Quote:
|
Originally Posted by willravel
You might want to consult the dictionary for semantics. If I were to misuse the word 'simply' (i.e. "He was simply raised", to mean that he was raised in a simple way), someone could correct me by saying, 'well in the dictionary, the definition of simply is....'. You're arguing against the definition of the word 'oriental'. All you need to do to understand the definition of a word is to look it up. My dictionary says it's derogatory when used to describe people. Everyone else agrees. You can continue using the word as you see fit, but understand that the rest of the world comprehends the word in a very different way than you, and as such they will be offended whether you intend it or not.
|
I see what you are saying, I'm just having trouble caring. Perhaps I am just stubborn or curmudgeonly. Perhaps it's sort of a litmus test as to whether or not the person in question is too soft to continue talking to. Whatever the case may be, I really don't see myself not using the word in the future. As I mentioned above, the alternatives are useless.
If I point to a crowd of people containing a Russian, an Arab, an Indian, and a Korean and tell anybody in the US about the oriental guy, they will know exactly who I am talking about.
Being of European descent, I have no problem whatsoever using eurocentric terms (as one poster above mentioned) in my everyday vocabulary.