What is racist ??

[Drisgirl]

This has been debated loads of times and in the main -I try to be PC (even athough it sometimes is a bit mad) -maintain the status quo and abhor any insults towards anyone which may be deemed offensive.

I have just read in my local newspaper that this English guy (who lives in the town) has been charged with behaving in a 'racially aggravated manner' by calling the 2 Police Officers 'Scottish Pr**ks and Scottish c**ts'

Was I so wrong when i burst out laughing?

C'mon -hardly a hanging offence -still chuckling yet and i am Scottish.

Call them ******** and ***** but dont say Scottish in front of the words - WTF -about time we got a grip !!!

What ya think ?

[34years]

tetjam been on the glue again ?

























D T H

[tell-me-more]

I think it's all about sensitivity.

I don't think political correctness is ever mad, but I'd argue that sometimes what's dubbed political correctness is actually hypersensitivity and plain madness - nothing to do with PC.

It doesn't sound like the swearing was condoned, just that it was aggravated by referring to the PCs' race.

I imagine they weren't as sensitive about that as some races might be, but is it any less racially aggravated than if they'd been pakistani and been called "pakistani...etc."

If you judge that by how sensitive a race is, I think it becomes difficult.

[Drisgirl]

LOL -I still think its funny !!!

Cant believe I walked on eggshells for so long for fear of being racially offensive -its life and that brought it home to me

Its not not enough to call someone a barsteward you have to tag it with 'fat' 'ugly' so why not 'Scottish' or '****' or 'Welsh' or anything for that matter.

Its cr@p you have to say it in the first place but if you have to what does it matter in the grand scheme of things lol

[figure]

Always thought it's when one tries to overtake the other. lol

[Kromovaracun]

Seeing as Scots aren't really a race so much as a nationality, it's a totally incorrect reference to racism.

Racism is, by and large, pretty easy. It just means looking down on, or discriminating in some way, against someone because of their race, or propagating negative treatment of a racial group on racial grounds. A 'racist term' is a term which is an insult based on race. 'Stupid negro' is a racist insult, for instance. 'Scottish Prick' isn't.

Naturally, it's not that black and white (Boom, Tish!). Real racists usually dress an argument based on racial hierarchy in something else, but it's usually pretty easy to spot who is and who isn't at the heart of it just being plain ol' racist. There are times when it's not easy to ascertain, however.

What does irritate is they way people constantly say 'ooh, that's racist' when race isn't involved. Like this case. What's even more annoying is when people pretend that 'racist' is some kind of oppression. Which is equally nonsensical.

[Drisgirl]

I agree Krom -but i we are a race the same as Pakistanis and Yanks -just noticed that P was starred out -thats a nonsence really.

I dindt watch what i said before -simply because I wouldnt feel the need and the thought wouldnt enter my head-and I certainly personally wouldnt prefix a word with fat ugly Australain American Pakistani Welsh Finnish -but it just brought it home to me that we have all become uber sensitive regarding all nationalities especially of ethnic backgrounds -bet most are offended that we highlight it by treading carefully.

Sorry if this post is out of kilter -my son phoned and I was mid post lol

[Drisgirl]

Do'h Fig -LOL -had my serious hat on there !!!!!

[jno]

that sounds like insulting language to me - isn't that an offence of some sort? - but racist, no. As Kromovaracun says, Scots aren't even a race (but I doubt that calling them effing Celts would really have been racist either).

[figure]

Hi Drissy! Glad you have a sense of humour. x ;-)

[Drisgirl]

Hey fig -xx
Jno -I wasnt insulted in the least -I thought it was funny he was being charged with that.

I mean if we got down to the absolute absurd then if you were to call someone a fat barsteward then thats fattist and could hurt someones feeling -so what i'm getting is -think anyone who feels fit to call anyone by any name and pick out a redeeming feature are thick as mince and shouldbt be taken seriously regardless of nationality creed or colour.

[joggerjayne]

These Policemen sound a bit sensitive, the poor darlings.

I hope they never have to deal any really nasty baddies. How will the poor dears cope?

Help, call the Police !!!

No, stop, the Policemen might get upset.

But I'm being attacked !!!

Yes, sorry, but we can't risk the attacker being rude to the Police officers. Sorry dear.

[figure]

"fattist"? I think not, you probably mean 'fat-barstewardicist' lol

[TheBusDriver]

Personally yes I think it's time we got a grip... However, I read through my company policy on Harrassment (we got given "Company Handbooks" you see...)... And it is written that it is down to the perception of the reciever of the harrassment. Therefore, if the Police officers interpretted it to be racist as they were Scottish, then yes, the accused can be done for racially attacking them.

But yes, it is time we got a grip!! I have lost count of the number of times I have refused some kid a child fare on the bus for not having their photocard on them and they've instantly jumped to the "It's cos I'm Black/Asian/Chinese init" excuse.

"No, I don't care if you are blue with pink stripes, you haven't got a photocard, and THAT is the issue." Jeez.... Makes me sick cos one of our drivers actually got suspended pending the investigation to something like this. (The lady had an expired ticket then tried to pay an 85p fare with a �20 note and the driver didn't have change. She said "It's cost I'm Black!" When he told her another bus would be along in 5 minutes, giving her time to go to a shop and get change. She reported him and he got suspended pending the investigation. Though luckily nothing came of it. FOOLS!!!

Yes, we should get a grip. I couldn't give a monkies about anyone's skin colour, sexual orientation, age, religion etc... I've got better things to do with my time than wish "everyone was like me"......

[jno]

I suspect this has something to do with zero tolerance: arrest people for small offences and the big offences dry up. This happened to some extent in New York; if it works, great. But as I said, I would have thought there were more appropriate charges to bring.

[Drisgirl]

PMSL @ Jayne and Fig -glad you see the funny side of it -poor souls that they are -doesnt matter he had a lock knife in his possession -have to get him on the more serious charge -how dare he call us Scottish lol !!!!

[Tichfield]

What is racist?

Calling a spade a spade I expect.

Or accusing somebody of being "*********" maybe?

[Tichfield]

Now that just shows how silly it is.

I posted the word nig gar dly (without the gaps) and the AB censor changed it into *********.

By the way, in case you don't know that "banned" word just means stingy, or miserly.

LOL

What a farce.

[joggerjayne]

I don't get why "Scottish c*nt" is racist.

Surely the rude bit is calling the rather delicate Policeman a "c*nt", not the reference to his being Scottish.

This contrasts with, say, "****" which makes a term of abuse out of the person's nationality itself.