Some guy at work used the word "colored" to describe people.

[Sequoia]

I came whipping around the cube to tell him he better not use that word:

It went like this:

Guy: Why don't they learn how to say "ask" instead of axed.

Other person: mumble, mumble (couldn't hear)

Guy: I guess it's something colored people say.

Me: WHAT did you call them?!!!

Guy: Colored.

Me: You can't use that word anymore. That's horrible. This isn't the 1950s!

Guy: Well, what word should I use NEGRO.

Me: No, the word is Black, and you certainly don't use the word colored.

I had to leave to cool off. I was really shocked to hear that.

Guy: That's where you're wrong...what about people of color.

Me: Don't you ever use those words around me. You better not say those things around your clients.

Guy: I don't see anything wrong with it.

Me: You better clean up your vocabulary. Don't use those words around me ever.

Another guy: You better stay out of her way, she's on a roll.

[HopeHoops]

1. Yeah, I had a similar encounter over the word "negroid" - man did that piss me off!

[Xipe Totec]

2. Time to have a chat with HR. n/t

[bigwillq]

3. So does my Nonni.

She thinks "colored" is better than "black". She doesn't mean it maliciously, that was the term she was taught to use when growing up. One of her nurses is "colored" and my Nonni calls her "the nice, colored nurse", to her face. The nurse loves her, and thinks she's "cute".

[Lost in CT]

4. Guy sounds like a class a asshole.....

Old people sometimes used colored though and that is understandable.