List of Offensive Words That Should be Avoided

"...The following is a checklist of words, many objectionable, that we must be aware of in order to avoid
offending and perpetuating stereotypes. This guide defines the preferred word usage and clarifies words
that may be used as substitutes. Derogatory or objectionable terms also are listed and are cross is
unavoidable -- as in direct quote --- there should be sufficient context so the reader is never in doubt as to
why the language was used. Many of the words in this list will offend. The list is not intended to be a
guide for the bigot but to alert us that certain words and phrases are simply unacceptable. The list is but
a starting point. As social attitudes change and definitions are refined the list must be updated."

What's the context of the list?

Wiðercora wrote:What's the context of the list?

The provision of health care. Here is the link ymitchell should have provided as the source of the list: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/conference/ ... guages.pdf

Didn't read the whole list, but some of what I did read is really exaggerated. For example, queer is a perfectly acceptable term for non-straight people (see, I've created a new PC word, do I get the credit?): there are queer studies, queer theory and queer literature. Also, I don't see how "bisexual" could possibly be offensive. I think that this source should be "used advisedly".

......and then there's the one about Russian. That they prefer "Soviet." How ridiculous! Must be an old list.
Well at least it serves as a historical document as to how civil servants are trained.

ConnyRaSk wrote:......and then there's the one about Russian. That they prefer "Soviet." How ridiculous! Must be an old list.
Well at least it serves as a historical document as to how civil servants are trained.

Really?? I missed that one, I gave up way before R

Haha, try using "Soviet" now, you'll likely get your head bitten off for your trouble

A lot of those terms depend on context, calling a gay friend a poof to his face may not be offensive,

killing the fucking poof while holding a knife offensive to most

For instance, Mexican-Americans are Caucasian.

Um, excuse me? I thought that Mexicans were a racially diverse nationality just like the people of the US that includes, for example, Europeans ("Caucasians"), Indigenous Mexicans, Africans and Arabs. "Mexican-Americans" can be "Caucasian", but they're not always.

Chicano: Could be offensive...

To whom? I always thought it was used by Mexican-Americans to refer to themselves.

Jew: refers to people of the Jewish faith.

Are people of Jewish ethnic origin not included?

ConnyRaSk wrote:......and then there's the one about Russian. That they prefer "Soviet." How ridiculous! Must be an old list.
Well at least it serves as a historical document as to how civil servants are trained.

No thats quite correct. People did, and still do to a lesser extent, refer to the whole USSR as "Russia" and to the inhabitants as "Russians".

For example if someone is from one of the other states of the USSR they don't like the word Russian being used unless it is specifically applied to something that is actually Russian. To a Ukrainian when talking pre-independence"Soviet citizen" would be acceptable in place of "Ukrainian", "Russian" would not.

My Ukrainian relatives all refer to the pre-independence period using phrasing such as "in Soviet times". In the same way they don't like it being called a communist state, they were a socialist state.

David M wrote: To a Ukrainian when talking pre-independence"Soviet citizen" would be acceptable in place of "Ukrainian", "Russian" would not.

Well yes, "pre-independence" is the key word. I think what ConnyRaSk was reacting to (and certainly what I was reacting to) is the idea of using the term "Soviet" now - the list linked to in the OP comes without an indication that it's outdated, as if it were still in use. I doubt that your Ukrainian relatives would be very happy if somebody referred to them as Soviet! (If anybody described me as Yugoslavian they would be in for a history lecture ).

katja z wrote:Didn't read the whole list, but some of what I did read is really exaggerated. For example, queer is a perfectly acceptable term for non-straight people (see, I've created a new PC word, do I get the credit?): there are queer studies, queer theory and queer literature. Also, I don't see how "bisexual" could possibly be offensive. I think that this source should be "used advisedly".

If someone called me queer I would be offended.

Paul1 wrote:

katja z wrote:Didn't read the whole list, but some of what I did read is really exaggerated. For example, queer is a perfectly acceptable term for non-straight people (see, I've created a new PC word, do I get the credit?): there are queer studies, queer theory and queer literature. Also, I don't see how "bisexual" could possibly be offensive. I think that this source should be "used advisedly".

If someone called me queer I would be offended.

That's a very queer position to take.

There was a time when the word "queer" meant "odd," and when "gay" meant "happy." Africans are people who live in Africa, just as Europeans are people who come from Europe.

Paul1 wrote:

katja z wrote:Didn't read the whole list, but some of what I did read is really exaggerated. For example, queer is a perfectly acceptable term for non-straight people (see, I've created a new PC word, do I get the credit?): there are queer studies, queer theory and queer literature. Also, I don't see how "bisexual" could possibly be offensive. I think that this source should be "used advisedly".

If someone called me queer I would be offended.

Paul, would you mind expanding on this? I admit I'm a bit surprised because I'm used to terms like "queer studies" and such (see above), but maybe these are more widely used in the US than the UK? Is there any unpleasant connotation to the word "queer" in the UK? Or is it just that you, personally, don't like it? What label would you use instead if you had to choose one?

Katja, slightly off topic. To which slavic group do Slovenians belong? I mean why would you be offended by being called a Yugoslav, unless Z stands for something Italian, Hungarian or Austrian of course. You can send me a message if the answer would derail the topic. Cheers.

Orange Proximity wrote:Katja, slightly off topic. To which slavic group do Slovenians belong? I mean why would you be offended by being called a Yugoslav, unless Z stands for something Italian, Hungarian or Austrian of course. You can send me a message if the answer would derail the topic. Cheers.

South Slavic languages, as far as linguistic classification is concerned (along with Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Macedonian and Bulgarian). But Yugoslavia isn't a term of linguistic classification, it's the name of a political formation that doesn't exist anymore. That's why I said anybody who called me Yugoslav would be in for a history lecture (it was meant as a comparison to another now-defunct identification, "Soviet"). I wouldn't be offended, mind you - but I would feel the need to fill this person in on recent European history.

Ah.. understand.

Cheers.


I do wish that I can also call what happened south-east from you "a recent European history"...
What we did in the areas down the river Sava is more like a recent stone-age caveman episode, unfortunately.

Oh, sorry. Didn't realize you were from around here too As for "history", well, I don't subscribe to the view that it's only history when it doesn't hurt any more ... I know what happened is still painfully present, and the conflicts and their aftermath certainly not laid to rest. Dunno about the stone age though, I suppose the real stone age wasn't that bad [/derail]

I'm happy that at least one specimen in this universe in aware that Iranians aren't Arab. no racism intended, but Arabs aren't very popular these days.

katja z wrote:Oh, sorry. Didn't realize you were from around here too As for "history", well, I don't subscribe to the view that it's only history when it doesn't hurt any more ... I know what happened is still painfully present, and the conflicts and their aftermath certainly not laid to rest. Dunno about the stone age though, I suppose the real stone age wasn't that bad [/derail]

Yes.. I am from around there Not good at all... It's been more than 1/2 an hour.. time to have a fight

Aurlito wrote:I'm happy that at least one specimen in this universe in aware that Iranians aren't Arab. no racism intended, but Arabs aren't very popular these days.

Are you Iranian?

Who said Iranian are Arabs? If it an American, just call them Canadians That's ought to do it (P.S. This is meant to be a joke)

Btw. if you are.. is Persian still an "O.K." name?