Robert Poste's Child

Rendel, your examples don't make it OK to use an outdated, pejorative word simply because it's in a slightly different context. Using the words keeps the bias alive, even if it's being used indirectly. Looks like the changing of attitudes to mental health has a way to go around here.

rendelharris Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Robert Poste's Child Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > It's not - for describing people with mental > illness. As a common epithet for silly - "The > lunatic plan for a garden bridge" - I've never > seen it suggested before that it's wrong to use > it. It's all context, one wouldn't call a child > with learning difficulties stupid but that doesn't > mean it's offensive to say "that's a stupid plan." > Nor have I ever seen it suggested that the phrase > "the lunatics have taken over the asylum" as used > above is offensive, it's certainly still in common > use. Bad news for Funboy Three residuals if it's > wrong. Except that the word still includes the MH connotation so it's always there in the resonance. I used to have a friend who used your argument every time she described something low-quality using the horrible abbreviation for Pakistani or a derogatory term for traveller.

You want to give that a try in the Hither Green stabbing thread, Malumbu!

Depressing that no one but me seems to have an issue with the use of 'lunatic'. I'm pretty sure it hasn't been an acceptable label in the lifetime of anyone using this forum.

rendelharris Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Robert Poste's Child Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Oh do stop preaching, Malumbu. My posts weren't > > ranting, they were exploring what has been > > reported and what that suggests. Other people > are > > as entitled as you to share their views, > surely. > > I don't speak for Malumbu, RPC, but I'd hazard a > guess his post wasn't aimed at you in the > slightest but at the OP and certain other > well-known frothers. You may be right but as it followed mine and was addressed to everyone I took it to apply to me.

Oh do stop preaching, Malumbu. My posts weren't ranting, they were exploring what has been reported and what that suggests. Other people are as entitled as you to share their views, surely.

That's the dentist I go to, siousxiesue. I've not (yet) missed an appointment there but they do take 50% of the cost of treatment up front before each appointment, which I guess is retained if you miss it. Most dentists and other places that have a cancellation policy usually have a poster saying so in the reception.

From the BBC: 'One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the man into his kitchen where a struggle ensued and he was stabbed, Scotland Yard said.' So it appears that this isn't a case of a householder arming himself and creeping up on a couple of burglars from behind, ie anything that could be called planned or intentional: one burglar (40 years younger than his intended victim) was armed with a screwdriver and attempted to keep him prisoner while the other one searched for things to steal, there was a struggle and the burglar was stabbed with his own weapon. If that interpretation is correct, it's hard to imagine a judge deciding there is a case to answer.

rendelharris Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Robert Poste's Child Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > It'll never come to court - a pensioner > defending > > himself against two attackers in his own home, > and > > one is fatally injured in the course of > committing > > a crime. > > Absolutely - but the decision will be made by the > CPS, APB seems to be complaining that the police > didn't make an on-the-spot judgement and leave him > alone. According to the news just now they arrested him 'on suspicion of GBH' which sounds like an attempt to be seen to do the right thing while allowing room for him to be let off or receive a suspended sentence. TBH I'm all for the former but with police budgets under pressure the Home Sec may feel the need to demonstrate that people can't take the law into their own hands, which, let's face it, must be on the increase as visible police presence drops. If said pensioner is fined I'll be tempted to chip in.

It'll never come to court - a pensioner defending himself against two attackers in his own home, and one is fatally injured in the course of committing a crime.

Poor you, how sickening. Hope the police catch up with them.

It's fine apart from the hot flushes, lack of sleep, poor concentration and spare tyre!

You're not alone. I'm finding it the hardest bit of the menopause.

They put them in the bagging area (you can't scan the next item till the bagging area senses the current one), then after they've paid they get out their bags and put all the things now piled in the bagging area into their bags. Very slowly. Just put the bag down first!

Why don't people using self-service tills at the supermarket pack their stuff as they go? You know, pick item from basket, scan, put it in the bag? Had the most infuriating wait today in two separate supermarkets, particularly a two people who seemed to see it as a couples activity, both very slowly scanning items and staring into the distance, neither packing or apparently aware of the growing queue behind them. With a bit of teamwork they could have shaved 80% off their time, no problem. Ditto the group where (I'm not kidding) all three members of the group passed the item to each other in turn, again no one packing. And the man with the trolley with about twenty iceberg lettuces. Drives me nuts.

As it's breeding season, at the moment it should be NONE off the lead in the nature reserve! Doesn't matter whether you agree or not - that's their rule for everyone. Perhaps you mean in other parks where this rule doesn't apply.

Hammerman, I wondered about the haircut thread too as the individual who posted it also seems to have been removed. I felt a bit worried as they sounded genuinely distressed about it.

Seems unlikely! A lone man carrying a stolen nappy bag and no baby? Much more likely to have chucked it in a nearby bin as soon as he'd checked the content. Hope it turns up, Farrago.

Crown & Greyhound, though not sure if they're welcome in all areas.

Again today most dogs off the lead, including a pair of pointers, a lab, a greyhound and other dogs running around putting up and chasing birds. In fact I only saw one dog ON a lead. Pretty shameful.

I don't know what happened but walking through today I saw two fence panels had been removed just inside the entrance to the nature reserve itself and a bit of litter under the bridge, so looks like someone had an accident.

Here's the old one: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,119138,119177#msg-119177

I can recommend the crochet and knitting classes at Sharp Works in Herne Hill, a haven for ladies of a certain age (particularly their 'wellbeing crafternoon', which includes prosecco, pilates, tea and cake and macrame).

I crocheted a case for my laptop and one for my phone (sadly empty since the phone fell down the loo). Shall I make one for you, Muley?

IMO asking the question about charging suggests that the OP was trying to think that through in a responsible and appropriate way - it wasn't a 'kittens for sale' ad. It seems rather harsh to assume that asking about charging precludes caring about their welfare.