carol thatcher calls a tennis player a golliwog

[Stoo82]

I agree with Stoo82 here. Once 'coloured' was deemed acceptable, now it's not. Once 'negro' was acceptable, now it's not. But there is nothing in those words themselves that are hostile. It's the negative meaning that people have put into them. And what negative meaning people put in, we can take out again.

To be fair. Im not saying that coloured should ever been used to describe a black person or an Asian. But again, its just a word. BUT and its a big but i can say 'its just a word' as a white person.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Not being funny and its fine if it is but is this directed at me? If it is i have not explained myself properly.

Nah, I was just waiting for somebody to justify the word by claiming it's harmless because it's been used for years!

 

[Gully]

I agree with Stoo82 here. Once 'coloured' was deemed acceptable, now it's not. Once 'negro' was acceptable, now it's not. But there is nothing in those words themselves that are hostile. It's the negative meaning that people have put into them. And what negative meaning people put in, we can take out again.

This is also true, no black person that I know objects to that term being used to describe them, neither do I take offence being called white...even though technically they are brown and I am a rather grey shade of pink at the moment.

The other problem is that many black Americans, particularly gangsters and rappers, use the n-word to describe themselves as a sort of badge of honour...they even seem surprised that many Brits find it offensive.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

If I was your boss, I'd sack you if you used that word to demean someone's skin colour or race!

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

hahaha, intense late-night debates all about Carol Thatcher on NSC! Is this usual?!

 

[Lady Whistledown]

To be fair. Im not saying that coloured should ever been used to describe a black person or an Asian. But again, its just a word. BUT and its a big but i can say 'its just a word' as a white person.

Therein lies the crux, doesn't it. I guess if you've never been on the receiving end- and I'm thinking of a lifetime of being in the minority, of being viewed and/or treated differently, it's difficult to conceive what it feels like to be reduced to a mere ethnic label.

 

[Stoo82]

This is also true, no black person that I know objects to that term being used to describe them, neither do I take offence being called white...even though technically they are brown and I am a rather grey shade of pink at the moment.

The other problem is that many black Americans, particularly gangsters and rappers, use the n-word to describe themselves as a sort of badge of honour...they even seem surprised that many Brits find it offensive.

So true.

Dont forget, there is a country call Niger. Niger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think people should be called, (in no perticuler oprder!), white, black, Arab......mmm i get stuck


edna, you work in a job that needs to use perictler words to discribe people right?? Me bro does too.

What is the proper turm for everyone. I always get confused when it comes to Asians. Meaning Arabs/Muslims. But it dosent include Oriental people.

Not being funny like, just interested.

 

[Stoo82]

Therein lies the crux, doesn't it. I guess if you've never been on the receiving end- and I'm thinking of a lifetime of being in the minority, of being viewed and/or treated differently, it's difficult to conceive what it feels like to be reduced to a mere ethnic label.

I agree. One love. One World. No hate.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

This is also true, no black person that I know objects to that term being used to describe them, neither do I take offence being called white...even though technically they are brown and I am a rather grey shade of pink at the moment.

The other problem is that many black Americans, particularly gangsters and rappers, use the n-word to describe themselves as a sort of badge of honour...they even seem surprised that many Brits find it offensive.

One of my colleagues (of mixed race background) absolutely hated the term "coloured". Me, I feel that it's got undertones of apartheid/colonialism, and it makes me deeply uncomfortable.

The N word thing is about reclaiming it though isn't it? If you use it to describe yourself, it takes away the power of somebody else to use that to demean you. A bit like singing "you're too ugly to be gay" or "1-0 to the nancy boys" at opposing football fans- if they realise it doesn't bother you, then they don't sing the homophobic stuff because it's no longer capable of drawing the desired reaction.

 

[Gully]

I always refer to someone by their country of origin, if I know it (Indian, Bangladeshi, Thai) etc...or racial groupings such as black, asian, afro-caribbean if I don't...all of that is accurate and doesn't seem to cause anyone any offence...just as long as you don't call an Indian a Pakistani or vice-versa!!!

