Clarkson: Racist

[otolith]

FredClogs said:

Any word can be used in a derogatory manner, you great big potato head, and in 99% of cases context is everything, but some words such as this carry a weight of cultural baggage which puts them into a bracket of being taboo regardless of context, thankfully most people recognise this.

But that's bks, isn't it? Because the word isn't taboo within some African American subcultures, which is the point the chap you replied to was making.

[anonymous-user]

clonmult said:

McClure said:

Can't see why you would use it in any context tbh.

OED definition:

NOUN

• offensive
A contemptuous term for a black person.

So when people of african descent use it in reference to each other, they're trying to offend?

FFS, even the OED is getting it wrong.

My best mate is black, he would be furious to be labelled African though

As for black people using the word they know it's a hate word when used by people who want it to be filled with hate and bile, at other times its just a slang word. When we lived together he would regularly come home from work and greet me (I am white) with the phrase "My " it was like saying "My Brother/Buddy etc"

By the same token I have a good mate whom I regularly call a , I don't mean he actually is female genitalia, he's just a daft

[rohrl]

For the avoidance of doubt Jeremy Clarkson is NOT African-American and the n-word IS generally and widely regarded as a derogatory and offensive word.

[bodhi]

rohrl said:

For the avoidance of doubt Jeremy Clarkson is NOT African-American and the n-word IS generally and widely regarded as a derogatory and offensive word.

So he isn't allowed to use the word in a rhyme then? Isn't that a bit.....racist?

[FredClogs]

otolith said:

FredClogs said:

Any word can be used in a derogatory manner, you great big potato head, and in 99% of cases context is everything, but some words such as this carry a weight of cultural baggage which puts them into a bracket of being taboo regardless of context, thankfully most people recognise this.

But that's bks, isn't it? Because the word isn't taboo within some African American subcultures, which is the point the chap you replied to was making.

It's pretty much exclusively taboo in the UK. You may be an American or reside in America, but I doubt it otherwise you'd have a deeper understanding of why the ownership of the word was passed to the Black community.

Two countries separated by a common language.

[WinstonWolf]

FredClogs said:

otolith said:

FredClogs said:

Any word can be used in a derogatory manner, you great big potato head, and in 99% of cases context is everything, but some words such as this carry a weight of cultural baggage which puts them into a bracket of being taboo regardless of context, thankfully most people recognise this.

But that's bks, isn't it? Because the word isn't taboo within some African American subcultures, which is the point the chap you replied to was making.

It's pretty much exclusively taboo in the UK. You may be an American or reside in America, but I doubt it otherwise you'd have a deeper understanding of why the ownership of the word was passed to the Black community.

Two countries separated by a common language.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, no-one 'owns' part of the English language, it's there for us all to use as we see fit.

[otolith]

FredClogs said:

otolith said:

FredClogs said:

Any word can be used in a derogatory manner, you great big potato head, and in 99% of cases context is everything, but some words such as this carry a weight of cultural baggage which puts them into a bracket of being taboo regardless of context, thankfully most people recognise this.

But that's bks, isn't it? Because the word isn't taboo within some African American subcultures, which is the point the chap you replied to was making.

It's pretty much exclusively taboo in the UK. You may be an American or reside in America, but I doubt it otherwise you'd have a deeper understanding of why the ownership of the word was passed to the Black community.

Two countries separated by a common language.

So there are not people in the UK who have picked up the usage of the word in those subcultures and do not consider it taboo?

So I could not walk into a mainstream record shop in the UK and buy a record which uses the word liberally?

Popular culture and language overlap massively between the US and the UK.

[FredClogs]

WinstonWolf said:

FredClogs said:

otolith said:

FredClogs said:

Any word can be used in a derogatory manner, you great big potato head, and in 99% of cases context is everything, but some words such as this carry a weight of cultural baggage which puts them into a bracket of being taboo regardless of context, thankfully most people recognise this.

