Looking For Things To Offend Us

akr said:
Well because 'P*ki' is often used in a derogatory fashion, and in my experience of hearing it used, is generally aimed at people for whom they have no knowledge which country they originate from, never mind those that are British, it is just targeted at a section of society based on their skin colour.

You can't say things are just words (well you can, but I don't agree with you). You ignored my earlier post (as you have every right to :)) but words do have implications, especially when made on television where they carry to millions of people potentially.

This thread is depressing.



You don't have to be offended it by it. That does not mean that other people cannot be offended by it. What I think you are failing to see is that people can be offended by some of the terms mentioned above but you don't want to accept it's possible this could happen.

Out of interest why don't you use racist language?
Click to expand...

Your last point first Al. I don't use racist language because it has the possibility to offend, and nobody wants that. I'm not a neanderthal. I accept fully that people get offended by words, an that's their prerogative, but wouldn't it be a better (easier going) world if people just let things like this go and didn't feel the need to get their knickers about it. Imagine a world where two people call each other a name each, whatever it was, then shrug it off and go about their respective days. I totally agree with you that words have power, especially when broadcast to a large audience, but they're just words. Accompany them with actions and that's a different ball game. I feel like a parrot here but it's the most simplistic way I can thin to express what I mean.

Also, I didn't mean to ignore you, sorry about that. Just nipping in and out of the thread between work and kids.

I just think that there is enough actual, brutal, physical harm being perpetrated upon people of all races and ethnicity all over the world to worry about who called who what.
 
Nod said:
Is it racism to refer to us Brits as Poms or Limeys? To Americans as Yanks? To residents of the agricultural areas of Britain as Yokels?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure this would be racist, but I know a few Southerners who would be mortally offended!
 
danny_bhoy said:
Since childhood I've always been curious about the whole 'paki' and 'chinky' thing.....if I was in China or Pakistan and was called a Britty I'd assume it was just a little nickname for British people - I definitely wouldn't write to Ann Robinson's Chinese equivalent about it.
Click to expand...

That's because maybe no one is kicking your f*cking head in while saying it. Can you really be unaware of the connotations and uses of the word, honestly.
 
POAH said:
but they are to some people, how do you know the guy on the bridge doesn't care about the term slope?
Click to expand...

I don't and you don't and the Xty thousand viewers of the program don't. I do know that it's a racial slur, that it can only ever be a racial slur and it doesn't matter that the guy on the bridge didn't hear it.
 
MartynK said:
I'm not sure this would be racist, but I know a few Southerners who would be mortally offended!
Click to expand...

I assume you refer to Rebs and southern Englanders?
 
Steep said:
I don't and you don't and the Xty thousand viewers of the program don't. I do know that it's a racial slur, that it can only ever be a racial slur and it doesn't matter that the guy on the bridge didn't hear it.
Click to expand...

How many of the xty viewers lodged a complaint when the show aired?
 
jakeblu said:
That's because maybe no one is kicking your f*cking head in while saying it. Can you really be unaware of the connotations and uses of the word, honestly.
Click to expand...

Steve that's exactly what I've been saying for the duration of the thread - the actual act of saying the name itself isn't hurtful or damaging - the actions based on prejudice, in this case racism, most certainly are!

Jesus, it's starting to look like I'm drumming up support for BNP here.......the original point of the thread was that people are too easily offended purely and solely by words when, within everyone, the option is there not to be offended and live your life.
 
Last edited:
Out of interest, did anybody here actually did see the original program when first broadcast?
 
Steep said:
I don't and you don't and the Xty thousand viewers of the program don't. I do know that it's a racial slur, that it can only ever be a racial slur and it doesn't matter that the guy on the bridge didn't hear it.
Click to expand...

I don't what? I don't like being called a jock or a weegie. If it upsets you so much why didn't you complain.
 
MartynK said:
I'm not sure this would be racist, but I know a few Southerners who would be mortally offended!
Click to expand...
I called an American friend "A damned Yank" once
He just laughed and said "wrong side" :D
 
danny_bhoy said:
Your last point first Al. I don't use racist language because it has the possibility to offend, and nobody wants that. I'm not a neanderthal. I accept fully that people get offended by words, an that's their prerogative, but wouldn't it be a better (easier going) world if people just let things like this go and didn't feel the need to get their knickers about it. Imagine a world where two people call each other a name each, whatever it was, then shrug it off and go about their respective days. I totally agree with you that words have power, especially when broadcast to a large audience, but they're just words. Accompany them with actions and that's a different ball game. I feel like a parrot here but it's the most simplistic way I can thin to express what I mean.

