Is the phrase “fresh off the boat” offensive in all circumstances?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Same. I am a European immigrant and I use this phrase in reference to myself or my family. It is part of our culture ( our descendants arrived here by the boat), and I am not comfortable when people are telling me I should not use part of my history. My descendants did not arrive by crossing Rio Grande by foot, they crossed the Atlantic. I crossed the Atlantic too ( by the plane), but for respect of my descendants I will continue using this phrase.

Comparing it to the N word is so stupid.

[Anonymous]

I'm white and my DH is not white and an immigrant. I would say that this is a phrase that we use in our family and he *might* use it outside the family but only with people he knows and who have similar lives. We would never use the phrase with a stranger when we're out and about, unless we immediately picked up that they were from the same background. Growing up, people in my family and in my community used the phrase in a really derogatory way, and so hearing it out of the blue from a white stranger is uncomfortable and rings alarm bells for me.

I think it's one of those phrases that's like racist epithets- maybe it's sort of ok to use if you're part of the in-group and using it about yourself, but even then it's tricky and I find it complicated to write out how and when it's ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little like the N word. White people don’t get to use it, even to refer to themselves.
.

Oh please, get the F’ over yourself, you sanctimonious moron.

It was a term originally applied TO white people who just got off a boat from Ireland. In the 1830’s.

Now according to you, white people can’t use it even to refer to themselves?

Curious- how does one bestow themselves with such arrogance as you? How do you do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in 2024 have gone insane with telling other people - even total strangers - what they are allowed to say and what they are NOT ALLOWED TO SAY!

And if you don’t obey other people’s “word rules,” they will judge you and hate you (even though they believe they “don’t judge” and they “don’t hate.”).

Among the many reasons I cannot wait for our next civil war to begin. It’s time to settle our national disagreements with violence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Same. I am a European immigrant and I use this phrase in reference to myself or my family. It is part of our culture ( our descendants arrived here by the boat), and I am not comfortable when people are telling me I should not use part of my history. My descendants did not arrive by crossing Rio Grande by foot, they crossed the Atlantic. I crossed the Atlantic too ( by the plane), but for respect of my descendants I will continue using this phrase.

Comparing it to the N word is so stupid.

lol, is this sarcasm or just racism to distinguish themselves as European and superior and not Latin American? Although not all Rio Grande border crossings are Latin Americans either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Same. I am a European immigrant and I use this phrase in reference to myself or my family. It is part of our culture ( our descendants arrived here by the boat), and I am not comfortable when people are telling me I should not use part of my history. My descendants did not arrive by crossing Rio Grande by foot, they crossed the Atlantic. I crossed the Atlantic too ( by the plane), but for respect of my descendants I will continue using this phrase.

Comparing it to the N word is so stupid.

lol, is this sarcasm or just racism to distinguish themselves as European and superior and not Latin American? Although not all Rio Grande border crossings are Latin Americans either.

Where did you see superiority in my post? People distinguish themselves by race and ethnicity all the time ( look at all blacks only events and organizations. Does that make them superior?) It is just my history and I will be telling my history to my children and grandchildren no matter how much you might be offended by my history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little like the N word. White people don’t get to use it, even to refer to themselves.
.

Oh please, get the F’ over yourself, you sanctimonious moron.

It was a term originally applied TO white people who just got off a boat from Ireland. In the 1830’s.

Now according to you, white people can’t use it even to refer to themselves?

Curious- how does one bestow themselves with such arrogance as you? How do you do it?

It appears inly left leaning morons who never even traveled outside of US are offended by this phrase.

[Anonymous]

Professionals don't need to hear your stupid jokes when they are trying to do their job.

Know your audience.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PcW8yfJFWBw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Professionals don't need to hear your stupid jokes when they are trying to do their job.

Know your audience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little like the N word. White people don’t get to use it, even to refer to themselves.
.

Oh please, get the F’ over yourself, you sanctimonious moron.

It was a term originally applied TO white people who just got off a boat from Ireland. In the 1830’s.

Now according to you, white people can’t use it even to refer to themselves?

Curious- how does one bestow themselves with such arrogance as you? How do you do it?

They weren't white. White race isn't a color. It's a social construct.

But continue to enjoy your arrogant ignorance. I'm not curious about how you bestowed yourself with it. I know it's natural born.

https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/when-irish-immigrants-werent-considered-white.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Same. I am a European immigrant and I use this phrase in reference to myself or my family. It is part of our culture ( our descendants arrived here by the boat), and I am not comfortable when people are telling me I should not use part of my history. My descendants did not arrive by crossing Rio Grande by foot, they crossed the Atlantic. I crossed the Atlantic too ( by the plane), but for respect of my descendants I will continue using this phrase.

Comparing it to the N word is so stupid.

It IS comparable to the N-word.

However, it’s probably ok for white people to use the phrase. But it would not be ok for BIPOC people to use it.

If a BIPOC person says the phrase, it’s at least a micro aggression, and likely a form of oppression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are too sensitive. Sticks and stones

As a rule of thumb, over sensitive is better than insensitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are too sensitive. Sticks and stones

As a rule of thumb, over sensitive is better than insensitive.

One would think, but some have gotten tired of having to think about others.

[Anonymous]

Growing up in California in the 70s/80s, FOB was solely used to refer to Vietnamese immigrants (aka boat people), and it was very derogatory. I would never use FOB, ever.

My dad was an immigrant, who came to the US on a ship from the UK in the 1950s. I would never use it to refer to him, because of the negative context it's used with others. But then I've also never, ever heard it used in relation to our many family members who also immigrated from the UK and Ireland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm foreign and don't mind the phrase at all. Fresh off the boat, fresh off the airplane, I've BTDT, not understanding what's offensive here.

Same. I am a European immigrant and I use this phrase in reference to myself or my family. It is part of our culture ( our descendants arrived here by the boat), and I am not comfortable when people are telling me I should not use part of my history. My descendants did not arrive by crossing Rio Grande by foot, they crossed the Atlantic. I crossed the Atlantic too ( by the plane), but for respect of my descendants I will continue using this phrase.

Comparing it to the N word is so stupid.

It IS comparable to the N-word.

However, it’s probably ok for white people to use the phrase. But it would not be ok for BIPOC people to use it.

If a BIPOC person says the phrase, it’s at least a micro aggression, and likely a form of oppression.

So many rules, rules, rules!