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Joined: Sep 2000
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I just returned from a week-long judges meeting at Semi-ah-Moo. Semi-ah-Moo is a Northwest Indian word which means, in a dialect spoken only by Faldage, "all major credit cards accepted."

In pursuit of the courts' goal of eliminating racism from our tribunals, we enjoyed a class in which we were reminded (appropriately) of those (many) things which a judge may say in open court which might be construed as racially insensitive, if not outright bigoted.

Almost all of this was review. We all know not to use racial slurs. We have all learned that there are racially-derogatory connotations to verbs like "gyp" and adjectives like "gypo".

But we were collectively stunned to learn that one ought no longer refer to the large pad of newsprint on which witnesses are allowed to draw charts and maps and graphs and diagrams as a "flip chart." This drawing pad is (or was) so called because one flips from one page of it to another, in showing the jury different things written or drawn by different witnesses. But no more.

It was explained to us that "flip" is a derogatory reference to Filipino persons.

In all my days (which are almost as many as those enjoyed by Heinlein's Lazarus Long), I have never heard the word "flip" used to refer to an ethnic group. Have you? Who knew?





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I think this type of censuring of words is really offensive.

Flip is a well-known, and commonly-used verb, noun and adjective – all acceptable variations of the word that have no racially negative connotations whatsoever.

Furthermore, it is really demeaning to Filipino people. The people who told you to eliminate this word from your vocabulary decided that people from the Philippines are so ignorant that they will not be able to distinguish between an item and a racial slur.

P.S. I've never heard that use for flip either.


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I'm all for sensitivity, but that's just stupid.



formerly known as etaoin...
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stranger
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It was explained to us that "flip" is a derogatory reference to Filipino persons.

Not to be flippant, but I'll wager that this suggestion didn't come from a Filipino. The situation has gotten so far out of hand that even Irish folk musicians are feeling pressured to limit themselves to performing only reels.


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I have certainly heard "flip" used to refer to Filipinos. I agree that eliminating the phrase "flip chart" is just plain silly.


#144048 06/15/05 10:15 PM
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yeah, this should be placed in the niggardly class of political correctness.


#144049 06/16/05 02:33 AM
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Not to mention picnic:

http://www-csli.stanford.edu/~nunberg/redskin.html

(You go, Dave Wilton!!)


#144050 06/16/05 03:15 AM
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So, now we must all refrain from asking someone to flip our burgetrs while complaining about the history of niggardly burger supplies at our picnics? Can we invite these pillocks to shift, to the far queue, please?


#144051 06/16/05 08:36 AM
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The dangerous thing is that no one dares openly to tell these little jacks-in-office to piss off. So it all gets worse and they build more power and hubris than they can decently handle. Like with so many aspects of politics and related issues today I am reminded of Titus Oates and Senator Joe McCarthy.


#144052 06/16/05 09:59 AM
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old hand
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> they build more power and hubris

A deafening din and tunefulness is all but outlawed, huh:-) In the end even the best of it's chatter though<g>.

Ya puttin too much weight into words, and there's too much hate in this world - Princess Superstar


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