Tell me why being called a 'paki' is offensive?

i know this will spark loads of debate but im just interested as to why its like a british person being called a brit ... :/

Hey,

I'm not Pakistani, but I have been called a 'paki' multiple times.
The word itself is not offensive, the tone used is offensive. It's said in a tone of disgust and as a way to mock someone.
It's used in a derogatory manner, which is why people will take offense to it.
Usually people will look at an 'asian' person, assume they are muslim, and then assume they are extemist individuals who want to enfore sharia law. These assumptions are made about you just based on your skin colour, and so such people go on to call you words like 'paki' to show you your place.
It's pretty upsetting to see people judge others so easily. I'm not even Pakistani but the tone that's used when the word Paki is said is very rude and does offend me, so I can imagine how much it would be offending actual Pakistanis.

Anyhow, that's my experience of it.

i know this will spark loads of debate but im just interested as to why its like a british person being called a brit ... :/

Because 'brit' is a nickname that has been adopted by all people, including brits themselves, as a name for a british person.

'Paki' was created by those who don't like 'pakistanis' [the correct term] or, for that matter, anyone from that part of asia, as it is used on anyone from that area, not exclusively pakistanis, so it carries with it negative connotations, and was designed as an insult, therefore although it is just a word, that is what it is.

Similarly, '******' derives from 'negro', all that does is describe the colour of someone's skin, but would you call a black person a ******? I don't think so.

Edit - it comes up in asterisks but I think everyone knows the word I am on about. Mods - how come you don't censor paki?

I dont find it that offensive tbh... i use that term a lot and so do my friends, but thats just between us pakis :P
but i guess if some random white person shouted that paki at me, id be like wtf? cos its just associated with racism

hmm if i had rep left i would vote you up lol thats true about the tone :/ sorry to hear its happened to you :?

I would class it as more of a spiky word



It's all about the Kiki/Bouba Effect for me.

Above we have Kiki and Bouba. Which is which? Kiki is the angular shape of course. I feel that this is more aggressive. I also think Paki is an angular word and would be far less offensive if it was modified to Pasi. Although not as rounded as 'Bouba' it represents a step in the right direction.

In summary, replace the 'K' in the word with something else and all problems will be solved . . . .

Aha I appreciate it

And yeah, a lot of my friends and I make race jokes at each other but it's friendly - unlike being called a paki by some chav on the street. I'm Indian and proud ot call myself a British Indian, my parents work hard, are good people and pay tax to support the economy, just as any other good citizen. I will grow up to do the same. So no one has the right to speak to me in a derogatory tone.

Peace.

I've been called a p**i loads and loads of times because white people use the excuse of "Oh I thought it stands for Pakistani" despite using it in a derogative and racist manner. It's very annoying and I find it highly disrespectful, I don't even come from Pakistan.

I've been called a p**i loads and loads of times because white people use the excuse of "Oh I thought it stands for Pakistani" despite using it in a derogative and racist manner. It's very annoying and I find it highly disrespectful, I don't even come from Pakistan.

when will people realise that the term doesn't refer to people who come from pakistan, but anyone from the sub-continent or of that appearance . . . its not like its going to make them like you anymore once they realise you are indian, arab, etc...