Also, I didn't mean to ignore you, sorry about that. Just nipping in and out of the thread between work and kids.

I just think that there is enough actual, brutal, physical harm being perpetrated upon people of all races and ethnicity all over the world to worry about who called who what.
Click to expand...

Hi Danny - you don't need to apologise for not responding, I'm not easily offended ;)

If I could twist your sentence around, would the world not be better if people stopped using terms who main purpose is to insult and offend. In this particular instance I guess the publicity at least educates the likes of me who were ignorant to the term so that I'd never use it. And this thread may help some people understand that terms like p*ki and such are not acceptable to use, so if you want to take the positive outlook on life, which you seem to want to, then that's the best way to look at it.

Would you find it acceptable if we were back in the 1970s at a football match with fans making monkey noises at black places - not even words, just sounds. Should they just get on with it and ignore it. Should we accept it now when it happens in Eastern Europe and should we say it's unacceptable?

I'm not sure we are going to agree strictly, but if you agree that using racist and other words for various groups in a derogatory fashion is wrong, and that this can be a powerful influence on other people, then we are sort of in agreement. The difference is you are saying ignore it, but the problem is some of the lesser minded of our society do not ignore it, and this affects job prospects of certain groups and \ or increases the likelihood of physical and verbal assaults for no other reason than the group they belong to.

Going back to some of the banter comments. For me banter is between 2, or a few people, who all know they are joking. Essentially what you get up to behind closed doors is up to you, assuming you are all consenting. That is not what I am referrring to however, which is more vilification or stereotyping or groups. A classic example which we only just seem to be coming out of is the stereotyping of gay people as all being massively overly camp. If you look at other countries where no one complains about homophobia (or no-one is allowed to) things are likely to be a lot more uncomfortable for people in that group.

Really this is just about having some basic respect for people from different sections of society than ourselves. It really should not be that hard. My mum, and both my wife's parent's are not from these shores. I'd hope my children can grow up without having to put with some of the crap we've had to growing up (my wife much more so than I).

To end on a conciliatory note, there are times people complain when maybe there is no need. But they are just words, no need to get offended :)

Anyway, I hope your kids and my kids grow up in a society where neither are targeted because of the section of society they came from. Hope you got them off to sleep ok in this hot weather! (y)
 
akr said:
Hi Danny - you don't need to apologise for not responding, I'm not easily offended ;)

If I could twist your sentence around, would the world not be better if people stopped using terms who main purpose is to insult and offend. In this particular instance I guess the publicity at least educates the likes of me who were ignorant to the term so that I'd never use it. And this thread may help some people understand that terms like p*ki and such are not acceptable to use, so if you want to take the positive outlook on life, which you seem to want to, then that's the best way to look at it.

Would you find it acceptable if we were back in the 1970s at a football match with fans making monkey noises at black places - not even words, just sounds. Should they just get on with it and ignore it. Should we accept it now when it happens in Eastern Europe and should we say it's unacceptable?

I'm not sure we are going to agree strictly, but if you agree that using racist and other words for various groups in a derogatory fashion is wrong, and that this can be a powerful influence on other people, then we are sort of in agreement. The difference is you are saying ignore it, but the problem is some of the lesser minded of our society do not ignore it, and this affects job prospects of certain groups and \ or increases the likelihood of physical and verbal assaults for no other reason than the group they belong to.

Going back to some of the banter comments. For me banter is between 2, or a few people, who all know they are joking. Essentially what you get up to behind closed doors is up to you, assuming you are all consenting. That is not what I am referrring to however, which is more vilification or stereotyping or groups. A classic example which we only just seem to be coming out of is the stereotyping of gay people as all being massively overly camp. If you look at other countries where no one complains about homophobia (or no-one is allowed to) things are likely to be a lot more uncomfortable for people in that group.

Really this is just about having some basic respect for people from different sections of society than ourselves. It really should not be that hard. My mum, and both my wife's parent's are not from these shores. I'd hope my children can grow up without having to put with some of the crap we've had to growing up (my wife much more so than I).

To end on a conciliatory note, there are times people complain when maybe there is no need. But they are just words, no need to get offended :)

Anyway, I hope your kids and my kids grow up in a society where neither are targeted because of the section of society they came from. Hope you got them off to sleep ok in this hot weather! (y)
Click to expand...

