James

>>And if the same people lament the state of our divisive society and oh, what on earth can be done about the rate of teenage pregnancies and drugs and crime, hmmm, are they really concerned about that or more about the career prospects of their offspring? Are you suggesting that parents should send their kids to crap schools in order to stop society becoming more divisive? That is ludicrous! Oh how terrible of us parents to be concerned about our offspring's career prospects! All this sneering at parents who try to get the best school for their kids as if there's something wrong with that! It's the government who are presiding over a market in education and they are to blame. If they had any guts they would give us genuine comprehensivisation i.e. abolish all the selective schools and faith schools and ensure that all schools had mixed intakes of all abilities. Instead they perpetuate the illusion of "choice" in education (what kind of "choice" is a choice between a failing school and one that isn't?) By encouraging a market we get increasingly entrenched social apartheid. Because, let's face it, most of these "failing schools" have a high proportion of kids on free school meals.

I wonder how many times someone has mentioned James Nesbitt on this thread? About 3000?

"I dislike GBK overall... the portions are just so huge and awkward to eat. But most of all it's the price." So the portions are too big and "awkward to eat" and it's too expensive(?) Try using a knife and fork and sharing. What a daft comment to make.

SHOULDN'T have gone to Specsavers...

This shop looks tacky and dated already. Ugh! You would have to be from Croydon to think it was classy. Yuck.

At last someone tells the truth! One question - why is the lady in question eating Fry's Turkish Delight? Surely she would be luxuriating in a bath with a Cadbury's Flake while a lizard scurries across a telephone?

I like your interpretation actually! So did my lapdog. Down boy.

I put it to you, Sean, that you are a man of mischief! I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree. It all boils down to interpretation. My interpretation of the post was as follows: "Isn't it disgraceful when a posh person drops litter! What with their privilege and Boden catalogues and organic vegetables they should be walking about apologising to everyone for how fortunate they are. If it happens to be a plump woman, shame on her! It's her duty to look slim. Whereas if a male chav drops litter that is completely understandable. We should sympathise with him and allow him to get away with it. And eat as many cakes as he likes."

But the woman was not simply described as "well-dressed" (which could apply to someone of any social background). She was specifically described as a "Lucinda" type. The description was loaded with obvious class & gender-based prejudice. Substituting the words "scruffy" or "well-dressed" would clearly not be an equivalent for this! I think you are being quite naughty and disingenuous Sean! The only valid example you use is where the person is described as African.

Personally I think the yummy mummies are a bit of an easy target... Substitute the description for someone of a different class/gender/social background and I think my point becomes clear!

I find it bizarre Sean that you say we're all second-guessing yet then you manage to read Nero's mind! "He would have said the same thing to a bloke - maybe replaces luv with mate - so not misogynist" Um, how do you know!? "Her appearance was described to contrast her attitude to herself with that of her environment - so not classist" Again, how do you know this? Are you psychic?

Personally I think littering and spitting are disgusting habits. There is never an excuse for either. However the original post was fixated on the woman's class. It was also mildly misogynistic, as Ganapati pointed out. This is obvious from the way she was described. I am still at a loss to usnderstand why this has got anything to do with it. If someone had posted something similar describing the perpetrator as a chav or stereotyping their race I'm sure they would have been immediately lambasted by the pc brigade. Why one rule for some and another for others?

I am still bemused as to why people of some social classes are deemed more reprehensible than others for dropping litter. surely EVERYONE knows it's a bad thing? Why is it worse if a yummy mummy does it? Isn't this a bit patronising to working-class people?

Alex annoys the hell out of me. He is whining, whinging, dull, arrogant, snide, back-stabbing and sly. The most frustrating thing is the fact that he is as cute as hell. Ugh, I wish he were ugly!

Would it have been better if she'd been a Special Brew-swigging, track-suited chav throwing it into the road? Would that have been somehow more understandable? What has her social status got to do with it? And why the bitchy remark about 'ditching the snacks'? Miaow!

>>to he** with size... what about circumcision??? i know it's barbaric, unnatural, etc... but it's so much better for certain things!! sorry lads. Can you elaborate on this?

I don't know, if you were to look at statistics for those who actually use Goose Green regularly, dog owners are probably in the majority. Why should we be crammed into a smaller section of the green? I think we should have the bigger section. And we need to find some way of imposing punishment on those who don't retrieve their dogs' mess. How about taking a picture of offenders with the camera on your mobile phone and emailing it to the council who then put it on their website and/or the park noticeboard?

Whenever the "I hate dogs/I love dogs" debate comes up, why do the anti brigade always tar all of us dog owners with the same brush? Most dog-owners I know abhor the irresponsible people who allow their dogs to foul public spaces and bite children. The suggestion seems to be that because of an anti-social minority we should impose blanket bans. Imagine applying the same principle to football matches or rock concerts? There'd be outrage. We all pay our taxes so the park should be for all of us, dog owners and non dog owners alike.

Oh Louisa, I think you're great! Love your passionate outbursts, this forum wouldn't be the same without them. Although I have to disagree with you about the middle classes. Why are we the only class it's PC to deride and insult routinely? I think the middle classes are great. We're the social conscience of this country - the ones who believe in the value of education, travel and self-improvement. Historically most of the greatest humanitarians, artists and revolutionaries have been middle class. I LOVE BEING MIDDLE CLASS. WE ARE THE BEST! PS Blue Mountain sucks!

Can we not declare East Dulwich an independent state like in Passport to Pimlico? That way we can prevent people from Penge getting further than Forest Hill.

Gillian McKeith reminds me of Hazel McWitch out of Rentaghost. Only scarier!

I think Gok is great! Unlike your typical makeover ice queens he seems passionate, sincere and genuinely interested in the women on his show. Once met some members of a film crew who'd worked with him and they said he was great (they had a lot of negative stuff to say about various other diva-ish TV presenters). Go Gok!

Get me! Watch out Gok Wan

Strictly speaking 'DLP' is supposed to be over - but then so are skinny jeans. And they still look great, as long as you choose the right colour and accessories. IMHO. Not that I am a fashion guru or anything!

It's gotta be DLP. (Dress, leggings, pumps). Trust me.