Are some old sayings racist or inappropriate ?

"rule of thumb". I've been told not to use it because apparently, it goes back to a time when men were allowed to beat their women with a stick as long as it wasn't thicker than your thumb.

"Low man on the totem pole". Also racist I've been told.

a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

Just curious. Have you ever heard Boyd Crowder speak on justified ?

a reply to: rollanotherone

Your explanation of rule of thumb is spot on . I had forgotten about that one .


I guess I could see where low man on the totem pole comes from. The upper classes above the lower class.

originally posted by: 14377
a reply to: rollanotherone
I guess I could see where low man on the totem pole comes from. The upper classes above the lower class.

Something about Native Americans. I guess its considered a sterotype and not all native Americans had them. Kinda like "all Asians are bad drivers".

originally posted by: 14377
a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

Just curious. Have you ever heard Boyd Crowder speak on justified ?

I have. Lots of folks I know sound a lot like him, they just don't use a lot of "old school" lingo. We're prone to hanging out with a some farmers we know and their friends when we feel like getting out of the city, but I've never heard any use the term "besmirchment" even after somebody breaks out the 'shine. I gotta hand it to them though- those old boys know how to have fun!

I once had to write a technical report which had Master and Slave (hydraulic cylinders) within it. I sent it to HR. The HR manager, who was black, said it was appropriate.

I then submitted it for signatures, no problem.

a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

Wow you must be from Western Kentucky ?

You have besmirched my reputation . That phrase would be the most common in our lexicon. (< see another big word ) lol

Ask one of your friends straight up if they ever use the word besmirched .

a reply to: NightFlight

That's actually pretty hard to believe. Although I believe you and I'm sure that happened . I wish they had a face palm emoji .

Did the valves have their "brand" on them ?

originally posted by: openyourmind1262
We say "shatting in high cotton" soft on the bottom area.

Yes, like "Farting in silk".
A sign of prosperity.

High cotton is a high thread count.

a reply to: Groot

So edgy.

What? Like Antique Farm Equipment? Or Man! There's a lot of Norwegians in Atlanta! Not sure what you're looking for.

Maybe this?

www.thebricktestament.com...


a reply to: 14377

a reply to: SecretsoftheBlueApples

Not overly fond of nordic socialist

Don't like Atlanta either

But please continue

I was embarrassed by a co-worker a long time ago when I used the phrase: "Jewed him down."

I had no idea of the negative connotations associated with that phrase. The Jew in this case refers to Jewish people. They are typically stereotyped as being negotiators that drive hard bargains, to put it nicely. It's definitely a derogatory reference.

I actually thought the phrase was related to "Jawing," where the participants are engaged in a long-running conversation as to the negotiable value of an object. I have no idea where I learned that...

But, I took her word for it. Especially since the department manager was Jewish, and very well respected in the company. I have avoided using that phrase ever since.

Funny how so many of these little phrases we've used all of our lives have such dark origins.

-dex

a reply to: 14377

I say "Yessa" to my supervisors sometimes. I probably shouldn't be saying it

But they haven't caught on yet.

originally posted by: 14377
I guess my question is where does intent start and where does it end and why can you be persecuted for words ? ( I am so confused!!!)

i think persecution is a bit of a stretch there but yeah, if you recognize that a saying has racist origins, stop saying it. it's no great burden to think about what comes out of your mouth and try to have more thoughtfulness. that's just good etiquette.

if you want an example, i had a manager named Hope once and she told me how the owners called her the great white hope because of how good her numbers were. after the third time she said it to me, i said that's so funny you say that, do you know the origins of that saying?

after i told her, i never heard her say it again. i figured she would want to know if she was inadvertently saying something that could be construed as offensive, given that she worked with the public, some of whom could conceivably know the origin of the phrase and take offense to it.

similarly, i worked at a store once that decorated displays with old books, and i found a copy of a book that was not taken as offensive at the time it was published but has definitely received a lot of criticism for racism in more modern times. i pulled it from the display and told my manager and explained to him why it was better safe than sorry to avoid an offense that was easily foreseen. and so it is with our language...

Like "the pot called the kettle black", which is not really offensive but could be misconstrued by dark purple ethnic immigrants.

"Godbless you", when someone sneezes too ward away evil spirits. For those who do not believe in fairy tales.

"Do I look like I am black", derogatory for, sure funny if you are black!

In Australia people used too say here comes a "gin wagon" , refering to an Indigenous persons car, usually a beaten up Holden (Chevy) or Ford. But I found in England it is a real business for mobile Alcohol sales Gin Wagon.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Yeah I know where that one comes from. Even I would think that's borderline . Lol

We had one at work, I would tell the guys today you're doing "Manuel labor" . Everyone would laugh including my Hispanic employees .

a reply to: fiverx313

Yeaaaa

In case you didn't notice my OP was tongue in cheek .

a reply to: 14377

if you say so

In Australia we use bugger a lot.

Like "Well Bugger Me!"
Which is something akin to 'Well I'll be F'ed!"

I have always been of the mind it is not what you say, but the intent behind it that matters.
You should be free to say whatever you want to a degree.

If it's not being said to intentionally be hurtful, incite trouble, then it should be okay to say.

Call me a cracker. honky, skippy (aussie slur for whites used by italians and greeks) it's a word. I actually take pride in it and I seriously I just DGAF.

People make fun of and use slurs based on my height. Should I start a Very Tall Peoples Victim Support Group?
Is it racist?

An aboriginal walks past me I just see another man. He says "F'in whitey"
I'm like "why thank you for noticing sir. I am indeed a F'in whitey and proud of it!"

Sticks and stones. I learned it when I was little.
Boggles my mind how certain words can aggravate people to violence etc.
Powerful things sometimes, words.

But for me it's all noise. Information. I only care about the intent of the word.
It's about how you use it.

If someone said "Yo my n'word'a! what up?"
I'd not even register it I hear it so much these days from all walks of life.
I'd not care one bit. I know what the speaker intends by it and it's not malicious.

But if you said in insulting manner "You're a goddamn useless n'word'er!"
I'd think you were a dick. Because I know you're saying it to be a dick.

It's not the word. It's the way it's used.

Say what you want for all I care. Say I'm a Trump Supporting Hillary Kissing Reptilian Hitler Zombie. Just don't be a dick about it.
And if someone is a dick about it walk on and don't engage them.
Just go about your business.
Seems simple.

Otherwise like all actions. Accept the potential consequences.

Really that's what all the worlds problems come down to. People just cannot mind there own #ing business.

Being called Nazi or Snowflake won't kill you.
Being stabbed in the eyeball and having your house bombed might though.

Them priorities hey?

Call me Harold, Call me Earnest, Just don't call me late for breakfast.