The "M" word??? Help settle a bet.

[asofel]

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dictionary.com entry nor the wikipedia entry makes any mention of prejudice or malice.
-tpir

Edit: There is a small mention of the term being possibly offensive in the wikipedia article.

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no it doesnt say it is possibly offensive. it says it is offensive to some english speakers.

one of the flaws in people’s reasoning on this board is to try an defend their viewpoint by using dictionary definitions to back their logic. definitions are so rigid that they don’t take into account the actual connotations that the word takes on. huge pet peeve of mine.

mulatto in the English language is an antiquated term and if you don’t want to sound like your grandparents and you don’t want to risk needlessly offending anyone, try a more contemporary term.

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what would that term be? I'm feeling pretty ignorant as I didn't realize the connotations of 'mulatto'.

[kyro]

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dictionary.com entry nor the wikipedia entry makes any mention of prejudice or malice.
-tpir

Edit: There is a small mention of the term being possibly offensive in the wikipedia article.

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no it doesnt say it is possibly offensive. it says it is offensive to some english speakers.

one of the flaws in people’s reasoning on this board is to try an defend their viewpoint by using dictionary definitions to back their logic. definitions are so rigid that they don’t take into account the actual connotations that the word takes on. huge pet peeve of mine.

mulatto in the English language is an antiquated term and if you don’t want to sound like your grandparents and you don’t want to risk needlessly offending anyone, try a more contemporary term.

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what would that term be? I'm feeling pretty ignorant as I didn't realize the connotations of 'mulatto'.

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I believe the PC term is Caucafrican.

[bwana devil]

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what would that term be? I'm feeling pretty ignorant as I didn't realize the connotations of 'mulatto'.

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biracial or interracial i think would do the trick. im sure there are others.

[asofel]

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what would that term be? I'm feeling pretty ignorant as I didn't realize the connotations of 'mulatto'.

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biracial or interracial i think would do the trick. im sure there are others.

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ok cool, that's what i'd tend to use anyway.

[housenuts]

your friends sounds like a bunch of pinko communists

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mulatto

[drewjustdrew]

what about cafe au lait?

[bravos1]

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what about cafe au lait?

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Oreo???

People go way to far with this IMO

[stabn]

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what would that term be? I'm feeling pretty ignorant as I didn't realize the connotations of 'mulatto'.

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biracial or interracial i think would do the trick. im sure there are others.

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Neither of these is as specific as mulatto.

[bwana devil]

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what would that term be? I'm feeling pretty ignorant as I didn't realize the connotations of 'mulatto'.

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biracial or interracial i think would do the trick. im sure there are others.

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Neither of these is as specific as mulatto.

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i agree.

[Duke]

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what would that term be? I'm feeling pretty ignorant as I didn't realize the connotations of 'mulatto'.

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biracial or interracial i think would do the trick. im sure there are others.

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This is not specific enough. Once you're forced to use a word that is so nondescript as to leave a ton of margin for miscommunication, there is no longer any point using a word to describe it at all.

Newspeak sucks.

~D