Quick Question about Racial Slur

[Ketaru]

When somebody types "Jap", that's a racial slur. If you type "Jap." (notice the period), is it still considered offensive?

[Haro!]

Yes I'd be offended if anyone other than a friend called me a "Jap". Its kinda like the N-word in that sense

[Yoshio]

it's still the same unless you're using it as an abreviation for things like japanese food or japanese culture, although as an abreviation i would recommend using Jpn rather than Jap

but in any case that you are using Jap to refer to a person it will probably be seen as a racial slur, i usually tell me friends not to use the word even though i know they dont mean anything by it

[Ketaru]

Yeah, I know "Jap" is a racial slur. I just wonder sometimes when I see people even on AN use it, "You know, you should at least have the decency to put a period after that." I assume that they usually don't do it out of spite since, shall we say, the rest of their post typically reflects their tendency to...take shortcuts while typing.

[Chousho]

Ah ah, quick to jump to conclusions.

If the person using it said it just as a shortening of Japanese, or an abbreviation, I would consider that more a point of ignorance than a racial slur. It might be the same to them as calling someone a Brit.

On the other hand, around the back woods you'll find these old men saying things such as, "Those darn Japs make all the cars now", or some such thing. This would be what I would consider a racial slur, as there is no love lost from them.

I would say this, "Jap" could be, but depends. "Nip" I would say, yeah, definitely.

Don't be so quick to jump and say it (using Jap) is racist all the time, ignorance from one person is an offense to another, merited or not. However, I myself do not like or use the term, as I know it can be taken offensively, and there are better ways to abbreviate.

[Burbster]

Jap's a racial slur, huh? What about Brit? or Aussie? Those are shortenings of the formal name for people of each nationality and I've never heard anyone suggest that those words are racist. To me, whether it is racist or not depends on context and how the person intends it. For example if someone says "I have an interest in Jap culture", I would probably think nothing of it. But if someone starts talking about "****in' Japs" or something like that, it's definately racism. The word is used in many different ways and I think the best thing is to accept the different meanings.
Words like Nip or Chink and words along those lines are racist, as their history is generally born out of racism (WWII and stuff) and they aren't ever used in a sense that Jap is often used.

[Jun_Inohara]

Jap's a racial slur, huh? What about Brit? or Aussie? Those are shortenings of the formal name for people of each nationality and I've never heard anyone suggest that those words are racist. To me, whether it is racist or not depends on context and how the person intends it. For example if someone says "I have an interest in Jap culture", I would probably think nothing of it. But if someone starts talking about "****in' Japs" or something like that, it's definately racism. The word is used in many different ways and I think the best thing is to accept the different meanings.
Words like Nip or Chink and words along those lines are racist, as their history is generally born out of racism (WWII and stuff) and they aren't ever used in a sense that Jap is often used.

But "Brit" and "Aussie" were never used, to my knowledge, in the same way way "Jap" was (after all, it was used right along with "Nip"), which is why they don't conjure that same feeling. I think people saying "Oh, in this context I wouldn't consider it a slur" are well intentioned, and of course language changes over time, but I think it's a stretch to imply that it's not a racial slur. Someone using it out of ignorance is one thing, but by and large I think most people in general, upon hearing it, might still find it uncomfortable. Whether or not that's the way things SHOULD be is another matter entirely.

[JoeStrummer]

Heh, political correctness is funny, just another form of racism, but still funny

[master terrence]

if some WWII vet (yes, I abbrevieted) was like, "shoulda bombed those japs some more", guess what? it's going to be seen as a slur.

Is "jap" even on the FCC list.. whatever it is called.

[ghed]

Jap's a racial slur, huh? What about Brit? or Aussie?

It all depends on the connotations of the word when it was first used. Like during WWII Brit and Yank were used between two friendly allies, while Jap probably first showed up in propaganda posters portraying Japanese as squinty-eyed buck-toothed devils.

As for Aussie...seems to me like the Australians enjoy being Aussies. I was at the World Triathalon Champs last week and there was six Australians guys with Aussie written on their chests screaming "Go team Aussie" :)

[MIKE123]

As Chousho said, it really depends on how you say it, but I'd never say "Jap" in a sentence anyway. I even correct my friends about it. It's pretty much like dropping the "N-bomb" IMO. Even when seeing people write it it makes me cringe :P . I have some Japanese friends who wrote the word "Japanese" as "Jap". I asked them why and if it bothers them. They said it depends if your using it offensively or as an abbreviation. But, who knows, maybe this will change down the road.

[cris]

It really depends on what you think a racial slur is or what degree and so on. I personally wouldn't give a damn if someone called me a Jap or such things as Choppari (Korean way of saying Jap, dont know how to spell it).

To me, it's more of the way how they say it or how they use it.

[Ageha]

It really depends on what you think a racial slur is or what degree and so on. I personally wouldn't give a damn if someone called me a Jap or such things as Choppari (Korean way of saying Jap, dont know how to spell it).

To me, it's more of the way how they say it or how they use it.

Yeah, it's all well and good if select individuals don't care, but there's no way to tell if you don't know said individual. I understand that languages change over time and that there's even importance in changing the connotation of words, but when it comes to general usage, I'm more inclined to avoid possibly insulting someone.

[hiroaki]

Korean way of saying Jap, dont know how to spell it.


it's jjok-bari/쪽발이(Pig's foot).

Ainu's jap is syamo.

[cris]

I'm a pig's foot ; ;

[Starchild]

I'd been offended if someone called me Chon or Chosenjin.

[KuroiKenshi]

id be offended if someone called me 季節感のない外人やろう

oh wait. someone did.

[Jun_Inohara]

id be offended if someone called me 季節感のない外人やろう

oh wait. someone did.

