Adele

[AChanelADay]

A bit different - perhaps.. I don't know, I never use the word so I haven't tested it.
But I do know I'm the biggest language purist of them all I could tell you anything about a number of languages, especially my mother tongue. The way words are perceived, to me, is a really interesting topic, and it seems feelings attached to certain words are by far the strongest in the United States.

Racial terms are always perceived strongly no matter the Tongue.

 

[ByeKitty]

Racial terms are always perceived strongly no matter the Tongue.

Racial swear words are. "Asian" is also a racial term, but I don't see how people would take that strongly... It depends on the culture too, how strongly things are taken.

 

[AChanelADay]

Racial swear words are. "Asian" is also a racial term, but I don't see how people would take that strongly... It depends on the culture too, how strongly things are taken.

If a word is used pejoratively it does not need to be a swearword, like fat.

 

[limom]

If a word is used pejoratively it does not need to be a swearword, like fat.

I am not sure that the words fat and ni**er are in the same realms.
I don't understand the point of the argument at this time.
Being called a negresse does not sound good in French either!
It is pejorative in any languages and it is meant to hurt and demean the person.

 

[AChanelADay]

I am not sure that the words fat and ni**er are in the same realms.
I don't understand the point of the argument at this time.
Being called a negresse does not sound good in French either!
It is pejorative in any languages and it is meant to hurt and demean the person.

I don't think they're the same in any universe. I agree with you on that point.

 

[ByeKitty]

If a word is used pejoratively it does not need to be a swearword, like fat.

I'm trying to say there's a whole difference in approaching and taking a word like "fat". It might just be possible to notice subtle cultural differences like this one because I see so much of both American and EU culture(s).

Or it is because I pay more attention to this because it's actually the core of my research topic in University.

 

[AChanelADay]

I'm trying to say there's a whole difference in approaching and taking a word like "fat". It might just be possible to notice subtle cultural differences like this one because I see so much of both American and EU culture(s).

Or it is because I pay more attention to this because it's actually the core of my research topic in University.

I wasn't disagreeing with your premise. But I disagreed that only racial curse words are offensive. Asians don't like to be addressed as oriental but that is not an curse word.

 

[ByeKitty]

I am not sure that the words fat and ni**er are in the same realms.
I don't understand the point of the argument at this time.
Being called a negresse does not sound good in French either!
It is pejorative in any languages and it is meant to hurt and demean the person.

I don't think they're the same in any universe. I agree with you on that point.

I agree with both of you on that but, seriously, it was just an example of a word that is perceived as patronizing, hence there are many synonyms. I feel like I'm repeating myself.

 

[limom]

I agree with both of you on that but, seriously, it was just an example of a word that is perceived as patronizing, hence there are many synonyms. I feel like I'm repeating myself.

I am not very familiar with the Dutch culture but perhaps are you referring to semantics?
Here in the USA, the word fat is pejorative but it can also be descriptive.
The Word Ni**er is only pejorative at this time.

 

[ByeKitty]

I wasn't disagreeing with your premise. But I disagreed that only racial curse words are offensive. Asians don't like to be addressed as oriental but that is not an curse word.

Ah right, I think we agree on that then. I guess I shouldn't have used that term either, because really... When exactly is something a "curse word".

 

[ByeKitty]

I am not very familiar with the Dutch culture but perhaps are you referring to semantics?
Here in the USA, the word fat is pejorative but it can also be descriptive.
The Word Ni**er is only pejorative at this time.

Yes, that's part of what I meant actually! That, and the difference in responding when a word is used in a pejorative way..
I actually think the "n-word" is still used in both ways here, I guess. I don't hear it often enough to make a fair judgement though.

 

[platinum_girly]

Really? I disagree. It is equally hurtful. I speak from personal experience and no one can tell me being called skinny didn't hurt, didn't make me feel bad about myself, and didn't make me feel like I wasn't good enough when people used it as an insult.


Regarding this subject, yes, his comment was insensitive, but that's about it. I dont think this big a deal needs to be made. He is fixated on weight, and it sounded more like an observation than something hateful. It could have been left out, but he said it observingly and no need to read into it so much. It was not necessary, but something that people can and should just move on from. It doesn't sound hateful to me.

ITA! My (ex) friend would constantly say 'ewww i can feel your bones when i hug you, you are sooo skinny, why don't you eat something?!" when she quite clearly knew and saw me eat but yet God forbid if i ever turned around and told her she should consider losing some weight because she would be healthier (and quite honestly look better) but of course i would never of been so crass as to comment on her weight whereas she seemed to think it was perfectly okay to comment on mine, and yes- it hurt my feelings and made me feel like an outsider, it annoys me no end when people seem to think that it hurts more to call somebody fat than to call somebody skinny, BOTH can be hurtful and can be meant to offend, whatever the reason for Karls comment all i can say is that it is slightly comical that there is now a thread for posters to comment on when Adele is probably over it already

I'm trying to say there's a whole difference in approaching and taking a word like "fat". It might just be possible to notice subtle cultural differences like this one because I see so much of both American and EU culture(s).

I totally got what you were saying on the first try, and i agree with you, we say some funny azz things to each other over here (in jest) but i know that in some places like USA that even said in jest would be taken offensively, just cultural differences and sensitivity levels. Water off a ducks back

 

[ByeKitty]

So the discussion went a little off topic, but what I wanted to say on the Karl-Adele thing: we don't know for sure if the comments he made were meant to be descriptive or pejorative. Many people in here took them as pejorative, but we have so little information in this thread... Things could be lost in translation (different views on the same word, the wrong word chosen to translate something said in a different language...?), and we haven't seen the rest of the interview (i.e. the context in which he has made the comments). I'm curious to read the entire interview.

 

[Stardust25]

People don't get it. There's a difference between an average joe making a comment and a famous person doing it. The reason some people are annoyed by his comment is because he's a public figure. We ALL say negative things and have negative thoughts. That is NOT the point. He is a famous womens designer who many may look up to for inspiration. He is in the public eye and is a huge influence in the fashion world. The things he says might stick with some people who have body image issues. He should know better. He's said insensitive things in the past and i think people are just sick of it.

We all know Adele isn't the skinniest, i know it, you know it and she knows it. That's not the point. The point is that sometimes it better to keep your mouth shut and not say stupid things for no reason. Being rude does not equal being honest...there seems to be a perception that being loud mouthed and ignorant is honest. Sorry but that's just an excuse people use to get away with rudeness.

 

[HauteMama]

I just think the random comment about her weight fits into the same category as if he had said her nose is a little too big, or her jaw is a little too pronounced, or her hair is a little too curly, or her face is a little too ugly. Any or all of those things might be true about any given person (from Karl's perspective, at least), but is saying them being honest or being rude and insensitive? Let's face it, people KNOW when they are overweight. It isn't like they hadn't a clue until some fabulous person was finally honest with them and let them in on the secret.

And I love the poster who commented about too fat for WHAT? For Karl's taste is what he meant, and no one cares about that, as I am sure he feels that 99% of the population is worthy only of his contempt for one reason or another.

People who say whatever random thoughts pop into their heads generally don't endear themselves to anyone, no matter how true their statements might be. Someone's GF might be a b*tch, someone's BF might be an a*shole, someone might be an awful cook, someone might be a frightful housekeeper, but do you think that those people really want to hear that from someone else? Oh, but it's true! you can console yourself when that friend never speaks with you again...