Irish Racism on the Dis

[mtlhddoc2]

I am a longtime member over on the VMK board - While I can understand the innocent use of a word, I do not understand why I should be bashed for pointing out that the term was HIGHLY offensive to me. I feel the moderators should have backed me up a little bit, but no, they did not. I got the "well even Hallmark uses it" line. Most of you will probably laugh, but the word was "paddy" - this term is highly offensive to me, it is a derogatory term for a person of Irish decent. So I ask you all, since this term is ok, would it be ok for me to use a derogatory term for a black person just because alot of rappers use it?

Sorry to come off like this but I am pretty steamed over this situation. I have endured ALOT of racism towards me due to my Irish Catholic decent in my life and I feel I should NOT have to put up with it here.

 

[momof3littlelilos]

There are 2 racist terms that get on my nerves that don't seem to bother anyone else..."paddy" (as in "paddywagon" which was rounding up drunks who must have been Irish) and "gypped" or "gipped"...just because there aren't many Gypsies or Romanians around to hear you doesn't mean it's alright to say it...
I think when it's pointed out to someone (who honestly may not realize the racist roots of the terms) then they should stop using them.

 

[not-too-old4fun]

Sorry you've been offended. I have no idea what board you are talking about. I basically hang out here.

To be honest, I'm stumped. I had absolutely no idea that word is offensive to anyone. Heck... the bars even advertise their big night as St.Paddy's. I'm not laughing at all at what you have written. I'm just stumped.

Again... sorry you've been offended but do know that most people are probably going to be scratching their heads with this one. I'm sure nobody was using it as an intentional bash against you. At least I hope not.

 

[not-too-old4fun]

I think when it's pointed out to someone (who honestly may not realize the racist roots of the terms) then they should stop using them

I totally agree with this. People should stop. It's called respect.

 

[Remember The Magic]

sorry you were offended. Perosnally I take no offence to it as we use the term a lot here at home, in a joking way. And we're very much looking forward to "Paddy's Day" on March 17th.

 

[mtlhddoc2]

There are 2 racist terms that get on my nerves that don't seem to bother anyone else..."paddy" (as in "paddywagon" which was rounding up drunks who must have been Irish) and "gypped" or "gipped"...just because there aren't many Gypsies or Romanians around to hear you doesn't mean it's alright to say it...
I think when it's pointed out to someone (who honestly may not realize the racist roots of the terms) then they should stop using them.

Good call there too, but I would go one further - the term "Gypsie" itself is offensive to most of the nomadic Roma tribes

 

[mtlhddoc2]

sorry you were offended. Perosnally I take no offence to it as we use the term a lot here at home, in a joking way. And we're very much looking forward to "Paddy's Day" on March 17th.

Hi Magic, I guess it is different in Dublin (I am surprised though, my family in County Cork finds it offensive as well) - here, the history of the word is highly offensive, especially in and around New York City.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'm somewhat surprised that people don't realize that the term has a derogatory angle. Running a bit short on their history I guess. However given that it is a name or nickname clearly it isn't derogatory in all uses or on all days.

 

[not-too-old4fun]

Guilty. Yep... running a bit short on my history I guess.

 

[Remember The Magic]

Hi Magic, I guess it is different in Dublin (I am surprised though, my family in County Cork finds it offensive as well) - here, the history of the word is highly offensive, especially in and around New York City.

I never knew that. Maybe it is a Dublin thing I'm not sure? . We joke about it, ie "can you spot the Paddys?" while walking around Orlando, cos they're always the ones with the really white legs ! Thinking about it though, if I was having an argument with somebody and they called me a Paddy in an insulting way, then yes I suppose I would be offended. I'm confused now!

 

[jenseib]

My DH is irish catholic and I have never heard the word "paddy" in my life. nor do I even know if it is derogitroy. I have heard of "patty's" for Saint Patty's day. Never heard of it spelled with the D, not did I know it was bad to say.
I think it must be different for different people, as well as areas you live.
I also never knew the Gipped thing was about Gypsies.

