Rich_007

Hope they have more scars than you do.
I recently met my first real-life living breathing standing Newfie.....nice guy.
Takes 'em as I finds 'em, me.
Screw racism, regionalism, province-ism and the whole godamned lot of it.

Rich.

dbd33

It all depends on the context. Most people can use "Newfie" without it being a problem. I agree with oceanMDX that it's not as loaded as reclaimed words such as "queer" or "nigger", nonetheless, it's not as innocent as "Brit".

Calgal

Until I saw this thread, I had never even given perception of the word "Brit" as offensive, a thought!!! I wouldn't have thought it offensive to anyone, anywhere. Now, having read this; I would agree with Judy's interpretation.

Maybe my view is due to the fact that I AM, indeed, a true "Brit" (as in British, not solely English, Scottish, Welsh, or Irish), because I have heritage in the former three, and rumour in the family has it, that there is also some Irish, too. (Must be responsible for me 'blonde' moments....lol )

Or am I missing something, and it's the abbreviated "Brit" that's the issue, rather than being referred to as "British"?

oceanMDX

Well of course whenever you use ****ing before any term, it is intended to be offensive. Likewise, "American" is not offensive by itself but ****ing American sure is offensive.

By the way, I used to live in Newfoundland.

dbd33

Obviously "Newfie" is not offensive in Newfoundland. Whereabouts where you ?

oceanMDX

After graduating from university, I lived in Lewisporte for 6 months, then moved to Grand Falls and spent 6 months there.

"Newfie" is not offensive anywhere in Canada. ****ing Newfie is offensive.

There are Newfie clubs all over Canada:

http://www.offdarock.com/newfieClubs.asp

dbd33

On my. I was screeched in at a reunion of the Lewisporte RHS.

The exact equivalent of "Newfie" is "Injun". My Cree friends use it constantly, other people should not.

oceanMDX

Sorry, but I have to correct you yet again. In no way is "Newfie" somehow equivalent to "Injun". Furthermore, I've never heard an Indian use the word "Injun", and I can guarantee that I dealt with many more Crees than you.

dbd33

You cannot guarantee anything over the interweby thing. Have you never been in a liquor store with a resident of a reserve ? Never seen one produce proof of status, something called an "Injun Card" ? I believe there's even a popular, if bitter, song called "Injun Card".

dbd33

What's this, eh ?

http://www.snowwowl.com/gwritindiancard.html

dbd33

I note your edit. Of course there are Newfie clubs, there's even a place on the Danforth that claims to be Canada's only Greek-Newfie bar (!) Similarly, at the end of our street is an Irish pub, it's called Paddy's, the patrons refer to themselves as "Mick's"; Scottish slang for Catholics. Again, they can say it, I can't.

Hudman

Perhaps if Brit had been used historically as a put down we may be more sensitive. Canadians especially seniors tend to use Brit with affection.
No Blacks, Irish or dogs was acceptable were I grew up in North London, as was "No long haired undesirables served" in Cornwall up until recent times.
I have heard the term "so Canadian" used by citizens of US to describe a daft action.

oceanMDX

"Injun" is an American term, not a Canadian one in the first place. In Canada, Aboriginals have what is called a "Treaty Card", or "Indian Card". I used to employ a "Treaty Indian" and she had a "Treaty Card". In Canada, Indians don't refer to this card as an "Injun Card" - in the US maybe they do, but not in Canada.

oceanMDX

From what I can see... just an irrelevant web site. I wasn't able to Google any "Injun clubs", but there were over 20,000 references to "Newfie Clubs".

dbd33

In this house it doesn't mean "daft" so much as politically correct to the point of indecision. "Don't be so Canadian" is what I hear when I hesitate about doing something that's illegal here but usual in Europe; say having wine with a picnic or sex in a car.