News1 min ago
Is this the thought police at work again?
43 Answers
Why on Earth should this woman have been sacked for this. She was merely expressing a personal preference that she didn't want an asian driver. Fair enough in my opinion, as she was paying (presumably) and the customer is always right. The BBC should be ashamed of themselves.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/772 1813.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/772 1813.stm
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So you believe that BBC presenters should be allowed to incite a company to commit a criminal offence (by allocating the job to a driver based on the grounds of his/her race) without any action being taken?
If it was an office worker, unknown to the public, there might be a case for the worker to keep his/her job. However Sam Mason was the 'voice of the BBC'. Any involvement with criminal activity, or with racism, clearly constitutes a 'breach of trust' in her ability to do her job (and retain the confidence of the public in the BBC) and provides clear grounds for dismissal.
It's just the same as when I was in teaching. If I was overheard, 'off duty' in a pub, referring to a member of the Asian community as a 'P@ki', I'd have been subject to disciplinary procedures and probably instant dismissal. That's perfectly reasonable because any such comment would have undermined the confidence of others in my ability to do my job without racial bias.
Chris
If it was an office worker, unknown to the public, there might be a case for the worker to keep his/her job. However Sam Mason was the 'voice of the BBC'. Any involvement with criminal activity, or with racism, clearly constitutes a 'breach of trust' in her ability to do her job (and retain the confidence of the public in the BBC) and provides clear grounds for dismissal.
It's just the same as when I was in teaching. If I was overheard, 'off duty' in a pub, referring to a member of the Asian community as a 'P@ki', I'd have been subject to disciplinary procedures and probably instant dismissal. That's perfectly reasonable because any such comment would have undermined the confidence of others in my ability to do my job without racial bias.
Chris
Hang on...'personal preference'???
Well, that could cover a multitude of nasty viewpoints.
Her comments are as unacceptable as an employer refusing to take on Jews, women or gays. Can you see how unaccceptable this is in 2008?
Okay, she may have gotten away with comments like that back in 1958, but surely you can't defend her now?
You know what I would've done if I took that call? I would've said "A white driver is on his way", screwed up her number and chucked it in the bin.
Then the sensible thing to do would be to phone her boss and ask him/her to ensure she never calls them again.
I certainly wouldn't want to accept money from someone like that. I'm sure most right minded people feel the same.
Bravo to the BBC for chucking her. Think I might stick another fiver onto my TV licence cheque next year as a 'thank you'.
Well, that could cover a multitude of nasty viewpoints.
Her comments are as unacceptable as an employer refusing to take on Jews, women or gays. Can you see how unaccceptable this is in 2008?
Okay, she may have gotten away with comments like that back in 1958, but surely you can't defend her now?
You know what I would've done if I took that call? I would've said "A white driver is on his way", screwed up her number and chucked it in the bin.
Then the sensible thing to do would be to phone her boss and ask him/her to ensure she never calls them again.
I certainly wouldn't want to accept money from someone like that. I'm sure most right minded people feel the same.
Bravo to the BBC for chucking her. Think I might stick another fiver onto my TV licence cheque next year as a 'thank you'.
What grounds could she possibly have for *not* wanting an Asian driver? How does being Asian make someone a bad driver - surely all you need in a driver is someone who will take you safely from A to B. This isn't just a throwaway issue of 'personal preference', it's serious prejudice. How does she survive in our multi cultural society having to deal with all those Asian people on a daily basis?? I just find it amazing that people can still be so unenlightened, when we have all been living together in this country now for more than 60 years.
anyone who is going to be 'freaked out' by a turban is living in another century, and I don't mean the 20th. This woman has clearly not prepared her daughter for the real world, so a bad mother as well as a racist. The customer is not always right and any customer who demands that her driver should not be black or Jewish would suffer exactly the same punishment, and deserve it.
Where I live they are known as the Taxi Taliban, robbing cheating barstewards to a man. They'll pickup people from out of town at the station and take them on a wild goose chase round town charging them fifteen quid for a 4 quid ride. That's just one of their party tricks! the Taxi inspectors are a bunch of liberal nancy boys more afraid of being labelled racist than doing their jobs. This bird is bl00dy spot on she had the balls to object having one of this parasitical scum driving her, good girl. If we all stood up for ourselves like this they'd pi55 off back to their own sh1t h0les, rant over!
JNO said "incidentally, regarding the question title, this has nothing to do with thought police. She can think what she likes. The trouble arose because she said it out loud."
In response. What happened to freedom of speech. What, is it OK to speak as long as we don't say anything controversial? We can think it but not speak it....Isn't that just a little hypocritical??? Well, thats OK then. Why not move to Zimbabwee and be in total dictatorship regime. Last time I looked we lived in a free country with a democracy, although due to people like you it is quickly turning into a "NANNY STATE".
