Why You Should Never Call Anyone “Boss”
75Here I thought that there would be certain phrases that we would never have to hear again. You know, like "Cowabunga" from when the Simpsons first came out or "What's uaaaaaaaaaaap?" from that insipid commercial. You know things like that. Well recently I've noticed a trend, mostly used by young men who are finishing washing your car or giving you your dry cleaning. They finish the transaction with, "There you go, boss." And I hate it ever so much. Why you should never call anyone "Boss" - Don't Get Me Started!
Perhaps it's just that I am not the "bossy" type (much more of a Linus than a Lucy) or that I consider myself one of the masses, a worker and not a boss. Now I'm sure if I was writing this back in the 1950's the House on Un-American Activities would have all ready shut down my blog and blacklisted me because this definitely sounds as if I'm celebrating the worker over "the man" but let's be thankful for the small strides we've made as a culture, shall we?
For some reason that phrase or use of that word just hits me like lemon juice in a paper cut (of which I had happen this week and let me just tell you that if that doesn't send you reeling I don't know what will). You see the whole, "there you go, boss" is a phrase that I think you'd hear the black train porter saying in a 1930's movie and it always just seemed wrong to me even in that context (frankly all of the above seemed wrong - blacks only being allowed to be porters, etc. you hopefully get the idea).
I'm sure I'm beyond not "with it" and that no doubt some comedian or moron who has their own show on MTV started using the phrase because the only way that these phrases come in, out and back into the vernacular of the teen race is because someone said it on some reality show somewhere.
Even reading this I'm sure that I'm overreacting and that most people have no idea what I'm going on about but you see I just think that phrases that put one race, person or whatever down or makes them subservient to you seems a bit demeaning and demoralizing. Now I'm sure the kids who are saying it don't have all the baggage I do or think this way (otherwise they wouldn't be using it hopefully) but for those of us who have seen the world for longer than 16 years, we can't help but read more into the words that are used. And some things frankly deserve to be left frozen in time (not unlike the man I saw on a motorized scooter in the grocery store with a large confederate flag bouncing around on a long piece of plastic).
If people really want to use the term, "boss" again, I would ask that instead of using it to refer to a person they think of it more as a way to say, "far out", "Hellaya" or "Cool" as in "That new shirt is boss that you're wearing." A gal pal of mine years ago tried to lobby me to begin using the word, "boss" like this but it just didn't seem as if it was time. Now with seemingly every teenage I encounter calling me "boss" I believe we've found its time. Sort of like being the Ernest and Julio Gallo of phrases, "We will use no phrase before its time." (Yes, you have to be at least forty to get this reference) Why you should never call anyone "Boss" - Don't Get Me Started!
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That really ircks me too. The guy in the drive thru today used it 3 times to me. It really made me feel like punching him in the head. I am a non-violent person by nature but for some reason that really gets under my skin
You're right. Calling someone "Boss" is not boss, Boss. On the bright side, these kids will get to be our age and write blogs (or whatever they'll be called 20, 30 years from now) about how stupid the trends are. Of course, society's so extensive that there is no way that a stupid term here and there can be exempt. Kids spout gravity because they're too young to know how to feel it, which is why they talk degradingly. The bright side? Most of these kids aren't holding guns or shooting anyone on the job. The words may be upsetting, but they won't kill you.
I think the term boss, for some people is a way of showing your respect to a pay customer or leader. What you said about people not knowing an orgin of a word is, right on the money. I didn't know that Boss was an insult to African Americans. So you have educated me today-
It's a racial slur. I used to cringe when I would hear my ex say it to random strangers. "Thank you, boss." He's white. Maybe he didn't know that black people would call white people "boss" to be derogatory.
I would like anyone of you to show me where you get this is a racial slur "BOSS" I have researched this and no where have I found it to be a racial slur. The orgin of the word BOSS 1635
That base was the Dutch word we now know as boss. Ironically, boss Gardiner was building a fort to keep out the Dutch, who had settled New Amsterdam (later New York) to the south. But the English language readily admitted the Dutch word. And boss grew in popularity over the years, gradually taking the place of master as the latter became associated with slavery. "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master," in Lincoln's later words. Boss was plain and emphatic, too, making it a useful informal substitute for words like employer, supervisor, and foreman.
