The Ranting Room

People's opinion about Jock, Yank, Paddy, Anzac, Taffy.

Aye, but don't forget. Many of the countries we have fought against in the past have also been our allies as well.

T.Rox wrote: As for Yank, I am not sure if other parts of the world call our American friends by the term Seppo, but we do here in Australia. It comes from Yank rhyming with Septic Tank, contracted to Seppo ... and it is a term that is used in humour rather than any kind of slur, much like the English being called Poms. It is all about friendly rivalry in sport, etc.

I can attest that I've been called a Yank many times, but never a Seppo...

I take no offense in being called a Yankee, in fact I'm proud to be a Yank.    However, "Yankee" is also a term used by American Southerners to refer to Northerners - mostly in good fun, but sometimes not.  If you were to call someone from the American South a Yankee, you might get a look ranging from quizzical to hostile. 

I think that it's not necessarily the word itself but the emotion or intent conveyed by the user. 

NEW RANT.

May I just be permitted to say.........

British Public Transport.



It just don't work. It's over priced. It's unreliable.

It's pooed on my weekend.

Now what am I gonna do?

I can't live here without one either !   

T.Rox wrote: Neil wrote: visitor2035 wrote: Can someone tell me why Paki is racist...but Scot isn't????????????? Think about it.   I've always wondered that because Paki is just the diminuitive of Pakistani in the same way that Brit is the diminuitive of Briton, Scot is the diminuitive of Scotsman and Aussie the diminuitive of Australian.   I think that it's a product of history and the way that the word was used in the 1970s and 1980s.  i.e. always as part of an insult.   However you are correct; simply referring to someone as a Paki is no more insulting that referring to them as an Aussie (ah, may have found the problem).     Aussies use the term Aussie themselves, as do the Scots with Scot ... but I don't believe I have ever heard anyone from Pakistan call themselves anything other than a Pakistani ... and would suggest, as been said earlier, that it is about the intent that goes with the use of the word Paki, a racial slur.       limeyrob wrote: People's opinion about Jock, Yank, Paddy, Anzac, Taffy.   I haven't heard Anzac used other than to describe the actual Anzacs from WWI ... we are usually just Aussies and Kiwis normally. Who knows what you foreigners get up to, though   As for Yank, I am not sure if other parts of the world call our American friends by the term Seppo, but we do here in Australia. It comes from Yank rhyming with Septic Tank, contracted to Seppo ... and it is a term that is used in humour rather than any kind of slur, much like the English being called Poms. It is all about friendly rivalry in sport, etc.

Racism is appalling in all its shapes and forms, and often people forget that it's not just white folk who are racist towards Asians, Africans or whoever.

I remember a particularly depressing taxi journey across town. The Asian taxi driver responded to a call on his radio, to do an airport job 'Air India, Flight number whatever..' He got the job and rubbed his hands in joy, announcing to me 'Another load of stupid Indians to rip off. I'll my meter on 3, they wont know the difference. Yep! I'll have that one' I asked him 'Are you not Indian?' 'No' he replied indignantly 'Not me mate. I'm a f***ing Paki, aint I. I hate those c***s'

It's the pits. Last time I got the train home when my Mum was in hospital I was lucky enough to be in a carriage with a group of 16 or so teens, copiously drinking, smoking dope and in the case of 2 girls throwing up in the aisle. I couldn't change carriage as they had me and a sweet little old man trapped!

Yeah for me to visit my Mum via train it would take 5 1/2 hours and cost almost £100.
 At the moment, she's having a break in her chemo, so is staying with my sister in Surrey for a few days. She really is pretty darn frail, so I was planning to take the kids over there to visit tomorrow, it was going to cost about £70 (plus £20 in taxi fares as there is no bus to get to the station from here)  but................ all trains east from Swindon are off this weekend, there is a replacement bus service but this "could add an extra 95 minutes to your journey" making a trip that takes a fraction over an hour by car a whopping 4 - 41/2 hours each way.............. not somethng that is really viable with the kids in one day (9 hours on public transport??? No Way, I could get to Miami in 9 hours!) 

Having just spent a weekend in Holland, once again I am reminded just how far behind mainland Europe we are with such stuff................

Yes Jared, you are right, I should learn to drive. I've only recently passed the dvlc medical, (hence getting Bertie) & I hope to start learning soon.........I don't think it's going to help me get the kids to see their Nanna tho.  

Just spoke to the boss in Cologne, he's going to take us to Norfolk when he gets home. It'll be cheaper, warmer, quicker, more comfortable............and I wont have to go via London underground which is a whole other topic!

Racism isn't really that different to sexism, ageism, following a different football team or wearing the wrong trainers.  Unfortunately those who get lost in thought because it's unfamiliar territory will always find some reason to have a go at those who are different to themselves and their particular clicque.  Let's face it, making fun of chavs is not really any different; they can't help being complete f**kwits.