Is the term "Jap" a racial slur?
 

I used the term "jap car" on a Mustang board and some chick blasted me for it. Is it really a racial slur these days?

Oh, if anyone wants to pick on me for my background, I'm Irish and Polish. No, I don't know where the damn pot of gold is and yes, screwing in a lightbulb is a major deal in my household.

Oh where is this? I'll play with her. if she finds that offensive i got a few that should make her take a hammer to her monitor.

Jewish American Princess

Ignore her... she must have been a slant-eye.

Seriously though, I don't see why it should be racist. Just a shortened version of Japanese. You're bound to piss someone off sooner or later no matter what you say these days.

It all depends on context honestly. I've always used the term Jap/Japs, I just use it as a shortened version of Japanese/Japan origin. I guess it really comes down to which country you use it in as well as which country the person that finds it offensive is from. It's kinda like the term Paki.

OK with me ..... "gook car" on the other hand ...













(is also ok with me):1orglaugh

If that's racist then calling me an Aussie is also...:helpme

Just don't refer to a very large Japanese man in person as "JAP". You might have a problem :)

Ask Ramos. Ooops! running and ducking for cover... :party-smi

http://www.blingstudio.com/rockyramos.jpg

Just stay out of the dohyō.

The term's popularity grew during WWII as a derogatory name for the Japanese.

It depends on where you use it, though. Some slurs are racist. Like the term "Paki" is considered to be a huge slur in the UK.

To me, "Jap" is short for "Japanese"

People call us Canadians "Canucks" all the time, I don't get offended by it.

During wwII the term "the Japs" was used constantly. People need to get over it already.

AND.... "Jap" isn't a racial slur, because "Japanese" isn't a race, it refers to a nationality.

Unlike Blacks, Indians, etc the Japanese don't subconsciously fear they are inferior, thus they are unlikely to take offense to the word. It's the same reason why most white people aren't truly offended by words like honky or cracker, which are actually intended to be racial slurs.

I know most of you are smart enough to know that "Jap" is a racial slur, and that it has a derogatory connotation. Otherwise, you have been subjected to some rather insidious racist brainwashing.

If you doubt me, educate yourself by Googling, "Jap definition".

Now that you know, hopefully, if you are not a racist, you will have the sensitivity to not use this term casually.

ADG Webmaster

Political correctness gone crazy...I've never understood why people get so easily offended over the stupidest topics. I'm half Irish and I've had every Irish joke leveled at me and I've never managed to get myself worked up over it.

It is bad, but I don't think it should be (at least online) because it's just faster that typing Japanese.

If you overheard me casually referring to an Irish man as a mick, you wouldn't be the slightest bit offended?

I believe this is an expression straight from our parents generation and it seems to get used almost exclusively in reference to automobiles. Don't believe I have ever heard "Jap" televisions, cameras, etc

As others pointed out, it depends on context.

I get a laugh out of people making jokes about my heritage, as well as jokes about other races as well, when they are truly meant in the context of a joke.

If the same words are said out of malice or ignorance, then I might react differently.

ADG Webmaster

Perhaps the truth is I was way too lazy to spell out "Japanese". And as far as "Canucks" go, well, in my defense.... I didn't know that could be offensive until about a year ago.

I loved your race / nationality comment. I posted it to that board.

People can get offended now at anything.

Also, I'm disappointed no one has any Irish or Polish jokes. Bring 'em already.

I am offended by those terms. I'm even offended by the term "white boy" because of the intention of the term. Living in the ghettos of southern california will change your whole outlook on racism.

It's all about intent and how words are used. People get too easily offended by a word and don't look at the intent in which the word was used. For example, Rochard using the term Jap...do you think he was going after a racial slur or do you think he was just using it as a clipped form of Japanese?

If a friend called me a mick or did Irish jokes about me...it wouldn't bother me in the least. If someone tried to use the term "mick" to get me angry I'd find it pretty laughable and it wouldn't bother me.

