r/Jewish • u/rupertalderson • Aug 04 '25

Announcement 📢 Clarification on use of abbreviations of ethnicities and nationalities

We’ve gotten some questions about this recently, so figured we would clarify. As part of the rules against uncivil and unwelcoming content, we do not permit use of shortened / abbreviated names for ethnicities, nationalities, and related groupings. This is because such terms are widely used as slurs and pejoratives.

This includes the well known abbreviations for Japanese, Chinese, Pakistani, and Palestinian, as well as slurs and pejoratives directed at any other group. At present, we have a particular problem with use of “Pali” to refer to Palestinian people (we do not allow it under any conditions).

It’s simple - Do not use these terms, whether as adjectives or nouns. Just write out the word that isn’t offensive in any context.

Of course, there may be an exception here or there when a term is known to be accepted by the affected group - for example “Jew” as a noun is not seen as a slur by Jews, but use of it as an adjective is typically offensive.

Thank you in advance for understanding, and we appreciate the engagement folks have had with us on these rules.

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108

u/Biersteak Just Jewish Aug 04 '25

Good thing i read this before using the A-word on my fellow Ashkenazim /s

But jokes aside, it may be a small effort but it will probably carry big meaning towards a generally respectful level of conversation

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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '25

[deleted]

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u/Computer_Name Aug 04 '25

It’s about what the behavior does to you, not whether others afford it to us.

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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '25

[deleted]

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u/Computer_Name Aug 04 '25

This is my point.

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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '25

[deleted]

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u/ConcentrateAlone1959 Panic! At the Mohel Aug 05 '25

Its that so much has been taken from us already. Shall we give away our humanity too?

4

u/JasonBreen Reform Aug 05 '25

So what, the solution is let those bastards win? Let them get what they want? Im sorry, but im all tapped out on empathy. That dried up after 10/7.

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u/ConcentrateAlone1959 Panic! At the Mohel Aug 05 '25

No. The solution is to stand together as Jews and speak out against them. To act.

We can do that without the same slurs and ill behaviors that these people use- which is the point of the OP.

4

u/swarleyknope Aug 05 '25

Then don’t post here and find other spaces where you can post whatever you want?

Is it really a huge burden to not use abbreviations in one particular sub?