I like referring to Native Americans, when talking about the wars of old, as Injuns. I have now been told by people that this is a derogatory term. I do not understand why.

It may be because they never lived in India. They were misidentified by Christopher Columbus who thought that he had reached the East Indies and the term somehow stuck.

It is pretty insulting if you think about it.

I recently referred to one of those really really close cropped and thin beards as an "Armenian Chinstrap".

I offer no apologies even though I understand that this unfortunate facial hair choice is not the fault of any one nationality.

tommydski wrote:It may be because they never lived in India. They were misidentified by Christopher Columbus who thought that he had reached the East Indies and the term somehow stuck.

It is pretty insulting if you think about it.

It is! Esp given how thoroughly and terribly they got fucked by European settlers.

Outside of Missoula, there's a little nubby mountain that used to be/is called Squaw Peak.

"Squaw," unfortunately, is essentially translated by Native Americans as "c-nt." It's getting removed from place names all over the West.

The official name is now Ch-paa-qn Peak. Actual hyphens there, not deleted letters. "Chaw-pock-win." It looks pretty cool, but it hasn't caught on, fair to say.

Rachi wrote:Jackies & Bensons

Like Chan and Robert Guilliaume?

Mandroid2.0 wrote:I refer to old people as Q-tips sometimes.

"That Q-tip cut me off in the Safeway parking lot! What a prick!"

"Q-Tip head" is actually a slur used towards Arabic peoples. Just so you know.

I call Christians "Nailers" for their fascination with some guy's execution. It came from a spoonerism: Norman Mailer became Mormon Nailer.

tmidgett wrote:"Squaw," unfortunately, is essentially translated by Native Americans as "c-nt." It's getting removed from place names all over the West.

I didn't know that. Sure casts a new light on one of my favorite roads for bicycling.

otisroom wrote:I recently referred to one of those really really close cropped and thin beards as an "Armenian Chinstrap".

I offer no apologies even though I understand that this unfortunate facial hair choice is not the fault of any one nationality.

Any heavy-set gentleman with any kind of goatee or carefully trimmed beard are fair game to be called 'Mythbuster' from now on.

Catholics=Beadpullers

A "Hank" - a middle-aged, Midwestern redneck, usually sporting a Jeff Foxworthy mustache and wearing blue-collar work clothes, Hank Hill from King of the Hill is the likely inspiration for this one.

warmowski wrote:At a medical office staffed by Russian women, I muttered "whatever, Svetlana" under my breath.
-r

Babushka works in this situation as well.