it came to women, it was explained him by both big brother, and the women in the house that what he was saying was offensive, and then he continued to try to offend them.

He is either completely daft, or he was intentionally being offensive and trying to get kicked out. I think probably both are true.

[GiRTh]

It's funny how people actually believe that the producers don't want to participate in the race-baiting, and are getting dragged along by some outside pressure. They want to race-bait. They pretend that people of different races (genders, sexual orientations, religions, etc.) are constantly looking to harm one another, and set themselves up as the authority to which these factions appeal "injustices."

A divided population is powerless. Neo-liberal social politics are intended to disempower the public through factionalization. Divide-and-conquer is a simple enough concept for anyone to understand.

They have succeeded in sensitizing you to a new word. You'll notice that the black and mixed-race people here have said repeatedly that they didn't even know that they were supposed to be offended by the word "negro." You're being conditioned to be offended.This black person is well aware of the history of the word. Its not the most offensive word ever used to describe black people but due to its misuse over the years and transformation into other words it has been a taboo word for a quite a few years.

[Pincho Paxton]

Here are some more future racist remarks...

Ace of Spades!!!
Shovel of Coal!!!
Batman!!!
Honky!!!
Cue Ball!!!
Frostbite!!!
Snowman!!!
Marshmellow!!!
Blackjack!!!

[lostalex]

Here are some more future racist remarks...

Ace of Spades!!!
Shovel of Coal!!!
Batman!!!
Honky!!!
Cue Ball!!!
Frostbite!!!
Snowman!!!
Marshmellow!!!
Blackjack!!!

i thought cue ball was a slur against bald guys, not white people. or is it dual purpose?

Would a bald black guy be an eight ball?

[Pincho Paxton]

i thought cue ball was a slur against bald guys, not white people. or is it dual purpose?

Would a bald black guy would be an eight ball?

Yeah Eight Ball that's another one. You can see the problem if we allow this to continue.

[Robodog]

Bored of this debate tbh. In a nutshell Alexander kindly explained to Ken that his use of the word might get his "Ass kicked". There is no doubt there was a time when the word was acceptable, but as Alex kindly taught us all, that time is no longer and it is clearly no longer acceptable. Who are we to argue with a man of his experience? Hope this answers your question.

I love Alexander O Neal and i am sure he is right in explaining that some people find it offensive. But clearly many people are also comfortable with it as a perfectly acceptable racial term.

For example; the official US census uses it as a proper racial category as recently as 2010 - bear in mind, that is during the presidency of Obama!

So how and why did it go from being an official government racial category to a racial slur in 4 short years??

And who knew??

[Dash Darington]

but why did Ken say it again, after he was already warned by big brother, and after Alexander had already told him that he was offended by it. Alexander explained it to him in the most forgiving manner possible. Alexander was clearly offended, but he reacted in a calm cool and collected manner and explained it calmly and with some humor.

I can accept that maybe the word is not as well known in the UK as an offensive term, but he was told twice not to use it, both by big brother and Alexander, and then he went on to use it again.

Just like when it came to women, it was explained him by both big brother, and the women in the house that what he was saying was offensive, and then he continued to try to offend them.

He is either completely daft, or he was intentionally being offensive and trying to get kicked out. I think probably both are true.

Ken either said it to illustrate that there's nothing wrong with saying it, or as a faithful recounting of an anecdote. I couldn't say for sure.

Do you believe that people have the right to not be offended? Do you think that certain social groups (eg. blacks) are empowered to forbid other groups (eg. whites) to say certain words?

As a statement of absolute fact, Alexander is a negro. If he, or anyone else, wants to supress statements of fact to protect their psychological sensitivities or prevent their ideology from being challenged, it is they who are in the wrong.

[Dash Darington]

This black person is well aware of the history of the word. Its not the most offensive word ever used to describe black people but due to its misuse over the years and transformation into other words it has been a taboo word for a quite a few years.

Your feelings about the word have nothing to do with misuse. You've been deliberately sensitized to the word in order to further racial resentment and factionalization. There is no objective reason why "black" is a better word than "negro." In fact, they have precisely the same meaning: a reference to dark skin colour.

