Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Wedding Etiquette Forum
Wedding Etiquette Forum
New Discussion

Don't be entitled!

kkitkat79kkitkat79 member
Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 100 Love Its Name Dropper
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
I am not sure this was posted anywhere on these boards. It gave me a giggle and I thought I'd share.


image
Anniversary
Report Reply to Post

Re: Don't be entitled!

  • kkitkat79kkitkat79 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited August 2015
    I am so sorry!!!

    I am not originally from North America. After I had seen the comments I sent the picture to a friend of mine asking why on earth people would be offended by it. And she was "hmmm... because Skynyrd is kind of racist..." So I googled it and now I know. I had no idea! I am truly sorry!
    Anniversary
    Report Reply
  • kkitkat79kkitkat79 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    I moved to Israel from Rissia when I was eleven. I was too young to study Shakespeare in Russia and I definitely did not study Shakespeare in Israel. Just not part of the curriculum. And while I am very educated in some areas, English Literature is definitely not one of them. I am very ignorant in this area and that's ok with me. I'll get to it in due time. That's why no, the term "shylock" did not ring a bell. Part of it must be something to do with that I was not around antisemitic population for most of my life. I was lucky.

    @STARMOON44, I again apologize for my ignorance, but I am glad that I did talk. I gained knowledge that I would not have access to otherwise (at least not for a while) because no one in my immediate circle uses antisemitic slurs. Definitely not in English. As far as I know that was my first and only slip up. Aside from this unfortunate post I stand behind every single word I ever typed  here. 

    As embarrassed as I am with this post, I am glad it happened. You have definitely schooled me and I thank you.               
    Anniversary
    Report Reply
  • justsiejustsie member
    Ninth Anniversary 1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    Next time you see someone calling someone a word as a insult, google will be your best friend. 
    image
    Report Reply
  • kkitkat79kkitkat79 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    justsie said:
    Next time you see someone calling someone a word as a insult, google will be your best friend. 
    Or you know, someone will be kind enough to clue me in and not make a big deal out of it. Just like my friend did when I showed her the joke. By the way, she also didn't know that shylock was an antisemitic slur. She thought it might be offensive because of the skynyrd thing. 

    Upon further reflection I am surprised at all the hostility. You especially @STARMOON44. From your posts I though you thoughtful and compassionate. Did you really suggest that unless my knowledge of English is perfect I should not engage in discussions at all? I am not sure whether you have experience with learning a foreign language so I'll explain.

    You start by looking up every single word in the dictionary. As you progress you are able to figure out what words mean from the context. And as you use the language more and more you are able to figure out all the nuances. Usually slang, slurs, cultural references, etc. are the last things that you learn. And depending on the company you keep it might take you a while. So in this case I guessed correctly that shylock referred to someone who is cheap. Since I never heard the word before and I lack knowledge of English literature there was no way I could have known that the word is often used as a racial slur. By the way, it looks like I am in a good company. Apparently Joe Biden had no idea as well (unless of course you believe Joe Biden is an anti-semite).

     
    Anniversary
    Report Reply
  • TrixieJessTrixieJess member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    kkitkat79 said:


    justsie said:

    Next time you see someone calling someone a word as a insult, google will be your best friend. 

    Or you know, someone will be kind enough to clue me in and not make a big deal out of it. Just like my friend did when I showed her the joke. By the way, she also didn't know that shylock was an antisemitic slur. She thought it might be offensive because of the skynyrd thing. 

    Upon further reflection I am surprised at all the hostility. You especially @STARMOON44. From your posts I though you thoughtful and compassionate. Did you really suggest that unless my knowledge of English is perfect I should not engage in discussions at all? I am not sure whether you have experience with learning a foreign language so I'll explain.

    You start by looking up every single word in the dictionary. As you progress you are able to figure out what words mean from the context. And as you use the language more and more you are able to figure out all the nuances. Usually slang, slurs, cultural references, etc. are the last things that you learn. And depending on the company you keep it might take you a while. So in this case I guessed correctly that shylock referred to someone who is cheap. Since I never heard the word before and I lack knowledge of English literature there was no way I could have known that the word is often used as a racial slur. By the way, it looks like I am in a good company. Apparently Joe Biden had no idea as well (unless of course you believe Joe Biden is an anti-semite).

     


    Since it's a slur that's been around since the 17th century, we didn't feel the need to inform you. Also, as someone who has an Israeli flag as their avatar, we would have thought you more cognizant of an anti-semitic slur!
    Report Reply
  • justsiejustsie member
    Ninth Anniversary 1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    kkitkat79 said:
    justsie said:
    Next time you see someone calling someone a word as a insult, google will be your best friend. 
    Or you know, someone will be kind enough to clue me in and not make a big deal out of it. Just like my friend did when I showed her the joke. By the way, she also didn't know that shylock was an antisemitic slur. She thought it might be offensive because of the skynyrd thing. 

    Upon further reflection I am surprised at all the hostility. You especially @STARMOON44. From your posts I though you thoughtful and compassionate. Did you really suggest that unless my knowledge of English is perfect I should not engage in discussions at all? I am not sure whether you have experience with learning a foreign language so I'll explain.

    You start by looking up every single word in the dictionary. As you progress you are able to figure out what words mean from the context. And as you use the language more and more you are able to figure out all the nuances. Usually slang, slurs, cultural references, etc. are the last things that you learn. And depending on the company you keep it might take you a while. So in this case I guessed correctly that shylock referred to someone who is cheap. Since I never heard the word before and I lack knowledge of English literature there was no way I could have known that the word is often used as a racial slur. By the way, it looks like I am in a good company. Apparently Joe Biden had no idea as well (unless of course you believe Joe Biden is an anti-semite).

     
    That is why I said google is your friend, so you can understand the meanings of the words you use. I do that all the time when I am learning a new language (or a new word in the one I already speak). Especially with slurs or slang, because there is the greater risk of that slur/slang goes against something that I believe, so I would want to know before using it or subscribing my name to it.
    image
    Report Reply
  • kkitkat79kkitkat79 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited August 2015
    @TrixieJess, as I explained, with my background there was no way I could have known that shylock has racial connotations, regardless of how long it has been around in the English language. It is not used in languages that are native or near-native to me. I am familiar with antisemitic slurs in Russian and as far as I know shylock is not one of them. Usually I was called zhydovka .And Hebrew has no antisemitic slurs at all. In English I know of one that I learned when watching Law and Order. Also, you know what they say about people who assume. 

    @justsie, I usually avoid using slang at all when I speak or write directly. I never know if I use it correctly and I just don't feel like I can pull it off. I guess because I didn't have to actually type the words this time I didn't give it as much thought as I should have. Lesson definitely learned!  
    Anniversary
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards