Ah, "politically incorrect." Therein lies the rub.

It IS politically incorrect, but political correctness has nothing to do with what's actually right or wrong, or what's actually offensive or inoffensive, but rather what people think that OTHER people think might be right/wrong/offensive/inoffensive. It's a level removed from reality.

Classic example: I know PLENTY of black people who find "person of color" to be substantially more offensive than calling them "black." Some of them also find "African-American" to be a little bit offensive (but less so) because they don't consider themselves African at all (some because not all dark-skinned people are from Africa, some because they don't feel a cultural connection to the place their ancestors lived). But right now, "person of color" is considered to be the "politically correct" term because it's what the people who are looking out for things that MIGHT be offensive to someone ELSE think is a safe choice of terminology.

EDIT: And choco, yes, I know I'm not an authority on what's offensive or inoffensive, but neither are you. Yokuutsu has EXACTLY the right way of thinking about it.

Meh, I find political correctness to be annoying.

For example, when I was growing up, we said African American.
And that's the word that I like to use.

Changing it to "person of color" just because a few African Americans are unhappy with it is annoying. "Person of color" is just too vague in my opinion. Because that would include brown, yellow, and all the other colors of the rainbow.

You just can't please everyone I guess. And I am okay with that.

It wasn't even African-Americans who were getting offended by it, in general. The term came up as an attempt to find a "more inclusive" way of referring to non-white people, without saying "non-white" and without getting people confused by saying "ethnic" (which wouldn't even be accurate anyway, because EVERYONE has SOME sort of ethnicity, even if it's "white American").

I just find it really depressing that nobody nowadays remembers the racism that used to get leveled at Irish people. Irish people have a caucasian skin tone! The only remnant in today's world is "gingers have no soul" and that's just a stupid Internet meme that no one takes seriously. It just illustrates how hung up today's "diversity" push is so focused on skin tone that it completely ignores the fact that racism also occurs between groups with the same skin color. In trying to fight discrimination, it ignores most of the discrimination that happens in the world at large.

Yes, I have heard about that. Weren't most Irish indentured servants in the beginning?

One of my guidance counselors in middle school had red hair. And told us that she had been picked on as a child for her hair color. The kids would tease her and call her carrot top.

Many were indentured servants or refugees, yes, but even the ones who weren't had to deal with the stereotype of Irishmen being lazy and fond of drink. (Actually... the Irish stereotype wasn't too terribly different from the modern Mexican laborer stereotype.)

When I think of the Irish, I just think of St.Patrick's Day=celebrations. And I am very fond of celebrations. XD

I also like Irish music. I hear Ireland is really beautiful and I wouldn't mind visiting it one day! Especially seeing the castles!

ok, you two are pretty fucking gross right now. i am not going to post in a thread where my feelings about myself and my heritage are 'annoying' and creeps like YOU try to tell me that i should not be upset just because you think i shouldn't be. i don't like having my person slandered because two ignorant morons think that it is not worth the effort to show even the base amount of respect to others. neither of you are welcome in my thread and both of you can take a long walk off of a short pier. damn racist creeps.

um, yes, but actually that's the point of the term "person of color"...it includes more than just black people, but also other non-white groups living in America, such as Asians, Indians, Native Americans, etc.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if African Americans don't like being called African Americans, then what do they want to be called then?


And no, they cannot take "person of color" because that is for all persons of color, not just African Americans.

it's up to any individual person to decide what they prefer to be called. Plenty of people identify as African American and it's just fine to call them African Americans.

How about a new subject?
https://youtu.be/1iPMazni3FA

Cat Fails!

I think Black would be a better fit. It doesn't have the word African in it that some blacks don't identify with.

that works too.

edit: again, it really depends on the individual. If you call someone black and they say "I prefer African American, please" then you politely apologize and switch to calling them African American.

it really isn't difficult to be politically correct.

Yep, I know what you mean. Usually they say it really nicely since they are so used to correcting people.

Ok. Cat Fails could not change the direction of this thread.

Let's try........

SO GUYS - MY STEPMOTHER IS DYING.

Which doesn't really matter to me very much because she never made any effort to be part of my life.

BUT.

I am worried about my brothers. My dad has 70/30 custody of them with her and they are 15 and 13 now (i'm pretty sure. I am not the best big sister).

I keep trying to talk to them and they are like "i'm fine" and say things like "fr fr" and what not at me. I don't live in the same state anymore and I can't make it home for Christmas. What should I do?

wow, I dunno! o.o

I've never been in such a situation before.