Hi. Serious question about "Jap" name.

[Drithe]

The british call us "Yanks". The americans call the british "Brits". Celtics were called "Celts". In a game called Dark Age of Camelot, we call Midgard "Mids", Albion "Albs", and Hibernians "Hibs". All just short for thier name.

I went to school with a japanese friend who says that he doesn't know too many of his people who really care if americans call them "Japs".

I want to know the truth. Is this just some stupid PC stunt by silly white people or do the Japanese really care about the name "Japs"?

It doesn't seem racial to me. I understand the term was used in WW2. Still doesn't seem racial to me though.

I mean it could be alot worse. They could be Canadian. JK.

I was just curious. Sorry for such a dramatic first post.

End of Line.

[myk]

i think any resentment about that term would just be residue from ww2.
wouldn't just go around saying it though..

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Drithe

I want to know the truth. Is this just some stupid PC stunt by silly white people or do the Japanese really care about the name "Japs"?

It doesn't seem racial to me. I understand the term was used in WW2. Still doesn't seem racial to me though.

End of Line.

Having a nickname for a group of people, and using a term that has a history of oppression and racism are two different things. For example, the term "black" doesn't have the same history of oppression that "n****r" does.

It is not a "stupid PC stunt" because the word was used in the US to dehumanize Japanese long before PC was a thing.

[tokusatsufan]

"They could be Canadian?" We have a rule against racism in all it's forms. Canada as a tourist destination actually seems much more interesting to me. [But I will go to America for Power Morphicon!]

The term was used by Americans in World War 2 and it brings back bad memories for them. That is enough. If the people themselves [ANY of the people] have a problem with it,that's it. What would you call somebody from Pakistan then? [Don't answer it's rhetorical]

There's a lot of animosity still about Pearl Harbour. I can tell. The Japanese just wouldn't have bothered flying halfway across the world to this small island which is why I don't think "Ooh,what would granddad think about me spending time with Japanese people?"

Have fun driving over there.

[masaegu]

Close the damn thread and ban the m*****F*****, right now!

It's so obvious why he joined here.

[Drithe]

Originally Posted by MMM

Having a nickname for a group of people, and using a term that has a history of oppression and racism are two different things. For example, the term "black" doesn't have the same history of oppression that "n****r" does.

It is not a "stupid PC stunt" because the word was used in the US to dehumanize Japanese long before PC was a thing.

Americans used the word "Brits" in a deragotory manner, as did the brits with the term "Yanks", yet we still use them. But the fact of the matter is, as stated before, if the words hurt someone then that is a good enough reason not to use them. So are you guys japanese? Just wondering.

[TalnSG]

Originally Posted by Drithe

I want to know the truth. Is this just some stupid PC stunt by silly white people or do the Japanese really care about the name "Japs"?

It is a hold over from WWII and for many Japanese, especially Japanese-Americans brings back the time of the internments. Even Japanese-American teenagers tend to bristle over that term. At the very least, it would make the person uttering it appear to be a "stupid, white" guy.

Like kike, deigo, wetback, greaser, boy. mick and a few others, these terms go back to a time when a particular race or ethnicity was openly discriminated against and the word was used to denegrate them in public. None of them are acceptable. Jap is not just a shortened version of Japanese.

BTW, be careful who you call Yank. Most Americans are polite enough not to make an issue of it, but there are those who really do not care for it because the British have used it to segregate Americans and not accept them as equals when we are on that side of the pond.

[Drithe]

Originally Posted by masaegu

Close the damn thread and ban the m*****F*****, right now!

It's so obvious why he joined here.

............. Grow up.

[TalnSG]

Originally Posted by Drithe

Americans used the word "Brits" in a deragotory manner, as did the brits with the term "Yanks", yet we still use them. But the fact of the matter is, as stated before, if the words hurt someone then that is a good enough reason not to use them. So are you guys japanese? Just wondering.

But the Yanks and Brits never put the other in jail just or being one. (well, not in modern history)There is a huge difference. And while some of us don't care for the terms, they have a history of actually being freindly greetings between the two as well.

[Drithe]

Originally Posted by TalnSG

But the Yanks and Brits never put the other in jail just or being one. (well, not in modern history)There is a huge difference. And while some of us don't care for the terms, they have a history of actually being freindly greetings between the two as well.

Well. I have better understanding now. I just wanted to get a few ideas on this subject. Thank you for your time. To insure that this doesn't turn into some riot of sorts, feel free to close the thread.