well....the more the media concentrates on negative issues about race the more the BNP will look attractive to some...sadly

just this week there were a fair few of articles about racism against white people but none about racism in general

I winced there.  Dimbleby talked about 'coloured people' too which was a bit odd.  One of my OU lecturers had a fit when one of my fellow students talked about 'coloured people' in a sociology module.  She was a bit 'bobbly cardy and strings of beads', and said very disapprovingly: "We don't say 'coloured people' in polite company".  I nearly choked laughing behind my hand.

It pains me to agree

people will see what they want to see. His supporters will simply see a man who was outnumbered and trying to put his point across .................doubt that it'll have recruited new members but can't see the old die hards being put off TBH.

I think we can become too hung up on correct terminology TBH ..........it's constantly changing. i think it was unnecessary for that woman to make a point about Afro/carribean and insisting upon African/carribean .......................didn't we all know what was meant? Acceptable terminolgy is constantly changing - very confusing and I'm sure no offence meant.

Well at least some good will of come out of it if that turns out to be the case

F'sure.  I think the 'coloured people' thing is a bit un-PC because it implies white majority and non-white others.  It's a very subtle point unless you're a sociology lecturer. 

Yeah ........i think in South Africa there is/was black (African)/white(european) and coloured (mixed race or asian) it was how the colours/races/people were officially rated. In the fifties in the UK I think the polite term here for West Indians was coloured ..............it emerged that they preferred black. i dont know who makes up the 'words/descriptions' and who decides what is and isn'y acceptable to be honest. language in general is constantly evolving but people are quick to take offence where none is meant IMO.

I like the term used in America, becoming more used over here "Person of colour".

Language is constantly evolving, sadly words that were correct, get used by people in an unpleasant way and then start to cause offence.

Same with people with disabilities.

But PB .....................it's hard to keep up TBH. What's OK with some people is un PC to the next. I accept that occasionly (sp) words get turned around as a form of abuse but for the most the majority of folks dont have a clue what the latest 'buzz' word is. Is it important? obviously some think it is but ...............in an ever changing world people make mistakes.

I don't think it was a term that the West Indian people chose as their term of choice Soozy. It was ascribed to them in a way to segregate them. As in 'No Coloureds' when they were looking for somewhere to rent and live.

Yes if it causes offence to people, then it is very important.

My mum can remember signs like that in parts of Birmingham when she was young, thankfully those sorts of comments have gone now.  Apparently "No Irish" was another favourite one.

Yes ..........as opposed to  blacks which the people in this country at the time felt was insulting. of course it was wrong to discriminate but it was a gradual thing ..............i dont think the people concerned were given a choice. It is a language/cultural thing ......in the fifties it was considered 'rude' to say black - coloured was considered polite ....................as I say language evolves but you need to try and understand what was behind it.

OK ................I give up. I have been called narrow minded and patronising on another thread and it has obviously crossed over here. I am of the older generation and am neither narrow minded nor patronising - simply putting forward an alternative POV ..................it would appear how yoy word things is all important - I'm simply saying that language sometimes gets in the way.i've had 5/6 good years on here and enjoyed the banter. I'm off now .......................bit of a witch hunt going on IMO. Probably no ones interested but ........................if you can find evidence of my narrow mind/insensititivity/or deliberate causing of offence I'd be interested to see it.   Thank you - good night.

I disagree Soozy. The term was coined very swiftly in London as they saw the wave of West Indian immigrants arriving and taking what they thought of as 'our jobs'. Sound familiar? It was used to exclude and not polite in any way. 'Black' was not used until a while later as racial discord escalated.

Was it anything I said?  
It's not a witch hunt Soozy. Your views are as valid as anyone's. It is simply a highly-charged debate.

Blimey!

I think we are just debating it Soozy. Nothing to do with the other thread!

I'm battling to stop my nine year old calling mixed heritage/ mixed race people 'beige' at the moment. He cannot understand why we would call them 'black'!

I agree that it's important, but, as Soozy says, people do take offence when none was intended and there are still older black people who call themselves 'coloured'.

I had no idea that Afro Carribean was now not polite.

Ah! I have the same wonderful dilemma with my 10yr old nephew, because he describes each of his classmates in shades of colour so I might have a vague idea about who he's talking about! ... 'you know... he's a bit brown... long hair', or 'she's light brown with really long black hair', or 'you know... the pink one with glasses'.

I said I was going ..................i am. But .................I think you're wrong there. since the change there's a whole new vibe on here - I actually feel very insulted to be described as narrow minded and patronising as I am neither. I love posting on a forum ...........had a great time on here but I just dont click anymore.

I've no idea who called you that Soozy, and I'm very sorry you feel like that. We need folk who are prepared to offer an opinion and you would be missed.

