![]() |
![]() |
#1 (permalink) | |
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
|
Political Correctness run amok...
This happened a while ago but it's still an interesting story...
Quote:
PS Can a mod move this to the General Discussion forum, please? I posted it here by mistake. Thank you... PPS Why isn't there a "report" button on my own post? Last edited by KnifeMissile; 10-22-2006 at 02:37 AM.. Reason: mistakenly posted to the wrong forum... |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#2 (permalink) |
has all her shots.
Location: Florida
|
A while ago is right! 1999? LOL
But it is a ridiculous story. Hopefully the guy went on to something better. It's pretty bad when one can't use the entirety of the English language because a word sounds like an insult. Even once they've learned that it's not?? You're right, it is stubborn. Stubborn and ignorant.
__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 (permalink) |
Darth Papa
Location: Yonder
|
Yeah, it's ridiculous, but I can see the other side of it. Look: the guy's a politician. He ought to know better than to do ANYTHING that could be misinterpreted by even the dumbest of the dumb. It was poor judgement. I don't think he deserves to lose his job for it, but it was a stupid choice of words.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#4 (permalink) |
Falling Angel
Location: L.A. L.A. land
|
I remember this very clearly, and it infuriates me that educated people are apparantly intended to dumb down their language to promote a standard of ignorance for the masses.
Kinda wierd, I've actually wanted to use "niggardly" on more than one occasion, but yes, I refrain now. I don't think he should have quit, but of course there are many other things at play than we may be aware of. Intentions, intentions.
__________________
"Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come." - Matt Groening My goal? To fulfill my potential. |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 (permalink) |
Pissing in the cornflakes
|
niggardly = bad
crack = ok Welcome to D.C.
__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps. |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 (permalink) | |
spudly
Location: Ellay
|
Quote:
__________________
Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#7 (permalink) |
Location: Washington DC
|
I really dont understand why the OP had to dig up a 7 year old story to raise the issue of political correctness. I have a smiliar reaction to the "crack" remark.
Tony Williams has done more to bring the cityof DC together and move it ahead in his 8 years as mayor than anyone could have hoped following the Marion Berry era. The next mayor, Adrian Fenty, is a simlar intelligent, honest and dedicated political leader.
__________________
"The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 (permalink) |
... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.
|
Niggardly? In my dictionary, between the word "niggardly" and it's definition, it says "often offensive". Do you know why it says that? Because it is. Because gookly and beanerly are also offensive. My people, the northern europeans, have not been enslaved (except by Bush) for hundreds and hundreds of years. The effects have worn off. The same is not true of black people. I have black friends who are still treated like crap for no other reason but they are black. That's leftovers from slavery. When racism stops, then maybe white people can say words that are or sound like nigger, nigga, nigro, etc. Right now, their anger is justified. I have no problem saying "fuck you" to anyone of any race, gender or creed, but using racial slurs isn't appropriate.
That being said, asking someone to resign for saying "niggardly" is the real racism in this case. While I never use the "n" word, if I did and someone were to try and get me fired for it, I would rightously defend myself. It's a word. Yes, it's offensive, but it's just a word. It can only hurt you as much as you let it hurt you. If italians had a slave name for germans, then I'd not care one bit. You see, I've never been a slave. My ancestors were, but I am not. |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 (permalink) |
Devils Cabana Boy
Location: Central Coast CA
|
He use a correct word for the situation, the word is not related to the word nigger, though someone unfamiliar with the word "niggardly" might take offense due to the superficial phonetic similarity between the words. Did the guy make an error, partly, you only use the words your audience will know, he was not wrong for using the word, just for using it with people who don’t know it.
