At 14:38 07/12/2007 +0000, Karen Hunte wrote:
Hi OpenOffice,
This is not OpenOffice _per se_, of course. You wrote to the "Users"
mailing list. As its name suggests, this is composed of users of
OpenOffice - just like you and me. So it's unlikely you'll get a
definitive reply.
Why is gollywog, and yid in the dictionary and not honky? Surely you
ought to include all or neither of these derogatory terms.
What a fascinating observation! I suspect you are probably
right. But I suppose it is worth saying that the inclusion of any
word in any dictionary is not an _imprimatur_. We all take
responsibility for our own use of language. I shouldn't use any of
these terms except in technical contexts such as this.
I don't know what dictionary you are using, but my experience does
not match what you say. The OpenOffice English (UK) dictionary
includes gollywog and golliwog, but neither yid nor honky. (I
suppose there are contexts where "golliwog" could be used - but only
with considerable care - to refer to the one-time child's toy.) As
someone has already indicated, the English (US) dictionary includes
honky, but neither gollywog, golliwog, nor yid - exactly the reverse
of what you say.
I agree with you that these terms are derogatory, and that's why I
wouldn't use them. I imagine you wouldn't, either.
I trust this helps.
Brian Barker
PS: You'll be pleased to hear that the "mood watch" in my e-mail
client is making it difficult for me to send this message.
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