To a good number of people the word is equivilent to racial/cultural slurs used against a number of groups.
Jap versus Japanese is like using the N word to an African American (especially if you are not African American yourself).
If is far from PC Chairman vs Chairperson, Sanitation Engineer vs Garbageman.
I think its fair to ask that you behave here as you would in a crowded room. If you address people to their faces with racial slurs - you have far bigger cojons than I have.
To be fair - I've used words that I didn't realize upset people in the past. Usually I stopped using the word but every now and then I thought the person was being silly and refused to. In this case I don't think people are being sensitive. I don't think you are a racist Mattew - just unaware that we are in a larger community.
Originally posted by mt2k
So I am accused of being a racist because I used the word Jap? Lasy, perhaps, but hardly a racist. I think you are a bit too sensitive, or perhaps more PC than I am.
Matthew Temkin.