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Hmmm, maybe a bit too cutesy covering the etymology of a racist slur and then using a different racist slur in a light hearted manner)
Beyond the pale being historical phrase to refer something savagery(Dublin being the Pale, rest of Ireland being outside it), which was anti-Irish racism by the Brits at it's finest.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am from and living in The Netherlands too. I have talked with about every 'neger' I know about the word 'neger' and none of the negers had any objections to word neger in itself. And I talked about it with random negers too. Just don't use it as a slur. The word is not much different than 'Belg' ( Belgian ). The only people I know who get their panties in a bunch about the word 'neger' are virtue signalling white d…
It's also possible those people you've discussed it with are done with explaining this and don't want to have the conversation with you. Even if they are completely fine with it, you can't generalise - the fact people around you don't seem to care does not mean it is a word that does not carry offence to some, or even the majority. All swear words and insults are "just words", but their power to offend comes from con…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you count only a fraction of mass shootings, then yes.
Data, please. The definition of "mass shooting" varies, but let's start with this list, and please let me know how it is incorrect in its scope so I can understand your exact point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_... I would hate for you to be a victim of definitional retreat if you are able to create a well-reasoned argument and back it up with reliable and objective data.
https://reason.com/2012/12/17/are-mass-shootings-becoming-mo...
> But today, for Tom to even mention the word at all would be considered beyond the pale — so to speak. Hmmm, maybe a bit too cutesy covering the etymology of a racist slur and then using a different racist slur in a light hearted manner) Beyond the pale being historical phrase to refer something savagery(Dublin being the Pale, rest of Ireland being outside it), which was anti-Irish racism by the Brits at it's finest…
And while we are being so critical of evil Brits I’m sure the phrase has never been uttered by native Dubliners giving their own view of the largely rural regions of their own country?
Edit: BTW are you actually suggesting the Irish of the time were a race apart from other indigenous people of the British Isles?
In the Netherlands in the past two decades the word 'neger' (which corresponds roughly, but not exactly, to the American use of 'negro') has become a taboo word too, although it was already something you wouldn't use on its own for most of the twentieth century. The popular sweet known as chocolate-coated marshmallow treats was called 'negerzoen' in Dutch (negro's kiss) in the recent past, and it was boldly emblazone…
In the Netherlands, they still sell extra thin "jew cakes" (jodenkoek) at the grocery store. When my kids had to bring in ethnic food from Israel, my wife thought those would be a good idea. I begged her to just bring hummus instead, even though it wouldn't be as popular. Not sure if "jew cakes" are racist but they sure aren't Israeli!
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/jew-cookies-a-dutch-dessert-s...
It is not really offensive, mostly, but also not a good match for the present day. Manufacturers probably won't hold on to the name for much longer.
In the Netherlands in the past two decades the word 'neger' (which corresponds roughly, but not exactly, to the American use of 'negro') has become a taboo word too, although it was already something you wouldn't use on its own for most of the twentieth century. The popular sweet known as chocolate-coated marshmallow treats was called 'negerzoen' in Dutch (negro's kiss) in the recent past, and it was boldly emblazone…
> An aside: oddly enough Dutch language Wikipedia insists on using this outdated racist word for the lemma on this treat Ugh, yeah, the discussion[0] on this is rather pigheaded. They almost seem to go out of their way to keep it racist. [0] https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overleg:Negerzoen
There is also a very strong culture of hiding behind [citation needed]. Even if something is factually wrong, as long as you can't present a multitude of reliable¹ sources, the old name stays, even if it is glaringly obvious that it is not in current use.
1: What constitutes 'reliable' is of course defined by the Wikipedians who can simply put in more time than any casual contributor to hold of such changes.
Not to detract from the main point of the article, but the general linguistic Puritanism of Americans it describes is very startling to British (and, I am sure, Australian) ears - here, even an old person would never be so coy as to utter "gosh darn it", and the first time I encountered the term 'restroom' (as a tourist in an American airport) I actually laughed out loud, suspecting a joke.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am from and living in The Netherlands too. I have talked with about every 'neger' I know about the word 'neger' and none of the negers had any objections to word neger in itself. And I talked about it with random negers too. Just don't use it as a slur. The word is not much different than 'Belg' ( Belgian ). The only people I know who get their panties in a bunch about the word 'neger' are virtue signalling white d…
It's also possible those people you've discussed it with are done with explaining this and don't want to have the conversation with you. Even if they are completely fine with it, you can't generalise - the fact people around you don't seem to care does not mean it is a word that does not carry offence to some, or even the majority. All swear words and insults are "just words", but their power to offend comes from con…
In polite Dutch conversation, print publications, television, radio, et cetera, the word is not bandied about, and addressing a random black person as 'neger' is certainly not recommended and will likely get you in trouble.
In the Netherlands in the past two decades the word 'neger' (which corresponds roughly, but not exactly, to the American use of 'negro') has become a taboo word too, although it was already something you wouldn't use on its own for most of the twentieth century. The popular sweet known as chocolate-coated marshmallow treats was called 'negerzoen' in Dutch (negro's kiss) in the recent past, and it was boldly emblazone…
Similarly, growing up in Switzerland that chocolate-marshmallow treat was called "tête de nègre" (nergo's head). Today, that's become taboo and they're now called "tête choco"
> But today, for Tom to even mention the word at all would be considered beyond the pale — so to speak. Hmmm, maybe a bit too cutesy covering the etymology of a racist slur and then using a different racist slur in a light hearted manner) Beyond the pale being historical phrase to refer something savagery(Dublin being the Pale, rest of Ireland being outside it), which was anti-Irish racism by the Brits at it's finest…
Still in current usage and almost entirely disconnected from historical context. And while we are being so critical of evil Brits I’m sure the phrase has never been uttered by native Dubliners giving their own view of the largely rural regions of their own country? Edit: BTW are you actually suggesting the Irish of the time were a race apart from other indigenous people of the British Isles?
Where did you get that from?