In response. What happened to freedom of speech. What, is it OK to speak as long as we don't say anything controversial? We can think it but not speak it....Isn't that just a little hypocritical??? Well, thats OK then. Why not move to Zimbabwee and be in total dictatorship regime. Last time I looked we lived in a free country with a democracy, although due to people like you it is quickly turning into a "NANNY STATE".
free speech is one of many freedoms and sometimes they conflict. You might think you are free to call your neighbour a paedophile. He might think he is free not to be slandered. Try it. When you're hauled to court for defamation, tell the judge he's part of a regime identical to Zimbabwe. I'm sure he'll give the utmost respect to your freedom of speech.
debbz1969
Freedom of speech?
Who's saying that she cannot say what she wants? Who's banning her from saying what she wants?
No-one. But with freedom of speech comes a level of responsibility.
There's nothing to stop me from making claims that all black men are muggers, all white men are child abusers, all Muslims are terrorists and all Jews are thieves. However, if I did I've got to be prepared for the consequences.
Hammer-Head, I would like to politely suggest that the country has always been in a mess because of people who hang onto attitudes like yours.
I firmly believe that attitudes like yours are on the way out. I reckon another 50 years or so will do it.
You're an apologist.
Freedom of speech?
Who's saying that she cannot say what she wants? Who's banning her from saying what she wants?
No-one. But with freedom of speech comes a level of responsibility.
There's nothing to stop me from making claims that all black men are muggers, all white men are child abusers, all Muslims are terrorists and all Jews are thieves. However, if I did I've got to be prepared for the consequences.
Hammer-Head, I would like to politely suggest that the country has always been in a mess because of people who hang onto attitudes like yours.
I firmly believe that attitudes like yours are on the way out. I reckon another 50 years or so will do it.
You're an apologist.
Double standards....... Just for a change. And for the record, If my neighbour WAS a paedofile it wouldn't be slander to call him such. If he WASN't then I would have no need to call him one. Pointless scenario there I think.
I think you are missing the point I was trying to make. My point is this. Why can't we speak our minds without fear of reprisals. Thats all.
I think you are missing the point I was trying to make. My point is this. Why can't we speak our minds without fear of reprisals. Thats all.
debbz1969
You are free to say "I don't want my daughter being any where near blacks or Asians. I don't like them".
No one can possibly take away your right to hold those views.
However, my guess is that there are more people in society who find views like that a just plain nasty and wouldn't want to be anywhere near someone who holds views like that.
If I worked in an office with an 'out' BNP supporter, I'm guessing they would be pretty much excluded.
I'm uncomfortable with my TV licence partitally paying this woman's salary.
Not sure what double standards you're referring to by the way.
You are free to say "I don't want my daughter being any where near blacks or Asians. I don't like them".
No one can possibly take away your right to hold those views.
However, my guess is that there are more people in society who find views like that a just plain nasty and wouldn't want to be anywhere near someone who holds views like that.
If I worked in an office with an 'out' BNP supporter, I'm guessing they would be pretty much excluded.
I'm uncomfortable with my TV licence partitally paying this woman's salary.
Not sure what double standards you're referring to by the way.
debbz1969
You've swung right off topic now.
Bringing it back to the actual post. If you worked in a shop and an Asian came in and said, "I don't want that white woman serving me", for no other reason except that you were white, would you think "Fair enough mate". Or would you think, "What a t*sser"?
You've swung right off topic now.
Bringing it back to the actual post. If you worked in a shop and an Asian came in and said, "I don't want that white woman serving me", for no other reason except that you were white, would you think "Fair enough mate". Or would you think, "What a t*sser"?
Hang on a minute here. You are turning all this around to race. It's much bigger than that. All I am saying is you should be free to speak whatever you believe. I don't personally have a problem with any creed or race. But I also don't think the woman should have been sacked for stating a preference. Thats her choice, for reasons only known to her. If she had said I don't want a Scotsman to pick me up we wouldn't be having this conversation.
debbz1969
But this whole story is about race!!!!
She said she doesn't want an Asian picking up her daughter. The subject of the conversation is race. You cannot simply say it's a matter of personal preference. That's just dodging the issue.
Okay...this is personal preference...
"Hi, I'd like a cab to the airport, but I don't want a 4X4, because they're bad for the environment".
This is racism:
"Hi, I'd like a cab to the airport, but I don't want a black driver...just send a white one".
You see the difference?
But this whole story is about race!!!!
She said she doesn't want an Asian picking up her daughter. The subject of the conversation is race. You cannot simply say it's a matter of personal preference. That's just dodging the issue.
Okay...this is personal preference...
"Hi, I'd like a cab to the airport, but I don't want a 4X4, because they're bad for the environment".
This is racism:
"Hi, I'd like a cab to the airport, but I don't want a black driver...just send a white one".
You see the difference?
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