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Napoleon54
10-21-2002, 08:49 AM
Consider the terms 'Semite' and 'Anti-Semitic'. In your experience do these terms refer to Jews, or do they refer to Arabs as well? Does 'Anti-Semitic' include hatred of Arabs?

There's no right or wrong answer. I just want to know how you use the term 'Anti-semitic'. It's been my experience that it means 'anti-jew'.
Nija
10-21-2002, 09:03 AM
the only way I've ever heard it used is to refer to someone being anti-jewish .
Napoleon54
10-21-2002, 09:27 AM
Originally posted by DarkFury
Ummm... isn't this what Dictionary.com is for:

Semite (http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=Semite)



I guess you didn't get to this (http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=443014#post443014) thread yet.

Dictionary.com can give blunt definitions, and in this case it offers 3 of them. I'm interested in which is most commonly used. It's been my experience that 'anti-semitism' refers to hatred or prejudice against Jews.
topane
10-21-2002, 09:50 AM
Originally posted by Napoleon54
I'm interested in which is most commonly used. It's been my experience that 'anti-semitism' refers to hatred or prejudice against Jews. It's most commonly used to refer to Jews. If you say "Anti-Semetic" 95% of the time a person will take that as "Anti-Jew". Although that's not completely correct, it's what has been ingrained in us.

Let me ask you, have you ever eaten at a Semetic deli? Or had a slice of Semetic Rye bread?
Cantacuzene
10-21-2002, 10:32 AM
Just because ignorant and uneducated Americans missuse a word doesn't make it suddenly correct in the rest of the world.
eSDee
10-21-2002, 11:33 AM
I tend to use the dictionary for definition of words, I'm not sure why ;) So my answer is Jews and Arabs.
whitak24
10-21-2002, 11:39 AM
ahh....but the definition of "semite" is of little importance.

what is germane for the argument at hand is the definition of ANTI-semite (as that is the term used by friedman)

from Dictionary.com (http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=anti-semite):


an·ti-Sem·ite n.
One who discriminates against or who is hostile toward or prejudiced against Jews.
boo-yah! put that in your pipe and smoke it, canta :pfft:
hapoo
10-21-2002, 11:43 AM
Originally posted by whitak24

boo-yah! put that in your pipe and smoke it, canta :pfft:


/me shoves the deffinition of anti-semite in a pipe

:bandit:


what deffinition where you reffering to whitak24?? :P
whitak24
10-21-2002, 11:45 AM
Originally posted by hapoo



/me shoves the deffinition of anti-semite in a pipe

:bandit:


what deffinition where you reffering to whitak24?? :P
i don't remember, but i think i found it on page 420 :D
Cantacuzene
10-21-2002, 12:17 PM
We already established that when people say "anti-semitism" they are referring to Jews. The whole idea is that that definition is incorrect according to the meaning of the word Semite. Like I said, just because a word is used in a certain way doesn't make it an accurate description.

So take this pipe out of my mouth and... do something... else with... it.
Ladogaboy
10-21-2002, 03:36 PM
Well, according to the second definition that DF posted from dictionary.com, semite could refer to just a Jewish person, so anti-semitic could refer to prejudice just Jews. :shrug:

Either way, I know what canta is talking about as well. One of the most mis-used words in the English language: decimate. :confused: