has never heard of the word Polack (I'd spell it with only one l) as a word for Polish people. I'm not sure if it's considered a slur, although it comes close I suspect. I did hear it used a lot, very casually, fifty or so years ago. It's one of the terms that's simply disappeared for the most part.

There were a whole lot of "Polack jokes" back then, the equivalent of today's blonde jokes.

Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)

10. It is a perjorative word for a Pole. My husband is a Bohemian Czech and has ALOT

Reply to SheilaT (Reply #5)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 03:37 PM

Oct 2014

of Poles in his family. It's similar to someone calling me, a woman with AOT of African Blood, a "darkie" or "n----r". Though it may be someone's constitutional right to say whatever they wish, it's wrong and awful for us to denigrate one another.

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

13. It's not a word I would use, myself.

Reply to Ecumenist (Reply #10)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 06:18 PM

Oct 2014

I think it's one of those that used to be used a lot, and tended to be used in a pejorative way, and so definitely got that association. It is a word I used to hear more often, especially when I lived in a part of the country with more Polish people, but have not heard it in decades.

I suppose in a way it's a good thing that the guy in the video had apparently never heard it.

maddiemom

(5,106 posts)

14. Wait! It was pronounced Pole-ock when I was growing up in western PA.

Reply to SheilaT (Reply #5)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 07:37 PM

Oct 2014

Would have like to have heard J the P's actual transcript. I haven't heard most of those terms used in years, we've been so busy inventing new pejoratives for newer American ethnic groups. The members of these ethnic groups are so well integrated, better educated, more intelligent and laid back in confidence and humor than Joe, that I doubt his thoughts would even register with them. It would be funny, if not so scary, how a moment in front of a camera and microphone could afford such a moron the forum to continue making an ass of himself and stay in the public eye. Even worse, it is still apparently earning him a living---a blessing for Joe/Sam since he doesn't have any other (even plumbing) skills.

crim son

(27,464 posts)

15. I believe that was the young man's point, that

Reply to SheilaT (Reply #5)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 08:08 PM

Oct 2014

Joe can't even spell "polack" without throwing in an extra letter, thereby turning it into a well-known surname.

marym625

(17,997 posts)

6. Bawhahaha!

Reply to circlethesquare (Original post)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 02:13 PM

Oct 2014

ffr

(22,669 posts)

7. Isn't he in a union now as well?

Reply to circlethesquare (Original post)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 02:45 PM

Oct 2014

He must get paid by some RWNJ thinktank. Hard to explain off what comes out of his mouth.

erpowers

(9,350 posts)

11. Yes

Reply to ffr (Reply #7)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 04:04 PM

Oct 2014

He took a job at Chrysler.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2014/02/18/Joe-the-Plumber-says-he-s-in-UAW.html

TxVietVet

(1,905 posts)

8. Joe not-the-plumber was a conservanut POS when I first saw him.

Reply to circlethesquare (Original post)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 02:51 PM

Oct 2014

A guy at my job was so proud that he met this POS. He paid a chunk of money to listen to this moron speak. It was exactly what this co-worker wanted to hear. Conservanazi bu$hit and lies.
I originally told the guy that Joe was a LIAR. First up, everything he's telling you is a lie. He's too lazy to even have to train to take test to be a licensed plumber. "I'll just hang around a master plumber and it'll soak in on what I need to do."

Hey, Joe the jag off, go cheney your sorry racist, conservanazi ass.