I still to this day will die fighting people that "Jap" is only a slur if you keep treating it as one and the historical context is foreign to everybody. Without it, its the same simple abbreviation as "Jew" and "Brit."
Like all "slurs", there is no correct answer. Its only a weapon to bludgeon people you don't like with. Otherwise none of them would exist. Most of them have no actual definition beyond "this word makes me feel bad" and so they only exist because of the power the "victim" chooses to give them.
Point is, its all a game and "marginalized" people deserve to be treated like the babies they are if they play these word games.
Of course they aren't aware. Their language doesn't even contain any of the same letters or sounds of the word for Japan or Japanese (Nihon and Nihongo if I recall). Its literally only foreigners who use the word to begin with.
And I'd respect the wishes of any of the surviving camp folk who wished me to avoid using the word (except George Takei), but otherwise their children only keep it alive for victim points and I give no shits about them.
Without it, its the same simple abbreviation as "Jew" and "Brit."
Speaking from experience here, jews and non-jews alike will selectively feign offense to this and "jewish" as well regardless of context depending on who is saying it. There is no truly safe word.
Not that I respect that abusive technique anymore.
I still to this day will die fighting people that "Jap" is only a slur if you keep treating it as one and the historical context is foreign to everybody. Without it, its the same simple abbreviation as "Jew" and "Brit."
Like all "slurs", there is no correct answer. Its only a weapon to bludgeon people you don't like with. Otherwise none of them would exist. Most of them have no actual definition beyond "this word makes me feel bad" and so they only exist because of the power the "victim" chooses to give them.
Point is, its all a game and "marginalized" people deserve to be treated like the babies they are if they play these word games.
Japs, in Japan, aren't even aware that they're supposed to be offended by "Jap"
It is very much an Asian-American issue, given FDR literally put the Japs in camps.
Of course they aren't aware. Their language doesn't even contain any of the same letters or sounds of the word for Japan or Japanese (Nihon and Nihongo if I recall). Its literally only foreigners who use the word to begin with.
And I'd respect the wishes of any of the surviving camp folk who wished me to avoid using the word (except George Takei), but otherwise their children only keep it alive for victim points and I give no shits about them.
Speaking from experience here, jews and non-jews alike will selectively feign offense to this and "jewish" as well regardless of context depending on who is saying it. There is no truly safe word.
Not that I respect that abusive technique anymore.
SHUT IT DOWN!!!!!
Yeah, I've seen the arguments that its offensive to use. But then they turn around and use it themselves.
Then again, what isn't offensive to the Jews whenever they deem it so?
Jewish: Usually ok
A Jew: Sometimes ok
The Jews: Literally Hitler