why does a pakistani's hate it when anyone else calls them a paki?

Question

someone accused me of saying it and within seconds all the other pakistani's in the class started taking the mick out of me for days and some even threatened to kill me, just sad isn't it because isn't it the same as pakistani but short hand

Answer 1

It is a pejorative term that many find insulting.

Why don't you simply say Pakistani?

Answer 2

Because of Bernard Manning (his "comedy" routine used to include the phrase "all the filthy pakis").

Because of history in general. "Paki" was used as a term of abuse for any Asian by whites throughout seventies and eighties and probably before and since. A term becomes racist because of the way people use it.

Each individual or group has the right to decide how they are referred to. If the majority of Pakistanis in your country declares one day that they want to be called Pakis, then do so. Until then, don't. The same is true of words like ******, wog, etc. Some sections of the black community in the US have rehabilitated the word "******" in some sense, but for their own use, spelt differently, and loaded with irony. A white person should stay away from it.

So you can declare your rights over the language used to describe your own ethnic group, whatever it is, but for everything else, take your lead from the group concerned.

Answer 3

It is very true, Paki is abbreviation of a Pakistani so is ****** of Negro or Niger( the first country the western got slaves from) in law you are punished for your intention not for the words you pronounce.

So, if you intend to hurt a person from Pakistan by calling him a Paki then you are a racist. the same with ****** , if you call a person that despite your knowledge it will hurt him/her,then you are on the wrong.

We all should respect each other cultures and religions. To do that we must never listen to media without thinking. We must read each others' history and the justifications for their actions. By the way, they feel exactly the same about your culture.

You will notice that the word negro was deleted but not Paki which is in itself is very racist action.

Answer 4

The term began from 'pakibashing' used by rowdy British youths in thrashing fellow Pakistani-origin citizens of UK, in the streets. Since then 'paki' has become a word expressing humiliation for an entire race. It would be a decent and civic act to avoid using this term.

Answer 5

It's not the same as pakistani- it's a word that's always been used in derogatory way about not just pakistani but other asian people.
Perhaps you didn't know this? but I'd avoid using that term in the future.

Answer 6

it's not what you call a person, but why you are callim him/her that.

in an ideal world, the words '******' and 'black' will also not mean anything derogatory.

but these words are usually used by people to insult a certain group of people. so these words have become vulgar and politically incorrect.

a paki is also such a word. it is generally used in a derogatory manner to insult people of indian and pakistani origins.

Answer 7

My dear friend.

Honky: Paki: Wog: ******: Coon: ****: Pollack:Towel Head: Hook Nose, Nazi: etc, etc, are all terms that are, or used in usually a derogatory and degrading manner (as you can see by the fact they have edited several from this post) to express a person of one nationality or another, and will in many cases provoke a negative/aggressive response as you have found!!

Instead of referring to the people you know by their nationality, colour, creed, or religion, why not refer to them by 'Name', as you would expect them to do with you? You will make more friends that way, and lessen the risk of causing offence, a smack in the mouth, or worse!!

We desperately need to stop seeing colour and race in this world, and to start seeing people as individual human beings, with a body, heart, mind, and soul, no different from our own, but for the colour of their skin!!

Liberty & Unity for ALL, in love!!

Answer 8

why don`t u call

Amercians "amec" or
The british as "biti"

if u do so they will also mind

So think at this point and just call them PAKISTANI and not paki

because the paki is not a ward of english

Answer 9

You call them by ther real nationality.I am always careful when I was talking around people I dont know.It just goes like this...People dont call Pakistanis Paki, Dont call Vietnamse VietCong,Dont call Indians Bombay and so on.Just have a little respect around other culture even if you dont like them.

Answer 10

Paki is Urdu for Holy..No Pakistani would object to it.

Answer 11

i don't know
but i think may be they like to call be Pakistani not paki