I wouldn't describe them at all really. I don't have the need. I don't go around trying to work out people's ethnic origins all the time - you know "hmm, is that a cornishman or an ulster scot?"


If I were asked by the police I would try to describe the person. You know, as a person. For example, someone from southern India looks very different from someone from Thailand and from someone from China.

They're the worst, aren't they? They all bloody look the same, too.

Twisting words again, I would stick with Asian which seems not to be good enough.

I am asking the same as LW (who doesn't seem able to answer)
How would you descibe 2 men in suits who are of "Asian appearance" ?

ome on, get away from the patronising smugness and answer the bloody question.

BTW Ethnic is the real McCoy...like a mexican shop selling Mexican beads whatever.

Asian is a much less derogatory term than, Wog, Paki, nig nog etc etc, all which are in common usage in the " native English population."
Is that what we should call ourselves from now on.

But an Indian and a Paki looks the same. Nothing in your PC dictionary to cover this situation. In the above case I would use Eastern, couldn't say chinese could I as they may come from Japan.

So are Pakistan, India and China "ethnic countries"? Just looking for your definition of your own term here.

There are also many, many different ethnic groups within those countries, by the way, just like every other country.

I have to say I don't know where you come from, apart from Paki I have never heard anyone personally use those words...you are the master of making it up as you go along

Answer my question and I may answer yours Never seen you answer one on here yet! Just snidey sarcastic comments.

I would go down the "middle of the road, sitting on fence" route.

I would say "he is not blonde, he is not ginger, he has not got freckles, he is not pale skinned, he doesn´t look chinese, or Scandi, he does not look like Jamie Foxx either" and leave whoever to draw their own conclusions.

That way I could be proud of my PCness, and feel good about myself.

You describe them as you would any one, height, size, facial features, complexion(it does vary you know even between those of the same ethnic group). If you have no knowledge of the differences between different groups why would you need to say?

In everyday life why also the need? --they are all British 'people' can you always tell the difference unless they speak between Scottish, Irish or Welsh people. Why do you need to call them anything? Everyone has a name!!! (Which, thinking about it, will immediately tell you their origins).

In general Pakistani people do look different from Indian people. Obviously a North Indian Muslim person will look much the same as a Pakistani person.

I answered you in the post quoted above.

Your turn.

Oh dear If 2 men left a suspicious package on a bus I wouldn't KNOW their name would I. Although in that case I would probably describe them as 2 muslims

I don't exactly like being called a Brit seeing as it covers half the world...I am English

No you didn't, you skirted around it...get the PC stuff out and answer properly.

Ethnic...lets see. used to describe people who make third world crap and flog it to the richer nations...just a shot I guess it means different things to different people. Like the defenition of a tosser or a nutter

That fact that you don't like my answer doesn't mean that I didn't answer.

I actually said in my post "In everyday life you would use their name". I wouldn't count finding a suspicious package as "everyday".
Agree about "Brit" I used it as a (forum) joke, although I do think of myself as British*.
White, faded ginger wouldn't think to describe myself as this, unless on an expat forum

*Although also part of an Indian family.

Actually the words "Asian appearance" to the police or other is no problem, it is when the word 'Asians' is used as a negative term for all 'brown' people that it is insulting. Context matters.