Al I agree with more or less everything you've said - best post of the thread IMO.

I'm guilty of taking things to an overly simplistic level and maybe missing the bigger picture. We were talking about this at work the other day and a young lad of no more than 16 who's on work experience said something along the lines of "if aliens were watching and saw that people got so worked up about what are essentially noises that came from another humans mouth, they would think we weren't very advanced as a race". His point being the same as mine originally was, in that where there is no physical violence, actual tangible prejudice or bias, or an uneven playing field of any sorts - it's just a noise.

Again though, that's the inner 5 year old in me talking :) Speaking of which Al, no the kids are not taking kindly to the humidity.....welcome to a grumpy and sleep deprived household!

Anyway, the purpose of the thread wasn't to cause any ill feeling, more of a rant aimed at those who are far too easily or worse 'mock' offended. Hope we're all still mates :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: akr
danny_bhoy said:
Anyway, the purpose of the thread wasn't to cause any ill feeling, more of a rant aimed at those who are far too easily or worse 'mock' offended. Hope we're all still mates :)
Click to expand...
I think this is the point that I drop by and say,
get a room you two :p

But seriously its really nice to see both of those posts.
@danny_bhoy And @akr (y)
 
danny_bhoy said:
Al I agree with more or less everything you've said - best post of the thread IMO.

I'm guilty of taking things to an overly simplistic level and maybe missing the bigger picture. We were talking about this at work the other day and a young lad of no more than 16 who's on work experience said something along the lines of "if aliens were watching and saw that people got so worked up about what are essentially noises that came from another humans mouth, they would think we weren't very advanced as a race". His point being the same as mine originally was, in that where there is no physical violence, actual tangible prejudice or bias, or an uneven playing field of any sorts - it's just a noise.

Again though, that's the inner 5 year old in me talking :) Speaking of which Al, no the kids are not taking kindly to the humidity.....welcome to a grumpy and sleep deprived household!

Anyway, the purpose of the thread wasn't to cause any ill feeling, more of a rant aimed at those who are far too easily or worse 'mock' offended. Hope we're all still mates :)
Click to expand...
Cobra said:
I think this is the point that I drop by and say,
get a room you two :p

But seriously its really nice to see both of those posts.
@danny_bhoy And @akr (y)
Click to expand...

Don't talk to me about humidity and rooms! It's approaching 10.30, I'm still in the office post some sort of power issue, it's knocked most of the aircon units - temperature = very hot. Going to leave shortly and leave it to the morning if nothing sorted soon as just sitting here in my office sauna. On the plus side I got quite a bit of work done and we've reached a happy ending on this thread (well as we currently stand!). Thankfully I will soon return to the only place on earth hotter than this office - my house. I expect to get to sleep circa 4am, be woken at 5am by child number 1, and get ready to head back in circa 6.30. Great fun to be had by all!
 
akr said:
......I will soon return to the only place on earth hotter than this office - my house. I expect to get to sleep circa 4am, be woken at 5am by child number 1, and get ready to head back in circa 6.30. Great fun to be had by all!
Click to expand...

Haha mirror image of my life - glad to know I'm not alone. Roll on winter :)
 
I read Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech the other day. I wasn't impressed.

Just words innit.
 
danny_bhoy said:
Haha mirror image of my life - glad to know I'm not alone. Roll on winter :)
Click to expand...

Indeed - My wife has just switched the fan off as it is too noisy, I am dying here!

Bobsyeruncle said:
And they all lived happily ever after.
The End.:hug:
Click to expand...

Why would you expect anything else? :)

Cg_Girl said:
Well until the next thread created ;)

Sent from Button Moon.....
Click to expand...

Now now let's stay positive!

simon ess said:
I read Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech the other day. I wasn't impressed.

Just words innit.
Click to expand...

I may be making this up, and I know it's not your point at all, but didn't he genuinely not think much of his speech, and he'd either delivered a version of it before the famous one, and decided not to. / my memory is quite bad....and in fact didn't this speech become famously somewhat after he delivered it. I might look it up.
 
danny_bhoy said:
Al I agree with more or less everything you've said - best post of the thread IMO.

I'm guilty of taking things to an overly simplistic level and maybe missing the bigger picture. We were talking about this at work the other day and a young lad of no more than 16 who's on work experience said something along the lines of "if aliens were watching and saw that people got so worked up about what are essentially noises that came from another humans mouth, they would think we weren't very advanced as a race". His point being the same as mine originally was, in that where there is no physical violence, actual tangible prejudice or bias, or an uneven playing field of any sorts - it's just a noise.