I use the saying 'pro bono' a lot, to do a service for free for the public good, as some of you know I do computer repair for a living, and for college students, I cut my rates, sometimes I do it for free, (specially when they are cute ![]()
__________________
Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 (permalink) | |||
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
|
Quote:
Quote:
First, that there are a great variety of words in the English language and there's nothing wrong with exercising them. This word has a perfectly innocent meaning and people shouldn't shun it because it has, as Dilbert1234567 so eloquently put it, a "superficial phonetic similarity." Indeed, you don't see me taking offense when people talk about a chink in one's armour. That has more than a phonetic similarity but it's no less superficial... Secondly, that people can't admit their own mistake. There's nothing wrong with the word, it's just that people didn't understand it. Again, there's nothing wrong with not knowing a word. I read novels with a dictionary at hand. However, if your understanding of a word has been corrected, why not correct your reactions to that word? Anything less is just stubbornness... Now, to my second post, since the forum will just auto-merge them, anyway... Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() |
#11 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Some place windy
|
Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
#12 (permalink) | ||
... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
#13 (permalink) | |
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
|
Quote:
/ducks... |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#14 (permalink) |
Too Awesome for Aardvarks
Location: Angloland
|
Dictionary.com doesn't say its racist.
Everyone grab your pitch forks and torches and lets go burn down apple! That'll teach 'em for not having that there word book right! I can find at least 3 plants off the top of my head where i work which bear the name 'xxxxxxx niger'. If someone wants to get offended because it is similar to nigger fine, but someone should warn niger (what the BBC now refers to as 'nee-jair', what was wrong with 'ni-ger?), or the taxinomists. I'm just gonna think of you as an idiot.
__________________
Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information. |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 (permalink) | |
Tone.
|
Quote:
by that logic a politician should never say "duck" because it sounds pretty darned close to "fuck" and for fuck's sake we can't be saying bad word soundalikes can we? |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#16 (permalink) | |
Devils Cabana Boy
Location: Central Coast CA
|
Quote:
![]() um, yeah, as i so eloquently cut and pasted from wikipedia... i forgot to quote it, sorry. nigger is not the root of niggardly, the root of niggardly is niggard. the only power words have is the power we give them.
__________________
Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#17 (permalink) | |
Darth Papa
Location: Yonder
|
Quote:
I'm not saying "Yay for misunderstanders!" I'm saying, as a politician, it's your job to shape and mold the public's perception of you. And using a word that is possible--even likely--to be negatively misunderstood by some people is just thoughtless. You'll never go broke underestimating the public. His mistake here was, he overestimated the public. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#18 (permalink) |
All important elusive independent swing voter...
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
|
He has every right to use that word. But he can't complain if people get offended. I actually think it's a great word and rather apt in the given context. BUT, as a politician, it was a very poor choice of words. So, as a result, you suffer the consequences. I think there was a similar case when some politician used the term "tar baby" and caused all sorts of bedlam with it even though his usage of the term was quite correct and appropriate. Hey, that's politics.
By the way, he was not fired, he resigned. Niger is not as bad (sounding) as niggardly. Part of the problem is that niggardly is not a often used word so it is "foreign" to many people so it is easily misheard as the pejorative. Given that's the case, then it would be wise to not use it, especially when there are plenty of other ways to decribe the situation. English is also a constantly evolving and changing language. Many words in use yesterday are no longer in use today. Many words that were acceptable yesterday are no longer acceptable today. Midget is one, same with retarded, handicapped, etc.... Try telling your kid to pick up the faggots in the backyard for disposal (a bundle of sticks). I almost punched out some British guy at the bar once when he asked me for a fag (a cigarette). Yes, they're just words. But think about it. They're more than that. Don't blame it on political correctness, that's a cop out. Otherwise, why should we have so many rules at TFP regarding "just words"? If they're just words then people should not get their panties in a wad when posters write a certain way right? They're just words, what's wrong with AZN? They're just words, what's wrong with saying "hey baby, nice legs let's see more" in tilted exhibition right" They're just words yet people get all twisted over analog, ustwo and others posts all the time. Hey, they're just words right? They're just words right? Then why can't I wear a t-shirt that says "We will not remain silent" at the airport? Just food for thought..... |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 (permalink) | ||
Tone.
