Fact is, that you will make people do a doubletake when they hear it even if they know what it means. If using the word is that important to you, fine.

I did address these issues noting that I wouldn't use the word where it would misheard or misconstrued and I wasn't insisting on it to the exclusion of all other considerations.

Happy Birthday to Jessica!

Have nothing to add, except giggles, to the doubletake word discussion.

I never used the word "jew" in that way.

I'm assuming you have no problem with it, though.

Skipping 130 posts to rush to the end and say what has surely been said already but...anyway.

Aims, I thoroughly enjoyed the Avalon video. What a gift your work is...and with such great seeming people. Good on ya.

No, but I never used the word "jew" in that way.

That's not the point, which I suspect you already know. The point is that "jew" and "gyp" are exact parallels, synonyms for "cheat" which embody negative cultural stereotypes about Jews and Gypsies, respectively. Both are in current usage, though "gypped" seems to be more common.

So, if "jew" was in your personal vocab, would you continue to use it, or is it only okay to denigrate gypsies and not jews? Does it matter to you that the Roma/Romani see the very term "gypsy" as an insult? Is it okay if you don't know any Gypsies?

The bottom line is that you put your freedom to use culturally offensive words over the feelings of those offended. Can you think of a time when you use equivalently offensive terms that apply to your own ethnic group? If not, I'd like you to consider that your privilege may be involved.

Yes, this is an emotional issue for me, being culturally half-Jewish and haveing lived in a country for two years where "tsigani" (Roma) are pretty much treated like blacks in the pre-Civil Rights era.

editing to clarify that my sensitivity to culturally offensive words is not limited to those groups of which I am a part or with which I feel affinity.

also, I am stepping away to cool off and prep for a meeting. will return later today.

I think about it fairly often because Carlene Carter didn't realize her parents Johnny Cash and June Carter were in the audience one night when she introduced a song by saying, "This'll put the cunt back in Country" and June turned all red and upset.

Carlene was June's daughter by her first marriage. Johnny was her stepfather.

Carlene was June's daughter by her first marriage. Johnny was her stepfather.

I know that. That doesn't mean he wasn't her parent.

Sorry! I really read that weird.

I would also like to note that after this week, my brain is mush.

"If sir wishes, I will indeed consent to being 'scanned,' as it were, by the Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus."

GENIUS.

If possibly one too many levels of postmodern. Heh.

Shir, I too am impressed by your chutzpah (a word I love, and learnt from The Girl) with hanging that painting on your wall. And it's fab.

And then I scanned posts, 'cos tired. Back to work now.

Cash, it's good to see you here. I'm hoping you are back to feeling somewhat better after your bout with flu.

That's not the point, which I suspect you already know. The point is that "jew" and "gyp" are exact parallels, synonyms for "cheat" which embody negative cultural stereotypes about Jews and Gypsies, respectively. Both are in current usage, though "gypped" seems to be more common.

I confess to having used the word "gypped" freely in my youth, as it was commonly heard. Not having seen it written out, I imagined it spelled as "jipped". When I did see it in print, realized it was less savory than I thought, I released it from my vocabulary.