UK looking for outside production facilities

[James MacMillan]

I don't think we are in disagreement. We are talking arbitrary names as used by others.

I have traveled extensively in Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas. Names are something used by a person to identify another. It used to be not thought as insulting to call a person by their description. Fatty, Skinny, and Shorty jump to mind; also Blackey and Whitey could to be used without malice.

If I am in Latin America, I accept, without a problem the term Gringo – Although supposedly it’s roots go back to the meaning – enemy. When in the U.K. I’m a Yank. When in Europe I’m an American.

When strangers see me here, I suddenly must be Scottish.

The entire trend, as I have mentioned before, towards the “politically correct” is a trend to falseness. Why are we afraid to call a spade a spade? If it’s a shovel, then call it a shovel. Things, and people have names that everyone understands and should be able to use.

Me, I really don’t care what you call me, except Late for dinner.

[TheKiltedWonder]

I haven't bought a UK and I'm not sure if I would, but as a consumer I must say that I don't view buying Canadian goods any differently than buying "American" (ie from the USA, ie from the country mostly between Canada and Mexico). A canadian product will be the same quality and it won't be a sweatshop (maybe a freeze shop, depending on location). It wouldn't affect my decision one bit. That said, if anyone on here knows of a quality factory that needs some work, this could be a huge boost! Look around!

also Blackey and Whitey could to be used without malice.

The entire trend, as I have mentioned before, towards the “politically correct” is a trend to falseness. Why are we afraid to call a spade a spade?

As a side note, even if the first two terms can be used without malice, they can't be used with respect, in my opinion. And we all deserve respect. And even if they are used without malice, it would be hard for the recipient to recognize this fact.
While some political correctness is certainly a bit inane, odd and laughable, as you have pointed out, I believe that certain words just don't have a place in polite discourse. That's my take on it.

[McClef]

We have a similar problem over here in that England is often used as a catch all for the whole of the United Kingdom.

As to canawler's point - I remember see a Molson ad in 2000 that emphasised the "Proud to Be Canadian" angle.

It's hardly surprising that most US beer drinkers, or indeed most US citizens would think of America as primarily meaning the USA and from what I know of Canadians they think themselves Canadian first and American second - "the True North, strong and free" and all that.

Even in Europe we would think of the USA first when the word America is used on its own without a qualifier.

And even the thread title illustrates the point "UK looks for outside production facilities" - I automatically thought, until I read more that the United Kingdom was looking to export more jobs abroad!

[Makeitstop]

And even the thread title illustrates the point "UK looks for outside production facilities" - I automatically thought, until I read more that the United Kingdom was looking to export more jobs abroad!

And in the same way, I never think of traveling when someone talks about studying abroad.


But yes, political correctness puts all the emphasis on the word and not the meaning. I've actually found people who are shocked that I'm OK with being described as white. True, I'm actually more of an off-white, pale pink with a hint of yellowish brown, but that's a bit of a mouthful.

This reminds me of my grandma. Til the day she died she never had any idea that people might be offended by monosyllabic descriptors which haven't been acceptable 40 years or so. It was always hilarious after spending so much time in a world where anything which was associated with the slightest hint of theoretical offense became banned.

[sharpdressedscot]

You know, there are about a hundred or so ex/abandoned cotton mills where I live, but I'm sure that will be of use....

[pbpersson]

We have a similar problem over here in that England is often used as a catch all for the whole of the United Kingdom.

People are ignorant about countries on the other side of the world. We in the United States used to think that Russia and the USSR were just different names for the same thing.

I bought a kilt from Wales, told someone on this forum that it came from England.....and was REALLY embarrassed when the owner of the company posted that England and Wales are NOT the same thing. Well.....I got online and did a little research. Great Britain is totally different from England. I learned something important that day.....

Anyway, I would have no problem with UKs made in Canada. I once bought a Pontiac made in Canada and it was probably the best GM car I ever had.