Okay, I have to hear the story behind this!

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

I would say either pronounciation "jap" or "jap." can be called offensive.Its just a period after the word itself,i know for a fact this word originated from the Americans during World War II.The phrase was "Slap A Jap".

[Stelok]

Long ago, I had an online conversation with a woman who told me she is half-Japanese/half-Chinese. She said she didn't mind nor care that she's been called "jap".

But I read in George Takei's autobiography that he was very offended by the racial slur "jap".

[KuroiKenshi]

Okay, I have to hear the story behind this!

i was talking to a group of japanese people about cake, and one of them was saying that he saw cake as a really high-class food （高級料理 if youre interested) and that he felt bad eating it. when the rest of the group started agreeing with him, i remarked that i found that to be an odd viewpoint on cake, seeing as how much people eat it in the US. at this point, one of the people in the group (one of those 20 something douchebag types) trying to be funny said something like, 季節感のない外人やろうは、糖尿病になるような甘いものでも食ってろ！ it was all good though, because the other japanese people just ignored him, as did i. im still not sure what my 季節感 has to do with cake, but whatever

[Chousho]

i was talking to a group of japanese people about cake, and one of them was saying that he saw cake as a really high-class food （高級料理 if youre interested) and that he felt bad eating it. when the rest of the group started agreeing with him, i remarked that i found that to be an odd viewpoint on cake, seeing as how much people eat it in the US. at this point, one of the people in the group (one of those 20 something douchebag types) trying to be funny said something like, 季節感のない外人やろうは、糖尿病になるような甘いものでも食ってろ！ it was all good though, because the other japanese people just ignored him, as did i. im still not sure what my 季節感 has to do with cake, but whatever
So, he basically said you were just a stupid foreigner who didn't know any better and you're just gonna get get drunk with diabetes with all this eating? Although I can kind of see the idea of not wanting to eat a piece of food that has been so well crafted and had alot of time go into it. But at the end of the day, food is for eating.

In other news, who talks to a group of people about cake for fun?

[KuroiKenshi]

In other news, who talks to a group of people about cake for fun?

apparently foreigners with no sense of seasons. who are drunk.

[Chousho]

apparently foreigners with no sense of seasons. who are drunk.
Don't forget the sugary urine disease either!

Just wondering, did you know anyone specifically in this group, as in, did the guy think he was a close friend of yours to say something like that, or was he just trying to be an ***?

[Starchild]

At least the majority of Americans should be temeperate more in eating fast food.

[hiroaki]

　　　　　　 ∩∩ ;　<The diabetes might deprive you of limbs and eyesight.
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　　　|;|`(_●)/　ミ　　　 . Ｙ　∥
　　　|　.彡|∪||､,.|　　 　 |　∥
　　/:~￣￣￣￣:/.|　　　　|　∥
　 ,|:::　.......::/>>　　　 /　∥
　/.::::..::::::|'(/＼＿／　　∥
./:.:::　 :.:::/.:/　　　　　／∥＼
/.:::.:::..:::/.:/
'￣￣￣￣￣ 　　_/
|_|￣￣￣￣|_|

Temperance →http://static.flickr.com/54/146511472_b938263e4e.jpg←Gluttony

[Kstyle]

Lol!, that pic is so true.

[KuroiKenshi]

At least the majority of Americans should be temeperate more in eating fast food.

I don't disagree with you at all. What's a "Chon" by the way?

Just wondering, did you know anyone specifically in this group, as in, did the guy think he was a close friend of yours to say something like that, or was he just trying to be an ***?

I knew some of the people to a small extent, but not that guy. He was just trying to be a jerk and show off by getting one off of the foreigner. Also because it seems like this is slowly detoriorating into a "the people from this country use these slurs" and "the people from that country use these slurs and are fat!" I want to add that I've been called much, much worse things by other americans than I've ever been called by japanese people. I just thought 季節感のない外人やろうwas the funniest thing I'd ever been called.

[Chousho]

I don't disagree with you at all. What's a "Chon" by the way?
Sounds... Korean? haha

In reply to the rest of your post, I wouldn't put it past that there are those here that have called people worse. It's usually better in the bigger cities I've noticed, than in some of the smaller areas. Being in upstate NY, I get to see the good and bad of both sides, so I can kind of understand.

Also, so what are some Japanese "words" used to describe Americans? From the 2 Japanese representatives we have that made posts above us (haha), I'm thinking I could guess where they're going to lead :P

But hey, I'm curious. That's why my friends call me whiskers
*shakes*

[hiroaki]

I don't disagree with you at all. What's a "Chon" by the way?

チョンis racial slur to Korean <　｀∀´> ニダー (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%81%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3)

[Kyla07]

but I think japanese people are EXTREMELY cute. Is that wrong?

I would really adopt a japanese baby if I couldn't have any children.

[KuroiKenshi]

Also, so what are some Japanese "words" used to describe Americans? From the 2 Japanese representatives we have that made posts above us (haha), I'm thinking I could guess where they're going to lead :P


i have an acquaintance who calls me 鬼畜米人 as a joke. its the WWII word used to describe americans.

[Spadesy]

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with it...it's just a short way to refer to Japanese people, like Brit or Yank.

But a lot of people still take offense to "Jap," even if they aren't Asian. It's best just to be PC until they're sure you mean no offense by it.

The whole purpose of verbal communication is to understand one anothers' thoughts, concepts, beliefs...if they know you don't intend to be offensive by some terms, then people should give you some slack in your word choice. If they're complete strangers, it's best to watch your mouth a little.

[daike]

i have an acquaintance who calls me 鬼畜米人 as a joke. its the WWII word used to describe americans.
Ah, definitely that is this guy (http://www.jbox.com/SEARCH/devil/1/).