Joshua Coleman comments

Using foul language is a completely legitimate form of communication. Any linguistics professor will tell you that. Its uptight and close minded to find it offensive and rude unless the speaker means it that way. People need to relax a bit and let go of the "rules" of communicating.

What's wrong with "you guys"? What would you prefer? "You all" - "Those in attendance" - "Everyone" Each can sound just as pretentious. What would be the perfect phrase for the waiter to use?

I think its pretty self-serving to be annoyed by others dialects and choice of phrasing. I'm an American and I have lived in Europe and Asia. I find the different phrases to be more interesting than annoying. If you understand what a person means by a phrase, why take offense to how it was spoken. I see this as an issue of some people seeing their own language lexicon as superior to others... And that's just not how language works. You can argue grammar points or spellings, and with spellings like "loose" and "they're, their, and there" there are definite correct usages, but in the end its pretty close minded to tell someone they are unequivocally wrong when using a phrase to express themselves. If you got the meaning of the phrase then obviously the language did its job. Maybe, if a certain phrase gets you upset, its yourself that needs the critique rather than the speaker.

Well, I think its sad that people are in fear for feeding their families because some close minded people are bigots. Ink in your skin is no different than dye in your hair. Should the old men and women with crazy blue and purple steaks in their hair be interrogated as well?

I'm a civil servant in Japan, I work in a Prefectural Kencho. I have a 3/4 sleeve tattoo of Japanese art; wind, water, clouds and a bonsai tree. It doesn't effect my work ability and it surely doesn't scare anyone who knows me. But, the racist little old ladies that are afraid of anyone not Japanese have a hard time looking me in the eye.

I love Japan, but it is very sad that so many Japanese people have such a close minded view on anything or anyone different. With time hopefully this will change. Because change and diversity is good. Bigotry is not... Its that simple.