But that's bks, isn't it? Because the word isn't taboo within some African American subcultures, which is the point the chap you replied to was making.

It's pretty much exclusively taboo in the UK. You may be an American or reside in America, but I doubt it otherwise you'd have a deeper understanding of why the ownership of the word was passed to the Black community.

Two countries separated by a common language.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, no-one 'owns' part of the English language, it's there for us all to use as we see fit.

Well the usage as Clarkson sees fit is unacceptable.

Of course groups of people own bits of the language, like when you hear a public school politician talk about pasties, some words belong to some cultures, outside which they're either meaningless at best or nefarious at worst. You know more have the right to use one than the other, you're as equally wrong to call a women "pet" outside the North East as you are using the N word, it's just one of them has a global recognition, which in 2014 I'm shocked some people still find fit to argue (except you Winston, It'd be disappointing had you not argued the point).

[anonymous-user]

If I took a straw poll of my black friends and asked them what they found more offensive

1) being used in a friendly manner in conversation or as part of a nursery rhyme with no obvious bias or hatred

2) Being referred as an African/American

Most would plump for option 2, it annoys the st out of them all

Its all about the circumstances, in the same way if my mate calls me a prick I smile and laugh, if a stranger on the street does it I find it a bit more offensive

[WinstonWolf]

FredClogs said:

WinstonWolf said:

FredClogs said:

otolith said:

FredClogs said:

Any word can be used in a derogatory manner, you great big potato head, and in 99% of cases context is everything, but some words such as this carry a weight of cultural baggage which puts them into a bracket of being taboo regardless of context, thankfully most people recognise this.

But that's bks, isn't it? Because the word isn't taboo within some African American subcultures, which is the point the chap you replied to was making.

It's pretty much exclusively taboo in the UK. You may be an American or reside in America, but I doubt it otherwise you'd have a deeper understanding of why the ownership of the word was passed to the Black community.

Two countries separated by a common language.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, no-one 'owns' part of the English language, it's there for us all to use as we see fit.

Well the usage as Clarkson sees fit is unacceptable.

Of course groups of people own bits of the language, like when you hear a public school politician talk about pasties, some words belong to some cultures, outside which they're either meaningless at best or nefarious at worst. You know more have the right to use one than the other, you're as equally wrong to call a women "pet" outside the North East as you are using the N word, it's just one of them has a global recognition, which in 2014 I'm shocked some people still find fit to argue (except you Winston, It'd be disappointing had you not argued the point).

Counting rhymes are now unacceptable? I'm a welcome breath of fresh air in an increasingly regulated PC world...

No-one owns language, I regularly use words as I fit as you know only too well.

[Hackney]

pork911 said:

petemurphy said:

have never understood why people are offended by words

You would have no problem being called a paedophile then, and for context, by say people in the street, regularly?

There's a difference through isn't there?
Assuming that the word "" is used to describe a person who is black, then it's quite clearly right or wrong no matter how offended you might be.
Calling someone a paedophile.... well, if the person isn't a paedophile then....

[petemurphy]

who decides what is offensive and what is not? language constantly evolves. eg the word gay.

[Hackney]

"The Sheriff is a ni......"

[otolith]

FredClogs said:

Well the usage as Clarkson sees fit is unacceptable.

That's probably why Top Gear decided not to broadcast it.

Why does the Mirror see fit to broadcast it?

[shakotan]

pork911 said:

petemurphy said:

have never understood why people are offended by words

You would have no problem being called a paedophile then, and for context, by say people in the street, regularly?

Knowing I'm not one, I wouldn't be offended by it, I'd simply redress the matter.

[SilverSixer]

Look, will someone please address the real point: who is it that supports Chelsea? Piers Morgan or Jeremy Clarkson? Someone was talking about that a few pages back and it wasn't clear who they meant.

That's what I want to get really offended about.

Let's get some perspective and address the real issues, please.