[Denver]

It makes me think how much longer it will be until 'Black' will no longer be acceptable

[GiRTh]

Your feelings about the word have nothing to do with misuse. You've been deliberately sensitized to the word in order to further racial resentment and factionalization. There is no objective reason why "black" is a better word than "negro." In fact, they have precisely the same meaning: a reference to dark skin colour.
No not at all. I have heard these words for decades , I've heard these word as terms of endearment and to cause offense, I have family who still freely use the word 'Pickney' and thus I have made up my OWN mind about these words.

Please dont ever tell me what I've deduced from my own life experience as you have no idea what you are talking aboiut.

[Dash Darington]

No not at all. I have heard these words for decades , I've heard these word as terms of endearment and to cause offense, I have family who still freely use the word 'Pickney' and thus I have made up my OWN mind about these words.

Please dont ever tell me what I've deduced from my own life experience as you have no idea what you are talking aboiut.

You haven't deduced anything. You've been sensitized. Sensitivity to a word has nothing to do with logic, and therefore cannot be the product of deductive reasoning.

[Pete.]

Alexander was offended, so it is offensive

[jennyjuniper]

That's just silly. Most white people aren't white, they are many shades of pink.

Same difference.

[Dash Darington]

Alexander was offended, so it is offensive

This is an aspect of British social politics that I don't understand. Who determines what offences are legitimate?

If I decide that I'm offended by any denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ, and you engage in denial, do you need to be censored? If you deny that Mohammad is God's prophet, and I am offended, should you be censored?

It seems to me that the powers that be are replacing the old religions with a new one, and that "offence" is simply another word for blasphemy. If you blaspheme against their religion, you can expect to be censured in the name of "offence." They want to give the impression that theirs is a grass-roots movement rather than an imposed ideology, which is why they use the word "offence."

[GiRTh]

You haven't deduced anything. You've been sensitized. Sensitivity to a word has nothing to do with logic, and therefore cannot be the product of deductive reasoning.I dont know if youve noticed but I;ve said on here that there are words that have been used by Ken in the house that I didnt find offensive thus I dont know what you're talking about.

[Jose Mourinho]

I love Alexander O Neal and i am sure he is right in explaining that some people find it offensive. But clearly many people are also comfortable with it as a perfectly acceptable racial term.

For example; the official US census uses it as a proper racial category as recently as 2010 - bear in mind, that is during the presidency of Obama!

So how and why did it go from being an official government racial category to a racial slur in 4 short years??

And who knew??I don't know how, ask the U.S Government. All I know is that the black lady on loose women termed it as a racist word and also Alex took offence to it also and many others I know. The bottom line is that it is seen an offensive word now. And should not be used if we are to show any degree of respect for black people.

[Jose Mourinho]

Your feelings about the word have nothing to do with misuse. You've been deliberately sensitized to the word in order to further racial resentment and factionalization. There is no objective reason why "black" is a better word than "negro." In fact, they have precisely the same meaning: a reference to dark skin colour.No they don't both words might have the same dictionary meaning in different languages but the n one is simply seen as unacceptable as Girth pointed out, due to its misuse over the years. Quite simple to understand really and certainly not a huge obstacle for you to avoid in life now is it?

[Caballo]

I don't know how, ask the U.S Government. All I know is that the black lady on loose women termed it as a racist word and also Alex took offence to it also and many others I know. The bottom line is that it is seen an offensive word now. And should not be used if we are to show any degree of respect for black people.

Should we get Jamelia to thumb through the Oxford english dictionary and randomly select some other words she can deem offensive and will strike them from our language too? If Jamelia is the appointed adjudicator of taste and decency, we're all fecked

[Jose Mourinho]

Should we get Jamelia to thumb through the Oxford english dictionary and randomly select some other words she can deem offensive and will strike them from our language too? If Jamelia is the appointed adjudicator of taste and decency, we're all feckedThat word is offensive and you know it too. Listen if you don't think its offensive and you wanna go forth and call back people Negroes. Be my guest. Who am I to stop you? Good luck. And btw your not Spanish or Italian.

