The day the immigrants left...

[Marcel]

If it was a rhetorical question then it can be considered a statement. Therefore it's an insult.

You seem to be getting into an argument over semantics of a word. In doing so, youre missing the point. You state that coloured is not acceptable, and that black is the correct term. So yes, it is about agreeing and disagreeing on a term.
As the article youve linked to states, Coloured is a term that is still used today. Yes, the article considers it outdated, but not offensive.

But my point is this. Who decides what term is acceptable and what term isn't.
Both terms are factually incorrect, just one may be more widely used than the other.
The fact remains...you can't state that one term should be used over the other any more than I can.
You may have a preference which people should use but you cannot dictate what is correct and what isn't.

 

[KayJay]

It wasn't meant as an insult.

Semantics is extremely important. Did you read my post about immigrants, asylum seekers and refugee terms? If you did you'll understand why it's important.

I agree that I can't dictate what is correct and what isn't. But I can explain why I think it's right or wrong, just like you or anyone else who cares to get involved in the argument.

 

[ujjwaldey8165]

If it was a rhetorical question then it can be considered a statement. Therefore it's an insult.

You seem to be getting into an argument over semantics of a word. In doing so, youre missing the point. You state that coloured is not acceptable, and that black is the correct term. So yes, it is about agreeing and disagreeing on a term.
As the article youve linked to states, Coloured is a term that is still used today. Yes, the article considers it outdated, but not offensive.

But my point is this. Who decides what term is acceptable and what term isn't.
Both terms are factually incorrect, just one may be more widely used than the other.
The fact remains...you can't state that one term should be used over the other any more than I can.
You may have a preference which people should use but you cannot dictate what is correct and what isn't.

TBH, I couldn't care less what people call me - coloured, brown, khaki, indian, paki....who cares. ( whether with an intent of offence or otherwise). No one can offend me if I choose not to get offended. I am always amazed at people who seem to get offended at the slightest pretext.....

That said, I will feel bad if I am ever incompetent to earn my living.

 

[seriousrikk]

No one can offend me if I choose not to get offended. I am always amazed at people who seem to get offended at the slightest pretext.....

Well said

I totally agree with that - something I've said for a long time.

 

[dod]

I'm an uncoloured, ungay, unbenefit claiming, unyoung, un-nicotine free, unfemale. People could offend me but by the time they work out how to it's not worth the bother

 

[hepburn]

Personally the only thing that really bugs me with the whole issue are the people who come here, from wherever and via however, who then proceed to either slag off the indigenous population, or try to inflict their culture as the norm, or abuse our rules and laws, or generally just bite the hand that was offered to them when they got here.

For the most part it is only when they do one or more of the above that people get upset and intolerant.

 

[nilagin]

If used in the right context, I fail to see how black or coloured could be considered offensive. In all the racial abuse I've heard, it's always the word black that is used, not coloured.

 

[Splog]

Are you trying to tell me that a black man would prefer to be called coloured? I'd rather be called Brown or Asian than be called coloured. If you're Caucasian then I'd probably refer to you as White or Caucasian. I wouldn't refer to you as uncoloured. That's just stupid. Are you stupid?

.. So, it's okay for you to refer to someone as 'white' .... White isn't a colour! ... What about Caucasian then ...

quote:
The concept of a Caucasian race is highly controversial today. It is rejected by many academics and political activists who view any system of categorizing humanity based on physical type as an obsolete 19th century racism,[5]

So.. Mr. 'Brown Asian' ... looks to me from your comments that you are a Racist..... I'd rather be stupid than an ignorant Racist

 

[Splog]

It wasn't an insult.

Yes It was :shake:

But those are internationally recognised terms. It's not about agreeing or disagreeing on a term. It's about addressing misunderstandings so that others start to use the correct terms.

Read this article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored

Did you bother to read it? .... How about this bit from your quote

Today it is generally no longer regarded as a politically correct term, however even that is debatable, due to its continued occasional appearance, most notably its use in the acronym NAACP. Carla Sims, communications director for the NAACP in Washington, D.C., said "The term 'colored' is not derogatory, [the NAACP] chose the word 'colored' because it was the most positive description commonly used at that time. It's outdated and antiquated but not offensive." [2]

 

[Werecow]

I just wonder from which invading people who inflicted their culture as the norm you are descended from? I'm not meaning that as an insult.
It's just that if you're not from Celtic descent (and even they weren't the first settlers), YOU are the product of the very thing you're complaining about.

Personally the only thing that really bugs me with the whole issue are the people who come here, from wherever and via however, who then proceed to either slag off the indigenous population, or try to inflict their culture as the norm, or abuse our rules and laws, or generally just bite the hand that was offered to them when they got here.

For the most part it is only when they do one or more of the above that people get upset and intolerant.

 

[KayJay]

.. So, it's okay for you to refer to someone as 'white' .... White isn't a colour! ... What about Caucasian then ...

quote:
The concept of a Caucasian race is highly controversial today. It is rejected by many academics and political activists who view any system of categorizing humanity based on physical type as an obsolete 19th century racism,[5]

So.. Mr. 'Brown Asian' ... looks to me from your comments that you are a Racist..... I'd rather be stupid than an ignorant Racist

Perhaps I am. I might be both too

 

[KayJay]

And I honestly wasn't trying to insult you, although it does read like that. It was meant to read like 'Are you stupid? Of course not, so why say that?'.

