Hurtful Language You May Not know.

[Chap]

What? When did that happen? Not in my day. To Jew someone down was seen as being adept at doing business. Who the heck turned it into something deceptive? Are you sure you've got that right? That wasn't my own experience. Where does that come from?

The way I heard "Jew" used was always (multiple times as recently as the 2010s in rural KY) along the lines of "he really tried to Jew me up/down on the price [of an object/business deal]" clearly indicating greediness of the opposing person. Often times aimed at Amish/Mennonite farmers so a slight attack on group outside the mainstream in the area.

Absolutely. Based on the usage I know from the UK, the idea that this expression was some kind of compliment to the supposed business ability of Jewish people seems to me bizarre. Mark you, things may have been different in New Jersey a few decades back ...

[ajax18]

A rose is a rose by any other name. Time and reputation is what makes a term pejorative or honorific. Hence, language is always changing. Truth ultimately cuts its own way.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

A rose is a rose by any other name. Time and reputation is what makes a term pejorative or honorific. Hence, language is always changing. Truth ultimately cuts its own way.

Yes, indeed. Your posting reminds me that the term “thickheaded hick” is a truism ‘cutting its own way’.

- Doc

[Bond]

The way I heard "Jew" used was always (multiple times as recently as the 2010s in rural KY) along the lines of "he really tried to Jew me up/down on the price [of an object/business deal]" clearly indicating greediness of the opposing person. Often times aimed at Amish/Mennonite farmers so a slight attack on group outside the mainstream in the area.

Language and it's meaning changes over time. Symbolism same thing.

Example, what's this?

Star of David. David Robinson.

[Bond]

The way I heard "Jew" used was always (multiple times as recently as the 2010s in rural KY) along the lines of "he really tried to Jew me up/down on the price [of an object/business deal]" clearly indicating greediness of the opposing person. Often times aimed at Amish/Mennonite farmers so a slight attack on group outside the mainstream in the area.

Absolutely. Based on the usage I know from the UK, the idea that this expression was some kind of compliment to the supposed business ability of Jewish people seems to me bizarre. Mark you, things may have been different in New Jersey a few decades back ...

I heard it from the 90s onward and always divisively or dismissively, as by someone who really didn't want to negotiate with the person in the first place or having done so thought they got the better end of the deal despite trying to be swindled.

[ajax18]

A rose is a rose by any other name. Time and reputation is what makes a term pejorative or honorific. Hence, language is always changing. Truth ultimately cuts its own way.

Yes, indeed. Your posting reminds me that the term “thickheaded hick” is a truism ‘cutting its own way’.

- Doc

Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment. It took people like yourself praising Mitt Romney for me to figure out what a horrible president he would have been. Back when the mainstream media was calling him childhood bully, dog killer, and plutocrat, he really had me fooled. But eventually the truth came out.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Yes, indeed. Your posting reminds me that the term “thickheaded hick” is a truism ‘cutting its own way’.

- Doc

Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment. It took people like yourself praising Mitt Romney for me to figure out what a horrible president he would have been. Back when the mainstream media was calling him childhood bully, dog killer, and plutocrat, he really had me fooled. But eventually the truth came out.

QED

[Father Francis]

One more from my own younger years...

You wrote: A deceptive bad deal was "Jewish".

What? When did that happen? Not in my day. To Jew someone down was seen as being adept at doing business. Who the heck turned it into something deceptive? Are you sure you've got that right? That wasn't my own experience. Where does that come from?

Also, just for general purposes since we're on the topic, to get a good Jew lawyer meant you were getting someone who was well schooled and skilled at applying the law on your behalf.

These refs were NOT slurs on Jews. They were acknowledgements of skill. I suppose you can put your own take on it, but that's not how the phrases were used previously.

You simply cannot put a label on all of these things as detrimental. The use and intentions behind the usage is key and develops culturally over time.

I feel a speech coming on here. I'll get to it as I have time.

Back in high school I was viewed as being tough. What do you think was meant by that? I guarantee you the answer will demonstrate how language usage changes over time.

That Jersey Girl is really tough!

What did that mean?

Thank you for a thoughtful response, Jersey. I respect your posts even when I don't agree with them because they seem authentic to me. I recognize that my view isn't the only view worth considering.

To your first point, in the time and place where I grew up (born in the early 80's in the Salt Lake area) if you got a bad deal people would say you got "Jewed" or "that was Jewish". The Jew lawyer thing can also be viewed another way. It could be seen as saying Jews are so manipulative that they can sway any court in your favor. It also involves making assumptions about a whole group of people. It is offensive to those people even if it involves a positive attribute, like assuming Asian people are good at math. I can't imagine them feeling good about that whether they are or not. If they are good at math they might wonder if people think it's about their race. If they suck at math they might wonder if people are also thinking about their race in relation.

Meanings of words do change over time. Some words won't likely change in the way "tough" has for women in the near future.

[Jersey Girl]

A rose is a rose by any other name. Time and reputation is what makes a term pejorative or honorific. Hence, language is always changing. Truth ultimately cuts its own way.

No. Don't do that where I can see it.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

[Jersey Girl]

What? When did that happen? Not in my day. To Jew someone down was seen as being adept at doing business. Who the heck turned it into something deceptive? Are you sure you've got that right? That wasn't my own experience. Where does that come from?

The way I heard "Jew" used was always (multiple times as recently as the 2010s in rural KY) along the lines of "he really tried to Jew me up/down on the price [of an object/business deal]" clearly indicating greediness of the opposing person. Often times aimed at Amish/Mennonite farmers so a slight attack on group outside the mainstream in the area.

Bond.

Take my hand..

Is it the goal of a business person to turn a profit?

When you buy a car do you pay the full sticker price?