You're a Jew!

[Dakini]

I'm not sure that it's increasing anti-Semitism so much as it's an increase in people who
1. don't think about the meaning of words before they speak them (see also: "that's so gay!") and/or
2. people changing the words that they use because there are enough people expressing offence about other terms (e.g. "gay" "retarded") that they go back to slurs that people aren't paying as much attention to and/or
3. people thinking that Cartman from South Park is a good person to emulate.

Fair. All three of those are depressing in their own right, though.

I totally agree.

But I don't think that it's necessarily a case where people who say this hate Jewish people, just like I don't think it's the case that people who use "gay" in a negative way necessarily hate gay people. I tend to think that #1 is more often what's happening and people are just really inconsiderate (on average).

[The Norwegian Blue]

Fair. All three of those are depressing in their own right, though.

I totally agree.

But I don't think that it's necessarily a case where people who say this hate Jewish people, just like I don't think it's the case that people who use "gay" in a negative way necessarily hate gay people. I tend to think that #1 is more often what's happening and people are just really inconsiderate (on average).

Oh, I think you're probably right. God knows I've seen enough NSG arguments in which people insist using "gay" to mean "stupid and pathetic and dysfunctional" is in no way a slur on gay people to recognize that the same idiots would probably argue that using "Jew" as an insult in no way implies that being Jewish is bad. I just wish I lived in a world where people were less painfully stupid, or at least didn't need to be painfully stupid in such childish and nasty ways.

[FREEaquaticdancelesson]

What's funny is that "You're a jew!" wasn't an insult until after we were educated about the holocaust in my school.

[Geniasis]

I get called a dirty Jew all the time.

So yes, I suppose it is an insult.

Maybe if you showered every now and then...

[Nova Caeli]

oh no you didnt!

[Esternial]

Insulting people for their beliefs has become a national sport. I see nothing wrong with it.

Although some take it more serious than others.

[Ravea]

Insulting people for their beliefs has become a national sport. I see nothing wrong with it.

Although some take it more serious than others.

Being Jewish isn't synonymous with being a member of the Jewish religion, though; it's a distinct ethnic group as well, and thus can't really be helped. It's not so much a belief as it is genetics, and I don't see much difference between it or any other type of typical racism.

[Wamitoria]

What's funny is that "You're a jew!" wasn't an insult until after we were educated about the holocaust in my school.

Reminds me of what happened to some kid who made a holocaust joke to my school's lead tackle (who just happened to be Jewish).

Not good...

[Cybach]

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

2. Derogatory term for someone tight with their money or someone not very generous.

[The Murtunian Tribes]

What's funny is that "You're a jew!" wasn't an insult until after we were educated about the holocaust in my school.

Reminds me of what happened to some kid who made a holocaust joke to my school's lead tackle (who just happened to be Jewish).

Not good...

Like I said. They have to be smaller than you to insult them.

[FREEaquaticdancelesson]

What's funny is that "You're a jew!" wasn't an insult until after we were educated about the holocaust in my school.

Reminds me of what happened to some kid who made a holocaust joke to my school's lead tackle (who just happened to be Jewish).

Not good...

I would have LOVED to see that happen.

[Katganistan]

If I was told to call someone African-American rather than Black, which is unlikely as I am not in America, I would just reply "Fine, from now on you will not call me White, you will call me Anglo-Hibernian Xanthrochroid".

Yeah, I remember seeing Naomi Campbell being referred to as African American on an US TV show

...but she's not American.... she's a Brit!

[Katganistan]

Apparently I'm not a good Catholic -- nor are any of the other Catholics I know -- nor are our priest good priests -- because we've not been told to hate Jews in the least.

That is since vatican II where it was decreed that all jews were not collectively guilty for putting Jesus to death. This is one of the issues that mel gibson is fighting against.

Mel Gibson is fucking crazy, if you haven't noticed.

[Ravea]

Yeah, I remember seeing Naomi Campbell being referred to as African American on an US TV show

...but she's not American.... she's a Brit!

This reminds me of the the fact that nobody I know is aware of the fact that Charlize Theron isn't American but is, in fact, South African.

EDIT: Why did I use the word Fact three times in the same sentence? This cold is getting to me.

[Katganistan]

"Roses are red
Violets are bluish
If it weren't for Jesus
We'd all be Jewish.