 

[Gully]

One of my colleagues (of mixed race background) absolutely hated the term "coloured". Me, I feel that it's got undertones of apartheid/colonialism, and it makes me deeply uncomfortable.

Agree with you on the term coloured, we are all coloured if you think about it...the worst one was a term I remember from when I was at school to describe someone who was mixed race...that was half-caste...what the hell does that mean?

 

[Stoo82]

One of my colleagues (of mixed race background) absolutely hated the term "coloured". Me, I feel that it's got undertones of apartheid/colonialism, and it makes me deeply uncomfortable.

The N word thing is about reclaiming it though isn't it? If you use it to describe yourself, it takes away the power of somebody else to use that to demean you. A bit like singing "you're too ugly to be gay" or "1-0 to the nancy boys" at opposing football fans- if they realise it doesn't bother you, then they don't sing the homophobic stuff because it's no longer capable of drawing the desired reaction.

very good point and you have educated me on a reason why rappers would use the turm in that way.

 

[Stoo82]

Agree with you on the term coloured, we are all coloured if you think about it...the worst one was a term I remember from when I was at school to describe someone who was mixed race...that was half-caste...what the hell does that mean?

red, blue, green orange??!!

Have never like colourd. I worked in a kitchen you used to say it all the time. anoyed the hell out of me.

 

[severnside gull]

In a semantic minefield it makes sense and shows respect to avoid anything which might insult or demean - whether in respect of racial groups or religious or other minorities. You can't change the past but we live in the present.

Carol Thatcher was just an accident waiting to happen and she is perhaps fortunate that it wasn't "on air". As a result some people will give her the benefit of any percieved doubt and some will sympathise which will be sufficient to salvage her (very well paid) journalistic career.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

So true.

Dont forget, there is a country call Niger. Niger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think people should be called, (in no perticuler oprder!), white, black, Arab......mmm i get stuck


edna, you work in a job that needs to use perictler words to discribe people right?? Me bro does too.

What is the proper turm for everyone. I always get confused when it comes to Asians. Meaning Arabs/Muslims. But it dosent include Oriental people.

Not being funny like, just interested.

We have boxes to tick on all our paperwork, for "monitoring purposes". We have to ask the individual to choose from a list of main ethnic groups in the UK, as to how they describe themselves. Off the top of my head, it goes white British, white Irish, white other, then you have black British, black African, Caribbean, black other, several mixed race categories, Asian Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, other, Chinese Chinese, Chinese other, er there might be more that I'm forgetting. And "not stated", for those who don't wish to answer.

It's not based on religion, so Muslim doesn't come into it.

There is no "coloured" on there ;o)

 

[Stoo82]

We have boxes to tick on all our paperwork, for "monitoring purposes". We have to ask the individual to choose from a list of main ethnic groups in the UK, as to how they describe themselves. Off the top of my head, it goes white British, white Irish, white other, then you have black British, black African, Caribbean, black other, several mixed race categories, Asian Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, other, Chinese Chinese, Chinese other, er there might be more that I'm forgetting. And "not stated", for those who don't wish to answer.

It's not based on religion, so Muslim doesn't come into it.

There is no "coloured" on there ;o)

Thanks. Interesting. Do you mind saying were you are based? As you might know my brother. He is in Lancing.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

I think context is decisive here.

When a black rapper is using the N word (spelt 'nigga' in this case), it's a word to express commonality, just like when Martin Luther King used the word 'colored' in relation to others it was empty of hostile meaning.

If someone uses the N word or 'colored' or 'Golliwog' to suggest someone is negatively different inferior because of their race, that's a different state of affairs. It appears Carol Thatcher is in this category.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Thanks. Interesting. Do you mind saying were you are based? As you might know my brother. He is in Lancing.

(before that I was in Brighton, so never really had much contact with Lancing- different division).

 

[Stoo82]

(before that I was in Brighton, so never really had much contact with Lancing- different division).

Ill let you know when im flying into Gatwick (that is Gatwick right?!) next time and you can escort me to Avis, you know like im a celebrity and important!

 

[csider]

my mum was given a gollywog mug with a gollywog in it by her mate for christmas...........