Squid

[junior varsity]

Please, refrain from calling harleys and victorys "american bikes", despite that being the correct term in identifying the country of origin.

from now on, when things originate from a specific country, and are readily identifiable as such, we shall not label them as such, for to do so would be "racist" (a word which has all but lost its meaning in this thread).

Referring to a I4 japanese motorcycle as a "Jap bike" is about as racist as referring to an Italian bike as an "Italian bike". Write a letter to your congressman if you don't like that people abbreviate "japanese" as "jap" because it has so many syllables, maybe he can use some taxpayer money to back your cause.

This is clearly distinguishable from epithets like "wop, n*, gook, etc" and to classify it as such is to undermine and waterdown the politically-correct movement. And maybe that's your underlying goal, but a Ducati enthusiasts website is not the best public forum to use.

[swampduc]

Ok, not trying to gang up on anyone, but is "Brit" a racial term? What about "Aussie"? No? Then I don't think one should assume "Jap" is meant in a racist way. Unless one subscribes to the life approach that says, "Spend all your time looking for something to be offended by, and you'll probably find something."

[corndog67]

Jap is the same as gook, chink, nigger, spick.  It is a racial slur.  You guys going to gang up on this, too?  

Brit or Aussie is not derogatory.  I got banned for a couple days for talking about illegal aliens.  Now people are defending a racial slur.   Ask a Japanese person how they feel about the term. 

But that is neither here nor there.  It IS offensive to a certain group.  And I'm about the most non Politically Correct person you'll ever meet. 

Just so you know, most Japanese people consider it offensive. 

[swampduc]

WTF do you mean, "gang up?" There just happen to be a lot of people who disagree with you on that particular point. Should we select one person to reply? Will you feel better then?

[NAKID]

It's a no win situation, I've deleted everything I've written.  You guys win.

It's really not worth the aggravation, on either side.  Have a nice ride today. 

Later.  

If that's what you think, just leave it. It doesn't make you a bigger or smaller person to delete them, it just seems childish. I mean everything I type and leave it there, like it or not. If those are your beliefs, stick by them. Some of us just don't agree with them. That doesn't mean we "don't like" you or whatever. So what if people disagree with you. A. It's the internet B. Who cares what other people think right?

[junior varsity]

Jap is the same as gook, chink, nigger, spick.  It is a racial slur.  You guys going to gang up on this, too?  

Don't have to, you are wrong. You'd be better off arguing that "labeling somebody of asian descent as jap" is ignorant. Labeling a simple object by its country of origin cannot possibly be racist. Perhaps you are unaware of the definition of racism. Allow the Princeton dictionary to enlighten you.


Racism defined:

-the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races
-discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race

Both definitions hinge on a prejudicial or discriminatory act towards a human being

[NAKID]

Hey, you know JAP refers to a Jewish American Pricess too right? How do you know he wasn't talking about a girl riding the bike that her daddy bought for her?

[DCXCV]

<snip>
or hookers, or beef jerky.

Something about that combination is slightly nauseating

[junior varsity]

i have a high metabolism.

[corndog67]

Not racist, RACIAL SLUR.  A term describing a person of a certain descent.  

And what's wrong with hookers and jerky?

Well, it's been fun guys.  Sorry if I got a bit carried away, but now I need to go and buy some material.  I wonder if I can carry an 8' bar of aluminum on the Duc?  make the beast with two backs the truck. 

[junior varsity]

Not racist, RACIAL SLUR.  A term describing a person of a certain descent.  

Guess i don't really have much to add, you just pointed out you were wrong yourself. A term describing a person.

Compare with: A term describing a motorcycle by its country of origin

[Statler]

Let's bring this one back around away from personal shit, shall we?

[donzo]

Guys, a little late in the game, I was too busy riding.  I gotta say though that I'm with Corndog on this.  JAP used to be a very derogatory term for Japanese, we have just recently been conditioned to recognize it as an abbreviation.  When it comes to feeling offended by a word, that's exactly what it is - feelings.  If you've never felt it, you wouldn't recognize it, therefore not understand it.  Technicalities in this instance don't matter.  I had to fight almost daily growing up being called a chink, jap, nipper etc. none of which I am.  It doesn't change the fact that I felt offended by these words.  The context doesn't matter if the word is all that is heard.

[donzo]

Oh ya, about the original post.  Ouch!

[Statler]

<admin hat>

cough. 

I say again.

cough.   

let's move on.

hello?  is this thing on?