Benedict Cumberbatch sorry for 'coloured' comment
Discussion
Emeye said:
The whole premise of being in a minority is there are less of you, yet it seems, observing as an outsider, that UK film/TV/media companies appear to be some of the most politically correct places around.
You might think so, but you'd be wrong.I work in the TV/media world, and the under-representation of BAME people is pretty ridiculous. On-screen is one thing (the number's poor, though it's getting better), but off-screen is simply depressing.
No-one's saying that there has to be a millimetric mirroring of the population - that if there's 7.2% of a particular group in the population as a whole then precisely 7.2% of all the camera crews should conform to that ethnic grouping - but it should be closer. And that simply isn't the case at the moment.
Cumberfeltch said:
"I feel the complete fool I am and while I am sorry to have offended people and to learn from my mistakes in such a public manner, please be assured I have.
"I apologise again to anyone who I offended for this thoughtless use of inappropriate language about an issue which affects friends of mine and which I care about deeply."
So to be fair he seems contrite and sincere in his apology, perhaps that'll be the end of it?"I apologise again to anyone who I offended for this thoughtless use of inappropriate language about an issue which affects friends of mine and which I care about deeply."
Sonic said:
Heard this on the radio this morning and was surprised by his overly verbose response and the faux outrage from the media.
If somebody could however inform me of the current fashionable politically-correct term for a person of colour that would be most appreciated to avoid any such embarrassment for myself in the future.
I suspect it depends where in the world you are, who you are talking to and in what context the conversation is in. Bloody ridiculous and I think I will go with the Jeremy Clarkson method of describing people on bridges! Bugger the lot of them If somebody could however inform me of the current fashionable politically-correct term for a person of colour that would be most appreciated to avoid any such embarrassment for myself in the future.
FredClogs said:
Cumberfeltch said:
"I feel the complete fool I am and while I am sorry to have offended people and to learn from my mistakes in such a public manner, please be assured I have.
"I apologise again to anyone who I offended for this thoughtless use of inappropriate language about an issue which affects friends of mine and which I care about deeply."
So to be fair he seems contrite and sincere in his apology, perhaps that'll be the end of it?"I apologise again to anyone who I offended for this thoughtless use of inappropriate language about an issue which affects friends of mine and which I care about deeply."
longblackcoat said:
You might think so, but you'd be wrong.
I work in the TV/media world, and the under-representation of BAME people is pretty ridiculous. On-screen is one thing (the number's poor, though it's getting better), but off-screen is simply depressing.
No-one's saying that there has to be a millimetric mirroring of the population - that if there's 7.2% of a particular group in the population as a whole then precisely 7.2% of all the camera crews should conform to that ethnic grouping - but it should be closer. And that simply isn't the case at the moment.
The question should be why aren't they represented. Do they believe they wont get a job or do they apply and not get accepted for the job/course.I work in the TV/media world, and the under-representation of BAME people is pretty ridiculous. On-screen is one thing (the number's poor, though it's getting better), but off-screen is simply depressing.
No-one's saying that there has to be a millimetric mirroring of the population - that if there's 7.2% of a particular group in the population as a whole then precisely 7.2% of all the camera crews should conform to that ethnic grouping - but it should be closer. And that simply isn't the case at the moment.
I have been lead to believe in the UK that the Pakistani community is under presented in the police due to them seeing it as a lowly job, even with positive discrimination for recruitment.
TTwiggy said:
el stovey said:
Why is everyone up in arms about "PC fools" and "hand wringing lefties"? There hasn't been many complaints or a national outcry at the comment Cumberbatch made. No media witch hunt or Facebook campaign to have him banned from whatever.
All the BBC article pointed to was a comment from an anti racism charity saying the term was outdated.
You beat me to this. Nobody has cried 'I'm offended', a charity has simply pointed out that the term is outdated. For some reason, Cumberbatch has chosen to respond with an essay. Only he knows why. Meanwhile, PH goes into predictable 'PC gone mad, in my day you could call a spade a spade' meltdown.All the BBC article pointed to was a comment from an anti racism charity saying the term was outdated.
In short, nothing to see here, move along.
I'm not offended either, just makes me feel strangely nostalgic that someone of BC's age still uses a phrase like that. It's a bit socially inept & something that my Granddad might have said, but am I offended on behalf of black people? Nope.
zygalski said:
Smiler. said:
Not likely if your contributions on this thread indicate the level of outrage felt by the professional offendees.
Hello Mr Strawman.On a scale of Telegraph to Daily Mail, just how outraged are you at the alleged professionally offended?
voyds9 said:
longblackcoat said:
You might think so, but you'd be wrong.
