I've read through this thread very carefully and all I can say is this. No matter how much you rationalize it the term "chink" is offensive in any context.

There was another thread asking if a discussion at Mudcat had ever changed your views on something. Well, this one has for me. I've been learning a shanty called "Young Girls" which contains some possibly offensive words and I've been struggling with whether I should introduce the song in its historical context and then sing the original words or just change the wording. I've just decided to not sing the offensive words.

If you sing offensive lyrics or tell racist jokes you perpetuate racism. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I have told a lot of racist jokes. I've tried to placate myself by saying that it's okay to tell racist jokes if you choose your audience carefully but I realize now that that's bullshit.