|
Quote:
I'm sorry that some people can't be bothered to learn their own language well enough to figure out that just because a word rhymes or looks similar to another word, it doesn't mean they have the same definition. But really, that's not this employee's (let's get another thing straight - he's not a politician, he's an employee OF a politician) fault now is it? For example, horses do not have behooves, and should someone use the word "behoove" we should not chastise him out of fear it will confuse some ignorant schmuck. Niggardly, despite the oh-so incriminating fact that it shares four whole letters with a racial epithet, is not a bad word, and is not offensive. Those who get offended by it are displaying their own ignorance. I do not support the dumbing down philosophy you are advocating here. Just because the definition of a word may not be known to the mouthbreathing illiterates, does not mean those who do have something called a vocabulary should have to refrain from using it. Quote:
Our society has become entirely too tolerant of stupidity. Gloriously stupid people are not only allowed to live their lives without being chastized for their insistance on remaining stupid, but they are even financially rewarded for their stupidity. McDonalds coffee lawsuits come to mind here. It's high time we fight back against the stupid who insist on remaining stupid despite the opportunities to improve. This whole "niggardly" situation should have evaporated in a puff of smoke the minute someone pointed out what the definition of the word actually is. Instead the guy still lost his job, even though the mayor knew damn well what the word means. That means the mayor is in effect saying "Let the stupid remain stupid, and let us cater to their every stupid thought, even to the detriment of the rest of us." That's frankly bullshit. If you're cool with living in a dumbed-down, dumbass society, that's all you. I'd rather live in a society that's interested in improvement. |
||
![]() |
![]() |
#20 (permalink) | |
32 flavors and then some
Location: Out on a wire.
|
It's stupid to get upset at this, sure, but we are talking about a word that isn't in common usage and sounds a lot like the epithet. Taking this into account when choosing one's diction for a formal occasion would have been a smart thing to do.
Quote:
Who could possibly get upset about, to paraphrase, calling a shovel a shovel? Gilda
__________________
I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#21 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
Quote:
__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#22 (permalink) | |
Psycho
|
Quote:
__________________
"I am the wrath of God. The earth I pass will see me and tremble." -Klaus Kinski as Don Lope de Aguirre Last edited by aKula; 10-23-2006 at 03:51 AM.. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#23 (permalink) | |
32 flavors and then some
Location: Out on a wire.
|
Quote:
If my assumption that this usage is derogatory is correct, it makes very little sense to interpret the phrase this way because the phrase is a warning against substituting symbolic language for plain and direct language. It doesn't work if you're using symbolic language instead of common language. Why would someone assume a more complex and derogatory message rather than the simple, obvious one? Gilda
__________________
I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#24 (permalink) | |
will always be an Alyson Hanniganite
Location: In the dust of the archives
|
Quote:
__________________
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#25 (permalink) | |
Darth Papa
Location: Yonder
|
Quote:
Look, shakran and others: I'm not saying it was right that the guy lost his job. What I'm saying is... Look, if I'm communicating with you and you don't get what I'm saying, it's not productive for me to blame YOU for that. What works is to take responsibility that my communication didn't leave you with what I meant to leave you with. There was something missing or (more likely) something added in my communication that had you not get the intent of my communication. You can "object to the acceptance of stupidity" all you want--when it comes down to it, you still have to talk to actual people in the actual world. All your idealism about how smart people should be means precisely squat when it meets the real world. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#26 (permalink) | ||
has all her shots.
Location: Florida
|
Quote:
But I just have to interject here how much I love the above statement. ![]() Quote:
__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce Last edited by mixedmedia; 10-23-2006 at 05:01 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost |
||
![]() |
![]() |
#27 (permalink) | ||||
Tone.
|
Quote:
Quote:
Your argument would have merit if you insisted on speaking Swahili even though you know I don't know that language. But you're speaking english, and that happens to be my primary language as well. I'll grant you that perhaps you know some words that I don't and vice versa, but it's up to each of us to find out the definition of words we don't know. In this situation, the main objection is not that people don't know what "niggardly" means - although I still say it's pathetic that they don't. It's not like it's an ultra rare word like "phrontistery" or something - It's that when they were made aware of the definition they still insisted on demonizing this guy because it SOUNDS like nigger. Goes back to my original point that duck SOUNDS an awful lot like fuck, so by the logic of this situation we should fine TV stations when they use any word ending in "uck." Quote:
Quote:
If you're genuinely mentally challenged, have a low IQ or what have you, I'm not going to have a problem with you. But if you're of normal "intelligence" and yet insist on being a total moron, then you're right, I'm going to put a lot of blame on your shoulders. As I said, I'll grant that you might not know what niggardly means. But once you find out the definition, if you insist on continuing the "that's racist!" charge, or you fire the guy who said it, you're a very special kind of stupid, and you'd better damn well believe it I'm gonna go after you with guns blazing. |
||||
![]() |
![]() |
#28 (permalink) |
Pissing in the cornflakes
|
This reminds me of when I had a Jewish friend of mine tell me that the term shyster was anti-semetic.
