I just don’t understand why people are attached to it
Because words aren’t racist, people and opinions and sentiments expressed by them are.
When the term ricing is used for so long and 95%+ of people don’t know where it came from and have zero negative connotations associated with it, your argument (from their perspective) sounds like this:
“Don’t use the term, by its obscure origin you didin’t even know about it is racist”
“I’ve been saying it for years without any racism intended nor perceived”
“bro it’s beenyou are being a fucking racist for years”
And then you are surprised by the negative reaction…
I think my initial read of your comment was wrong (I thought you were saying that the term was fine, which didn’t hold up on my second read where I was paying attention), so I want to clarify by saying what I think you mean. You’re making the point that I should be saying that the statement is racist and that they should consider whether or not they want to use it, not that they are being racist by using it in ignorance.
Is that right? Because if so, that’s a fair point. More flies with honey than vinegar and all that. I’m normally better about giving people a chance to consider rather than just dictate my beliefs, but I’m sleep deprived and cranky and I think it’s making me act in ways that aren’t aligned with my usual values.
Edit: and it’s a sign that I need to get off of the Internet for now, since I’m being waaaay more negative than I want to be.
Basically yes. Or: the term is fine; in the eyes of people who never heard or thought about its racist origin.
And your were entirely on the right track when your first comment started with explaining the origin first. When that’s your starting point and you then get the response “But I’ve been saying it for years”, it’s probably far more successful to go with “Yes, but it can be offensive for people knowing its origin, so why not use available alternative terms?” than with “bro it’s been fucking racist for years”. In one case people have a high chance on thinking about it, in the other they will instictively feel attacked and get defensive about it.
Because words aren’t racist, people and opinions and sentiments expressed by them are.
When the term ricing is used for so long and 95%+ of people don’t know where it came from and have zero negative connotations associated with it, your argument (from their perspective) sounds like this:
“Don’t use the term, by its obscure origin you didin’t even know about it is racist”
“I’ve been saying it for years without any racism intended nor perceived”
“bro
it’s beenyou are being a fucking racist for years”And then you are surprised by the negative reaction…
I think my initial read of your comment was wrong (I thought you were saying that the term was fine, which didn’t hold up on my second read where I was paying attention), so I want to clarify by saying what I think you mean. You’re making the point that I should be saying that the statement is racist and that they should consider whether or not they want to use it, not that they are being racist by using it in ignorance.
Is that right? Because if so, that’s a fair point. More flies with honey than vinegar and all that. I’m normally better about giving people a chance to consider rather than just dictate my beliefs, but I’m sleep deprived and cranky and I think it’s making me act in ways that aren’t aligned with my usual values.
Edit: and it’s a sign that I need to get off of the Internet for now, since I’m being waaaay more negative than I want to be.
Basically yes. Or: the term is fine; in the eyes of people who never heard or thought about its racist origin.
And your were entirely on the right track when your first comment started with explaining the origin first. When that’s your starting point and you then get the response “But I’ve been saying it for years”, it’s probably far more successful to go with “Yes, but it can be offensive for people knowing its origin, so why not use available alternative terms?” than with “bro it’s been fucking racist for years”. In one case people have a high chance on thinking about it, in the other they will instictively feel attacked and get defensive about it.