Because of the history attached too it obviously - Usage notes The abbreviation Paki acquired offensive connotations in the 1960s when used by British tabloids to refer to subjects of former colony states in a derogatory and racist manner. In modern British usage "Paki" is typically used in a derogatory way as a label for all South Asians, including Indians, Afghans and Bangladeshis. To a lesser extent, the term has been applied as a racial slur towards Arabs and other Middle Eastern-looking groups who may resemble South Asians. During the 60's many emigrants were also dubbed as "black" to further segregrate them from the white community. Some would say such a division still exists in parts of England. In recent times there has been a trend by second and third-generation British Pakistanis to reclaim the word, such that it can be used within the young British Pakistani community but not by outsiders, including Indians and Bangladeshis. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Paki Like most other words that are considered offensive....
It's not considered offensive in Australia; not even by Pakistanis. That's why Australians end up so surprised when people get offended by it online. It's mainly a British culture thing.
I play cricket with a lot of Pakistanis who dont care if we call them Pakis but that is because we aren't doing it offensively. Whereas over here a lot of the time when it is said it is meant to be offensive.
I thought it'd be pretty obvious tbh. It's the same reason Abo is offensive, and nigger too. They're based off of something neutral and unoffensive but it's the way the term has been used in history, it's almost altered the meaning of the word.
That was nice of you to explain.. Wanted to do the sane but am using cell phone so couldn't get the wiki page but i think if it's said in a friendly conversation then i dont find any harm in it..
