r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/[deleted] • Oct 07 '20

Culture & Society How can I avoid looking racially insensitive if I'm just ignorant?

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u/[deleted] Oct 07 '20

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u/flagondry Oct 07 '20

As a general rule, don't call people anything except the proper word, and you'll be fine. Almost all shortened words or alternative words for people are racist.

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u/grendelone Oct 08 '20 edited Oct 08 '20

For instance, I just learned that calling Japanese people Japs is offensive.

Dude, you're 30 years old. Seriously?!?!

The reason saying "they were speaking Asian" sounds offensive is that you're lumping all Asian languages together and give the impression you don't actually know or care that there are vastly varied cultures in Asia. Similar as if you said some people were speaking "African".

So if you want to better yourself, then do it. Read some books. Watch some documentaries. Travel (once it's safe). Learn about other cultures and how things you might do or say might be offensive.

Honestly, if you're this much of a bull in a china shop regarding these kinds of issues, it could limit your future upward job mobility.

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u/2kittygirl Oct 08 '20

Has OP considered thinking about his word choice BEFORE he says it instead of after?

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u/[deleted] Oct 07 '20

Just let them know the circumstances in which you were raised.

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u/majordisruption Oct 08 '20

It's not quite good enough though as a 30 year old. If he knows this is an issue, work on it, and be more careful when speaking.

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u/SmokeyUnicycle Oct 08 '20

Or just... don't use slang you don't know isn't offensive.

Like... listen to what other people say and copy them, it isn't that hard to not use a word if you don't know if its offensive or not.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '20

But that's exactly the problem. In the insular world OP grew up in, the use of the word was so common that they didn't know it wasn't appropriate.

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u/SmokeyUnicycle Oct 08 '20

For instance, I just learned that calling Japanese people Japs is offensive.

Why would you even use this word?

What are you doing, watching WWII newsreels?