Nicknames for different nationalities

Now i'm sure this topic has been discussed before but i searched and couldn't find the thread.

Anyway, in response to the thread about slapping a kid, i responded with the nickname ' septics ' referring to our colonial cousins from across the pond and it was modded to ' American '. ( Rhyming slang, Septic tank = yank = american. )

It wasn't meant to be offensive and i know several North Americans who either use the term themselves or certainly don't find it a problem to be thus named.

Equally i'm not upset to be called a limey, island monkey or whatever, it's just a name.

Now some names like ' wetbacks ' are obviously meant to be derogatory, where do we draw the line?

Wish i could find the original thread.

Rhyming slang or not, I reckon some folks might take offense at being likened to a septic tank. Sounds pretty derogatory to me. I wouldn't call anybody out for using the term, as I understand it's not always used with true malicious intent, but I don't particularly appreciate the use of the word either.

Edit: and I believe Keydeck is right, it is automatically changed.

It might be automatically modded. I once made a post telling someone where to buy anti-septic cream and it got changed to anti-American cream.

Hmmm, this could be a self-fulfilling post when the autobots come around again.

Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names will never hurt you!!!

- that´s what my Mum used to say, anyway!

Don't hyphenate the word 'antiseptic' and you'll be fine (I think). You limey / mick bastards need to stop unnecessarily sticking hyphens into words anyway.

Here you go, pom, I believe this was the one: The term "pom" as used to distinguish the British.

With my italian surname, people got confused and thought I was mexican sometimes. They called me spic or if they got the nationality right (italian), they called me dego or WOP. And of course, thought I knew someone in the Mafia.

I know that I've been snickered about with the reference to the "smack the fanny" of the kid, so someone please explain to me what the british find so funny about that. clueless american here. :-p thanks

Where can I get this Anti-American cream then? How much do I need to apply? Does it sting?

contents of fanny pack - comb/brush, lip gloss/balm, wallet/purse and camera if on holiday/vacation.

"Fanny" in UK English is a slang term for vagina.

It is rathereasy to find these days, however (lucky for europe) it wasn't available until after WWII and not widely available until after the 60's. However, it now seems to be everywhere.

Oh my...
*picks up chin from lap and says ooooooo, cheeks redden*

Yep, always used to make me laugh when "The Nanny" got kicked out on her fanny! Must've been an awkward landing!

Septic - thats a good one.. After hearin 'inselaffen' I was depressed at the lack of good american nicknames or suspected noone was telling me.

ok this insel affen thing ,think about this one...
we call it a "monkey wrench" and Helmut calls it an "Englander" and who said the krauts had no sense of humour
I'm a Pom and proud of it ..

The "wetback" reference reminded me of that Dave Chapelle skit:
Dave Chapelle - The 'Niggar' family

There's defiantly cultural context on some of these.

I cringe when I hear Paki used but there are other places in the world where it seems a none offensive slang.

Pom is an interesting one as it really seems to come down to intent when Australians use that one.

Australians incorrectly use the term pom to describe the English i think.

Pom is a derivation of P.O.H.M, ( Prisoner of her / his majesty ) and as such should be used to describe Aussies.

The point is that we have already had this discussion... see the topic Kay linked to, it even includes the use of the word s e p t i c (spaces included to help avoid the bot) and statements from a couple of Americans indicating they found the word offensive.

I for one don't use words like kraut or island monkey unless, well, I'm trying to be insulting.

Nice try Dave, but really an unsupported theory:


From Wikipedia.

actually what can we call the Aussies apart from Aussie?

Ockers, perhaps?

Greedy Olympic swimming medal grabbing bastards?

Gosmegrabards ? could work

Meh, I introduce myself as an Inselaffe.
I think its funny. If anyone takes offence at it you really ought to get over yourself!

what about the French calling us 'Rostbif' cuz of the lovely pink colour a lot of us British peeps go in the sun.
I think that and 'Inselaffe' are both quite funny and am not offended at all.

