Do you think the word Paki is ALWAYS offensive?

I think this is a matter of self-determination. I would need to here from Pakistani people what they think before I make an opinion.

In general though if a word is used offensively then it is not appropriate to use that word. It does not matter if the people themselves use it. That is another argument. Many people uses words for themselves that is not appropriate for others to use. It is a way to build strength within a community. So all-in-all I won’t be using that term especially now that you have said it has been used offensively. Not unless I learn from Pakistani friends that they prefer me to use it.

I don’t encounter (m)any Pakistanis out here. Usage of the word “Paki” is a non-issue.

I don’t see it as an offensive word, for the same reason you mentioned. It’s a shortening just like Brit or Scot.
If somebody called a Pakistani a “Paki”, I wouldn’t think anything of it. But I definitely wouldn’t personally call someone a Paki, just because they may well take offense to it. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

In all fairness, -stan means land, so I guess pakiland makes it logical. I don’t know. I didn’t know Paki was offensive. I’ve always said Pakistanis though.

I can think of other ethnic groups of people where the shortening of their name is considered offensive. I’d rather not list off offensive words though. It isn’t the actual meaning of the word but rather how it is used, if it is being used as offensive by others then there is no way to determine what each person means when using it. This therefore makes it inappropriate for anyone to use the word.

I thought Paki meant “liquor store.”

I’ve never heard of using Paki instead of Pakistani. The only family I know from Pakistan just says, “We’re from Pakistan.” If I knew them better, I might ask, but I’d rather not risk offending them since my daughter and their daughter are very good friends. I’d hate to have them get upset and then keep their daughter away from the kid with the offensive mom. :(

I am “this” because I choose to be offended at its utterance?
Lame?

Why use the term at all, and risk causing unnecessary offense?

I have never heard this word before.

I have never heard this word before, but I did get into an argument on here for using the word Canuk. Someone assumed I was being rude to Canadians, when I have it from the many Canadians I call friend that Canuk isn’t offensive unless it is preceded by “fucking stupid…”

It seems to me that Paki is to Pakistan as Uzbek is to Uzbekistan, Afghan is to Afghanistan, Kurd is to Kurdestan, etc. It might be that some Pakistanis who are not ethnic Paki might be offended. There seem to be many small but distinct ethnic groups in that part of the world, and the geographical names don’t necessarily reflect that. It would be like lumping all the Native American groups together in one area and calling it Indiana. Oops! something like that did—happen; they called it Oklahoma!——

Context is important here.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic True, I guess many epithets could be very derogatory depending on context and intonation.

Not at all, when you’re talking about Packy East

you

DO NOT

have the right

to be not-offended

welcome to free speech

I am offended when I hear the word ‘Paki’. Should I always be offended ?

It is a matter of opinion and experience. If you hear the word regularly within your social circles and are repeatedly told that it is simply short for Pakistani just as ‘Brit’ is short for British I dare say your opinion of the word would be rather different from someone who has been chased down the street by youths shouting the word ‘Paki’ and brandishing knives. (An all too common occurrence in 60’s, 70’s Britain)

If you have often heard people of pakistani origin use the word to describe themselves then it is understandable that you could find yourself using the word more freely and perhaps innocently – but very few people who use the word in Britain aren’t genuinely aware of it’s history and connotation.

I say that because too many times when I have stopped a friend or acquaintance mid-conversation for using the word they have launched into a justification “My Pakistani friends use it all the time”.

They have thought this through and are well aware that IF they use the word they HAVE to be prepared to justify it. They cannot – essentially they know it’s offensive. Their Pakistani friends whilst using the word will also have related their experiences of beatings, verbal abuse on the street and discrimination. The word ‘Paki’ cannot be disconnected from these hateful events.

“Well, I don’t get all offended when someone calls me a Brit” a common retort amongst Brits. I say “Have you been openly threatened because you are British, have you been verbally abused with the word ‘Brit’, have you been beaten whilst having the word ‘Brit’ screamed at you?” I suggest not. Therefore the words ‘Paki’ and ‘Brit’ cannot be compared to each other within this arena.

The simple truth is (and it is simple) if your fellow human is offended by this word then why would you choose to continue using it ?

The answer – You continue to use it because you are prejudiced and you don’t care about offending people.

It is not about political correctness this is about respect for fellow humans – you live amongst them why would you wish to create or perpetuate hate.

And if you still can’t grasp this one – Imagine being on the receiving end.

@thiswoman I was totally unaware of the use of the word as you describe it. It makes perfect sense that the “P” word, as I’ll refer to it, has similar connotations to certain groups in Great Britain as the “N” word has to African-Americans.

@thiswoman says You continue to use it because you are prejudiced and you don’t care about offending people.

@RareDenver said I would never use it in an offensive way, or with someone I didn’t know

Am I still prejudiced and uncaring of whom I offend?

@RareDenver
Why ‘choose’ to use a word that offends?
If those present are not offended by it then I still say why would you still choose to use a word that does offend others – the more you use it the more comfortable you are with the word and that surely reduces your ability to appreciate some one’s offence to it. Your familiarity with the word means you become immune to the strength of that word.

Would you use the word ‘nigger’ if no black people were present ?
No? – then don’t use the word ‘paki’ either.
If your answer is Yes – then I feel that you are prejudiced for using a word that is highly offensive and racist.

And above all how could you possibly know if someone present is going to be offended by your choice of language? So again don’t put yourself in that position – don’t use it.

I’ll give you a for instance – I am English and live in a place where other English people assume that I am of Spanish origin. I am in fact of Sri lankan origin and in my life have experienced racism with particular use of the word paki.
So when someone uses the P word around me they offend me. They did not ‘think’ that using that word would offend anyone present.

Hey, what else can I say other than please don’t use words that are offensive – it dulls our appreciation of their strength but for some that offence is very painful and will always be.

I suspect this is only offensive in Britain, and not really the word Paki that is offensive. More like if it is a white Brit saying it in Britain. I think you could say Pakistani in a derogatory way too.

Interesting enough, calling a native american an Indian has very racist origin, but seems accepted, even though it was 500 years ago they mistook America for India. Calling Pakistanis Paki seems natural. I don’t think the problem is the word itself, but racism. Sadly enough, one can take any word and make it racist. Look at the ancient and beautiful symbol of the swastika. It took only two decades to corrupt the meaning of an 8000 year old symbol, maybe older. It is totally ok to use this symbol in asia, but not in Europe.

I think there is a similarity between this thread and another conversation here on fluther.

Yes.