Even you, Jim?

[Katganistan]

...but she's not American.... she's a Brit!

This reminds me of the the fact that nobody I know is aware of the fact that Charlize Theron isn't American but is, in fact, South African.

EDIT: Why did I use the word Fact three times in the same sentence? This cold is getting to me.

But if she ever wanted citizenship in the United States of America, she would then be an African American.

[Ravea]

This reminds me of the the fact that nobody I know is aware of the fact that Charlize Theron isn't American but is, in fact, South African.

EDIT: Why did I use the word Fact three times in the same sentence? This cold is getting to me.

But if she ever wanted citizenship in the United States of America, she would then be an African American.

A student at my brother's high school had this problem. He was a white South African, and there was an award for the African student with the highest GPA. (There were more than a couple African students there.) He won it, mainly because he was an exceedingly smart guy.

All the Black students (or, more accurately, many of the parents of the Black students) freaked the hell out. Apparently none of them knew that yes, some white people live in Africa.

[Kaczania]

I have heard a lot of people use the the word "Jew" as an insult before.
Example: He Jewed me down to $5.00. Translation: He haggled me down to $5.00.
Example: Don't be a Jew. Translation: Don't act as if you have Jewish stereotypical qualities.
Its sad that people still use phrases like this. A Jew is member of an ethnic group not an insult. I guess racism will never go away.

[Genesis Era]

But if she ever wanted citizenship in the United States of America, she would then be an African American.

A student at my brother's high school had this problem. He was a white South African, and there was an award for the African student with the highest GPA. (There were more than a couple African students there.) He won it, mainly because he was an exceedingly smart guy.

All the Black students (or, more accurately, many of the parents of the Black students) freaked the hell out. Apparently none of them knew that yes, some white people live in Africa.

*Sigh* Once again, parents fall prey to the perception of an all-black Africa. Population geographers are crying everywhere.

To the original topic, I always thought context was important in determining whether a word is offensive.

[Chekelov]

Christians have hated Jews for about 2000 years. Catholic dogma is clear that Jews should be hated.
I don't hate Jews, but then I'm not a good Christian.

lol oh you. Prove that, if you please.

Apparently I'm not a good Catholic -- nor are any of the other Catholics I know -- nor are our priest good priests -- because we've not been told to hate Jews in the least.

QFT

[Saiwania]

Well I'm definitely not a Jew because I'm not circumcised. But in all seriousness, I don't see why it should be an insult. Jews tend to have a good culture which values educational and economic achievement.

[Coccygia]

What do you mean "turned into"? It's been (totally wrongly) an insult for over 2,000 years! (Or maybe they're just picking it up from South Park?)

[Wamitoria]

Reminds me of what happened to some kid who made a holocaust joke to my school's lead tackle (who just happened to be Jewish).

Not good...

I would have LOVED to see that happen.

It was simply hilarious.

[Heaven Hieghts]

I'm an Atheist.

Throughout my college career per-say, I've watched people succumb to the peer pressure of idiotic insults. Ten times today I witnessed people being called a Jew as if it were meant to be rude. I'm a large person, i'm six foot eight, with broad shoulders and I workout daily. I got sick of it after the third time I heard it, I stood up to the person stating "What the hell's wrong with being Jewish, I'm Jewish just like Jesus Christ." I continued this process every time I found someone being picked on, but now the entire school will believe i'm Jewish by next week not that, that's bad.

However my main question is has the word Jew turned into an Insult? Yes or No?

I actually told some kids at school I was Jewish (which isn't completely a lie, as my name is Jewish, however, I was raised with no religious principle of any kind) to make them stop making jokes about the Holocaust. It shouldn't have to take that, however, to make people stop joking about the deaths of millions of people.

I've also heard a kid at school say he beat up his cousin for allegedly calling him a Jew, I might have chided him.

But anyway, I think only the ignorant would try to use it as an insult, but although I'm hypocritical for saying this, don't go around telling everybody you're Jewish when you're an Atheist. Just tell them to stop, and if they don't, insult their intelligence for thinking such a thing would be a valid insult.

[Natapoc]

What do you mean "turned into"? It's been (totally wrongly) an insult for over 2,000 years! (Or maybe they're just picking it up from South Park?)

This is probably true. I'd never heard it used as an insult when I was a child by anyone and that was pre south park