Barman in Mushroom bar

I think it's more to do with the word paki being used as a throw about word to describe practically anyone of asian descent and the fact that so many people use the word with absolute hate that makes it so bad. I don't think you can throw it off as a cliche really, not when people are part of a minority that is so largely on the recieving end. There is no denying that it's generally intended as an insult.

I do realise that people can use terms like that without actually actively holding racist beliefs but it doesn't take a genius to work out that it's going to offend people if they use it so openly.

I think that one of the major issues is the fact that people usually know bollocks all about someones nationality before using said insult.

Just do what I do: Look at your twenty before you hand it over and memorise the last five numbers

If they try and short change you, call over the manager, and tell him/her what has happened. And tell them that the twenty uppermost in the till should have the following last five digits

Worked twice for me, once in costa del, once in foundation. Both were genuine mistakes though

Because the bar staff in question didn't seem too sure that I'd given them a tenner and apologised when it turned out they were wrong.

If they were going to short change me deliberately they'd prob be a bit more uptight about it and tell me to fuck off.

I understand the point you are making but I'd say that it has been stigmatised by use for repeated racist intentions if anything. Trying to use the particular term in question is never going to be a productive move, not untill the levels of racism in Britain are remotely stable. Untill then it will always be counter-productive.

I can't believe another thread has turned into a debate about racism.

Almost as bad as people degenerating threads into 8 pages of random bollocks between them and their mates.

Almost.