Oh, good god!

[cloudy]

I was over on the GB - wait! I have an excuse, I was trying to kidnap Rumi....

Anyway, I came across this thread titled What's the word "crossbreed" for human?.

This is the original post:

English is my froeign language, I love this language, I spend most of time in learning it.

I think about the word of "crossbreed" for a lot of time, I know this word or "hybrid", "interbreed" are all used for non-human, it sounds rude when you use these words for a human.
My question is: what's the good word for a human whose parents are from different races? i.e. a person whose dad is a American and whose mom is a Chinese.

I asked this question to a british guy, he said, "we just don't say it!"
Is that true, as a language, how could there be no a word for a extistence?

Thanks a lot!

Okay, so this person isn't from here, so I'll cut him some slack. What surprised me, to be honest, were some of the answers s/he got from other folks.....people that I've seen post otherwise intelligent things.

From one:

Honestly, some of those old creole words really help cover the ethnicity question well. They've been deemed offensive, but we haven't come up with a non-offensive replacement. It just helps to know that a mulatto person is half white, half black and a quadroon is quarter black, the rest white. Could save on a lil confusion, that's all.

From another:

I always liked Octoroon (at least 1/16 black and white mix). Then there is Mulatto (Any mix that has more than that) and Mistiso (Black and Spanish)
Or like some of our right wing racist friends would say Mudpeople.

Amusing, isn't it, that he calls others "racist"?

Will it ever stop?

 

[rgraham666]

No, it's never going to stop, unfortunately.

People like labels. It helps them organise the world they live in. It also keeps them from thinking, which despite the name we've given our species, is something many people are uncomfortable with.

 

[Honey123]

Unfortunately it will never stop.

We can only hope that our children will have more compassion and sense when they get older.

 

[NoJo]

In its defense, I'd say that the General Board is a haven for people who feel oppressed by political correctness. Like a big toilet wall in a middle school.

 

[curious2c]

I posted in that thread too...heh... I was thinking of the labels not the ethics behind the question...mybad.

 

[cloudy]

I posted in that thread too...heh... I was thinking of the labels not the ethics behind the question...mybad.

No harm, no foul.

The labels are bad enough, but it really highlighted, to me anyway, how pervasive racism is, even in those who profess how non-racist they are.

 

[Op_Cit]

I knew someone who was once a missionary to an american indian tribe many, many years ago, and during his time with them he learned to speak their language fluently.

(So much so, he was later sought out to teach the indian's language back to some of their children when it was getting lost from not being used.)

He related to me the story of talking with some elders about the tribe's first contacts with spaniards from Mexico.

When darker skinned folk came up from the south, they used the term "brown's" to describe them because they were browner. Later when they met negros, they'd already used the term brown and so they then used their own language's word for "black".

I thought it interesting (since black was used by english).

He said they didn't have a racist aspect to it, they were just trying to describe them.

All of these indigenous groups seem to share that their word for themselves is "people" and when others come along they, have to invent or use something different.

I recall hearing--don't know the factual nature of this-- that the name "Comanche" was from a different tribe's term for that branch of Apache which meant "he who's trying to kill me."

In that context, what's so bad about saying, black, white, red, etc?

 

[curious2c]

No harm, no foul.

The labels are bad enough, but it really highlighted, to me anyway, how pervasive racism is, even in those who profess how non-racist they are.

I caught myself saying once..."I have a black friend" and I was unsure why at that time I felt I had to identify him as a 'black friend' I have always been concious of labels since then...but at times one has to use one of those labels to describe...as if a police person questions you about a crime you may have seen...race does become a part of the description process.

I just hate to hear people referring to others that are different than themselves in derogatory names. Even so far as the mentally ill or slightly 'off' people. Usually it bodes ill will.

As I said in that thread...I take people as they come...and I am predjudice...I do hate assholes.

 

[cloudy]

I knew someone who was once a missionary to an american indian tribe many, many years ago, and during his time with them he learned to speak their language fluently.

(So much so, he was later sought out to teach the indian's language back to some of their children when it was getting lost from not being used.)

He related to me the story of talking with some elders about the tribe's first contacts with spaniards from Mexico.

When darker skinned folk came up from the south, they used the term "brown's" to describe them because they were browner. Later when they met negros, they'd already used the term brown and so they then used their own language's word for "black".

I thought it interesting (since black was used by english).

He said they didn't have a racist aspect to it, they were just trying to describe them.

All of these indigenous groups seem to share that their word for themselves is "people" and when others come along they, have to invent or use something different.

I recall hearing--don't know the factual nature of this-- that the name "Comanche" was from a different tribe's term for that branch of Apache which meant "he who's trying to kill me."

In that context, what's so bad about saying, black, white, red, etc?

Because it's no longer necessary....why is there a need to classify people according to skin color?

Yes, you're right - just about every tribe's name translates to "the people", Tslagi, for example. However, there's no longer a need to name someone as "different" is there?

 

[Goldie Munro]

Because it's no longer necessary....why is there a need to classify people according to skin color?

