Normally if you say the word “Paki” its considered a **BIG bad word. **In the west, if you say it, its considered racism. (Paki - Wiktionary, the free dictionary)
But i dont understand why do Asians take it so badly, if we Pakistanis are called “Paki”, whats the big deal we are citizenz of South Asia, we are Pakistanis, whats to feel so bad about it. Honestly there are really big bad words ^%^$%$ around that are way more over-offensive than how people take this word.
Okay to some extent - its understandable that racism is a big thing around the world but even if a Pakistani uses the word for another Pakistani, it flares people up and just meter-ghooma deti hai sabka.
But really is it that offensive & big a word that people react so much on it as compared to more derogatory terms like the F word etc that they are so convenient in using all the time?
The UK based drama Pakistan are bunch of drama. They use the word amongst them yet hit roof when a non Pakistani uses it. Poor Prince Harry got in trouble for no reason for using a word that Pakistanis themselves can't stop using and love it.
Someone already mentioned a good analogy about the N word and how a black person reacts to it. Same thing with Pakistanis. To some, its not big deal but to some it symbolizes hatred and racism.
i use to for my self all the time, i don't think it's a bad word at all.
i just think we need something to make issue out of. if black people get offended over "nigar", and white ppl are called "red neck" then we need something too, lets make it paki. cuz we wanna join the party too.
It's because 45 years ago when the first generations of pakistanipeople came to this country and started working in corner shops and factories to make something of themselves every non Pakistani was a racsist , and this generation was referred to as "paki" as a swear word and was looked down upon. So if they wanted to insult someone, the biggest slur word would be "paki" so there's derogatory history behind it, basically goreh insulting our people as low class dirty scum ... So when it's used in dad to day it's not nice and we are insulting ourselves.
It's because 45 years ago when the first generations of pakistanipeople came to this country and started working in corner shops and factories to make something of themselves every non Pakistani was a racsist , and this generation was referred to as "paki" as a swear word and was looked down upon. So if they wanted to insult someone, the biggest slur word would be "paki" so there's derogatory history behind it, basically goreh insulting our people as low class dirty scum ... So when it's used in dad to day it's not nice and we are insulting ourselves.
i have been living in america now 11 years, i have yet to see a gora that insult our people as low class dirty scum.
Words like these can be bad and can be not so bad depends on who says it and how.
If someone is angry at his or her family member and says something harsh, that person still will not like if a neighbor calls name to his/her family member.
Background of a word is also important to consider. For those who may not know the background like LP. it is no big deal.
Moral: Try to avoid these words for common courtesy. Someone may not like it and you cannot say, oh you too sensitive!
Like Puchi said it's associated with dirty low class scum, people who have like 8 kids living in a 2-bed council house, don't work or do the lowest paid jobs, smell bad etc.
Most US Pakistanis don't seem to have anywhere near as much of a problem with it in comparison to UK Pakistanis who are more used to hearing it as a racial insult.. (maybe cos in the US the desis aren't usually unemployed, living in the ghetto/cheap areas and popping out so many kids)..
^ I said what it was associated with, which is true.. Diwana, what is ur problem??? Anytime anyone says anything slighly negative about Pakistan or Pakistanis u jump down their throat, even if it happens to be true.. TRY REFUTING WHAT I SAY WITH ACTUAL FACTS instead of the standard emotional knee-jerk reaction..
The sad truth is that IS the reason 'Paki' is seen as a derogatory term in the UK but not the US.
At least u don't call me a 'troll' (which is what u say to most people on here anytime they say something u don't like), I guess only cos I have been around for so long and have so many posts..
I remember another time Diwana, when u were trying to pretend forced marriages by Pakistanis didn't happen much in the West till I dug up the statistics.. nice digging ur head in the sand, is it>
Wow, u edited ur post after I answered.. Yes, they do.. but as a percentage Pakistanis (and Bangladeshis) have lower living standards, levels of education etc. yet traditionally much larger families in the UK than the natives.. Indians are more successful in material terms and education-wise but they get lumped in the same cos they look kinda similar.. A bit how someone who looks a bit Mexican in the US might get the same insults..
^Best to condemn the act and the people who practise it rather than pretend it's not even happening or turn a blind eye.. Yes, forced marriages do happen in other communities but the VAST majority *of them in the UK DO involve Pakistanis.. Quite ironic u mention me living in a bubble when u pretty much *always deflect the slightest negative about Pakistan or any aspect of its culture by bringing in India or some other country or calling the person a 'troll'.. There's no hatred in what I wrote, just the simple truth, only paranoid extreme nationalists would see differently.. If u've ever been to the UK u would know the situation and if u have been but still try to pretend **most Pakistanis living there are at some 'decent' level u must be delusional.
There are a few others like urself on here as well, who scream 'propaganda' or 'Pakistan hater' at any little thing that doesn't show Pakistan/Pakistanis/Pak culture in a less than perfect light. If we could admit our shortcomings and mistakes rather than pretend they don't exist perhaps we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now.
