[Imc-uk-features] 375019

[Jeff Parks]

Ben wrote:

> hidden blog repost using discriminatory language 'Patsy' - Wikipedia: "In
> American slang, a patsy is a person taken advantage of, especially one
> considered relatively naïve. The term is widely regarded as an ethnic
> slur, in light of the likely theory that it arose in the mid-19th century
> when East Coast urban centers in the U.S. included a notable
> abundance of recent migrants from rural Ireland, among whom the
> nickname "Patsy" (for Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland) was
> relatively common."

I assume there's a healthy dose of sarcasm involved here, but using a
poorly written unsourced Wikipedia article as the basis for hiding a
poorly written unsourced Indymedia article is ridiculous.

To give just one example of how crap it is:
(article) The OED's recent revisions link "Patsy" with "Pat" and
"Paddy", the stereotype of the bogtrotter just off the boat.
Immediately after defining "paddy" as "Nickname for an Irishman", the
OED explains "to do the paddy over" someone as "to bamboozle, humbug",
citing Blackwood's Magazine of 1821. (/article)
(actual OED) to come (the) paddy over: to dupe or hoodwink, by means
of the supposed Irish talent for flattery or persuasive talk (cf.
BLARNEY n.). (/actual OED)

but beyond that, as with 'retard', discrimination requires context not
mere usage, and the word doesn't at all appear to be being used as an
ethnic slur here, but much more likely to derive from Oswald's use of
the term.

Nimmo's articles should be hidden because their content is worthless,
not because they use bad words.

mit liebe u. wut,
Jeff