I work in the TV/media world, and the under-representation of BAME people is pretty ridiculous. On-screen is one thing (the number's poor, though it's getting better), but off-screen is simply depressing.
No-one's saying that there has to be a millimetric mirroring of the population - that if there's 7.2% of a particular group in the population as a whole then precisely 7.2% of all the camera crews should conform to that ethnic grouping - but it should be closer. And that simply isn't the case at the moment.
The question should be why aren't they represented. Do they believe they wont get a job or do they apply and not get accepted for the job/course.I work in the TV/media world, and the under-representation of BAME people is pretty ridiculous. On-screen is one thing (the number's poor, though it's getting better), but off-screen is simply depressing.
No-one's saying that there has to be a millimetric mirroring of the population - that if there's 7.2% of a particular group in the population as a whole then precisely 7.2% of all the camera crews should conform to that ethnic grouping - but it should be closer. And that simply isn't the case at the moment.
I have been lead to believe in the UK that the Pakistani community is under presented in the police due to them seeing it as a lowly job, even with positive discrimination for recruitment.
People may not be actively racist, but it's true that unless prompted otherwise, most of us tend to recruit in our own image. And white men have been in power for a very long time.....
Smiler. said:
zygalski said:
Smiler. said:
Not likely if your contributions on this thread indicate the level of outrage felt by the professional offendees.
Hello Mr Strawman.On a scale of Telegraph to Daily Mail, just how outraged are you at the alleged professionally offended?
Mr GrimNasty said:
“Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thought-crime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed will be expressed by eactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten. . . . The process will still be continuing long after you and I are dead. Every year fewer and fewer words, and the range of consciousness always a little smaller. Even now, of course, there's no reason or excuse for commiting thought-crime. It's merely a question of self-discipline, reality-control. But in the end there won't be any need even for that. . . . Has it ever occcured to you, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?”
Scary, isn't it. Is Orwell still on the English Literature syllabus? FredClogs said:
I've attracted much derision from people in this thread for calling Cumbersnatch out as one of the establishment and a ivory towered toff, but when it comes to the language of slave traders and apartheid then that's open season? Orwell must be spinning in his grave.
It seems quite obvious to me that your comments on this thread have primarily been driven by prejudice due to his background rather than common sense about the context of what he said.It's quite clear that he had no intention to offend anyone - indeed quite the opposite - but sadly, in a world inhabited by an increasing proportion of PC morons, that doesn't seem to matter any more.
I'm sure you would have made excuses if one of your lefty chums had made the same mistake.
longblackcoat said:
And white men have been in power for a very long time.....
In the geographical regions settled by their ancestors, using the political and legal processes, industrial, technical and economic tools they invented, and in the societies they established which have attracted migrants from around the world. SpudLink said:
Mr GrimNasty said:
“Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thought-crime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed will be expressed by eactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten. . . . The process will still be continuing long after you and I are dead. Every year fewer and fewer words, and the range of consciousness always a little smaller. Even now, of course, there's no reason or excuse for commiting thought-crime. It's merely a question of self-discipline, reality-control. But in the end there won't be any need even for that. . . . Has it ever occcured to you, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?”
Scary, isn't it. Is Orwell still on the English Literature syllabus? I don't call anyone black or coloured, there's no need, though I wouldn't know what's PC or not these days. The whole thing is a fecking joke.
The comment above about a lack of BAME representation in the media industry, is it not entirely possible that it just so happens that the people that are allegedly under-represented just didn't apply for the jobs? Why does the fact that the staff are predominantly white mean anything racist? Could the people that work there not just be the best people for the jobs?
Funny thing is the most racist people I've had the displeasure to encounter in the past 10 years have all been anything other than white. Go figure.
The comment above about a lack of BAME representation in the media industry, is it not entirely possible that it just so happens that the people that are allegedly under-represented just didn't apply for the jobs? Why does the fact that the staff are predominantly white mean anything racist? Could the people that work there not just be the best people for the jobs?
Funny thing is the most racist people I've had the displeasure to encounter in the past 10 years have all been anything other than white. Go figure.
Fantic SuperT said:
longblackcoat said:
And white men have been in power for a very long time.....
In the geographical regions settled by their ancestors, using the political and legal processes, industrial, technical and economic tools they invented, and in the societies they established which have attracted migrants from around the world. FredClogs said:
I've attracted much derision from people in this thread for calling Cumbersnatch out as one of the establishment and a ivory towered toff,
Not at all.You've attracted derision for the self-same reasons you always attract derision.
Namely ill-thought out, kneejerk, inconsistent ramblings that most 16 year olds of my acquaintance would be embarrassed to put their names to.
Plus ca change........
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