Why are some people so offended by simple words like colored, or black?

Question

If most people are so much against being prejudice, why are some of those same people so offended when someone says colored, black, the N word, or any other sort of word like that? Why does it matter? It's just a simple word... For example, I get bad feedback on some of my questions just b/c I said 'colored'... and I know that 'color' is black, white, green, red, or yellow, and everyone's considered colored, basically, in a literal way. But I don't mean it literally. I just figure it's nicer to say that than 'n*****' or some such other bad sounding words b/c I know a lot of people would be offended... Why don't those people just drop it, if they're not prejudice? I'm not prejudice, and I wouldn't care if someone called me a cracker or a white person or whatever... It's just a word... Nothing more.... It's just a way of identifying someone. For example, "The girl with the brown hair, the boy with the blue shirt, or the black boy or the boy with the dark skin."

In my opinion, people who worry about such silly words are just as bad as people who actually /are/ prejudice.... If people are as non-prejudice as they say they are, they wouldn't worry about such words and try starting an arguement about it and accuse others of being prejudice just b/c of a simple word they said....

Ahkies... sorry, I couldn't reply earlier. My idiot computer went out right after I posted the question...

And Crystal, you obviously /are/ offended by it... lmao! XD

And let me just say that African Americans and Americans are actually quite different in a way. Blacks have a different culture, and I must say that the girls tend to be, well, like you, Crystal. NOT ALL GIRLS.... I'm not saying all black girls are like this, but a lot of them are, and until I see a single white girl who acts like this, I'll keep my opinion... They think they're the shlt and act like nothing can hurt them and act like they own everyone else. Those are exactly the kind of people I can't stand. It's the ones like you, Crystal, who make all the other blacks look bad... Shame on you...

And thanks much to everyone who posted a polite reply. =)

And, no I'm not the ignorant one. The ignorant ones are the ones who get so offended by a stupid word and think they're better than others....

Answer 1

I like to color with black crayons!!!!!

Answer 2

It's not the word itself people have a problem with, it's the connotation the word carries. You may not intend to imply anything negative with the use of the words, but many others do, and this is common knowledge. So, it is assumed, that if it is common knowledge that a certain word is often used in a negative and derogatory manner, and you use that word in the same context as those who use it negatively, that you, too, are intending to make a negative statement through the use of the word.

Yes "color" has a rather neutral connotation in a statement like "Look at those dark colored shoes"..but it has an entirely different connotation in a statement like "Look at those dark colored people".. It's about context.

This is why there's the whole fiasco over making sure words are "politically correct"..It's an attempt to find labels for things that don't offend anyone, because feelings are connected to words.

Answer 3

I'm not white (think of a white piece of paper, no one looks like that) I'm a little more peachy colored. But, I've got to say that I'm offended by the term colored. That just shows your ignorance, that term is associated with more racially tense times. (not that race isn't an issue today) I had a friend, she looked in the crayon box and she's burnt sienna!
When you identify a person, you should find something else to use instead of black, white, fat, skinny etc.... Blue shirt, yellow dress, things like that are much more appropriate then using physical characteristics.
It's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Answer 4

Unfortunately people get offended at words that used to be ok.
To me:we're either black or white. But politically correct would be
African -American, African-Canadian most of these people have never been to Africa, the ancestors came eons ago and now suddenly we're African-Americans. I am neither a bigot nor a racist, but we white people have to listen to "honky's". So what? Like you said those are only words and not even curse words. I think its time we all lighten up a bit, there are more pressing problems to take care off.

Answer 5

Sometimes its just the way you say it....because in some ways it is offensive but it depends on the context. But other than that people shouldnt be offended by those things. A possiblity is that they're not comfortable with that sort of discussion or they themselves are prejudice and when they hear things like that they try to pretend that they're not.

Answer 6

I told you, it isn't the fact that you said colored, it's the fact that you were talking about the crime in your neighborhood, and you said that there were a whole bunch of "coloreds" around where you live, as if that had something to do with it. What was the point of saying that? You know what you meant by it, yet you're still trying to cover it up, and you're being stubborn as if you said nothing wrong. Grow up, realize your mistake. If you didn't mean it that way, email me and tell me why you included the part about the coloreds in your neighborhood, and what the point was of adding that...

Answer 7

well first of all i agree with you crystal some of you stupid white people are just amazing where do you come from arkansas I think you should be more worried about being the minority in America today at this point.another thing why would you want to say these things on the computer go say this in a black womans face. Just try it and see what happen you really would be colored then B*TCH

Answer 8

i agree 100% i have often wondered that myself. i also wonder why it is prefectly acceptable for chris rock to use the n word but if a mark ferman uses it, it is a huge deal. people are too sensitive about this stuff. i have no problem with the NAACP but if a person started an organization called NAAWP (the national association for the advancement of white people) you would be labeled a racest. i think people like jessie jackson are one of the biggest problems, putting hate in people's harts just so he can make money.

Answer 9

well in this enlightened age,some people find it offensive to use the terms black or colored,because these are terms we used back in the 60's.these days,people jsut want to say "african American" because thats what's PC.

Answer 10

because some people cant leave the past alone Its hard because its from a point that a white person or any other color will ever know.

Answer 11

Colored is a goofy word to me. They can call me whatever they want only I know what I truly am...

A female human that is.