Exactly, it's really risky. I've found myself one time to many put down that I loved because some terms. It made me think ill of the author.Eriny Youssef wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 18:34 I had a similar experience with yet another book. I frlt uneasy at first reading the terms the author referred to other people, but later I realized the terms weren't as sensitive as they are now. It's very risky to write such books. However, I still believe updated versions should be made to include clarifications on these points, or at least if it's a new publication a clarification should be included somewhere in the book.
Racial slurs and derogatory terms
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Re: Racial slurs and derogatory terms
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In another Vietnam War book I read, REMF: Hurry Up and Wait, there were a slew of racial slurs and derogatory terms used against the Vietnamese, many of which I had never even heard before. However, I think to eliminate this chatter would be to take away from the social climate of the time.
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I understand what you mean, but since there's so much of a difference between what was accepted at the time of the story and what it is now (when the book was published) there should be disclaimer, or at least a footnote that acknowledges that the author knows this is offensive.El Brandhaus wrote: ↑20 Apr 2022, 20:16 I think it is a bit incongruent now but congruent with the capturing the social climate of the era without political correctness.
In another Vietnam War book I read, REMF: Hurry Up and Wait, there were a slew of racial slurs and derogatory terms used against the Vietnamese, many of which I had never even heard before. However, I think to eliminate this chatter would be to take away from the social climate of the time.
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It’s a good point, and I agree with you. I could see such a disclaimer appropriate in a “Foreword” or at the end in a “Note From the Author”. I like your idea of a footnote.Lunastella wrote: ↑21 Apr 2022, 09:53
I understand what you mean, but since there's so much of a difference between what was accepted at the time of the story and what it is now (when the book was published) there should be disclaimer, or at least a footnote that acknowledges that the author knows this is offensive.
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Actually, the meaning was the same. I looked it up. There's a link in this thread somewhere with the information on how the word has evolved. What has changed, in my opinion, is how socially acceptable using these words has become. This is why a polished edition, as you mentioned, is a great idea.Oluwadamilola Awodele wrote: ↑22 Apr 2022, 04:35 Seeing that the book was written long ago, the word 'redneck' might have had a different connotation compared to what it does now; so, the author might not have intended to sound racist. Although, it will be lovely if a new edition takes into account these tricky words and replace them with less complicated ones while still maintaining originality.
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Exactly. I understand that, as humans, we are often led by emotions and blinded by the harm that's been inflicted on us. In this case, racism. But I think the only way to eradicate racism is to make a harsh self-examination, whether we've been victims, perpetrators, or just onlookers.Nazzo wrote: ↑24 Apr 2022, 06:34 I think things were definitely different now than they were then. Even though the racial slurs directed to the author were horrible, i believe you should always be the change you want to see. I know this is easier said than done, especially for the author back then when you could see his frustration at his army colleagues.
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I hope so, too. That as a society, we keep moving toward kindness and empathy. It's in everyone on us to do a hard self-examination and to speak up when we see someone else being hurt, either physically or by words.Natalie Charlene wrote: ↑28 Apr 2022, 15:54 I agree with several others that it is because of the social climate. The word "rednecks" has grown to become a more offensive word, but it has been socially acceptable for a long time. Most all racial slurs and other offensive terms start out as socially acceptable. Society has been progressing to understand the importance of language and to make it unacceptable to use such slurs. I hope we keep moving in this direction!
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