[FredClogs]

WinstonWolf said:

FredClogs said:

WinstonWolf said:

FredClogs said:

otolith said:

FredClogs said:

Any word can be used in a derogatory manner, you great big potato head, and in 99% of cases context is everything, but some words such as this carry a weight of cultural baggage which puts them into a bracket of being taboo regardless of context, thankfully most people recognise this.

But that's bks, isn't it? Because the word isn't taboo within some African American subcultures, which is the point the chap you replied to was making.

It's pretty much exclusively taboo in the UK. You may be an American or reside in America, but I doubt it otherwise you'd have a deeper understanding of why the ownership of the word was passed to the Black community.

Two countries separated by a common language.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, no-one 'owns' part of the English language, it's there for us all to use as we see fit.

Well the usage as Clarkson sees fit is unacceptable.

Of course groups of people own bits of the language, like when you hear a public school politician talk about pasties, some words belong to some cultures, outside which they're either meaningless at best or nefarious at worst. You know more have the right to use one than the other, you're as equally wrong to call a women "pet" outside the North East as you are using the N word, it's just one of them has a global recognition, which in 2014 I'm shocked some people still find fit to argue (except you Winston, It'd be disappointing had you not argued the point).

Counting rhymes are now unacceptable? I'm a welcome breath of fresh air in an increasingly regulated PC world...

No-one owns language, I regularly use words as I fit as you know only too well.

Strangely hypocritical coming from you Winston, quite happy to blurt out your own ill thought out words and very quick to move to moderate and ban those that don't agree with you...

Hmmm words, just jokes, like on Top gear.

[Hackney]

SilverSixer said:

Look, will someone please address the real point: who is it that supports Chelsea? Piers Morgan or Jeremy Clarkson? Someone was talking about that a few pages back and it wasn't clear who they meant.

That's what I want to get really offended about.

Let's get some perspective and address the real issues, please.

JC. Mn is a Gooner. (but Arsenal fans all hate him for the bks he talks about football)

[FredClogs]

otolith said:

FredClogs said:

Well the usage as Clarkson sees fit is unacceptable.

That's probably why Top Gear decided not to broadcast it.

Why does the Mirror see fit to broadcast it?

Righteous indignation, it's righteous.

But I'd tend to agree with you, they could have easily made the point without broadcasting it, but then it's journalistic probity to show the evidence when you are able.

[WinstonWolf]

FredClogs said:

WinstonWolf said:

FredClogs said:

WinstonWolf said:

FredClogs said:

otolith said:

FredClogs said:

Any word can be used in a derogatory manner, you great big potato head, and in 99% of cases context is everything, but some words such as this carry a weight of cultural baggage which puts them into a bracket of being taboo regardless of context, thankfully most people recognise this.

But that's bks, isn't it? Because the word isn't taboo within some African American subcultures, which is the point the chap you replied to was making.

It's pretty much exclusively taboo in the UK. You may be an American or reside in America, but I doubt it otherwise you'd have a deeper understanding of why the ownership of the word was passed to the Black community.

Two countries separated by a common language.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, no-one 'owns' part of the English language, it's there for us all to use as we see fit.

Well the usage as Clarkson sees fit is unacceptable.

Of course groups of people own bits of the language, like when you hear a public school politician talk about pasties, some words belong to some cultures, outside which they're either meaningless at best or nefarious at worst. You know more have the right to use one than the other, you're as equally wrong to call a women "pet" outside the North East as you are using the N word, it's just one of them has a global recognition, which in 2014 I'm shocked some people still find fit to argue (except you Winston, It'd be disappointing had you not argued the point).

Counting rhymes are now unacceptable? I'm a welcome breath of fresh air in an increasingly regulated PC world...

No-one owns language, I regularly use words as I fit as you know only too well.

Strangely hypocritical coming from you Winston, quite happy to blurt out your own ill thought out words and very quick to move to moderate and ban those that don't agree with you...

Hmmm words, just jokes, like on Top gear.

I don't moderate or ban anyone... In fact you're completely free to call me names if it makes you feel better.