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Old 11-25-2012, 05:04 PM
 
Location: Murika
2,526 posts, read 3,009,127 times
Reputation: 1929

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Quote:
Originally Posted by FrugalYankee View Post
But the real toughie will be finding a new name for the former gover of California as has been pointed out.

Schwarzenegger?

In German, "schwarz" means black. And "neger" is the exact translation of the 'n-word' although "Neger" is used there with nowhere near the emotional charge as the 'n-word' here. Bascially it is used in a workplace to describe someone who has a mindless job. So "Schwarzenegger"? Doesn't get much worse than that!
Incidentally, his name is NOT Schwarzeneger but Schwarzenegger - with two "g." "Egge" is the German word for "harrow" and an "Egger" would be somebody operating a harrow. Thus, the name has nothing to do with any racial connotation since the color black could simply be a reference to the color of the harrow, the soil on which it is used, or to a somewhat darker, gloomy demeanor of the operator.

Anything beyond that is pure conjecture. One thing is almost certain: At the time last names were created, blacks were virtually non-existent in the Governators homeland and thus, a racial reference is extremely unlikely.

 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:04 PM
 
2,548 posts, read 2,167,549 times
Reputation: 729
Quote:
Originally Posted by Harrier View Post
Maybe - but what words are we talking about - and how do those words mark someone as racist?

If yiu cite the word in question - in which this thread is about - then you lose.

It is a perfectly legitamate word - only "politically correct" mad people have tarnished its reputation.
It's not the word but context. Chiseled and toned are pefectly legimitate words, in fact they are positive, if you called Chris Christie that I'm sure he'd be very angry.
 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:09 PM
 
56,988 posts, read 35,276,978 times
Reputation: 18824
The word is too close to the dreaded word, and the user has to know that its use will raise some eyebrows.

There are other alternative words, so just use 'em and move on unless you enjoy being mired in controversy.
 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:17 PM
 
Location: On the Chesapeake
45,558 posts, read 60,822,331 times
Reputation: 61193
Quote:
Originally Posted by desertdetroiter View Post
The word is too close to the dreaded word, and the user has to know that its use will raise some eyebrows.

There are other alternative words, so just use 'em and move on unless you enjoy being mired in controversy.
It's a SAT word. Students at my school have to know the meaning and use it correctly in a sentence in English class.
 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:21 PM
 
56,988 posts, read 35,276,978 times
Reputation: 18824
Quote:
Originally Posted by North Beach Person View Post
It's a SAT word. Students at my school have to know the meaning and use it correctly in a sentence in English class.
Ok (shrugs shoulders).

Still, if you're in a room full of black folks and you happen to be white and use that term, you're probably gonna have an uncomfortable moment. The word IS NOT in widespread use (let's not pretend that it is) and someone might think you're just trying to be cute.

In any case, i don't care. Folks can say what they want. I'm black, so it's not an issue with me.
 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:24 PM
 
2,548 posts, read 2,167,549 times
Reputation: 729
Quote:
Originally Posted by desertdetroiter View Post
Ok (shrugs shoulders).

Still, if you're in a room full of black folks and you happen to be white and use that term, you're probably gonna have an uncomfortable moment. The word IS NOT in widespread use (let's not pretend that it is) and someone might think you're just trying to be cute.

In any case, i don't care. Folks can say what they want. I'm black, so it's not an issue with me.
Goes to show you that many don't understand social norms.
 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:25 PM
 
Location: On the Chesapeake
45,558 posts, read 60,822,331 times
Reputation: 61193
Quote:
Originally Posted by desertdetroiter View Post
Ok (shrugs shoulders).

Still, if you're in a room full of black folks and you happen to be white and use that term, you're probably gonna have an uncomfortable moment. The word IS NOT in widespread use (let's not pretend that it is) and someone might think you're just trying to be cute.

In any case, i don't care. Folks can say what they want. I'm black, so it's not an issue with me.
So are 93% of my students.
 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:26 PM
 
15,912 posts, read 20,229,184 times
Reputation: 7693
Absolutely amazing, the OP's article is almost 14 years old.....

This thread, what a waste of bandwidth....
 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:32 PM
 
56,988 posts, read 35,276,978 times
Reputation: 18824
Quote:
Originally Posted by North Beach Person View Post
So are 93% of my students.
Ok...so what?

Still, you have to use common sense when talking to people. I'm not saying anything complicated here. If i was a white person, i simply would use another word in a room full of black folks. The word is rarely (read: never) used, and so to use it around people that have no idea of what it means might cause a problem. Knowing that going in, just use another word. Geez...it's English. We have tons of synonyms in this language.
 
Old 11-25-2012, 05:45 PM
 
2,548 posts, read 2,167,549 times
Reputation: 729
Quote:
Originally Posted by desertdetroiter View Post
Ok...so what?

Still, you have to use common sense when talking to people. I'm not saying anything complicated here. If i was a white person, i simply would use another word in a room full of black folks. The word is rarely (read: never) used, and so to use it around people that have no idea of what it means might cause a problem. Knowing that going in, just use another word. Geez...it's English. We have tons of synonyms in this language.
Kinda makes you wonder why people would choose certain words. That would be akin to going to a LGBT meeting and loudly saying, "I see a lot of homosapiens here" and laughing, only to wonder why people would stare.
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