__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps. |
![]() |
![]() |
#29 (permalink) |
Adequate
Location: In my angry-dome.
|
I agree with the take that PC means bastardization of our language for the least common denominator, but the OP involves a political dynamic. There will always be those who know better yet take advantage of those who don't, and the situation, for their own gain. I wish he hadn't lost his job over it but politicians live in this game of frogger every day and had better look both ways.
In the same light, the rest of us need to be vocal or that denominator may never learn.
__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195 |
![]() |
![]() |
#30 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
Quote:
__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#31 (permalink) | |
Pissing in the cornflakes
|
Quote:
[Probably alteration of German Scheisser, son of a bitch, bastard, from scheissen, to defecate, from Middle High German schīzen, from Old High German skīzzan.] shysterism shy'ster·ism n. WORD HISTORY Calling someone a shyster might be considered libellous; knowing its probable origin adds insult to injury. According to Gerald L. Cohen, a student of the word, shyster is derived from the German term scheisser, meaning literally “one who defecates,” from the verb scheissen, “to defecate,” with the English suffix –ster, “one who does,” substituted for the German suffix –er, meaning the same thing. Sheisser, which is chiefly a pejorative term, is the German equivalent of our English terms bastard and son of a bitch. Sheisser is generally thought to have been borrowed directly into English as the word shicer, which, among other things, is an Australian English term for an unproductive mine or claim, a sense that is also recorded for the word.
__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#32 (permalink) | |
Tone.
|
Quote:
Again, the man who said niggardly is not a politician. He is an aide to a politician. He's an employee of the city. Claiming he is a politician or should act like one would be the same as claiming the janitor in the white house should act presidential. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#33 (permalink) | |
Darth Papa
Location: Yonder
|
Quote:
I don't necessarily disagree with the points you're making (not going to bother quoting: I'm referring to your last post in which you responded to MY last post) in the context of plain old interpersonal communication. Politics is a different animal. Politicians have to be way more careful, and have to speak to a way lower denominator than you and I do. When the definition of "niggardly" became known, the complaint changed from racism to political unconsciousness. Again, I'm not convinced he deserved to lose his job over it, but you can't deny he spoke without thinking. There are consequences for that, especially in politics. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#35 (permalink) | |
will always be an Alyson Hanniganite
Location: In the dust of the archives
|
Quote:
__________________
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#36 (permalink) |
All important elusive independent swing voter...
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
|
Ok BOR, if you want to call a spade a spade then fine
![]() Last edited by jorgelito; 10-23-2006 at 08:56 AM.. |
![]() |
![]() |
#37 (permalink) | |
will always be an Alyson Hanniganite
Location: In the dust of the archives
|
Quote:
__________________
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#38 (permalink) | ||
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
|
Quote:
You didn't realize that a "spade" is derogatory because it's such an innocent word. "Niggardly" is an innocent word. You use the term "call a spade a spade" and someone gets offended 'cause they don't know or understand the idiom and, thus, interpret the phrase as meaning something different. The aide uses the word "niggardly" and someone gets offended 'cause they don't know the word and interpet it to mean something different. You explain what the idiom means and that it has nothing to do with black people. He explains what the word means and that it has nothing to do with black people. People stay angry at you because they can't be wrong and you must be a racist. People stay angry at the aide because the word has just got to be racist, no matter the etymology... Quote:
Seriously, does it make sense for a politician to use the word "nigger" in public? Obviously, the word "niggard," with a D at the end, must mean something else. However, people don't think rationally while they're offended which is why I claimed that political correctness has run amok... |
||
![]() |
![]() |
#39 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
Quote:
__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#40 (permalink) | |
Crazy
|
Quote:
|
|
![]() |
Tags |
amok, correctness, political, run |
|
|