 

[rhiannonwales]

Honestly i think it in the WAY its being used.Since Paddy is a legitimate nickname for Patrick or Padraig, if some one says Happy St. Paddy's day then its not offensive to me - its just like calling Anthony, Tony. However if someone calles you a Paddy, then yes its offensive. Mick is another term that has both legitimate uses and offensive ones.

Personally i find it HIGHLY offensive that we celebrate a man who converted thousands of Celts by the sword, in an often bloody manner.Whats even worse is that many of Irish decent embrace this mass eradication of Celtic culture and use it as a reason to get plastered.

I'm Irish, but i dont celebrate this day, and i refuse to wear green.I wear black as a symbol of mourning for the death of Celtic culture.

 

[NYDisGuy]

Its a slang term in England used towards the Irish. It is also an abbv. for "Patrick". I believe your way out of line comparing the "N" word to this. The n word was created for one reason, paddy originated from Patrick then was used as a synecdoche by England along with 2 other common irish first names. Most of the United States does not use paddy in a offensive way unless the post was derogatory, then the moderators should have stepped in.

 

[momof3littlelilos]

Personally i find it HIGHLY offensive that we celebrate a man who converted thousands of Celts by the sword, in an often bloody manner.Whats even worse is that many of Irish decent embrace this mass eradication of Celtic culture and use it as a reason to get plastered.

I'm Irish, but i dont celebrate this day, and i refuse to wear green.I wear black as a symbol of mourning for the death of Celtic culture.

Sorry if this is OT - I don't know if I'm taking it a step further and about to offend soemone...but weren't the "snakes" the Pagan's - and isn't it sad when any culture celebrates and embraces the religion that was used to obliterate their traditional culture...I don't celebrate the 17th either - obviously I'm a bit hostile towards it...I'm a raised-Catholic-reborn-Pagan of Irish decent...Nice to meet you!

 

[mtlhddoc2]

Its a slang term in England used towards the Irish. It is also an abbv. for "Patrick". I believe your way out of line comparing the "N" word to this. The n word was created for one reason, paddy originated from Patrick then was used as a synecdoche by England along with 2 other common irish first names. Most of the United States does not use paddy in a offensive way unless the post was derogatory, then the moderators should have stepped in.

Actually you are incorrect on the n word - the actual book definition is "an ignorant person"

"most of the US"? I have heard it in a derogatory way all over the US - as an Italian friends father put it "a paddy is a drunken mick" - both terms have been used in derogatory ways in many mob films such as the godfather and Goodfellas - the term "paddywagon" refers to the rounding up of Irishmen in New York City during the pre-WWII days - a "paddyville" refers to the houses where the Irish slaves were kept in the 1890s and 1900s (in New York and New Jersey mostly) - in the 1970s, my grandfather, who was a policeman in NJ, often had his house vandalized with the terms paddy and mick and I was often called it in a derogatory way when playing outside while visiting him.

They may not be offensive where you are from, but my whole life, I have thought the term to be offensive, ESPECIALLY when used to replace St Patricks Day since Paddy is only a nickname for Patrick in Ireland and has never been here in the US

 

[mtlhddoc2]

Sorry if this is OT - I don't know if I'm taking it a step further and about to offend soemone...but weren't the "snakes" the Pagan's - and isn't it sad when any culture celebrates and embraces the religion that was used to obliterate their traditional culture...I don't celebrate the 17th either - obviously I'm a bit hostile towards it...I'm a raised-Catholic-reborn-Pagan of Irish decent...Nice to meet you!

Yes, you are 100% correct - the "snakes" are an allegory for "non Christians"

I do celebrate the day, but only as a reflection of my Irish heritage, not for any celebration of the actual "Saint" - and mainly, other than my heritage, I do not consider myself "Irish" - I am an American first and foremost, I was born here, I live here and I will die here. I bleed red-white-and-blue, except on March 17th when I add some green into it.

