True. Some are called Mr Fitzpatrick
Some are even called Patrick Fitzgerald(oldest gay joke in world)
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Was I accidentally racist? (poll)
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Some are even called Patrick Fitzgerald(oldest gay joke in world)
There's nowt wrong with using the word. My Irish mates are quite fine with it being banded about...much like me 'Jock' mates
To be honest they use it quite bit when talking about Americans who seem to believe they're Irish when in fact they're not. If your parents or yourself were born in Ireland and have true Irish blood the you're Irish in their eyes. Everyone else that tries to claims to be Irish is referred to as a 'Paperback Paddy' by my Irish mates!
The fact that the Irish use it themselves says enough to me!
To be honest they use it quite bit when talking about Americans who seem to believe they're Irish when in fact they're not. If your parents or yourself were born in Ireland and have true Irish blood the you're Irish in their eyes. Everyone else that tries to claims to be Irish is referred to as a 'Paperback Paddy' by my Irish mates!
The fact that the Irish use it themselves says enough to me!
That's more or less my take on it. I don't think you can be "accidentally racist", but your choice of words may have been unintentionally offensive. I wasn't familiar with the term, but based on the responses so far it sounds like it is offensive to some.
I would say that it is a racist term at least initially that has softened over time and is practically unrecognized in the US. There is also a tendency to self label with it.
Just remember no matter what word you use, someone will be offended by it.
George Carlin has a great routine about it, that its not the words but the context. "We don't mind when Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor say it. We know they're not racists, they're N......s"
Not sure what the profanity filter here does with it. Over on Fark it gets changed to "Attractive and successful African Americans"
As for Paddy Wagon, its what you used to haul unruly Paddys off to the station in.
Just remember no matter what word you use, someone will be offended by it.
George Carlin has a great routine about it, that its not the words but the context. "We don't mind when Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor say it. We know they're not racists, they're N......s"
Not sure what the profanity filter here does with it. Over on Fark it gets changed to "Attractive and successful African Americans"
As for Paddy Wagon, its what you used to haul unruly Paddys off to the station in.
Or since so much of the force was of Irish origin, it's who'd likely be driving the police vehicle full up in the back with unruly, mobbed up wops. Are we done yet?
Reminds me of that time I was working at CompUSA on 5th Av.e in NYC. I was trying to sell an iPod to some hispanic folks and they spoke no English. I said that we were out of the black iPod and they didn't understand. Then I said "No Negro!" and some old black lady that overheard me gave me an evil look. I guess I miss pronounced the word. Wasn't there a Negro baseball league after all? Is it that offensive to call someone a Negro?
It depends on the context. I grew up in Northern Ireland and I've been called a paddy, a mick, a bog trotter, a fenian, a croppy, a shinner, a taig, and a left footer by friends and I laughed it off with equal insults - black bastard (nothing to do with skin color), hun, proddy (hmm there seem to fewer insults relating to Northern Irish Protestants - maybe we are better).
I've also been called a taig and spat at in the street (after a particularly gruesome IRA bombing) by someone who should have known better.
All the insults I gave above would have had a greater impact in the past, but no matter how badly the Brits treated the Irish in the past, nothing recent compares to the hatred felt by some whites for black Americans, and those insults have lost much of their power to insult ... except in certain circumstances.
I've also been called a taig and spat at in the street (after a particularly gruesome IRA bombing) by someone who should have known better.
All the insults I gave above would have had a greater impact in the past, but no matter how badly the Brits treated the Irish in the past, nothing recent compares to the hatred felt by some whites for black Americans, and those insults have lost much of their power to insult ... except in certain circumstances.
Black people call each other ****** (well apparently it is censored but you know what I mean). Do you also think that is not a racist term?
Just pointing it out.
