Offense

Having a quiet drink in Kharanos

"Ho, goblin!"

I spun around with my hackles up. Who called me that!

The rage subsided as I realised I wasn't the target of the derogatory slur. To my surprise it was a young dwarf's greeting to his friend. No affront was made and they were laughing jovially as they ordered their first round of Barleybrew's finest ale.

Incredulous at their casual use of the term I silently fumed, turning my beer sour. The dwarves were young enough that they would have grown up with the gnomish refugees in Ironforge. They should know how much offence it was to call someone a goblin. Was this casual, if backhanded, acceptance of goblins the first step on a slippery slope. What will be next, will they start using goblin engineering?

The sour beer sobered my thoughts. Was this just the natural evolution of language? I had noticed other changes in my life time. Things my mother was offended by were part of the common vernacular now - their ability to offend disarmed by time. So much so that even the town crier would use it.

I took another swig of ale and grimaced.

Time didn't diminish the original intent. I doubt the two young dwarves would be laughing if I went over there and addressed them as "darkies" - a reference to dark iron dwarves. I should do something about it. I wondered if I had drunk enough alcohol to give me the fortitude to confront them. I sculled the rest of my beer to instil a bit more confidence.

I approached the pair realising how much smaller I was than them - they've been growing them big these days!

I lead with, "Do you know how offensive it is to call someone a goblin?", deciding the direct approach was best - before I lost my nerve. One of the pair glanced at me and continued on recounting some wild and highly unbelievable story.

I tried again.

"Excuse me. Do you realise how offensive it is to call someone a goblin?"

I finally had their attention. They looked at each other confused.

"We didn't call you a goblin!"

"No you didn't call me one, but you greeted each other goblins."

They laughed and gave each other a bemused look.

"Then what is it to you?"

"I, and any gnome, find it highly offensive!"

"Our gnomish friends call each other goblins all the time!"

"Would you call one of them a goblin?" I countered.

"Well, no”, he paused, “but we're not gnomes."

"And that makes it ok? What if I started calling my friends darkies?"

I watched them visibly recoil as I used the term. The dark haired one, who was their spokesperson it the debate, swallowed forcibly and then tried to shrug nonchalantly before mumbling "whatever,it's only a bit of fun"

"It's not fun to me. It's definitely not fun to my ancestors. Think about it."

I paused waiting for some response and decided they might have learnt their lesson.

"Have a good evening!", I said as I turned and made my way to the door.

I heard them making some sly comment about the undead but figured I'd leave it be. They just needed to regain some stature in each other's eyes. I hoped I'd actually made a difference. Only time will tell.  

This was inspired by a post by Keeva of Tree Bark Jacket well worth the read!