No, I will not pardon your racism.

[KatherineB]

I suspect the lack of irritation at "Maori job" is because Maori is the appropriate name for them.

After all, the offensive term in question isn't "negro rig" or "colored rig" or something else that was considered acceptable at the time it was coined.

Um, no. Just absolutely no.

I'm not even a New Zealander and I can promise you that calling it a Maori rig or an Aboriginal rig or anything of that nature has connotations just as negative as 'negro rig' or 'coloured rig'.

[ADeMartino]

My fiance's sister has a nicer word for it, jury-rigging.

Which is the original form of the term, though I believe it may be french in origin, and 'jury' probably a bastardization of 'jour'. Another version of the term is 'jerry rig'. Both perfectly acceptable in conversation, as are 'MacGuyver', 'field engineer', and simply 'rig'. 'Cobble something together' or words to that effect.

Your customer may simply not be aware of these other terms; as 'n-word'-rig has been in use a very long time, despite its outdated reference.

[Andara Bledin]

I'm not even a New Zealander and I can promise you that calling it a Maori rig or an Aboriginal rig or anything of that nature has connotations just as negative as 'negro rig' or 'coloured rig'.

I never said anything about the connotations. Just the terminology.

That doesn't make it less ugly, just less obviously ugly.

^-.-^

[PepperElf]

Um, no. Just absolutely no.
.

I can understand where you're coming from on this one. "Maori" might be the proper non-slur name, but ... it's HOW it's being used that makes it offensive.


as for why a jerry-rig is done... in the Navy sometimes it wasn't a factor of lazy but more of a factor of "it has to get done with limited supplies". The problem of course is whether or not the patch job is *safe*, or if the risks outweigh the benefits.

I refused to do one once. My former psycho chief came back as an inspector and cracked a joke about wrapping tin foil around a broken fuse. My officer thought he was serious and wanted me to do it. (fuck no, not for a non-vital circuit, not when the resulting fire would get me sent to captain's mast)

[KatherineB]

I never said anything about the connotations. Just the terminology.

That doesn't make it less ugly, just less obviously ugly.

^-.-^

On this side of the world it certainly does. In Australia we don't have a lot of African Americans. The word nigger is barely used, but not because it's offensive. We just have alternative terms for it. Therefore if the term nigger-rig was introduced here, it would be less obvious ugly than Maori-rig or Abbo-rig/Aboriginal-rig. People would use n-rig without thinking about it. Like Pepper-Elf said, it's not the term itself but how it's being used.

I think I understand that you're trying to say that Maori-rig isn't as offensive because Maori isn't the slang/derogatory term for native New Zealanders, in the way that Abbo or nigger is, but personally I think it's just as bad because it's still implying negative things about the people by the use of the word.

[Automan Empire]

Reminds me of a story my friend told from his days as a mechanic in the US Air Force.

Another mechanic was having a hard time with some large machine and cried out, "This thing is N****-RIGGED!"

His commanding officer happened to be RIGHT THERE, and dressed him down.

So, the guy starts working on it again, and cries, "This thing is JERRY-rigged!"

And the CO gets right back in his face and says, "That's offensive to GERMANS!"

The guy was in no position to argue etymology.

[Pagan]

I hate that word. I can't even think it in full. No one should ever be called racial slurs. I'm surprised you didn't punch him, he'd have deserved it.

That's a little extreme. Yes, it's an ugly term, but he didn't use it and wasn't directing it at anybody in particular (I know, not an excuse, but still.) Violence in this situation is not an appropriate response.

Not to mention, that hauling off and hitting someone just for using a word you don't like is liable to get you arrested.

Just because someone uses a term you find objectionable, doesn't make them a bad person worthy of a beating. I loved my grandfather to death, but didn't like a word he used, that, to me is worse than "N". Starts with a "C". However, if you had tried to hit him for using that word? You would have had to deal with me.

ReverendBSB handled it beautifully. Let the guy know, politely, that word wasn't acceptable, he accepted that and refrained from saying it, and they concluded their business amicably.

On this side of the world it certainly does. In Australia we don't have a lot of African Americans.

I don't doubt that, as they would have had to emigrated from here. The "American" part of "African American" refers to the US. First part refers to country of origin/heritage/race/ethnicity. Like how Craig Ferguson is now referred to on Wikipedia as "Scottish Amercian" since he got his US citizenship.

As others have said, intent is a large part of what makes it offensive. I have been called a WASP occasionally by someone trying to be funny and had to explain to them why, seeing as I'm a Celt, I find that doubly offensive.

[ralerin]

Never heard of N-rig, heard of jerry/jury rig, but my family has a better name for it: Mickey Mouse.

[pzychobitch]

My fiance's sister has a nicer word for it, jury-rigging.

I call it Macguyvering.

[Rapscallion]

The little plastic doohickey in our toilet back (that goes from the back of the handle to...wherever it goes, it controls the flush)

Mine broke a while back. After describing it to a guy in a hardware store (and not being sensible enough to take the broken one in), I found out it's called a planchette over here.

Rapscallion

[Andara Bledin]

Over here it's called a lift rod, which not only describes what it is, but what it's supposed to do. Usually the rod has a chain attached to the end which attaches to the stopper, which it pulls up when you flush (the resistance on the handles if from water pressure), allowing the water to drain into the tank and on down the drain.

And that ends our lesson in toilet technology for today.

^-.-^

[Rapscallion]

And that ends our lesson in toilet technology for today.

I ... wouldn't count on that. Just experience talking here.

Rapscallion

[dalesys]

... it's called a planchette over here.

Isn't that what carries the spirits voices to a ouija board.

[pzychobitch]

When I can think of it, I use "McGuyver it". If you've ever watched the show, you understand. Otherwise it is Jerry-Rig it.

I have NEVER watched a mcguyver episode *in my entire life* but i've seen clips and even I understand this!

[Geek King]

I still like Kludge. It just sounds right to me ever since one of my CS professors used it in class