Yes, you're right - just about every tribe's name translates to "the people", Tslagi, for example. However, there's no longer a need to name someone as "different" is there?

Ignorance and taught bigotry (I believe it is) is the ruination of the world

 

[rgraham666]

In that context, what's so bad about saying, black, white, red, etc?

Per se, nothing.

But human beings being the creatures they are, the word becomes a synonym for 'the other', those 'not like us'.

And the word becomes heavily loaded with emotional baggage. The people the word is applied to start becoming 'less than us'. Who must be distrusted and even hated because they are 'less than us'.

But as I pointed out, people like labels, for the reasons I've stated.

 

[curious2c]

I also remember some feedback I got on a couple of my stories too...I was asked why the 'black' people were the bad guys. While writing the story, it never occured to me that I was possibly being racial...I was writing the story to the effect of what I saw in my mind...and there happened to be black people in the story. I was going for the color difference in the story line, not a racial kind of profiling...in the end I guess it could come across as a racial thing...but my intent when I wrote the story was not that.

Also, for the record...the real bad characters in the stories...one was a white woman who happened to have many accomplices...some of whom were black men...and in the other, the real bad person was a white man...with again, black accomplices. I was trying to keep it more...good and evil than black and white.

It did teach me a huge lesson though, because now, I try to see if I have written in such a way that a racist viewpoint has slipped through. It tends to slow my writing down quite a bit though.

 

[Op_Cit]

Yikes, I can see where this is going fast: intolerance to tolerance.

So I'll try and end my contribution with this: Racism is in the intent of the usage and not the usage. At least as much effort should be put in teaching people how not to be offended as is put into teaching people how to not offend.

 

[cloudy]

Yikes, I can see where this is going fast: intolerance to tolerance.

So I'll try and end my contribution with this: Racism is in the intent of the usage and not the usage. At least as much effort should be put in teaching people how not to be offended as is put into teaching people how to not offend.

I'll agree with you there.

A lot of my reactions are knee-jerk, I'll admit that. In my defense, it comes from many years of being called things like "half-breed," although I've gotten to the point where if I hear that now, my answer is a "damn straight" said with a smile.

If a "label" is used without the baggage that normally comes with it, I see no problem, but you rarely see that, and that's why people react to it the way they do.

 

[LadyJeanne]

If a "label" is used without the baggage that normally comes with it, I see no problem, but you rarely see that, and that's why people react to it the way they do.

I had brunch yesterday with some friends who are into figure skating. At one point, one of them started talking about Surya Bonaly, a French skater known for her backflips on the ice. Her name was not familiar to someone else at the table, and neither were her backflips, so my friend described her and started to use the term African-American. And then stopped. No. She's French. African-French? Feeling very un-pc, he ended up saying black. We all ended up feeling wierd about the whole label thing.

 

[Lisa Denton]

My question is: what's the good word for a human whose parents are from different races?

Here's one for that person Cloudy:

To completely characterize a human whose parents are from different races, the correct word is "friend."

Unless its a slimeball republican.

 

[cloudy]

Re: Re: Oh, good god!

Here's one for that person Cloudy:

To completely characterize a human whose parents are from different races, the correct word is "friend."

Unless its a slimeball republican.

Good answer.

I posted that a good word would be "human."

 

[Amy Sweet]

I caught myself saying once..."I have a black friend" and I was unsure why at that time I felt I had to identify him as a 'black friend' I have always been concious of labels since then...but at times one has to use one of those labels to describe...as if a police person questions you about a crime you may have seen...race does become a part of the description process.

I just hate to hear people referring to others that are different than themselves in derogatory names. Even so far as the mentally ill or slightly 'off' people. Usually it bodes ill will.

As I said in that thread...I take people as they come...and I am predjudice...I do hate assholes.

I have several black friends.

They all refer to themselves as black.

they refer to me as white.

I used to be really 'PC' about this. You know like we're not supposed to notice. Sorry. But I now think it's silly.

If people think I'm racist because I refuse to pretend to be 'color-blind' that is on them. I happen to like the differences. And I see them, and I name them and I lable them.

 

[Amy Sweet]

I had brunch yesterday with some friends who are into figure skating. At one point, one of them started talking about Surya Bonaly, a French skater known for her backflips on the ice. Her name was not familiar to someone else at the table, and neither were her backflips, so my friend described her and started to use the term African-American. And then stopped. No. She's French. African-French? Feeling very un-pc, he ended up saying black. We all ended up feeling wierd about the whole label thing.

African-American seems to be primarily a middle-class to upper-class USA thing.

Down here in the g'hetto where I live very few people would even consider being called that.

 

[Amy Sweet]

What do you call people with yellowish couloured hair?

Oh yeah, blonde.

What do you call someone who is under 5 ft tall- oh yeah, short.

What do you call a writer who is afraid to use descriptive words for fear of being accused of using 'lables' and being racist.

I don't know. Probably not very good.

sorry to be controversial, but I felt that the other side should be presented.

 

[cloudy]

What do you call people with yellowish couloured hair?