Again though, that's the inner 5 year old in me talking :) Speaking of which Al, no the kids are not taking kindly to the humidity.....welcome to a grumpy and sleep deprived household!

Anyway, the purpose of the thread wasn't to cause any ill feeling, more of a rant aimed at those who are far too easily or worse 'mock' offended. Hope we're all still mates :)
Click to expand...
It's the noises that comes out of our mouths that makes us the advanced race we are.
 
akr said:
I may be making this up, and I know it's not your point at all, but didn't he genuinely not think much of his speech, and he'd either delivered a version of it before the famous one, and decided not to. / my memory is quite bad....and in fact didn't this speech become famously somewhat after he delivered it. I might look it up.
Click to expand...

My memory is probably worse than yours, but I do seem to remember he wasn't totally happy with the speech.

Most truly great speeches are not recognised as such immediately. Two examples that spring to this addled mind are "The Gettysburgh Address" and the "Fight them on the beaches" speech.

As an aside, it's worth listening to the latter just for Churchill's delivery - cold, matter of fact, this is not a threat Mr. H, this is simply what will happen.
 
Last edited:
chadders said:
Out of interest, did anybody here actually did see the original program when first broadcast?
Click to expand...

Yup, I did. I thought the bridge was slanted too.
 
ST4 said:
But the do gooders couldn't help but take offence and try and pin clarkson in their mad witch hunt to make this a PC gaurdian esq utopia
Click to expand...
Why didn't JC just say the bridge was squint? Or slanted? Probably because the person that wrote the scripts knew that it wouldn't bring the controversy (free advertising) that the word they used brought
 
Last edited:
Bobsyeruncle said:
Why didn't JC say the bridge has a slant on it?
Click to expand...

Slope, slant, gradient, that is all the same thing. Who cares. I have a chink in my armour, does that make me a racist for using that expression. No. Unless you are a Guardian reader.

Seriously, it is just the gaurdian reading f***tards getting up to high dow about nothing.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Why didn't JC just say the bridge has a slant on it?
Click to expand...
I didn't see the bridge in question,
A slope is top to bottom and a slant is leaning left to right.
No doubt that "Slant" is also a derogatory term somewhere,
for the same (what ever that maybe) reason that slope is?
Who who knows and TBH who really cares?

Edit posted at the same time as Steve :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: ST4
an america freind of mine calls the local one stop 'the packy shop' - on pointing out that over here that isnt terribly PC he said that where he comes from they are called package stores so 'popping down the packy 'is an abreviation that has nothing to do with the race of the owner
 
Cobra said:
I didn't see the bridge in question,
A slope is top to bottom and a slant is leaning left to right.
No doubt that "Slant" is also a derogatory term somewhere,
for the same (what ever that maybe) reason that slope is?
Who who knows and TBH who really cares?

Edit posted at the same time as Steve :D
Click to expand...

American forces in vietnam used both slant and slope as a derogatory name for Vietnamese - (also dink, gook, and gomer) - given that the vietnam war was 40 plus years ago i doubt anyone really cares anymore (except for whichever chucklehead complained to the bbc of course - i'd bet good money that the complainant wasnt vietnamese or even asian)
 
big soft moose said:
an america freind of mine calls the local one stop 'the packy shop' - on pointing out that over here that isnt terribly PC he said that where he comes from they are called package stores so 'popping down the packy 'is an abreviation that has nothing to do with the race of the owner
Click to expand...
Just goes to show Huh?
 
Being half German and born at a time when things were still pretty raw after WW2
I grew up pretty much thick skinned to all the Nazi etc comments thrown at me.
I was the only child in the family with a german name and it put me pretty much in the firing line.
I learned to ignore insults and bullies, and still find it easy to do
There is just as much white on white prejudice as there is towards other races, in fact I would say
more so as it seems to be overlooked a lot of the time
 
IMO I think there are far too many people getting offended on behalf of someone else when in reality they should just wind their necks in and leave the complaints to those who have the justification to be offended (if they so choose)
 
The thing is, we don't know that the 2 people that complained weren't Vietnamese, so that could screw up the thoughts about folks getting offended on behalf of others in this instance.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
The thing is, we don't know that the 2 people that complained weren't Vietnamese, so that could screw up the thoughts about folks getting offended on behalf of others in this instance.
Click to expand...

except that clarkson was in burma at the time ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top