[Seanus]

Good point. Somehow, through some seemingly inexplicable reason, a short form becomes an insult. For example, gaijin is a short form of gaikokujin. Is this an isolated incident? No! For example, the Japs rather than the Japanese or Pakis instead of Pakistanis. Short forms/contractions are not new so why should they have taken on this offensive quality? It doesn't add up to me but we have to play the game. Call a black guy a ni*ger at your peril!