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[Loz]

> In some places, being called 'black' is deemed

> racist. Finger pointing is a minefield, isn't it?

Where?

Oh, just Google it...

[pk]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> But is it genuinely offensive? Or are people

> searching for something to be offended by.

>

yes - people have been offended by it so it is offensive and there are longstanding stereotypes around black people (not only in the US) and fried chicken and it is long established that some people find these stereotypes offensive

why are you so keen to dismiss the fact that people have been offended and deem from (i am assuming) a different cultural perspective that despite the fact that people have in fact been offended that the offensive act was not offensive? (and even suggest that those have been offended are looking to reasons to be offended, which i find in itself offensive?)

you could take the opportunity to stop and think, or to learn something about an area in which perhaps you are ignorant - but no

[Loz]

pk,

I'm offended by your post. Therefore, it is offensive. Should you delete it? Or should you question why I think it is offensive?

PS Out of interest - since I can't seem to find it - which countries outside of N America have the Black/Fried Chicken stereotype?

[*Bob*]

Couldn't we have some sort of centralised global authority to advise on whether things are offensive or not?

I suggest a panel consisting of Jeremy Clarkson, Darcus Howe, Dido and Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards.

[Mick Mac]

You are joking right pk?

No - I think if a small minority of west indian people are offended by this statement that is not enough to make a statement generally offensive.

If a majority or at least a significant minority are offended by the statement then yes I'll agree with you that it's generally offensive.

[daizie]

good point Mick Mac .

[Loz]

and even suggest that those have been offended are looking to reasons to be offended, which i find in itself offensive?)

What happens if the people pk finds offensive are offended by pk being offended by the suggestion that those who have been offended are looking to reasons to be offended?

[Alan Dale]

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[pk]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> You are joking right pk?

>

> No - I think if a small minority of west indian

> people are offended by this statement that is not

> enough to make a statement generally offensive.

>

> If a majority or at least a significant minority

> are offended by the statement then yes I'll agree

> with you that it's generally offensive.

i'm not joking

if cause you personal offence does it not matter if it's not 'generally offensive'?

why do you say that those that are offended are insignificant in number? do you know their number? and what about those offended outside the West Indies?

[pk]

Loz Wrote:

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>

>

> What happens if the people pk finds offensive are

> offended by pk being offended by the suggestion

> that those who have been offended are looking to

> reasons to be offended?

what happens on my part is that i become curious as to why people are offended and may indeed try to avoid causing similar offence in future, i might even apologise

why do you find my statement offensive?

[Keef]

This reminds me of the BBW situation on this forum. If 10 people find him hilarious, and they use the forum a lot, but 1 person who doesn't use the forum quite as much, finds him really offensive, and complains about it, does that make him an offensive poster?

I guess the answer is yes, he offends someone, so he is offensive. The problem is, then 10 other people miss out, because they enjoy his stuff.

Note, I made those figures up, and it was very likely more like 10 people found him offensive for every 10 that didn't.

[mockney piers]

Bobs the closest on this one, at worst this is ill judged by a company who's primary but unintended Market is in a position to be offended in today's viral world. Though why an American would be interested in cricket I don't know unless it's being forwarded in order to encourage people to be offended in a daily mail 'shouting at your wife banned!!!!!! In france.....err maybe)' fashion.

Personally I thought the implication that Germans all invade and are only following orders the most offensive out of all the things referred to in this thread. As a quarter german I stand by my right to dictate (oops) to others whether or not it is offensive even if they haven't the foggiest idea what I'm blithering on about.

[Mick Mac]

I'm glad its only a quarter of you that's German, Mockney. If you were 3/4s German and 3/4s offended, then you could shoot us all at the next drinks.

[Loz]

[www.heraldsun.com.au]

OMG- Check the second headline down..

'Fumbling Pakis drop another'

Alan, I've already explained this in my first post. 'Pakis' in the UK extremely offensive because of it's use as a racial epithet to attack all people from the subcontinental area. It is tied up in some pretty bad history in this country. Any newspaper in the UK trying that headline would, quite rightly, incur a lot of anger. But UK racial history does not necessarily apply to other countries. In Australia, it's considered an acceptable shorthand - just as, say, Bangla is in the UK when there was a movement to rename the Brick Lane area to Banglatown.

You can parallel this with any use of 'boy' towards black men in America. I don't know if it still applies, but not too many years ago that would have got you into some serious, serious hot water, because of slavery connertations. Would it be right to vent your fury at a UK paper featuring, say, a picture of a black footballer with the headline, "The Boy Did Good"? (Grammar pedantry notwithstanding...)

For someone professing to be so worldly-wise, you sometimes sound very insular.

[EDOldie]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> On the upside, this must be the first time that

> more than four people in America have ever shown

> any interest in cricket.

Oh I don't know..Hollywood CC

[Alan Dale]

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[woofmarkthedog]

Alan Dale Wrote:

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> Seems the EDF has taken a big lurch to the right.

____________________________________________________________

Ok now "step to the left"

Boogie..

Yeah, feel the burn

W**F