Shocked

Until I heard it mentioned on Hitched I didn't realise it was offensive and often used it when describing a takeaway.I assumed it was just a shortened way of saying a chinese takeaway.

However as the woman herself said she was offended by it, then they should remember that for next time, and not take it to mean the world is pc mad.

It's still common parlance in certain areas of scotland and I'm sure lots of the people who use it would be genuinely shocked to learn just how offensive it is to many people. I know ignorance is no excuse, but I do wonder whether certain backwaters seem to be a bit slow on the update where 'diversity' issues are at stake.

Yes, quite possibly. We have lived in London for such a long time it's hard to remember that others haven't had the same experiences as us. There are very few faces around Hull that aren't white.

Edited because I am tired and what I wrote sounded unintentionally superior ?

I remember my Dad always referring to the local take away as the 'Chinky'. Never really thought of it as offensive. Is it any different to someone calling us a 'Brit'? Sometimes I think the world has lost its ability to partake in a bit of lighthearted chat. Perhaps we should not call the Chip Shop the chippy any more?!

TBH it's only been in very recent years (possibly I've learned it from Hitched) that it is offensive. My family also use it to mean 'a chinese takeaway' or 'the chinese restaurant'.

My Uncle used to say 'tiddleys' as in tiddleywinks - chinks. I've heard a few people using it but there was a huge row on here a while back when Mel at TJF used the word to describe her local takeaway...

It's the equivalent of saying "Paki shop" imo. Might be lighthearted to you, but it's offensive to some.

But then I cringe when I see "kaffir lime leaves" in a recipe ?

When I was a kid we used to say we were going to 'The Paki shop' to get some sweets. We thought nothing of it as children.

My grandma, who was a little challenged in life at the best of times, used to say 'I'll just pop down to the Wog Shop' and would even say it to their faces 'Thank goodness for the Wog Shop. I'd have been without my cigarettes without you'.

She would never accept that it wasn't something she should say. ?

[ignorant]how come? whats a kaffir?[/ignorant]

i remember the fool factory row. i don't think anyone was being overly PC there, just a couple of people said 'chinky' was a bit old fashioned and slightly offensive. but she was so stubborn and blinkered in listening to other peoples views it caused the most almighty row. more than the word itself iirc ?

well yes. as people don't like the word 'chinky' and as far as i am aware noone finds the word 'brit' objectionable

and what have chips got to do with anything? i don't think they have feelings to hurt...

Very, very, very bad word for a black person in SA. Much worse even than n*gger. It's the racial equivalent of cnut ?

I remember watching Lethal Weapon 2 and one of the characters called Mel Gibson a 'kaffir lover'

I don't think derogatory, racially offensive terms like "chinky" are light hearted chat, actually. If not being discriminatory equals a mad world, then sign me up for the global loony bin.