[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

40years rears ago word like electricity were hardly used. You seem to accept the new words but have a real problem letting go of the old offensive word.

I didn't know the word 'coloured' was now offensive either Girth - and I'm 'coloured'. But I'm of the opinion that there is far more racist intent and offense in saying; "I don't like 'black' people because they're too loud and excitable", for example, than in saying; "I like coloured people because they're more laid back and cool to be with".

It's intent, intent, intent, every time.

I didn't know that the phrase; 'chip on your shoulder' had racist origins or current racial interpretation either, because I was under the impression that it originated from carpenters or 'chippies' rights to take odd lengths of spare timber home with them from dockyards when they were shipbuilding, because they used to carry such lengths home on their shoulder, and I always believed that the phrase was coined to describe some chippies resentment when the practice was stopped by the shipyard owners.

A quick 'google' after I read your post confirmed as much:

"A chip on the shoulder" comes from the ancient right of shipwrights within the Royal Navy Dockyards to take home a daily allowance of offcuts of timber, even if good wood was cut up for this purpose. The privilege was instated as a prescriptive right from 1634. By 1756, this privilege had been abused and was costing taxpayers too much in lost timber for warship repair and construction. The decision was then made by the Navy Board to limit the quantity a shipwright could carry home. A warrant was issued to the Royal Dockyards to reduce the quantity of chips by ordering shipwrights to carry their bundles under their arms instead of on their shoulders, as one could not carry as much timber in this fashion."

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What I do know, is that all this 'political correctness, and oversensitive 'offended' reaction to words and phrases long used by ordinary people who have not got a racist bone in their bodies, is all ridiculous B.S. and has got out of hand.

It's absolute PC madness.