Racism and discrimination in Munich

I also disagree slightly on that front. I'm offended with negro and nigger, both are in my opinion not acceptable

As BD said, it can be used in that manner but doesn't have to be.

Any word can be taken negatively if it's intended that way.

Not to mention the Eismohr im Hemd (ice-cream Moor - like the guys that ruled Spain until the 13th century -in a shirt), vanilla ice-cream covered with chocolate sauce and surrounded by whipped cream.

Understood. The topics viewed differently by all and there'll always be disagreements. When I first came here an aquaintance asked if I'd like to go to a fashings party. When I asked her what I could go as she said how about as a "neger". The worst is everyone in the room thought this was hilarious. Needless to say I didn't

a black mate described it as this...

calling me nicely neger, is like calling an obese person nicley fat, or someone who wheres glasses nicely foureyes. of course fat and foureyes can be taken negatively too if intended.

People use the word cunt and twat all the time on this forum. Where I come from both those words are highly offensive to women but on the forum they're meant in light hearted joking ways and therefore are not offensive. By integrating myself into the TT culture I learned that and understand it and am therefore not offended by it.

niether of which are racial nor physical stereotyping are they? cunt twat dick and prick, offensive yes but deeply and painfully hurtful no.

Great so if we just go with the "nicely" theory then it's ok when I hear people say "just popping to the chinkys". They didn't mean it that way...it's always been called that...so that makes it ok.

umm yes they are. In Canada they are used specifically to insult and degrade women. the word cunt is probably the most offensive insult you could use on a women, twat less so but still highly insulting.

Dick and prick aren't really considered insulting.

so you should be more aware of how offensive something is to someone and not allow such usage to go on... i know of english girls who hate whe word too, and from where i come from its probably the worst insult ever.

Well if I saw a desert that looked like a flower and was called a cunt kiss, I wouldn't be offended, I'd think it was kind of funny.

i agree, being unaware of how offensive a word is to someone else does not justify using that word. I also think that "Neger" is outdated and reeks of racism.

However, I also understand that many Germans are simply unware of the connotations of the word (like i said above, this does not justify its use) and it might take a while and some education to politely point this out.

Eleanor, I think yo are right about integrating yourself into the culture. I've learnt to understand the usage of some words but this doesn't mean i don't get upset when people make jokes. I still feel offended, especially if it's someone I know. AND they always say "come on it's not meant like that..."

Gemans have a habit of making jokes that would be considered racist or non-pc in countries like the US or Britain, whereas they are really not meant to be. They are blissfully unaware of how their comments are received. You can either accept that it is not meant in the way it can be percieved and ignore it or attempt to explain how it might make you feel.

That is very true. I was recently asked by a german couple (late 20s) where I came from. When I said the UK they said "directly"? (weird question!!). When I said "yes", they said "We didn't know there were so many colourful people in the UK"

Oh deary me...