The difference between terms like "Paki", "nigger" etc, and "s.e.p.t.i.c" (is there really a s.e.p.t.i.c -bot or is Keydeck just having a laugh?) is that the former refer to something that is not in itself offensive (the country of Pakistan; black skin), but have acquired a whole lot of baggage by being used as derogatory terms. "S.e.p.t.i.c", on the other hand, has a literal meaning that refers to something rather unpleasant, and it's not a term I would like to use unless I was trying to be really offensive.* I have no problem though with terms like Inselaffe, Rostbif, kraut, krout, frog, etc.

* Not 100% sure that I've never used it on this forum, but if somebody digs out an old post where I have done, I was probably just bowing to the local culture against my better instincts.

In all cases people are using them because they feel somehow superior though.

Island Monkey. Is that really likely to be a term of endearment when used by most people?

I think JE's got the gist of it and also henceforth all monkeys trapped inside a zoo exhibit by being on an island surrounded by water shall have to be called Englishmen.

I didn't realise that the term Inselaffen refered only to the English. You learn somethng new each day.

Just looking at that diagram again, and I whilst I know nothing about the engineering of sewerage, I really would personally think twice about having a large glass of water out that well.

..desparately waiting for this book to be published: The Septic's Companion

It is lonely at the top and as an american I have to deal with it. Too bad the eurotrash countries try and poke americans in the eye every chance they get and yet every time they need help they are kissing our ass. Maybe the nanny states of europe will one day grow some balls and learn to take care of business without an american holding their hand. Yes I am calling most of you western europeans a bunch of faggots.

Like a bundle of sticks?

I thought he meant like this:

I the USA.

Quite strange, we are all a buch of processed, miced pork balls...???

Ok, at least its different to the usual insult/banter...

Cendaf, have you been drinking well water again??

Its prob so lonely at the top as your well is sucking up all your shit and no one else wants to drink it..

However you seem to have trouble swallowing it all

so appetising Mr.Brains faggots Uuuugh where's that green smily thing

As somebody with rudimentary plumbing skills, I can confirm that septic tanks are usually full of piss and shit... as perfectly demonstrated in post number thirty-four.

People have become far to sensitive about these things. Whats wrong in calling Americans septics. Septic Tank = Yank

Italians are Wops. French are frogs and so it goes on. No problems

Reminds me of a misstep I made quite a few years ago. I have a habit of calling all babies "cute little monkeys". You know, fawning over a cute baby in the store, and saying, "Oh aren't you the cutest little monkey." In and of itself, harmless enough. Until the day I was admiring the most adorable little black baby I had ever seen, and unthinkingly said, "Oh aren't you just the cutest little monkey." As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I was horrified. Luckily the mom didn't really hear me clearly. But that could have been a bad ass-whupping for me.

I think InselAffe is cute. But I really like monkeys, and have no reason to take offense at it. Of course, I am one of those "septics", so what I think about Affes probably doesn't matter. I can see the derogatory nature of septic, of course. But it all depends on the context and tone, as with most things. I don't think you can really say in ALL cases it is meant to feel superior. It can also be an endearment, in the right context. But mostly, yeah, these kinds of statements are probably not meant that way.

And I do think there is a world of difference between, say, InselAffe and krout, and nigger and Paki. I can't really identify the difference so much, other than there are some of these things that can be said with affection, and some not (unless of course being used by the minority amongst themselves, which is common within parts of the US Black community... Dunno about Paki in the British Asian community.)

Tis a complex area, but just to clear one thing up, using the pejorative 'Paki' is universally offensive, I have heard Indians in London referring to Pakistanis as Pakis, and it most certainly isn't meant with any affection. Apparently though in one of the Indian languages, 'Paki' means 'pure or clean', but don't quote me on that.

Or it might have something to do with the intense animosty and rivalry between Indians and Pakistanis.

island chick, that would be quite correct.
If you watch "Bend it like Beckham", Jess get's called "Paki" by one of the players from the other team and she goes ballistic-because she's of Indian heritage, not Pakistanti.

I was reading an earlier post in which "mick" was used in correlation with "Limey" - very incorrect to be used together as Limey is traditionally used for describing the English and Mick for the Irish.
As someone who is half and half I suppose they both apply in my case though!

that would be Urdu.

Yeah, erm thanks for that.