Show of hands...

[jake-the-peg]

AOG thinks the term Brit is offensive - I suspect he's in a minority.

If you're British do you find being refered to as a 'Brit' offensive

[Brenden]

Or anyother nationality rojash?

[Zeuhl]

No

Apart from use by Irish RepublicansI have only noticed references that were affectionate or neutral.

The term is obviously a 'racial' one as is 'p**i. What makes either one racist is the intent or context.

Sadly, most usage of the term p**i is, unlike use of the term Brit, intended to be derogatory and therefore racist.

[MarkRae]

So what about Jock? Or Taffy, or Mick? Where do you draw the line...?

[Zeuhl]

How big a Jock, Taffy or Mick are we talking about?

[naomi24]

^^ :o)

[naomi24]

Sorry, Zeuhl making me laugh made me forget to answer the question. No, I don't find it offensive. As my dad used to say, you can call me anything you like as long as you don't call me late for my dinner! :o)

[B00]

Think wolfy has hit the nail on the head here...

"I don't find it offensive but I dislike it intensely. I think that it is because the first few times that I heard it being used was in a condescending way by one of our US cousins. "

As a rule, we don't find the term Brits offensive, but...if it's said in a derogatory manner, for many years as the term 'pakis' has, you can bet your boots we'd find it offensive!

[NOX]

As an Irishman I usually use the word offensively if I use it, but I imagine that's fairly unique to people from Ireland. If I address people from the British Isles respectfully I would use British or English, Welsh, Scots etc. I do however think the negative connotation is more or less unique to those from the north of Ireland.

[craft1948]

I think it's sloppy rather than offensive, although it's still better than being called French.

[anagram]

I've never thought of it as offensive at all. But I'd rather be called English, does that make me an 'Eng'?

[naomi24]

Taking offence when people clearly intend to offend is the most ineffective form of self-defence because you’re giving the antagonist exactly what he wants and therefore he has achieved his purpose. The surest defence against fools is indifference.

[maggiebee]

Don't find it offensive, but would rather be called a Scot.

[ll_billym]

A term is offensive if the person saying it means to cause offense, and people generally don't say 'Brit' as a derogatory term.

If other nationalities starting spitting out the word 'Brit' like it was a dirty thing then I am sure we would all start to find it offensive, because we would know it was meant offensively.

This is the reason the P word is offensive, because originally it was used as a derogatory term for immigrants, not necessarily immigrants from Pakistan either.

[askyourgran]

No but, I dislike these Americanisms that are creeping into our vocabulary.

[tinkerbell23]

I dont. I dont find the shortening of any name offensive ie "scot" or even jock.

This includes pakistani shortened, chinese etc. However not PC so i try not to use them....

It becomes offensive depending on how its used. x

[jomifl]

No

[Lonnie]

The term 'Brit', for a national of these Islands, whichever of the countries that make them up, is not, and should not, be offensive, because together, we are all British, although there is not, as far as I am aware, a nationality that is British.

What I find offensive, eg, is an official form that states my nationality as British, when my country is England, which makes me English.

[askyourgran]

^^ I agree Lonnie.

[ladyalex]

No.

[quizzywig]

I agree Lonnie, I am English. I'm sure the Scots and Welsh don't refer to themselves as British - or even Brits (who thought up that term anyway?)