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Use of the word 'Jap'
Topic Started: Jun 22 2013, 08:07 AM (3,849 Views)
Admin


It has come to my attention that the term 'Jap' has been used several times on the forum since it opened. It has also come to my attention that the Japanese people consider that term a racially offensive word and as such I'm going to ask you all to refrain from using it.

Now I realize that anyone who has used it here hasn't done so with malicious intent and was probably abbreviating the word 'Japanese' but still best to knock it on the head.

Many thanks,
Alcatraz
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FiSe
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Heil Mickey!
Very good point...

And while at it, I have noticed that the word 'Russian' is used very commonly and loosely when referring to the Red Army WWII and cold war era hardware and figures.
I think that many non-Russian nations living within the Soviet Union borders could be offended by being thrown into the same bag and the use of 'Soviet' should be more appropriate as this goes with the official name Union of Soviet Socialist Republics rather than pre 1917 Russian Empire and post 1990 Russian Federation.

Hope I am on topic?
Cheers
Filip . . . .

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Barry
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not to nit pick sean but surely if we go down that route we have to ban
tommy
jerry
yank
rooskie and so on
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Admin


Would you honestly refer to a German as a Jerry to their face?
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Parkadge
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Barry
Jun 23 2013, 04:37 PM
not to nit pick sean but surely if we go down that route we have to ban
tommy
jerry
yank
rooskie and so on
I'm with Sean on this though Tommy is not a derogatory term whereas the rest are though I'm not sure about Yank when applied to someone from north of the mason Dixon line but southerners don't like it. The US army paper during WW2 was called Yank
Pat McGrath

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Murfv
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Abuser Of Plastic
I have to admit that I do not particularly like being referred to a 'Paddy' or 'Mick'!
I can appreciate why persons from other ethnic groups or nations would prefer not to be
identified by a moniker which can be, and all to frequently is, use as an insulting and demeaning manner.

Vincent
It's my hobby and I will enjoy it my way!

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Jasonb
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Just my own 2c worth...

'Jap' is acknowledged as a racist term, and I've no problem with that word, and other racist terms, not being used on this forum.

Other words may or may not be considered racist or insulting / demeaning, and we could spend a lot of time listing many examples here and deciding on each one, before they're even been used on the forum. Or we could just accept that the word in question shouldn't be used, and that the Mods will do their job and decide on other words if or when they are used, but not before.

Sorry if that sounds a bit heavy-handed, I haven't had much sleep recently! :)

J.
Edited by Jasonb, Jun 23 2013, 07:06 PM.
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Admin


At the end of the day this isn't about over the top political correctness, it's about common sense and good manners.

You wouldn't walk up to a Japanese person and called them a Jap, you wouldn't walk up to a German and call them a Jerry and you wouldn't walk up to a Frenchman calling him a frog, you just wouldn't. So why should the forum be any different?

It also needs to be noted that this isn't just a modelling forum but an online representation of the IPMS Ireland club. How we conduct ourselves here filters into the image the outside world has of our club and, personally speaking, I'd rather that was a good image.
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Barry
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So will any pictures of German vehicles and aircraft displaying a swastika be censored aswell?
I'm not being smart but just so there's no confusion
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Admin


It's my belief that modelling, military modelling at least, is an artistic form of capturing or representing a moment in history. The Third Reich existed, the Swastika was flown from buildings, worn on armbands and painted onto the side of vehicles, aircraft and ships.

I don't think there's anything wrong with representing the Swastika on a model as long as you're not glorifying the Nazi party at the same time.

Now, where's the difference from disallowing the use of several offensive words and allowing the use of one of most recognisably offensive symbols in the world? As I said on a model you're representing a sliver of history and history should not be censored.

There's nothing historical about going about the forum calling Germans Jerries though. The terms Jerry, Kraut and Jap were coined by Allied soldiers in order to dehumanise their enemy but the war is over. We shan't forget the war and the terrible things that happened during it but we also shan't continue to dehumanise and 'derogatise' a people for the actions of their forefathers.
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Jasonb
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I think Sean's distinction is a good one. In my opinion, there's a difference between a model of an historical craft having a swastika on it (or maybe even the word Jap on the nose art for example) and actually using a word that's now considered racist. Which, of course, isn't saying that it was meant that way when it was posted, I'm certain it wasn't!

And Barry, please don't think my post was aimed at you, it really wasn't, and I apologise if it felt that way. It wasn't aimed at anyone in particular really. I just believe this conversation has been had lots of times on lots of forums (especially the Swastika one) and it's always going to raise different opinions. But when it comes down to it, it's up to the Mods to decide on the rules and it's been decided that the word Jap shouldn't be used on this forum.

Thanks...

J.
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Barry
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no apology needed Jason.. I didn't take it that at all
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Jasonb
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Glad to hear it Barry, thanks...

J.
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modeller
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Umm... as modellers we have preaching to the converted in that most (if not all) accept that the hobby reflects the subjects of the era we model. For understandable reasons some countries have a different standpoint on the public display of certain emblems or language used...

For me it is all about context... talking to a fellow modeller about a 1/72nd Zero you build as being a Jap plane (even if the fellow modeller happens to be Japanese) is acceptable and understood to be.... besides, how often would you say the word 'Jap' in a non modelling scenario anyway... and to someone likely to take offence... it can't be very often,

Personally I've never felt right with Finucane being called 'Paddy'.... ;)
Veni, Vidi, Velcro...I came, I saw, I stuck around.
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Admin


The Moderators and I have discussed this amongst ourselves and we're in agreement that the matter is closed. Jap is considered a racist word and racism is not allowed on the IPMS Forum, end of.
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