Why is that people feel the need to change the terminology to define a group of people?

Political correctness run amuck!

I think it’s done with a positive agenda. Whoever is doing it is trying to make eveyone happy, which doesn’t work of course. But there’s no reason to get mad about it. People are different, so you have to figure out what each person wants to be called. You have to realize that there are people trying clean up an image, and people who are so willfully ignorant, they want to stay in that image, for whatever reason I’ll never know.

The NAACP has tried to spead the word that the N word is inappropriate and blacks, africans americans, whatever, need to stop using it. But what makes you think every single person would say “Ok sounds like a good idea guys :)” lol. You can’t expect everyone to follow the ‘rules’.

And I think when such words are used in such a negative way to label someone, you have to change it lol, that’s very obvious and common sense.

Language is powerful, and the majority has always used language to define and confine the minorities in a pejorative way.

When people develop enough pride and self-esteem and lose the internalized self-hatred that can come from being abused by society, they often then feel free to “Take Back” the language, begin to try to reframe language so that it conveys a positive message.

Thoughtful, sensitive people who are in touch with history will go out of their way to help, instead of objecting and whining.

@Blackberry – Well said. I didn’t know you had it in you. (wink, wink)
@pdworkin – I was never taught ‘homosexual’ or ‘colored people’ as a pejorative. I was taught to respect people and how the wish to be treated and called. I hope you did not mean that my question was meant to be objecting or whining.

It’s not up to you to determine what an oppressed minority finds offensive, and if you can’t adapt to simple linguistic changes which affect another person’s self-esteem then I guess I do feel it is a sort of whining.

@pdworkin – Wow. Thanks.

Note to self (questions are not only heavily moderated on Fluther but you may insulted for asking them)

I’m sorry if you found that to be insulting, but you asked me a direct question, and I gave you a direct and truthful answer.

“The moving hand writes, and having writ, moves on. Not all of your piety and wit can bring it back, nor a thousand tears wash away a single line” – Omar Khayyam
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I once was told by someone much wiser than me that it is the responsibility of the person speaking to make sure the message is received as it is delivered. The onus is upon each of us to speak so we may be understood, so that we are clear, so that what we said is interpreted as we meant it. We cannot say something hurtful and then lay the blame for the wound at the feet of the person we said it to. It is ones own fault for not being more clear in what they wished to convey. I did find your words insulting, but no more so that your pathetic attempt at an apology.
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The same person also told me, “A person may forget what you said, or forgive you for what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
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Thanks again, I’m glad I got to know you so well.

I feel no need to apologize. You sound a little hysterical. Too much coffee?

I feel that a minority or group of people has a right to decide how it wants to define and name itself. If they wish to change their nomenclature or redefine themselves, I will keep up with their renaming. It is not a matter of political correctness but of respect. Many of us have been defined by outsiders throughout history and know the pain of that; it is time for minorities to decide what terms they wish to be known by.

I think That @pdworkin has a point about “taking back language” as I’ve observed it myself among high functioning autistics (especially Aspergers Syndrome) turning the tables on the world and many now considering themselves superior beings rather than handicapped.

Like @Corporate_Avenger I find myself confused by the frequent terminology changes, especially in terms of self-reference. I often fail to catch the subtle nuances involved and don’t realize that a term of reference used between members of a group without offense or jokingly is considered perjorative when used by an “outsider”. This is especially true when members of the group use the term in settings where large numbers of “outsiders” are present and listening. In these instances, I feel that the group members are acting childishly offensive; “we can use this word but you can’t, nah, nah, nah…”.

Like many issues in human communication, especially F2F, I am lost with this issue. I just want a tech manual with a complete glossary of terms, revision number and date of expiration clearly marked. I can play by the rules, but I believe that I should not be criticized for using an obsolete term as long as no offense is intended.

I cannot avoid the impression that the rapidly shifting terminology is employed to keep “outsiders” in a permanent state of confusion, “walking on eggshells” as it were. A form of power game in revenge for previous abuse. I can change with the times, but I reject feigned indignation when I use a previously-acceptable term in an inoffensive way.

I suppose that the best coping tool is to avoid using descriptive labels at all unless absolutely necessary. This can result in rather stilted language at times, forcing a paragraph to do what a sentence should accomplish.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land I think what’s in your heart trumps everything else, and I doubt you ever deliberately meant to hurt anyone.

@pdworkin I’m not really sure what you mean, but I’ll take it as a compliment.

Good. It was meant to be.

I think because terms that a minority find offensive are mostly inaccurate. For example, you are a female, or woman. This is accurate information. But by definition “colored people” doesn’t really describe black person specifically. If someone said “that colored person,” I’d say, “Which one, is he purple or green?” The term “colored” makes the point that white people are white and black people are… colored. When in fact we are all colored. Black, white, red, brown, yellow. Or rather, we’re all varying shades of flesh. “Colored” just has no practicality. It’s an ignorant term.

@ubersiren – Then why the NAACP?

