Yes. I have yet to say Native American giver.

Yes. Get over it. It's a phrase people use. Most people, given time, can always find something that offends. People need to CHILL!!

I know so many little kids who use that term, its really not offensive, i know the origin of the phrase may be bad, but noone uses the term to offend anyone. If were going to look down on someone for using that term, then why not look down on someone for using "eeny meeny miney moe" to pick teams? Its not a big deal.

I am Native American, it doesnt bother me.

I agree with you..It is not a term I would use.

I think it wasnt flagged as I remember because of the context. It wasnt meant as offensive. They were asking if when you hear the words Indian Giver do you find it offensive?

It is comforting to read that AB authority used common sense. PC has soooo become BS....uh, IMO!

That's the oldest phrase in the book. I have never seen or even thought of it as offensive but I have never taken it literally either. Why be so touchy & analytical about everything. People could find something offensive all day at that rate & then nothing in the world would get done except worrying about the small stuff.

Unacceptable. If they were Native Americans maybe they would agree.

YES; I think the term is acceptable ... For YEARS ..it has been an expression that has been used to mean that if someone gives a gift and then takes it back ... There are a lot more serious offenses on here than an old phrase ... I understand your point ; BUT AB is NOT all that Politically Correct in the first place ..OK ?

I am offended by that term.....why because it was the white man who was the one who took the land from the Natives, then turn around and gave them the crappyess of the land back and then turned and took it back when they realized that the Indians were finding that land to be very valuable...like finding natural resources on the land that they thought was worthless. They call the Indians, Indian givers ......let's see who is really the one who gave land to the Indians...that was theirs to begin with then took it back? What should we call them?

No not an acceptable phrase it is offsenive to some.

No, it's not offensive at all. This is probably just another case of white people thinking they know what what people of other backgrounds want.

I have never thought of that term as being offensive. Not even a little bit.

No I do not think it is Offensive . I think Political correctness has gone mad if they start to ban every phrase that mentions a religion or ethnic group as offensive. I am pretty sure very few of my Native American friends would be offended .

In Canada, we have laws that allow you to prosecute someone for "hate speech". Despite my rabidly socialist, NDP-loving, all-people-are-equal, left-leaning ways, I despise these laws. I think we should allow any person to say anything they want, no matter what the content. (Even libel and slander laws sometimes strike me as too restrictive.) Without hate speech laws, a racist can spew his venom, and then ten thousand people can correct him. By creating laws preventing racist speech, the racism goes underground and festers. "You can't say that -- it offends me!" are some of the scariest words in the English language. Contained in those words is the idea, "You can't THINK that -- it offends me!" I personally believe the expression "Indian giver" is, at the very least, culturally insensitive if not outright racist. All the same, if someone wants to use the term, they should be allowed to. If their use of it offends you, you don't have to go to the Answer Bag police and have them arrested. Instead, see it as an opportunity to talk about the issue, and educate a person on why you find the term so repugnant.

term is acceptable who would think its not

Political correctness is getting way out of control. Nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned but I am sure there are plenty who agree with you.

if u think that it is not offensive than i believe too that it is not offensive.u know better about yourself than ab

It's not acceptable to me because it's similar to the terms "Jewing down" and "gypping". If somebody gave me something and then demanded that I give it back, I wouldn't call her an "Indian giver", I'd call her "my wife". ;)

Of course it is. This saying has been around for a very long time. I did read once the reason but have forgotten it now. There are lots of sayings like this in the World. Here in Australia we have a Grass, for as far back as I can remember it has been called the Blackboy. When bushfires went through an area the grass would turn black, from the fire, it would stay this way for years. We are not allowed to call it a Blackboy now coz the Aborigines say it hurts them. When we meet an Aboriginal freind he invariably says 'g'day you white bastard' Do it the other way round and you are a racist.

If it means someone in power, giving something they deem worthless, to someone who is powerless, then taking it back when it is found to be of value, then no. I bet that is not what it means.

Thats the first time I've ever heard that expresson.... Its not a term I'd use but nor would I be offended if someone used it to me.

It looks like it were often offensive: 1) "Indian giver (or Indian gift) is a North American English expression used to describe a person who gives something and later wants it back, or something equivalent in return. The term "Indian gift" was first referenced in 1765 by Thomas Hutchinson, and "Indian giver" was first cited in John Russell Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms (1860) as "Indian giver. When an Indian gives any thing, he expects to receive an equivalent, or to have his gift returned." The phrase is considered a racial stereotype and is often offensive, as it implies that Native Americans commonly practiced this behavior." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_giving 2) "This whole thing is so ironic it's an instant cure for pernicious anemia. "Indian" was once used by the white man as an all-purpose adjective signifying "bogus" or "false," owing to the supposedly low morals of the red man. Thus you had "Indian summer," false summer late in the year; "Indian corn" and "Indian tea," cheap substitutes for products the original colonists had known back in England; and "Indian giver," someone who gives you something and then takes it back. But of course Europeans were the real Indian givers, repeatedly promising the Indians reservations by treaty and then stealing them back once valuable farmland or minerals were found. The term has thus inadvertently become an acid commentary on the character of its inventors. I think it's poetic." Source and further information: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/853/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-indian-giver

Grow up.

Ive never even heard of this "term" offensive or not

i think it's acceptable

I have no problem with it. Especially when it is really a dispersion on whites because we gave to the Indians and then took it back. In context of the original meaning, and the fact that I am white, I figure I have th ehigher ground to be offended. And I am not.

When I was a kid, my friends and I were told that it referred to the people who had given things to the Indians and then taken them back. Now I know people get bent over the term "Indian" but, quite frankly, I really hate that. We keep changing the "proper" words as if that changes the attitudes behind them. Any racist *sshole can say Native American or African-American but it doesn't change the way they think. If I say Indian or Black (both of which were considered acceptable not long ago and still are in some situations/places), people often feel like they have to jump all over me because I used the "wrong" word. It's BS. As to my definition of "Indian Giver" above, I do not know that this is the origin of the term (and I suspect it's not having glanced at some of the answers before writing this.) I also do not personally care how the term originated. How it was once used does not necessarily apply to how it is used now. The word "gay" is a perfect example. It used to mean happy or bright, then it was a defamatory term for a homosexual. Now, it is acceptable term for a homosexual and a slang (some would say offensive) term meaning lame or stupid. When we research the origins of a term to see if there is a discriminatory history, we are simply looking for something to b*tch about. What it used to mean is not as important as what it means or how it is used NOW.

it is acceptable. I don't really understand some of the supposed offences taken by different groups. An example with the native Americans, the University of Illinois had to stop using the Cheif Illiniwick (sp) as their mascot. They were worshipping him! Not degrading him. If you didn't like the dance that the mascot did because it was not correct, then teach them the proper dance.

the phrase is outdated, it doesn't mean anything to the person who is saying it, so why would they say it. I've never been gypped by a native american, or a gypsy for that matter. I have gotten ripped off though by being born into a young culture of uneducated and not too creative pilgrims. We just need to make up new idioms and stuff. The urban dictionary is awesome for this kind of stuff. Someone should make an urban dictionary thesaurus to connect similar phrases.

This is a true case of PC extremism. Next thing we know, you and those like you will be flagging any question/answer that contains words such as black, white, gay, abortion, fat, skinny...you name it! You know, the funny thing about this is taking things to an extreme doesn't make the real issue disappear. Racism and discrimination is alive and well in the US and PC zealousy and extremism isn't going to make it go away, it's only going to disguise the problem and make it difficult on others BTW, I'm glad they rejected your flag