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201
boss - "nice" - "that girl is boss exse
boss - a salute to an unfamiliar person, or person in authority (usually to a male), as in 'you know what it is boss'.
I think it's similar to the old British expression "gov'nor." No particular offense is meant or should be taken.
Well, my story is a little different. I am 18 right now, but when I turned 16 till now, a lot of people I don't know call me BOSS. I am not offended. But I am 18 and older people call me boss. I don't have the issue with teenagers calling me it. I am also white, so there goes the racial theory. But all the people that call me Boss seem to be in their 30s at least and they are all different races. Is it their way of showing me respect? I am a little buff, so I always figured that it meant they were respecting me because I looked like the type that was "in charge".
Really, it's the same as calling someone Dude. I'm in Brooklyn, and it's not jsut a kid thing to say. the 50 year old guy at the pizza shop calls me boss. the bartender at the local dive calls me boss. i call everyone else boss. i'm 28. it's normal. it's okay.
Calling someone boss has no derogatory racial connotations at all, if anything it has the opposite effect. Young people call each other boss to show that there is not the inequality between races that there used to be. Its like black people calling each other 'nigger'. The word is used in a different, relaxed context to address someone.
I can't see why anyone would take a serious insult to being called boss. Seriously, get over yourself. Language evolves and it is all within context. Christ.
is not like were callin em massa
Interesting comments. Personally I hate the word. My experience. Once while paying for some items I had bought, the sales clerk said, "thanks boss". I replied that he didn't have to call me boss, to which he replied, "What do you want me to call you? Sir? Things went very bad after that. I was raised to call people "sir or "mame"(?) or just a simple thanks or thank you. Being black, words such as bubba, sport, guy, bro, dude,hoss(I kinda like that one) and the rest don't bother me, because they are usually said with a smile. But "boss" is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Just my opinion.
Ben, I'm not black but I'm with you. For some reason that term just hits me the wrong way.
If I call you boss it's offensive to you, not me...I'm black
"Boss" is smartass, I'm not signing your frikkin paycheck so don't call me boss, or dude. I will settle for my name, sir or nothing at all.
Ok... lol hold up lemme get my laughter out.. alright. So your saying you don't like being called boss because its racist? Thats a joke. In godfather they say it all the time.. Not a "black" sayin it to a "white" but from one Sicilian to the other. Its a sign of respect. I think your looking for hate in the wrong place.
I completely agree. There is no looking for hate here. You may be from a different culture, but to blacks this is derogatory, plan and simple. The people saying it may not be racist, they are just ignorant to the past usage of the term, and throw it around cause hip hoppers say it thinking it's cool. I am black, and only white people say it to me when they feel intimidated. I run a business and none of my clients call me boss. That is because they respect me and call me by name even though I am clearly the boss of my business. Wise up.
James - Obviously, I'm with you on this one!
"The people saying it may not be racist, they are just ignorant to the past usage of the term, and throw it around cause hip hoppers say it thinking it's cool"
By this logic, I can also be deemed ignorant if I don't keep up with the definition of any other word. Once again, language evolves deal with it. Ever hear a cigarette referred to as a fag? ah-uh.
Humans just absolutely LOVE to centralize themselves EVERYWHERE.
Listen Bossbro-dude ("oh my god you just did not how dare you?" ): If I call you boss I am referring to the fact that you are in a somewhat superior position than I am at that moment. I dont necessarily mean "you are below me and skin color has everything to do with our interaction right now... and oh yeah, you are nothing and I hate you."
I'm at the store, someone calls me sir do I take offense in my old age? Seriously, unless it happens to be a demeaning interaction, just calmly educate and let it go. Don't go around referring to others as "ignorant" because you feel it is a definition of the racial prejudice that goes on. Pish posh. PISH POSH I SAY.
Grayson 3 years ago
Makes me uncomfortable too. It makes me cringe every time I hear that 17 year old wannabe come up with these dumb phrases on American Idol. Randy Jackson!!! Bjuck!! (not a bjork fan either) Molten hot bomb? Give me a break!!!