 

[hepburn]

I'm not meaning that as an insult.

Not taken as one

YOU are the product of the very thing you're complaining about.

And that should be a barrier to my opinion in someway? Should the vegetarian offspring of meat eating parents not object to eating meat because he/she was the product of it?

Just because something has occured in the past doesn't mean it is right for it to happen again.

 

[Marcel]

Well all I say is this. We all have different coloured skin....so what? Get over it.

(And yes, that goes to both sides of the camp..the racists and the do-gooders)

 

[Swatcher]

BBC is little more than a propaganda machine for the gov.

I thought the BBC thought it was gov!

 

[Werecow]

Offspring of a vegetarian is not really a parallel to this situation. Children aren't born with 50% vegetable genes when they have vegetarian parents

You are genetically who you are now because of what you're complaining about. You would literally be a different person or not exist without it. Our culture is the result of it too in the same fashion.
It has not always been a bad thing in the past and has actually made the country stronger before, so why is it so bad now? There's no military invasion going on when i last looked outside the door.
If things are changing in this country, it's because a significant proportion of the population are embracing and accepting and shock horror... actually enjoying sampling different cultures and ways of doing things.

Just enjoy life and accept that all cultures change and evolve, no matter what you do to prevent it or where you are on the planet. It is inevitable, even in species other than ourselves. It's pretty much just basic evolutionary science.

And that should be a barrier to my opinion in someway? Should the vegetarian offspring of meat eating parents not object to eating meat because he/she was the product of it?

Just because something has occured in the past doesn't mean it is right for it to happen again.

 

[hepburn]

Offspring of a vegetarian is not really a parallel to this situation [big snip]

Would you like to simplify or confuse this any further? We can all simplify something to the point where any argument becomes weakened. So you're happy with things and that's great for you. Sit back, smile, and don't grumble when it works against you in some way.

In the meantime please don't put words in my mouth. I haven't complained, I have stated what bugs me - something i'm not alone in. Genetically, you have no idea where I come from, so don't even go there. You mention invasion/invaders in both of your posts - why? Invasion doesn't always come with apparent force ("Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes"). But most importantly you point to history as if it proves your point, although I think you make your point to fit in with history. And finally, why must we accept change just because historically it has happened (whether it has been good for us is a moot point of opinion).

Now where's that darn popcorn smiley gone?

 

[Vic]

Personally the only thing that really bugs me with the whole issue are the people who come here, from wherever and via however, who then proceed to either slag off the indigenous population, or try to inflict their culture as the norm, or abuse our rules and laws, or generally just bite the hand that was offered to them when they got here.

For the most part it is only when they do one or more of the above that people get upset and intolerant.

Personally this would annoy me too and why shouldnt it. But I like to think through experience that this is the minority. Most people are grateful to be in a country not ridden with violence (well a certain amount) and have the chance to get a job. These people in my opinion bring a certain culture and work ethic that will hopefully carry on through generations. The small minority that ruin it are normally the ones that are noticed, normally through the tabloids and I really do blame the media for sensationalizing this.

Its important to keep this in mind when meeting immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers (that is not aimed particularly at you hepburn). I certainly dont want to fall into the stereotype of the fat, red and rude british tourist that gets portrayed in other countries.

 

[hepburn]

Personally this would annoy me too and why shouldnt it. But I like to think through experience that this is the minority. Most people are grateful to be in a country not ridden with violence (well a certain amount) and have the chance to get a job. These people in my opinion bring a certain culture and work ethic that will hopefully carry on through generations.

Sadly if it is a minority it is not a small one Vicky. One of the reasons we have seen a shift to instant punishment (ie: spot fines/car confiscation, etc.), more and more cctv, and increasing 'guilty until proven innocent' is because of the increasing number of people who flout our laws. I know you are rather distant from London but I would urge anyone to spend a bit of time looking at car tax discs, or rather the lack of them, on cars driving in the heathrow area as just one example. Another example is the flouting of local authority planning regulations by people who want to over populate their abode. Organised and illegal people smuggling is actually a real problem in Colchester believe it or not.

Its important to keep this in mind when meeting immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers (that is not aimed particularly at you hepburn). I certainly dont want to fall into the stereotype of the fat, red and rude british tourist that gets portrayed in other countries.

I actually keep a very open mind. I'm very involved with local authority voluntary work with a high ethnic involvement. I have friends of different ethnic backgrounds. I also welcome the opportunity to sample different cultures.

But... When I was being taught foreign languages at school no-one told me i'd need them (or more) just to understand conversations in this country. Just because this island has historically reached out to many parts of the world doesn't mean we're big enough for the world to fit in us. Yet that is how it seems and all the time we accomodate others we often see our own heritage being pushed out to make space. And as the pace of that has speeded up so too have the issues it brings with it.