 

[rhiannonwales]

Sorry if this is OT - I don't know if I'm taking it a step further and about to offend soemone...but weren't the "snakes" the Pagan's - and isn't it sad when any culture celebrates and embraces the religion that was used to obliterate their traditional culture...I don't celebrate the 17th either - obviously I'm a bit hostile towards it...I'm a raised-Catholic-reborn-Pagan of Irish decent...Nice to meet you!

Yes the snakes reference WAS a euphamisim for pagans. There are no snakes in Ireland true, but because Ireland broke off of the continent BEFORE the ice age there never was a chance for snakes to be there. Druids commonly used snakes as symbols some even drawing them or tattooing them on themselves.

And yes i'm a paganand Irish/Welsh as well so i'm very hostile to it.

They may not be offensive where you are from, but my whole life, I have thought the term to be offensive, ESPECIALLY when used to replace St Patricks Day since Paddy is only a nickname for Patrick in Ireland and has never been here in the US

So wait, youre against people using it in the derogatory sense AND the proper one just because its not common in America?Thats slapping a rather broad brush on things!

 

[NYDisGuy]

Honestly i think it in the WAY its being used.Since Paddy is a legitimate nickname for Patrick or Padraig, if some one says Happy St. Paddy's day then its not offensive to me - its just like calling Anthony, Tony. However if someone calles you a Paddy, then yes its offensive. Mick is another term that has both legitimate uses and offensive ones.

Personally i find it HIGHLY offensive that we celebrate a man who converted thousands of Celts by the sword, in an often bloody manner.Whats even worse is that many of Irish decent embrace this mass eradication of Celtic culture and use it as a reason to get plastered.

I'm Irish, but i dont celebrate this day, and i refuse to wear green.I wear black as a symbol of mourning for the death of Celtic culture.

Your talking about St. Patrick right? He was captured by irish maurauders early in his life and was forced into slavery. He then returned to Ireland because he believed it was God's will to free the Irish culture from the savages who enslaved most of the population. By doing this, he had to enlighten the population about the word of God. Thats all we really know about him, there were only two written scriptures about St. Patrick, we dont even know when he died. Christians and Irish alike celebrate this day because of liberation, and they become "plastered" because it symbolizes freedom of choice, which many irishmen never had.

 

[mtlhddoc2]

So wait, youre against people using it in the derogatory sense AND the proper one just because its not common in America?Thats slapping a rather broad brush on things!

Yes and no - the people who are using it, and not using it as a nickname for Patrick since they would never call someone named Patrick "Paddy" - it would never even cross their minds to do so. They are using it to mean "Day of the Irish" - talk to them and you will see... 90% of them know nothing about Ireland or the Irish - they may not know it, but they ARE using it in a derogatory way. Much like that other thread about the f word used to describe a match in England is derogatory term here.

 

[NYDisGuy]

Actually you are incorrect on the n word - the actual book definition is "an ignorant person"

"most of the US"? I have heard it in a derogatory way all over the US - as an Italian friends father put it "a paddy is a drunken mick" - both terms have been used in derogatory ways in many mob films such as the godfather and Goodfellas - the term "paddywagon" refers to the rounding up of Irishmen in New York City during the pre-WWII days - a "paddyville" refers to the houses where the Irish slaves were kept in the 1890s and 1900s (in New York and New Jersey mostly) - in the 1970s, my grandfather, who was a policeman in NJ, often had his house vandalized with the terms paddy and mick and I was often called it in a derogatory way when playing outside while visiting him.

They may not be offensive where you are from, but my whole life, I have thought the term to be offensive, ESPECIALLY when used to replace St Patricks Day since Paddy is only a nickname for Patrick in Ireland and has never been here in the US

You missed my point. Paddy is an abbv. from Patrick, that is common Irish knowledge and I know people who are actually named Paddy. The English used Mick, paddy and taig as a slang word to irritate the Irish.