It is an organization founded in the early part of the 20th century, hence the nomenclature. If they want to change the name of it, they will. Why is this a problem for you?

It’s an old fashioned term. I don’t know, maybe it doesn’t offend the members. My examples are referring to when it is offending someone and being changed like you mentioned.

It is not a problem for me. I asked a question because I cannot understand the changes in what constitutes the politically correct terminology to refer to someone in a particular group. I’m sure you and one other here must think me a racist, a bigot, a homophobe and a kitty rapist…but I am not. I asked the question in order to get some insight. The only person who has made sense so far is @Blackberry and @stranger_in_a_strange_land.
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f people of a group want me or anyone else to treat them with due respect, it might be helpful if we were given a rule book from time to time. That’s all.
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Let the insults and the flaming begin on Corporate_Avenger. Geez. I’m sorry I asked this fucking question.

My advice is that you switch to decaf.

@pdworkin – I’m sure you will be a real asset to the field of social work with your passive-aggressive insults and your back-handed comments. If you have nothing nice to say to me, I would politely ask that leave me the fuck alone. I don’t charge in when your blowing someone else in another thread, so why do you have to be such a douche to me right now? What exactly is you fucking problem with me?

people have the right to define themselves, people who suffer from historical injustice (and continue to do so) should be respected in terms of how they like to be called.

It is not up to you to name people, its up to them, and if you respect equality and recognize the historical and continual oppressions being waged against certain groups of people, you would refer that person based on how they define themselves through their own self empowerment.

Thank you all for your comments. I’m out.

I’m sorry you felt so hurt by my response. I’ll try to be careful in the future to stay out of your threads. I think your anger is a little disproportionate, though. The “decaf” remark was just a little light-hearted ribbing, but I can see how you might have found it offensive. I apologize.

I looked up why the NAACP hasn’t changed its name and there’s nothing definitive other than 1. It was originally named so because it was founded by mostly white men. and 2. The current president, Hazel Dukes, has mentioned that the term is now embraced to mean “all” Americans, because we are all of color.

I think this is a perfectly reasonable question. I have wondered the same myself. It can be a minefield in public discussion.
I am distressed by the negativity of the answers! In fact, some are downright attacks against the asker. I am finding a lot of that on this site. Why? What, in a reasonable question, can bring out this level of anger? How can users feel safe asking questions if they are apt to be attacked for doing so? And for reasons that make no sense!
I don’t get it.

Negro
(a definition)

African American
(a definition)

African American Black Negro
(a definition)

Why is it so difficult to respect people by addressing them by whatever terminology they prefer?

@SABOTEUR No problem, I’d just like Big Brother to send me an update whenever there is a revision to Newspeak. Us rural types don’t always get “the word” and might inadvertantly offend someone when we make our infrequent forays into the big city.(sarcasm)

@SABOTEUR Because we don’t know which terms are acceptable on any given day!!! I would never say anything to cause hurt to another person based on their race, religion, culture, sex, sexual orientaion, whatever, but I do! I have been ‘guilty’ of using terms that were OK last time I looked, and are now NOT OK. See?

I honestly don’t believe that the exact terminology is as important as your attitude. The OP seemed to me to have an unsympathetic attitude. I don’t like PC either, but I understand the wish for respect.

@pdworkin : I agree.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land @pdworkin :

I can understand how that may be a problem for you.

Funny, though…us African-American/black/Negroes don’t have such problems.

We tend to call people by their names.

What on earth was said here that would lead you to believe that I have any such problem? Maybe you need to go back and re-read this thread, Mr Teur.

@pdworkin SORRY…that should have been @Jewel.

Thank you, sir.

Wrong User addressed. Sorry.
@SABOTEUR, Thanks, but I always refer to a person by name. Unfortunately, in my point of view, many people like to point out that they are members of groups and like to be noticed as such. I try to oblige, even though I don’t tend to see anyone as members of anything unless they point it out, meaning it has importance to them.

Excuse me? I was speaking with @SABOTEUR. He has an objection to you, not I. Please read the thread.

@pdworkin, Sorry. Noted in edit to previous answer.

@Jewel: Understood. Thanks for the clarification.

[mod says] Let’s calm down, everyone.

It’s like redecorating or getting a new hairstyle. But a douchebag may want to think of themselves as oppressed, self absorbed and socially challenged but even doing so doesn’t change the fact that they are still an asshole by my definition. A horse of a different color is still a horse.

I don’t understand PC things, either.I tend, if the word is not offensive, to use whatever I decide is best, except on the rare occasions I am corrected by the person I am referring to. Black people are black people. Correct me when it is not referring to you, specifically, and get into a debate. The homosexual/lesbian/gay thing, well, I use homosexual for male, and lesbian for female. “Gay” has come into common use to mean something negative, so I don’t use it.

I don’t understand why it’s so complicated. I rarely have conversations where race even come up! And if it did, and I’m speaking with someone of different ethnicity than myself, I use whatever terminology they use.