I am so pleased the dick left

Who/what do you mean Lowi?

nick the dick, that's what one of the audience called him by 'supposed' mistake. it was very funny

Ah! OK! Your context was a bit weird!

it was in context with the title of the topic, I just decided to join in off the cuff

Word of advice. Sometimes it helps to read the thread, not just the OP Lowi.

Soozywoo
Sometimes misunderstanding can happen in a most unexpected way, often unintentionally. Crossed lines can be difficult to untangle. Sometimes the writer and the reader can see the same words in different ways.
Can I just say I want to continue posting with you on here?

I want you to remain here as a valued member of this forum.

Warm good wishes

I just can't always be bothered, if there's a fair bit to read, after x many posts, I just click at last reply and then add a comment. i do usually read them if it's earlier on but not so much when i get a bit tired.

Well, that's how your comment earlier on this thread could be badly misinterpreted Lowi. Like I said, context is usually important on a forum.

O.k. I will try to enter a topic earlier on in future

I don't know where you got that idea from what I had written.  I was simply stating my point of view.

Certainly nothing offensive was meant by my post and I am sorry that you felt that way, I was annoyed by your comments in the other post, but to keep the peace deleted mine.

I think that it is good that all people have different points of view and opinions, that is how we learn.

That's the sort of thing, yes!

Then I picked my daughter up today, after she'd been out with friends, and she was telling me which ones were coming over for a sleepover. I asked her which one was Bethany and she said "The tall one". I said "But they were sitting down, how do I know which one was tall? Is it the black girl?"

She looked at me, all shocked, and said "I can't say that, can I?"

Bloody minefield!

Interesting views from the GP on GMTV this morning - lots of people saying that Dick Griffin was bullied and many more saying they think this platform will definitely increase his votes.  Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Soozy - I think you're being a bit over sensitive here.  I'm not being patronising so please don't think or say I am.  I just think this is a very emotional subject and people have VERY passionate views concerning it's issues so I would seriously just think about it before you go off and think you're being witch hunted.  As far as I can see you have a very strong personality and you're not scared of saying what you think (on many a subject), I can't see anyone on this thread in particular belittling your views or being rude.  Differences of opinion are not always to our liking, but like Griffin, people are entitled to air them.

OT but I didn't know you were in that lot Danjay. I did my second degree  with 'em. Best days of my life .Elsewhere the BNP spokespersons have started their damage limitation on the voice box. Apparently the QT format was altered to make him look bad.

I was surprised at that as well I also noticed that all these people, ie Jack Straw etc, like to throw the word 'democracy' around quite alot, where is the democracy in not allowing us a referendum?

The other phrase I've heard alot on TV over the last 24 hours is 'freedom of speech', when do these politicians ever listen to what the GBP really want?

All politicians make me so

I was all set to watch until I ended up going out on the piss, have some catching up to do.

I found his views on what Britain stands for to be at least 50 years out of date and as some one who has read a lot about British history in the past, the comments about indeginious (sp) Britains to be wrong.

There has always been forms of immigration during our history, from the Celts onwards, Romans, Vikings, Normans in 1066, Jews during the various progroms in the middle ages and onwards right up to the last century, but, of course their skin colour was white. Nobody now is truly British, you go back far enough and you would find a race that has been at one time or the other, an immigrant to this country.

That is what makes this country so diverse, I was waiting for him to bring the St Georges Day celebrations up as our local council refused to allow the St Georges Day parade this year because of idiots like Griffin and his henchmen, I wonder if he realises how many people from ethnic minority communities march proudly in that parade, considering themselves as British as I am.  Thankfully for our entire community, a local businessman stepped in and the march went ahead.

 I was also disgusted at Griffin's comments about homosexuality, in my mind it just doesn't matter. I don't care about people's sexuality, it's what the person is that matters.

Sadly as I said last night, the knuckle dragging, Daily Star reading (I won't even insult the Sun for a change!!) BNP core voters, will have watched the programme and probably agreed with what he was saying and would think he was being bullied, it needed a stronger member of the current Government to be on the panel, as Jack Straw was not that effective IMO, whereas both the Shadow minister and the Lib Dem panelist were both strong in their opinions and gave effective answers to the questions.  Bonnie Greer was also excellent and I felt sorry for her having to sit next to Griffin.

In my eyes, it made the BNP even more objectionable and their leader as well, and I hope it gave others food for thought.

Me too! What right does he have to comment on anyones sexuality, so what, who cares if you're Gay, Straight or Bi...I can't believe that people still struggle with things like that. Wouldn't it be much, much worse if people were denied to be what they are....he is stuck in the dark ages and I just hope that one party comes up with tougher immigration laws, as I feel immigration is one issue that will drive people to vote for this odious, vile man....