Is the N-word necessarily racist?

[GSJ57]

Absolutely agree Sean....... that post made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I don't think it was genuine GSJ57, more of a troll-y post. Quids would give it 5/10 I reckon

It's no less pathetic for that, tho

[HAL9000]

'Darkie' toothpaste

[GSJ57]

I don't doubt the toothpaste existed - I was just incensed at the OP's attitude.

[Santerme]

I think I might have been slightly upset had he been found with the full regalia of a member of the KKK amonhgst his belongings.

But a tube of toothpaste, back in the 1980's, please.

[SeanMacGabhann]

please what?

he is saying, in 2009, that to take offence at such an item is ridiculous and politically retarded

so, what has it got to do with the 80s?

[Santerme]

He said that the attitude then, when he was found with it, back in the 80's to be retarded and it has got worse since.

How does that make your hair stand up twenty or thirty years further on?

It is packet with a Negro wearing a top hat, back then we watched the Minstrels shows as families on a Saturday night.

I think some perspective is called for.

The greatest problem with discussing racism, is that you cannot seem to disassociate the naff from the really nasty.

[SeanMacGabhann]

You don't think stopping "naff" stuff helps prevent the "really nasty" stuff?

DO you think that items such as this should still be ok? Genuinely? Seriously?

Because if the answer is yes then the mind boggles. If your answer is no then the ridiculous and politically retarded work done in the 80s has played a part in stamping out racism...

[daizie]

But now its gone too far sean, with people accusing others of being racist with little or no evidence. Soon we wont be able to say the word 'black' for fear of being accused of being racist , the country's gone mental

[SeanMacGabhann]

the country hasn't gone mental daizie. Where is your evidence of that? What exactly are you prevented from doing because things have "gone to far"?

Stick to the thread... where do you stand on the toothpaste brand?

[daizie]

i prefer colgate

[Santerme]

I was pretty much expecting the reply I got.

No, the trivial has been inflated to the unacceptable and the nasty has been driven underground.

It has not gone away and no one has stamped out racism.

We have evolved over the last twenty years into a more multicultural and homogenuous society because that is the political culture of the British.

Since my schooldays in Tulse Hill, some thirty odd years ago, what I said and did then to how I act now, is a measure of maturity and respect for others rather than societal imposed rules.

As a country we are more mature to the needs of others now too.

But, I still miss the gollywog off the jam jar.

[GSJ57]

It wasn't my intention to resurrect this thread, I was just appalled at the OP's stance, as Sean was.

Santerme - it was my hair that was standing up - not Sean's.

[????]

What Sean said.

I don't think or certainly presume that most posters on here have much right to deem what is racist and what isn't racist. And it's so called political 'retardism' which got the awful shite like the Black & White Mintesrels show off our television and the casual 'oh it's only a joke' racism that was the prevalent back then. I remember black mates within my group of mates being called things like 'Spear chucker' as supposed banter. I'm proud to say I never joined in as I felt uncomfortable with it then and could see my black mates were I'm less proud to say that I never had the guts to pull my other mates up on it back then. It shouldn't have been 'alright' then and thankfully more and more people realise that it isn't now. And yes this thread is an awfull embarrassment and should disappear.

[Santerme]

GSJ57 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It wasn't my intention to resurrect this thread, I

> was just appalled at the OP's stance, as Sean was.

>

> Santerme - it was my hair that was standing up -

> not Sean's.

I was aware of that, but thank you.

And this is an important subject, it should not be uncomfortable to talk about, that is a mistake.

I have stood toe to toe with real racists, genocidal ones at that....

To modify their behaviour needed a process of discussion.

[HAL9000]

Before every one gets hot under the collar, it may be a good idea to read this.

[GSJ57]

As I said before, I know the toothpaste exists, it was Y-mans attitude that I took exception to.

Also, to clarify - when I referred to the OP - I meant Y-man and not the original poster of this thread.

That's it - I'm out.........

[HAL9000]

Uncle Ben's Rice. Anyone?

[Santerme]

Or Obama Fingers?

[Y'man]

Most of you need to learn to read before you blow everything out of proportion. It reads what I have written, not what you want it to say for arguments sake. And I was in the Northern hill region of Thailand, that's the only toothpaste I could buy. Maybe someone who has travelled, or travelled in 70's Asia might support.

[????]

Uncle Ben is now Chairman of the Board and I don't see how it's vaguely racist....Darkey Toothpaste - because don't black people have shiney white teeth, get it - is clearly so and as your original link shows (to the Slavery Museum) many black people presumably felt so too.

Obama Fingers just shows how stupid marketing people are, even in Germany.

[Y'man]

Ask yourselves this boys & girls, are you comfortable singing Ba ba white sheep? Having no golly on you jam jar? This is the sort of nonsense it all started with.

[Y'man]

o

[????]

Patronising as well as an idiot - nice combination.

[Y'man]

It's the attitude of people like you that make us ashamed of our colour! YES, you read it right this time.