People get too hung up on words and don't pay enough attention to actions.

My heritage is 50% Irish, 50% German. Call me mick or a kraut all you want.

I'm American anyway, not Irish or German. Hell, call me a gimp all night long... just be sure to call me.

Context completely. My wife is Japaneses and of course our kids are half Japanese. Using the word Jap is only offensive to me if someone is using it in a negative tone. Referring to a Japanese car as a Jap car wouldnt offend me in the least.

From wikipedia:

Ever seen a Polish mine detector?

You put your fingers in your ears and tap the ground with your foot.

Funny, isn't it? This joke was told by Ted Turner, vice chairman of Time Warner few years ago during a speech to the National Family Planning and Reproductive Association in Washington. Unfortunately, he didn’t know that mine detector was invented by Lieut. Jozef Stanislaw Kozacki, a signals officer with the 1st Polish Army Corps stationed in Scotland following the German defeat of Poland in 1939. That makes the whole situation even more funnier.

Never quite understood why Vancouver chose to name their NHL team the Canucks...

http://www.logoncafe.net/artists/fds-large.jpg

ADG Webmaster

I agree you aussie bum!:1orglaugh

I think it depends on who is saying it, how it is said, and the context it is used in!

That's true for just about any word though. Do you guys find it offensive to be called Yanks?

Does that mean Jew is racist?

Unlike Blacks and Indians, no one shouted n1gger and red-skinned savage as a mob of people hung them in the streets of america for periods ranging over one hundred years.

Could make a differrence.

Other than that, I dout you'll ever find a black or indian that thinks they are inferior to you. That's only what you'd like them to think and therefore chose to adopt that as true.

Did you hear about the Polish Helicopter crash?

The pilot got cold, so he turned off the fan.

'oriental' is offending.

You weren't that good in your history classes huh? 100 years is fucking peanuts. Go whine somewhere else.

I am a yank, I love pulling myself.

i dont see why someone would flipout over that

My Father who was Japanese hated that term. So I guess it depends on where you are coming from.

Yeah, I was going to tell him to move to Hawaii and see how offfened he is to be called a "haole".

He'll see the light when he realizes that everybody else, no matter their race, can be a "local" in Hawaii....except a haole.

When he hears someone say "stupid fucking hoale", all of a sudden he'll start complaining about racism like it's something brand new in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haole

Uhhh? Maybe you should learn how to read and comprehend the information as it applies to history.

"Jim crow" was one hundred years of KKK and hangings.
Slavery was over 300 years, but smart plantation owners didn't need to shout hahahahahaha or hang his "assets" in the street. Who would do the fucking work after he hanged everybody?

Basically when you try to say I'm stupid you make yourself look bad.

even 300 years is pathetic compared to the well over 1000 years which the scott's were ruled over and enslaved by the English. Go take a fuckin history class!

The best was that scene in Donnie Brasco where Donnie's like "I ain't taking off my shoes for no fucking Jap." lol...

What's that got to do with racial slurs, as this post is about?

And for the matter of slavery, it existed before humans began to record history, so even 2000 years is not the longest.

Quit whining for sympathy; you were never enslaved, except by your own ignorance.

Yep, I quoted you before you googled it up and change 2000 years to 1000 years. :1orglaugh

You played the race and slavery card first in this thread, so you turned it in that direction.

I'm in no way trying to "whine for sympathy" I'm just trying to point out some facts.
And you're right, I never was enslaved. But my ancestors were.

I'll let you get away with that cause you probably follow the mighty PIES!!:thumbsup

yes it is

That's my whole point. I think it is mainly cultural. I am an Aussie and have Japanese, Irish, Spanish, and English born relatives and not all colloquialisms are perceived the way we think they would be ... the context is primarily cultural!

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

It was used a racial slur on an episode of Lassie that I saw when I was growing up..by somebody that was in ww2.