[microscope]

The only way to not offend a black or white person is to call them a person, as the colour of ones skin shouldn't even apply. It is like describing an overweight person as a fat person, the word "fat" actually can offend, so as the PC brigade is increasing in population, and even "White Christmas" and "Blackboard" and "Bah Bah Black Sheep" are now offensive to to some of the Black population, then the "N" word Ken used has no chance of becoming acceptable. And also "Coloured" is deemed racial. There is no end to this I am afraid...

[Robodog]

Why is the word 'negro' any more offensive than the word 'caucasian' or 'hispanic'? After all, they are all just terms used equally in official places such as on ethnic background forms to describe racial types, they are not slang words.

If you outlaw 'negro' why not outlaw them all equally? Or better still - not outlaw any of them at all as we do need words to help describe and categorise ourselves and the world around us. But either way - good or bad - surely they should all be treated equally, no?

It seems to me rather racist to select one racial type over another for discrimination.

[the truth]

I don't know how, ask the U.S Government. All I know is that the black lady on loose women termed it as a racist word and also Alex took offence to it also and many others I know. The bottom line is that it is seen an offensive word now. And should not be used if we are to show any degree of respect for black people.

but its black people who use it 100 times more than anyone else, so youre post makes no sense whatsoever

[Pincho Paxton]

but its black people who use it 100 times more than anyone else, so youre post makes no sense whatsoever

They do, and to be honest they are segregating themselves if you ask me.

[SoBig]

The first time he used the word it was offensive. He was talking to Alexander as if he were a slave. I didn't find it offensive the second time he used it. Its all about the context.

Why is the word 'negro' any more offensive than the word 'caucasian' or 'hispanic'? After all, they are all just terms used equally in official places such as on ethnic background forms to describe racial types

Hispanic is not a race. Its a linguistic group.

[bots]

I think it was actually a lot simpler than that. Ken wanted to leave and was saying any old thing to upset the housemates in general.

The housemates wanted Ken out - well the ladies and Perez did, so they will have been going to BB and bending ears every 5 minutes, with threats to leave etc. So I don't believe it was any one thing or event, it was a culmination of events. For example, even when Ken was officially warned, BB lumped in that he had been offensive in saying he liked to look at the women's arses, which is only offensive if you want to believe it is.

So, I don't believe it was that one word at all, it was his fellow housemates wanted him out, and BB then had to find reasons to justify his removal before they had no show.

I think similar applies to the Jeremy incident by the way, the very same housemates wanted him out too.

[Bojangles]

Anyone remember the Disco in Mallorca "Jack El Negro."

[Robodog]

The first time he used the word it was offensive. He was talking to Alexander as if he were a slave. I didn't find it offensive the second time he used it. Its all about the context.


Hispanic is not a race. Its a linguistic group.

Not according to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census
Hispanic/Latin is cited here as a racial category in the national census

[Jose Mourinho]

Anyone remember the Disco in Mallorca "Jack El Negro." EL Negro is not English though.

[Crimson Dynamo]

being offended does not make you right

[Jose Mourinho]

being offended does not make you rightBeing a fan of Nigel Farage and UKIP probably deems you useless when discussing issues regarding race.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Being a fan of Nigel Farage and UKIP probably deems you useless when discussing issues regarding race.


that is rather a bigoted thing to post

[Jose Mourinho]

that is rather a bigoted thing to postNah, just my honest opinion after what I discovered about YOU and a few others who had their "strange" stances on this particular subject regarding Ken.

[Jose Mourinho]

that is rather a bigoted thing to postClearly you are not one to be taken seriously on this matter.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Nah, just my honest opinion after what I discovered about YOU and a few others who had their "strange" stances on this particular subject regarding Ken.

you are aware that in the world people may have different and more informed opinions than those that you hold?

:shrug:

[Jose Mourinho]

you are aware that in the world people may have different and more informed opinions than those that you hold?

