Did I miss the Political Correctness train?

So I was having lunch with some acquaintances and I used the term "oriental" when I was trying to describe a female I met (non hobby related). Apparently that is an offensive term that can't be used anymore. WTF??? I've never used 'oriental' in derogatory way. Even in college when I used to bust my roommates balls (he's Asian) oriental was never something I called him. So am I late on this or is the PC Police just out of control now??? I also find out that you can't use the word "Eskimo" without hurting feelings

I know. Everyone is SO touchy these days! Like, you can't call them "cunts" anymore. They're "Vaginal Americans."

Is using the term "oriental" what is called a micro-aggression?

Out of control for sure. Some college kids wrote "Trump 2016" in chalk in a few spots around their campus. Some other kids freaked out! Said they felt "threatened" Crazy!

It's been out of control for some time and now you're just seeing the absolute sheer idiocy at it's peak. Top Ramen still calls the blue package "Oriental" Flavor. They're not worried.
I've never even thought of the word oriental as being derogatory in anyway so that's a new one for me as well.
The way I like to live....as long as you don't call someone ANYTHING in an offensive or hateful manner it shouldn't matter. But these PC fanatics will even turn THAT around. Lets wait and see.......

Food and other objects are oriental. A person is normally referred to by their predecessors country or continent of origin.

Modern Asians NEVER call themselves oriental. It's an outdated term like "colored" is. It brings to mind the time when Asians could only run laundries or restaurants and they lived in fear that they would be mistaken for someone from a completely different country and culture and thrown in an internment camps. Asians may be the "model minority" to people in the States but many of them live with a wariness just waiting for others to assign them to a box because of where they or their relatives are from.

The below videos are not directed at anyone in particular but these ladies got standing ovations in every Asian crowd they have preformed in front of since they started. I first saw them THIRTEEN years ago. The issues and "hurt feelings" aren't new.

My SO is Filipino. Still can't decide decide whether she Asian or Pacific Islander. Could be worse though my grandpa calls her his chinita.

Really loved that first video, Angel but I can't open the other one, could you send me a link please. Thanks!

KKA

Bunch of young pansies, sorry but it is what it is.

Beauty of free speech: you can say what you want, they can respond the way they want too. They were offended at what you said, and you were offended at their "hurt feelings".

In many cases the first offended are trying to stifle the free speech rights of others . . . especially on university campuses . . . bunch of young pansies for sure!!

Perhaps the confusion is brought about in many ways.
Food can be called Mexican, so can people, there's also the Hispanic food aisle in grocery stores, and I also go by Hispanic even though that term can be used for American, Cuban, Central American, South American, and Filipino to some degree due to Spanish Colonization and the introduction of Catholicism as the primary religion early on. Neither term is considered derogatory.
Then there's the awkwardness of mistaking a Chinese for Japanese, Korean or vise versa. So the hapless person may think they are playing it safe by going with Oriental only to find that even that falls short. Some might use Asian, but it's more a habit brought by watching movies or television than learned in school. So if someone comes out of an Oriental food aisle, they have already been confused by preconditioning.
Best just to smile and gently correct the individual.
Many assume that because I'm Mexican I must speak Spanish and will address me in that language, though I speak it very little and English is my first language.
I think the most interesting thing is when other Mexicans try to chastise me saying ...
"Aren't you proud of your culture? Why don't you speak Spanish?"
To which I say,
"I am proud of my culture and besides, my ancestors didn't speak Spanish, and neither did yours."


The sound disappears and comes back at 2:34

I'm a Texan but I am of English heritage; I don't want to be called anything but Texan.

I like to think of Political Correctness as just trying your best not to be an asshole. It's been warped a bit by a lot of folks. The general idea is still there, but damn it's been taken in a weird direction.

I learned the other week that gyp was a slur for Romani folks, rather than tell my friend (who actually is of Romani descent) that it's just an expression or whatever excuse some might use, I figured I'd just not use the word anymore.

If someone is honestly offended by a thing I say and actually explains why, then I'm gonna do my best not to say it.