Is the term "Jap" considered offensive?

[AncientPC]

If you are Japanese or Japanese American, please state so if you find the term offensive.

"Jap" is short for Japanese, therefore it can be considered another person's laziness which causes them to use it.

Then again, "Jap" is ethnicity specific, and used in demeaning terms. I have never seen it used in a positive manner either in addition to other ethnicity specific terms such as "beloved patriot", "beloved patriot", or "great person" (not meant to offend anyone or calling names, just making statements).

In my opinion we should use these words as less as possible to offend anyone, but just wondering how people felt about them . . .

 

[yakko]

By some people it is. It also depends on what context you use the word.

 

[mrCide]

Jewish American Princess =D

 

[rlism]

It's offensive... under any context.

The Japanese or Japan should never be abbreviated as 'Jap'.

 

[emjem]

Do you get offended when people from other nations call you a Yank?

 

[thegreatjeff]

Kinda like "Yankee."

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

hell no

I love the term "yank"

so... any other reasons why someone should be offended by it??

I don't see why some people do, but I'm not racist for the most part. Race is just a bonus (most of the time).

 

[Scarpozzi]

I love their clothes there... High quality, good selection... Why would I find it offens.....ohh JAP... Sorry, nevermind.

 

[Vincent]

It is offensive because of the way it has been used in the past and because of its connotation. There is no comparison between this word and "Yank." The word Yank is seldom used as a derogatory term but the same is not true, historically, for the word "Jap."

 

[AncientPC]

As Vincent pointed out, yanks aren't considered offensive and was never used except perhaps by the British during colonial America. Hell, there's the Yankees baseball team.

 

[pulse8]

The word itself should not be offensive. It's just a word. It's the ignorant racist that uses it that should be offensive. I myself am Jewish. I've been called a dirty jew quite a few times. Mainly with a friend of mine who's a dumb polock. There's an understanding. It's just joking. I think it depends on the context.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

WTH does everybody get offended at the drop of a hat these days?

 

[mundania]

i'm chinese and i don't take offense to the word beloved patriot most of the time, especially sinc emost of the time i hear it in jokes. honestly, if an italian came up to me.. and said.. what up beloved patriot, i wouldn't think anything of it.

however... if you're cussing me out, and you spit out beloved patriot, then yeah, i'll take offense. like someone else said, it's all about context. for me anyways.

 

[mztykal]

I don't find it offensive and I'm 100% Japanese. I also use the word sometimes. Doesn't bother me.

 

[mrCide]

<< WTH does everybody get offended at the drop of a hat these days? >>



That's what I'm thinking.. rlism? heh..

Give me a break guys you really shouldn't be so sensative.. Out of all the 'offensive' words I think Jap would be the least offensive.. it's part of the word.. jew.. everyone I know uses the term..

People that take offense to this are the same that go 'why do yo have to refer to them as a black person?' when I say 'that black guy'.. gimme a break people.. don't get offended unless it's used in an offensive/ignorant/racist/etc way.. life is too short.

 

[PliotronX]

<< WTH does everybody get offended at the drop of a hat these days? >>


You sir, have offended me, and shall be banned!

 

[ThisIsMatt]

<<

<< WTH does everybody get offended at the drop of a hat these days? >>


You sir, have offended me, and shall be banned!

>>



Bite me skank

 

[GoldenBear]

Depends on the context:

In exhibit A, if someone says, &quot;Those japs sure know how to make sweet rides&quot;, and assuming no sarcasm is in existent, I don't see how it'd be offensive.

In exhibit B, if someone says, &quot;Those japs sure are [insert insulting generalization here]&quot;, then I could *understand* it being offensive, but if someone were to simply replace japs with japanese and say it in the same context, I don't see any difference one way or another.

I personally tend to believe people use Jap because it's five characters shorter than japanese.

 

[Maetryx]

Maetryx here,

Well, in response to Exhibit A and Exhibit B, I would say that neither usage makes the term &quot;jap&quot; inherently offensive. Example:

A: Japs make things cheaper, better and faster.
B: Japs make cheap junk.

Neither usage makes the term &quot;japs&quot; mean anything other than &quot;the Japanese&quot; and both are generalizations. What would be offensive is using the word in such a way that the term *is* the negative generalization. Example:

C: Don't be such a jap.

 

[CPBrownson]

I'm not Japanese so I can't say if they find it offensive or not, but I can say that the historical context of the word comes from when we were at war with Japan. The word Jap became the term used to describe the enemy, just as the word beloved patriot was used in Vietnam. Now that we are not at war with these nations I think it's a quick way to stir up racial strife. So I prefer not to use it myself.

 

[rlism]

I guess I mean it's not PC. I don't find it offensive - then again, I'm not Japanese. Few of my friends are and I don't use 'Jap' unless I'm clownin' 'em. I KNOW they'd be pissed if they were called &quot;Japs&quot; by total strangers though.

 

[Buddhist]

I'm half japanese and half american.

I find it offensive because the term Jap is always thrown around in offensive situations and rarely do you see it thrown around in casual terminology.

Do you say &quot;I went to a jap restaraunt today?&quot;
No you say you went to a japanese restaraunt.

Reason, because its not in the correct connotation if you did. Its like saying &quot;I'm going to the beloved patriot restaraunt&quot; which by all means is understood to be a derogative connotation like &quot;ni**g&amp;r restaraunt&quot; reffering to some place that has chicken and corn meals. How about the term &quot;C**n&quot; or hey lets not hang out with that guy cause he's so &quot;jewish&quot;

None of these terminologies need to be thrown around in those contexts so i do think its offensive. It is not necessary to do such a thing.

And believe you me, when foreigners refer to americans as yanks its meant originally as a derogatory term referring to stupid. Originating from the revolutionary war.

-M.T.O

 

[elchen]

i don't think jap is as offensive as nip is...

 

[rlism]

<< i'm chinese and i don't take offense to the word beloved patriot most of the time, especially sinc emost of the time i hear it in jokes. honestly, if an italian came up to me.. and said.. what up beloved patriot, i wouldn't think anything of it.

however... if you're cussing me out, and you spit out beloved patriot, then yeah, i'll take offense. like someone else said, it's all about context. for me anyways. >>



have a little pride, and get a backbone. 'beloved patriot' can't even be mistaken for an abbreviation and any idiot that uses it not knowing it's deragotory deserves a knock upside the head anyway.

 

[Elledan]

Offensive or not, it's something of the past and should be left there in the time it belongs to.

Simply use Japanese and everything will be fine.