:shrug:Please don't speak to me about this issue. I refuse to discuss issues like this with a Nigel Farage supporter over the internet. I'll happily discuss it with you in person though. :laugh:

[Anaesthesia]

so as the PC brigade is increasing in population, and even "White Christmas" and "Blackboard" and "Bah Bah Black Sheep" are now offensive

True anecdote: 17 years ago when my son was at nursery school, he came home singing "Moo Moo Jersey Cow, have you any milk" to the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep. Can't remember the rest of the words, but can remember thinking, wtf?

[Pincho Paxton]

True anecdote: 17 years ago when my son was at nursery school, he came home singing "Moo Moo Jersey Cow, have you any milk" to the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep. Can't remember the rest of the words, but can remember thinking, wtf?

"Moo Moo Jersey Cow, have you any milk"

Stupid Fattist school!

[SoBig]

Not according to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census
Hispanic/Latin is cited here as a racial category in the national census
Are we reading the same article?

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin (the only categories for ethnicity).[1][2]

Race and ethnicity are considered separate and distinct identities, with Hispanic or Latino origin asked as a separate question. Thus, in addition to their race or races, all respondents are categorized by membership in one of two ethnic categories, which are "Hispanic or Latino" and "Not Hispanic or Latino". However, the practice of separating "race" and "ethnicity" as different categories has been criticized both by the American Anthropological Association and members of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.[6][7]

The federal government of the United States has mandated that "in data collection and presentation, federal agencies are required to use a minimum of two ethnicities: 'Hispanic or Latino' and 'Not Hispanic or Latino'."[18] The Census Bureau defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race."[18] For discussion of the meaning and scope of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, see the Hispanic and Latino Americans and Racial and ethnic demographics of the United States articles.

Use of the word 'ethnicity' for Hispanics only is considerably more restricted than its conventional meaning, which covers other distinctions, some of which are covered by the "race" and "ancestry" questions. The distinct questions accommodate the possibility of Hispanic and Latino Americans' also declaring various racial identities (see also White Hispanic and Latino Americans, Asian Latinos, and Black Hispanic and Latino Americans).

From the US census

http://www.census.gov/topics/population/race/about.html
People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans
Hispanics and Latinos (Spanish: hispanos [isˈpanos], latinos) are an ethnolinguistic group of Americans with genealogical origins in the countries of Latin America and Spain.[5][6][7] More generally it includes all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino whether fully or partially.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Hispanic and Latinos are racially diverse, although different "races" dominate each Hispanic group. Although Mexico has the most immigration of American Indian descent, they also have the largest immigration of White descent of Hispanic countries. Puerto Ricans and Cuban Americans [16] tend to be predominantly of white Spaniard ancestry, although there are African Americans from Puerto Rico and African-Cubans in the Cuban population. Dominican Americans tend to be mulatto or tri-racial, having African, European, and indigenous Taino ancestry. Mexicans represent the bulk of the US Hispanic/Latino population, and most Mexican Americans are Mestizo, this is the main reason why non-Hispanics equate being Hispanic to being of American Indian descent. As a result of their racial diversity, Hispanics form an ethnicity sharing a language (Spanish) and cultural heritage, rather than a race. American Hispanics are predominantly of Mexican, and to a lesser extent, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran, Dominican, Guatemalan, and Colombian ancestry.[13][17][18][19]

The terms Hispanic and Latino refer not to a continental race, but rather an ethnicity, sharing a common culture, history, language, and heritage. According to the Smithsonian Institution, Latino includes peoples of Portuguese-speaking roots, such as Brazil, as well as those of Spanish-language origin.[32][33][34] A Hispanic or Latino can be of any race and many are mixed race. In the United States, most Hispanics and Latinos are either white or mestizo. Some Hispanic/Latinos from Caribbean and Latin American countries may also have African ancestry.[35][32]
What do these people have in common?

Vladimir Guerrero
http://i.imgur.com/OpXBdjR.jpg

Alexis Bledel
http://i.imgur.com/RLy84U2.jpg

They both speak the Spanish language as their native tongue, but Vladimir is obviously black and Alexis is obviously white. Hispanic is not a racial category.