Some people like to call others « mongolian » when they do something stupid. In that case, is the word « mongolian » offending? I’ve long thought it was the case but a Youtuber made me revise my opinion. Here’s a little social media case study with some social morale thrown in.
Public Relations on Youtube
Lately, I turned to censorship because I can’t bear the growing number of insulting comments towards some races (Black are monkeys) on one of my Youtube videos.
To put into practice studies in Public Relations, I sometimes write people explaining why I haven’t authorized their comments. I encourage them to make the corrections themselves and re-submit their comments for publication.
In general, people do not reply but yesterday, a Youtuber whose comment was deleted wrote me back.
I had explained in a private message that his comment was rejected because he called another user « mongolian », a term that I find to be pejorative. I told him it could hurt people from Mongolia and even other ethnicities.
He replied arguing that I was confusing mongolians (suffering from genetic problems) with Mongols, an Asian ethnicity. This is how he made me doubt myself. I put my pride aside and sincerely asked myself if I weren’t wrong but a thorough research brought light to my hesitation.
Mongol versus Mongolian
The term « Mongol » describes ethnic groups that can be found in Russia, China but also in Mongolia. Therefore, some individuals of Mongolian nationality also belong to the Mongol ethnic group.
In France, Belgium and some African countries, the word « mongol » is used to call someone stupid. I have observed that in Quebec, people often say « espèce de mongol » when teasing a friend. But there is a but.
One of my good friend has Mongolian roots that are made manifest by her gorgeous eyes. Should I call her mongolian every time she tells me something stupid?
The origins of this insult
British doctor John Langdon Down was the first to use the term « mongolian » when referring to trisomic people. As demonstrated in the following statement, he didn’t choose this term by accident:
A very large number of congenital idiots (those suffering from trisomy) are typical Mongols. So marked is this that, when placed side by side, it is difficult to believe the specimens compared are not children of the same parents.
How arrogant! In 1961, a group of genetic experts asked the term « Down Syndrome » to be adopted as a replacement of « mongol ». Their choice was guided by the following reasoning:
It has long been recognized that the terms ‘Mongolian Idiocy’, ‘Mongolism’, ‘Mongoloid’, etc as applied to a specific type of mental deficiency have misleading connotations. The importance of this anomaly among Europeans and their descendants is not related to the segregation of genes derived from Asians (…) We urge, therefore, that the expressions which imply a racial aspect of the condition be no longer used.
My verdict on the basis of these statements?
I will have the last say
Since only stupid people don’t change their minds, I agree to remain an idiot on this one. I will not change my mind. Calling somebody mongol or mongolian is insulting, both for individuals of this ethnicity and for the ones who suffer from this genetic condition. I rather be wrong and frustrate a web user than supporting offending comments direct towards two communities.
Wow, frankly I wasn’t much aware of the prejorative term for « mongoloid ». I would suggest that the French not use it in slang either.
Of course, there is the opposite stereotype of the Asian geek-intellectual and only technically focused/capable.
As for racist name-callers on one’s own blog, sometimes all the objective evidence in the world isn’t going to convince them otherwise.
Or if they give their blog address so that people can go straight to the culprit to comment at their blog… 🙂
I guess it’s mainly in French that the term is pejorative. However, I recall coming across few websites where other people acknowledged this word in English too.
Though annoying and ridiculous, I think the « Asian geek » stereotype is more flattering.
Similarly, some people who see me for the first time tell me with a lot of confidence that they know I am such great dancer (they obviously don’t know me 😦 ).
I know we all rely on some kind of clichés to describe or identify some groups but it becomes unacceptable when those stereotypes are insulting like in the current case.
In ARGENTINA some people use the word »mogolico », refering to someone who is « stupid » but in a pejoratuve way. , so bad.
Fantastic, straight to the point. I have been raising awareness on this Mongol term in Scotland and on Twitter. It is used everywhere in the world. In Britain even famous comedians misuse it in different versions like ‘mong’ & ‘mongo.’ They claim the word lost its original meaning, but I find it extremely offensive as a Mongolian and a mother of a child with Down syndrome. Thank you for standing up for justice. Please come and join us when we start a campaign.
I am so glad to hear from a Mongolian! On the French version of this article, the father of two beautiful Mongolian girls also expressed his concerns towards the misuse of this word. To me, a word can never lose its original meaning. Most obscenities prove our point.
I think people who use this word in a pejorative way are stupid! Don’t use this word if you dont know it’s correct meaning, it’s our word, name of our people, you morons!
moreover, mongolians have one of the highest IQ in the world!
Interesting fact that shows how this expression is not accurate!
learn english someone not someine
Thank you for the comment, I corrected my typo. You indicated that your email is @hotmial.com but I guess you meant @hotmail.com. Should I conclude you need to learn english too? LOL
don’t use the word mongolian or mongol in that way. if someone use this word in that way, it also means that he or she thinks that mongolians are stupid too. it is so illogical and ridiculous. i am sorry but i wanna say that all the people who use such words in that way are stupid
Errrr, pretty sure the phrase ‘slit eyes’ is racist, even if you do prefix it with ‘gorgeous’. This whole blog is pretty poorly thought out and executed.
Your comment is not very « nice » but I thank you for taking the time to write few words on my page. As a French-speaking person I appreciate constructive criticism that helps improve my English and my writing in general. I didn’t know the expression « slit eyes » could be offensive. Can you indicate another expression that is not « racist »?
Agreed. I am Korean-American and I would like to inform you that « slit eyes » is very racist. This and similar terms are used to demean Asian people all the time. You can just say « eyes » in this context and people will understand you referring to her eye shape. Please don’t use this phrase again.
As I mentioned to MarioT before, I was waiting for someone to indicate a term that would not be considered racist. You haven’t suggested any other words. Does it mean than in English there are no word to describe such eyes without sounding racist? Since no other words have been suggested, I have simply removed the term from my original text but I am still very curious to know which other term(s) could have been used instead.
For example, I find it racist if I’m called a nigger or a negro but if someone refers to me as a Black person, I don’t find it racist even though I could argue that my skin is not exactly Black, it is light brown. I understand that the word « Black » is just a general term to describe my physical appearance so I assumed there could also be a term to define Asian eyes without sounding racist…
I also believe that based on the context, it’s pretty easy to tell that my article was in no way demeaning to Asian people. Still, if I have offended you, 죄송해요. Coincidentally 저는 한국어를 배우고있어요. I hope you read Korean though!
Congratulations!!! GREAT POST
I have taken the liberty of translating it to PORTUGUESE and Sharing it in my blog for the brazilian people!
http://www.ivanpossamai.blogspot.com/
Conceptions of Life
Thank you once more! I grew up with this MISKNOWLEDGE Myself.. now finally cleared!
thanks Ivan
http://www.ivanpossamai.blogspot.com/2016/01/pare-de-chamar-os-outros-de-mongo.html