Because you need to know...

[Cade]

It also means "above" and it's "über" in German, not uber, which does not exist in German The meaning of "above" is more suited to the context the Anglicized word is used in.

I admit I was amused at first when I learned about the word "uber" in English

Appologizes to all for my not using an umlaut. Its much easier to type u insted of finding the correct character in the map. And yes, I assume I could change the keyboard layout, but then XP would most likely explode.

[nickbeat]

The American version doesn't use an umlaut, and it means 'super' to us. We don't care where it comes from anymore or what the Germans think, cuz we are Americans! And 'Cuz' ain't spelled that way neither but I don't care none so ye kin all suck it! (End Sterotypical American Rant)

An interesting little historical language lesson about German words in english:

German was conquered by rome for a while, and the English language was created as a kind of amalgam of German and Latin, along with a number of other languages. The Latin words were used to refer to high level words and concepts like 'Lunar', or 'Bisect'. Also Latin effected the language with the merchants traveling the tribes. Some of the words taken from Latin are; kettle,wine,cheese, butter, cheap.

More info on Wikipedia.

[darcane]

I use the N word all the time...but i grew up in the getto...so i can be a little getto,but hell when i use it,i never refer to any race...i just like callin anything and everything it.So if you hear me say it,dont be offended,cuz im not racist by no means....I can be prejudice,but that is different.

[nickbeat]

I'm gonna continue to hijack this thread with educational tidbits til someone tells me to stop...

Definitions of Racism vs Prejudice:

Racism involves an institutional bias toward one race over another, providing exceptions where laws gave harsher punishments or decreased privileges based on race. Classic examples involve allowing only seats in the back of the bus or not allowing blacks to vote.

Prejudice refers to any case where a person judges another based on their previous experience or education regarding a race.

We've done a lot to solve the issue of racism in the USA, but prejudice remains.

[Phantom Lamb]

I remember making fun of some European country one time. Someone was from that country and called me "racist," which is a completely inaccurate use of that term. It made me snicker.

[Kangleton]

A thread about misusing language? Ha! I'm a North American teenager of white-European descent, thereby making me the local authority on these matters. In use of such authority,

ur all gay!!1


/endthread

[Leaving Hope]

I remember making fun of some European country one time. Someone was from that country and called me "racist," which is a completely inaccurate use of that term. It made me snicker.

Would that make you countryist or nationist?

[Verrath]

A thread about misusing language? Ha! I'm a North American teenager of white-European descent,

The "teenager" bit being the scariest part.

[Lollercide]

I tend to say what I want with my own beliefs in the words - It's my choice and I alone am responsible for what I say! Rarely do I care how other people perceive them, but most of the time I avoid saying them to prevent discontent or worse, ranting.

I'd much rather save my breath on one word than waste a lot of time explaining how I don't care.

Edit: Don't underestimate the crazy apathetic and furthermore appauling behavior behind the valiant Knight!

[darcane]

I'm gonna continue to hijack this thread with educational tidbits til someone tells me to stop...

Definitions of Racism vs Prejudice:

Racism involves an institutional bias toward one race over another, providing exceptions where laws gave harsher punishments or decreased privileges based on race. Classic examples involve allowing only seats in the back of the bus or not allowing blacks to vote.

Prejudice refers to any case where a person judges another based on their previous experience or education regarding a race.

We've done a lot to solve the issue of racism in the USA, but prejudice remains.

Hell..i'll just be prejudice over someones haircut!

[darcane]

Like dude,i dont like it that the back of yer head looks like a duck's butt,so it looks like a duck wearing an eye patch...lol..Love to give the emo crap!!

[Deathmage]

I think the controversy over "gay" is in the past. Even my gay friend uses it to refer to himself...

[Gabryal]

I'm gonna continue to hijack this thread with educational tidbits til someone tells me to stop...

Definitions of Racism vs Prejudice:

Racism involves an institutional bias toward one race over another, providing exceptions where laws gave harsher punishments or decreased privileges based on race. Classic examples involve allowing only seats in the back of the bus or not allowing blacks to vote.

Prejudice refers to any case where a person judges another based on their previous experience or education regarding a race.

We've done a lot to solve the issue of racism in the USA, but prejudice remains.

you forgot...

Bigotry: (used as relating to a state of being among people ) A personal belief in the genetic superiority of one race over the other, as in Nazi's and Jews.

Bigotry is mostly common in the United States amongst those who still bathe once or twice a week, and think dentists are spawns of satan. However I would like to point out that anyone of any ethnic background can be a bigot, which is true of the other two as well, but should be pointed out.

[Machiavelli]

Haha, this gets even better! Actually, these definitions are yet another example of the divergence of U.S. English from that used elsewhere!

Racism involves an institutional bias toward one race over another, providing exceptions where laws gave harsher punishments or decreased privileges based on race. Classic examples involve allowing only seats in the back of the bus or not allowing blacks to vote.

The Oxford english dictionary defines racism as follows.

racism • (1) the belief that there are characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to each race. (2) discrimination against or antagonism towards other races.

Note the lack of any institutional or legal bias being required. Outside of the U.S. use of English this term is completely appropriate for applying to individual behaviour!

Prejudice refers to any case where a person judges another based on their previous experience or education regarding a race.

Once more, from the Oxford English dictionary (emphasis on part 3 with respect to the U.S. definition provided above).

prejudice (1) A previous judgement formed without due consideration or examination. (2) The action of judging an event beforehand. (3) Feeling favourable or unfavourable toward any given person or thing prior to, or not based on, actual experience.

There's no specificity to race here, and no requirement for previous experience or education; it's simply the formation of arbitrary judgements based on preconceived ideas (to prejudge)

you forgot...

Bigotry: (used as relating to a state of being among people ) A personal belief in the genetic superiority of one race over the other, as in Nazi's and Jews.

The Oxford English dictionary definition is completely different here!

Bigotry The obstinate and unenlightened attachment to a particular creed, opinion, system, or party.

Nothing whatsoever to do with personal belief in the genetic superiority of a given race (though that sort of behaviour would be encompassed by the term).

Assuming the definitions provided by you guys above are those in common usage in the U.S. then I think this highlights the trickiness of language quite well. This shows a significant difference in usage and definition over some quite commonly used terms by people of different English speaking tradtions.

[Jaeram]

If I may interject. The belief that one's group (be it racial, societal, ethnic, etc.) is superior to another is ethnocentrism.

I figured that could be lumped in with the above example of Jew's and Nazi's.