Apologies for my use of an offensive slur
A few days ago after the story broke about Quebec’s power deal with Newfoundland, I posted about it, and twice used the word “Newfie” in an adjectival sense.
I did not intend this word as an insult or a slur, but have been informed that it is indeed a deeply offensive slur, which I am old and cranky enough not to have realized.
I will leave the previous post up for a few hours as penance, displaying my ignorance, then I will edit or delete it, and promise never to use this word again. And I apologize.
Blork 12:29 on 2024-12-15 Permalink
Well, as an ethnic Newfie, I was not at all offended.
Orr 17:13 on 2024-12-15 Permalink
The usual penance for this cultural infraction is that you will be required to watch ten episodes of Codco.
Kate 17:26 on 2024-12-15 Permalink
I wouldn’t even know where to find Codco episodes now.
Ian 20:17 on 2024-12-15 Permalink
All the funniest ones from Codco when on to this Hour has 22 Minutes so you could probably sub in that, there must be some one youtube.
A friend of mine from Newfoundland told me this one:
What’s black and blue and floats in St John’s harbour?
A mainlander that was after telling Newfie jokes at the bar.
CE 01:32 on 2024-12-16 Permalink
I’ve found that generally the only people offended by the use of the term “Newfie” are people who themselves are not from Newfoundland.
Kate 09:13 on 2024-12-16 Permalink
CE, a regular reader emailed me to say he was originally from Newfoundland and found the term offensive.
My only defence is that I wasn’t intending the word to be demeaning or jocular, but I can see that it’s not a good position to take.
Dave 10:54 on 2024-12-16 Permalink
Here you go! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWbJZTQFiRw&list=PLYz3MkBfLpTA5GwmvQBi-v6U28DgFV342
daisy 12:03 on 2024-12-16 Permalink
I am also originally from Newfoundland and think that as with many other group descriptors that can be derogatory (or worse) when outsiders use them, it’s a term only Newfoundlanders themselves should use.
When it’s a term that is frequently found paired with jokes about low intelligence, that’s a pretty clear indicator.
Joey 14:29 on 2024-12-16 Permalink
Can’t say I can ever recall hearing the term Newfie in any context other than joking around (from mild teasing to full on insulting)… Like they don’t call people from the Rock “Newfies” on the news, right? Clearly there’s no malicious intent from you, Kate, and ‘Newfoundlander’ is a bit of a mouthful, but I think you’ve acted appropriately here.
nau 16:30 on 2024-12-16 Permalink
Maybe we’ll eventually get an irked Labradorean griping about Kate calling the province simply Newfoundland when clearly the power is being produced on the mainland…
(As a bonus, note that the 2nd google result for “Newfoundland the rock” is “‘The Rock’ is derogatory”.)
Kate 16:39 on 2024-12-16 Permalink
nau, I’d already gone back to the original, offensive post and renamed the province “Newfoundland and Labrador” on first mention.