Oh yeah, blonde.

What do you call someone who is under 5 ft tall- oh yeah, short.

What do you call a writer who is afraid to use descriptive words for fear of being accused of using 'lables' and being racist.

I don't know. Probably not very good.

sorry to be controversial, but I felt that the other side should be presented.

Sweet, I think it goes back to intentions, as several have stated. I'm the first one to call myself an injun, no big deal. "Squaw" is considered derogatory, it didn't originate with us, I promise, yet several here have called me that and I thought nothing of it.

If a certain asshole who shall remain nameless called me that, however, I'd feel like busting his nasty mouth for him.

It's all in the intent.....whether its to hurt or not.

 

[oggbashan]

We used to let a room to Art students.

One of them, I'll call her Ann, had significant skin discolourations. As she said 'If I was a bitch I'd be a Dalmatian'.

When we first met we only saw the markings on Ann's face. After a while we forgot they existed. Ann was, and is, a delightful person to know and a talented artist.

One evening one of Ann's friends was visiting and had a phone call from another friend coming from London. Ann would collect the other friend whom Ann had never met. The friend was describing Ann:

"She's about five foot tall, short dark hair, slim... What else can I say?"

Ann jumped up and down beside the phone, pointing at her own face.

"Oh yes. She's spotted like a Dalmatian!"

Collapse of all of us in hysterics. Ann's most distinctive feature was so familiar that we forgot it. We, and her friends, saw the person not the spots.

Og

 

[cloudy]

We used to let a room to Art students.

One of them, I'll call her Ann, had significant skin discolourations. As she said 'If I was a bitch I'd be a Dalmatian'.

When we first met we only saw the markings on Ann's face. After a while we forgot they existed. Ann was, and is, a delightful person to know and a talented artist.

One evening one of Ann's friends was visiting and had a phone call from another friend coming from London. Ann would collect the other friend whom Ann had never met. The friend was describing Ann:

"She's about five foot tall, short dark hair, slim... What else can I say?"

Ann jumped up and down beside the phone, pointing at her own face.

"Oh yes. She's spotted like a Dalmatian!"

Collapse of all of us in hysterics. Ann's most distinctive feature was so familiar that we forgot it. We, and her friends, saw the person not the spots.

Og

Exactly.

Thank you, Og.

 

[woodnymph_O]

My Best-Friend has a rather large bottom

African-American seems to be primarily a middle-class to upper-class USA thing.

Down here in the g'hetto where I live very few people would even consider being called that.

We all try to avaoid labels but stil we sometimes even label ourselves a bit.

Kim: my mothers friend as I grew up , would yell at people she wasn't chinese. She was Korean. When trying to explain who she was talking about mom would say korean kim , because we knew so many kims at the time(it was even my mom's name), and kim's last names was impossible for us to prononce.

Kimberly: the girl I went to school with who was picked on for being "mixed", black father , white mother, comfortably describes her self as bi-racial. I always think what a wonderful mix of both she is, with dark long hair and lightest cramed coffee skin.I envied her.

it gets more labeley than that . My best friend is "Anne with the butt". We have all heard her described that way. And a few times to make someone aware of who I mean, I have had to meantion her butt. Truth be known it is her most memorable feature in conversation. Anne's the one with the auburn hair, ok she's the tall one, um you know anne real pretty girl, drives a white caddilac, Ok skinny all over but has the big butt, oh you know who I'm talking about now.
Weird thing is she doen't mind a bit being known as the girl with the butt.

I guess the important thing is a label we're comfortable with.
Nymphy

 

[Amy Sweet]

We used to let a room to Art students.

One of them, I'll call her Ann, had significant skin discolourations. As she said 'If I was a bitch I'd be a Dalmatian'.

When we first met we only saw the markings on Ann's face. After a while we forgot they existed. Ann was, and is, a delightful person to know and a talented artist.

One evening one of Ann's friends was visiting and had a phone call from another friend coming from London. Ann would collect the other friend whom Ann had never met. The friend was describing Ann:

"She's about five foot tall, short dark hair, slim... What else can I say?"

Ann jumped up and down beside the phone, pointing at her own face.

"Oh yes. She's spotted like a Dalmatian!"

Collapse of all of us in hysterics. Ann's most distinctive feature was so familiar that we forgot it. We, and her friends, saw the person not the spots.

Og

But you didn't forget she was slim or that she was short or that she has dark hair.

It's almost like you only 'forgot' the thing that would be considered negative. (and I could see that spots on your face might be considered negative)

Like you remembered she was slim, but if she had been heavy, you would have 'forgotten' that she was heavy. (because it's not polite to mention that someone is heavy, whereas it's polite to mention that someone is skinny)

and I know ogg, that you didn't mean it that way, because you've got one of the best hearts I know of here. I just wanted to point out the inconcistancies.

I watching a show where a guy came up to another guy and said "Aren't you that gay football player" the guy said, "I"m just not comfortable with labels like that." The guy who asked- who was also gay said, "which lable are you uncomfortable with- gay or football player?"