Rawal Pindi, Pakistan

Pie · 10-12-2005, 04:35 PM

Most of the "Indian" grocery stores in my area (Central NJ) are labled as "Indo-Pak" groceries... So no, it probably isn't offensive (here).

slang · 10-13-2005, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pie

So no, it probably isn't offensive (here).

From my e-mail to the [sarcasm] Master of Universal knowledge and Wisdom [/sarcasm]:

"So, the question is.....the term Paki is offensive to Pakistanis (generally speaking) or not?"

....and the reply:

"yes it is considered offensive by many people. ...blah, blah, blah-blah-ba-ba-baaa..If you know PAK means "pure" while PAKI doesnt Mean anything its is a slang word. So aviod using it as many wont be happy to be heard as PAKI.....instead use PAK people."

And so it seems that not one person on the entire trip corrected me, probably just overlooking my mistake out of politeness.

Sundae · 10-13-2005, 04:48 AM

This was a genuine question about how the term is perceived in different places. I do appreciate that you would not have written positive posts about a country and its people and used a term you understood to be offensive.

With that out of the way I'll answer the other questions:

I haven't travelled to Pakistan although I have been to India & Sri Lanka. I live in a city which has approx 30% Asian or British Asian population, so friends & colleagues have talked about "home" and shown me holiday snaps from all over the Indian sub-continent. My knowledge of Pakistan is quite poor which is why I enjoyed seeing your pictures.

I liked the fact that you posted photos of street scenes - every day life. When I was in India I was amazed by how mundane vehicles could be so highly prized and decorated, it brought home that I was in a totally foreign place. The disregard for personal saftey on the road was shocking at first, but became the norm very quickly. The only serious accident I saw was in Eygpt, but of course that's another continent.

I think the following questions are perhaps some sort of jibe. But what the hey - you ask, you get.

I'm not Muslim, I'm an atheist. This seems to make it easier to enjoy other people's celebrations. I'll have a big Diwali (Hindu) night out and also a pig out Eid (Muslim)celebration when Ramadan finishes. And then Christmas!

I don't run with scissors, do play the Lottery when I remember, drink buckets of tea, my Dad plays cricket but I don't (don't understand the rules), can only name 2 baseball players, walk to work when fit, get the bus otherwise, like helium balloons, never seen Elvis, a UFO & never left my body with or without drugs.

Phew.

10-12-2005, 04:35 PM	#1
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Most of the "Indian" grocery stores in my area (Central NJ) are labled as "Indo-Pak" groceries... So no, it probably isn't offensive (here). __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

10-13-2005, 04:48 AM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	This was a genuine question about how the term is perceived in different places. I do appreciate that you would not have written positive posts about a country and its people and used a term you understood to be offensive. With that out of the way I'll answer the other questions: I haven't travelled to Pakistan although I have been to India & Sri Lanka. I live in a city which has approx 30% Asian or British Asian population, so friends & colleagues have talked about "home" and shown me holiday snaps from all over the Indian sub-continent. My knowledge of Pakistan is quite poor which is why I enjoyed seeing your pictures. I liked the fact that you posted photos of street scenes - every day life. When I was in India I was amazed by how mundane vehicles could be so highly prized and decorated, it brought home that I was in a totally foreign place. The disregard for personal saftey on the road was shocking at first, but became the norm very quickly. The only serious accident I saw was in Eygpt, but of course that's another continent. I think the following questions are perhaps some sort of jibe. But what the hey - you ask, you get. I'm not Muslim, I'm an atheist. This seems to make it easier to enjoy other people's celebrations. I'll have a big Diwali (Hindu) night out and also a pig out Eid (Muslim)celebration when Ramadan finishes. And then Christmas! I don't run with scissors, do play the Lottery when I remember, drink buckets of tea, my Dad plays cricket but I don't (don't understand the rules), can only name 2 baseball players, walk to work when fit, get the bus otherwise, like helium balloons, never seen Elvis, a UFO & never left my body with or without drugs. Phew.

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