What Is The Offense Behind It?

I looked at the replies and it doesn't seem she did..I hope she does too, or someone else, because I don't want to offend an officer, especially when one of my friend's husband is one..

hi c arm and lovingmybabies as if I did not have enough on my plate with the costs of theambulances and all now I am being made fun of just because I did say some police officers do not like b eing called cops, yes I am the one you wanted to respond, well I am hurt ,I have had a lot on myplate today,sleepless night last night, now everyone is making fun of me because of something I said that I had no idea was going to be made into a discussion for all to make fun of my ideas. from now on I will keep my ddd mouth shut., I had no idea I had to prove anything.the police officers here in Garden Grove have an annual open house for the public and the term cop cam eup and a lot of them said they disliked being called that, I did not know I had to give a lengthy case history of what I said. I am a shy person, easily embarrassed now in tears as I feel like all my friends are pointing at me and laughing thanks for nothing.

I really hope someone can answer this. I know there is one person that can and I really hope she replies here because I am super curious about this! She is the reason I started this because I honestly had no idea it was offensive. I always said it growing up and so did my parents.

I guess so.

Sarah took the words out of my mouth :( I've never heard LEOs complain about being called cops instead of police or law enforcement officers... and my cousin is one!

I agree there are different terms for what kind of person you are aside from just the job. I don't see offense in the word cop. Pigs, well yeah I see and understand the offense on it. My cousins are cops and they are not offended by the term but I guess it depends where you go in what state...

It is slang, but there's still nothing wrong with it in my opinion.

Okay, I didn't even know it was slang but that does make sense that it is now that you said it. I don't really think being slang causes it to be offensive though. I hope someone can answer this mystery for me! =)

Ok, I checked an online dictionary and there are a few definitions of this word. Pretty interesting information. transitive verb 1 slang : to get hold of : catch, capture; also : purchase — cop a plea : to plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to avoid standing trial for a more serious one; broadly : to admit fault and plead for mercy 3cop noun Definition of COP : police officer Origin of COP short for copper First Known Use: 1859 Other Job Terms factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith Definition of COP 1 dialect chiefly English : top, crest 2 : a cylindrical or conical mass of thread, yarn, or roving wound on a quill or tube; also : a quill or tube upon which it is wound Origin of COP Middle English, from Old English copp First Known Use: before 12th century

Oh no Hatley, please don't feel bad, it isn't silly because I think some people are offended by that word, I had just forgotten about it. The reason I wanted to know was because I use that word in my story and I don't want to offend a police officer by saying that word..It makes for a good discussion, to find the meaning, because if it is no longer considered an offensive word, I can leave my story as it is..Please don't feel bad..

I second that. No one meant to hurt or embarrass you. I was curious and so were other people. I didnt want to say that word if it was offensive so I was curious why it was something wrong to say. There was only one person that knew I was talking about you hatley but we didnt say anything bad about you. We were hoping you could give us answers about it. If your that hurt about it tell me and I will have it deleted. I never meant to hurt you at all and again I am so sorry. So many people were apparently curious about this too and you werent the only person to say it was offensive...Please forgive me. =(

I've never had to deal with the police personally either unless I needed help, and when speaking to an officer I try my best to be as respectful as possible because not all officers are the same I know because I have friends who have dealt with police in minor situations, and it's best to practice using respectful terms when addressing an authority figure such as a cop That said there's a TV series called Cops it's a documentry style show about the police, so I don't think the police are bothered by that term but some other terms we civilians use might be offensive.

Well, I have never spoken to a cop other than when they have helped with something and then I just said sir. But when talking to other people and my cousins I have said cop and they never got offended so I am confused...

Yeah I can understand calling them the pigs being highly offensive. In other countries and even some other states than where I ever lived it is more offensive...

Yeah that was a very different time I suppose because now I hear it all the time. And my cousins also call themselves cops and don't think twice about it. It is so much easier to say!

Apparently in other countries this term is offensive I just had no idea it was because in this country it isn't. I say it too because it is easier than police officer and I never heard of it being offensive before. There are worse things to say about them than cop, that is true.

LOL That is a really good one! Thanks for giving me a laugh in this discussion. =)

Yeah I see what your saying but I think it's in other countries maybe that its offensive because 2 of my cousins are police officers and they call themselves cops all the time. They even feel its so much easier to say.

Me either but I guess to some people it is surely offensive.