use of the word "Canuck"

[Curiosity]

Sheesh....

If only the people in the U.S. could have a "name" whether derogatory or not to be called by...

And newbie.... the "n" word was an unnecessary comparison....there are many other appelations you could have used regarding insulting names.

 

[tamarin]

Oh, come on, folks! Canuck when used by an outsider is usually prefaced with 'dumb' or 'stupid.'
It's a clear putdown.

 

[thomaska]

I dunno...even seeing that "n" word in print makes me flinch a bit, and do the "look over my shoulder" bit to make sure no one sees me reading it.

 

[Curiosity]

Groan - not another PC Parade of naughty words!

 

[DurkaDurka]

Oh, come on, folks! Canuck when used by an outsider is usually prefaced with 'dumb' or 'stupid.'
It's a clear putdown.

Canadians are too damn sensative to being insulted...

 

[karrie]

Oh, come on, folks! Canuck when used by an outsider is usually prefaced with 'dumb' or 'stupid.'
It's a clear putdown.

I've never heard an 'outsider' use it as an insult.

 

[tamarin]

See, I told you. And now you're being syrupy nice to get around our pointy little heads!

 

[tamarin]

Karrie, it's used all the time. But most that use it are sharing it, not hurling it.

 

[karrie]

And newbie.... the "n" word was an unnecessary comparison....there are many other appelations you could have used regarding insulting names.

yeah, the two aren't open to comparison. To the best of my knowledge, there is no American sports team named the "n___ers". It's a taboo word one hundred percent.

We on the other hand, use and parade the term Canuck.

 

[sanctus]

yeah, the two aren't open to comparison. To the best of my knowledge, there is no American sports team named the "n___ers". It's a taboo word one hundred percent.

We on the other hand, use and parade the term Canuck.

As someone pointed out already, nigger is only a word. It means nothing until it is applied, and that meaning depends on how it is applied.

 

[karrie]

Karrie, it's used all the time. But most that use it are sharing it, not hurling it.

well, people say 'stupid americans' on here all the time too. is american a derogatory term, or as someone pointed out, yankee? when does it become synonamous with the 'stupid' some may put before it now?

 

[karrie]

As someone pointed out already, nigger is only a word. It means nothing until it is applied, and that meaning depends on how it is applied.

yeah, the thing is, it really isn't far enough seperated yet (at least not in my mind), from the intent with which it was so heavily used across the continent. I grew up hearing it used in the most vile ways, and it STILL gets used in that manner in society today. My in-laws had a gentleman in their church group actually say one day, when a new couple joined the congregation, "how could he stand having to go to bed with an ugly ____ like that every night". I've simply never, ever, heard the word used in a neutral manner. And so, to me, it's simply not just a word.

 

[Curiosity]

Karrie

My point - the people in the U.S. are given many insults but they are primarily adjectives....

I read on this forum "Yanks" and "Brits" are derogatory and I've been using them for ages for want of a better word.... USA-ers or UK-ers just doesn't cut it.....

But dumb Americans is a common enough one.... stupid Americans.... arrogant Americans...and the list goes on and on

Never heard that Canuck was an insult either..... I rarely use it but not because it has a rude meaning.... just not a word in my often used vocabulary.

 

[hermanntrude]

There is some debate as to where the word comes from but the one i read first and enjoy the most is that it's hawaiian, kanaka'a, meaning foreigner, and started on the west coast during times of hawaiian immigration.

 

[talloola]

Thanks for the input. It appears the vast majority would not find it insulting. Not that I would choose to use this term in the event I run into the 10% or so that DO find it offensive, but I was just curious. I was having a debate with a guy who writes a newsletter, and he reported on a Canadian brochure (I think from saskatchewan) that had several obvious typographical errors, and the newsletter author made a snide remark that was something like "...proving Canuck schools are just as good as American schools." (you would have to know about how many people in the USA are very critical of our education system to understand that this is a put-down of the Canadian schools). I told the guy that I thought the use of the term Canuck was a poor one, given that I had heard that this term may be offensive to some people. He shot back that I was too "politically correct". Maybe so, but I try to live life so I don't go out oif my way to offend people where it is completely unnecessary, and I wouldn't appreciate a slang term being used against my heritage, so why should it be Ok for someone else to do it. That's where I was coming from. (Never mind the fact that typographical errors and editor ovesight/laziness has nothing to do with the educational system of Canada nor the intelligence of the people who live there, which seemed to escape the newsletter author).

Well, I knew I could count on the people here to give me the answer to my question. Thanks again.

Hi. I am from the USA, and I have a question about the use of the word Canuck. Now I know there's a hockey team called the Canucks, but I was wondering if a person could be called a Canuck and take it as an insult, much like here in the US when African Americans can be called "Nigger" by a white person (but they call themselves that all the time and it's OK in that context).

Please let me know what you think, because I've heard that it can be insulting, or that it probably isn't, and I'd like to know straight from Canadians. Thank you.

I still haven't had a reply telling me how "calling an american a Yankee" is received.

 

[Curiosity]

Well I'm not a Yankee

But I've never been addressed as one down here.... and its just under 20 years now....

Matter of fact I've never heard the term except in old movies and people telling southern jokes...

 

[hermanntrude]

yank i assume is short for yankee. I think in america itself it has a more precise meaning than just american. In the UK however it is a mildly offensive term for americans as a whole.

 

[RomSpaceKnight]

I was born in England and have no issues with being a "limey". Intent is the big issue. Stupid f!@#ing limey, canuck or yank is not nice at all. I think the "N" word is tabboo. I don't even like writing it. It's like the swastika symbol. That is an ancient symbol usurped by mass murderers and thugs and now in wetern culture is tabboo. Consider that n.... is a version of the Spanish word for black. We all put credence to our particular cultures tabboos in some way shape or form.

 

[Tonington]

Yah but words change all the time. I have black friends, and they call me nigga all the time. If you replace the -a with -er, it means something totally different.

 

[Cannuck]

...he reported on a Canadian brochure (I think from saskatchewan) that had several obvious typographical errors, and the newsletter author made a snide remark that was something like "...proving Canuck schools are just as good as American schools."

I could make a sarcastic comment about the fact that the newsletter was from Saskatistan. I could also make a comment about my sister-in-law who is a teacher there and wants to leave....but I won't. Certain moderators don't like jokes about Saskatistan or the opinions of my relatives.

That being said, Canadian skools are grate.