White people live like trash.

[danny dawson]

This is what was said on coronation street a few weeks ago. Over 10,000 people complained but nothing has been said. Does anyone agree that it is frowned upon to say anything against any race or sexuality which it should be for the record but not really acknowledged when a white person is disciminated against? I think all races and sexualities should be able to shout load and be proud but why cant everyone have this privelage without being accused of being a memeber of the BNP etc.?

[Fish the Mod]

I agree but imagine if it was the other way around

[Greedyfly]

I say Coronation Street is trash lol - I can't believe that was said, I don't watch it so I only heard about that now. I am chuckling at the thought. Does sometimes seem one rule for one another for another, but personally it doesnt offend me in the slightest.

[noxlumos]

I don't think it's relevant as a racist remark if character said it in the context of the story. That's like accusing a play like "Bent" or "Good" of being anti-semitic because you have Nazi's denegrating Jews in it.

I don't watch coronation St, so don't know the context of the remark, but since it's a fictional work I don't have a problem with it.If Nelson Mandela said it that would be different....

[THECORBYLOON]

The Broadcasting Watchdog, Ofcom, received 502 complaints and this is the decision they gave
"Introduction

In this episode, single mum Sunita is struggling to keep her head above water with her new-born twins. Her brother Jayesh suggests the possibility of her going back to live with their parents. In the course of the conversation, he suggests that such a move would be preferable to living like ��poor white trash�.

502 viewers complained that the expression was unacceptable and racist.

Decision

In drama it is often the case that characters will say challenging things in order to propel storylines and, indeed, raise issues - sometimes of a controversial nature. Such characterisation, in terms of freedom of expression for writers, producers and actors, is an important right. It is important that modern day dramas are able to reflect the society they seek to portray. Coronation Street often handles controversial issues, including race, from different angles.

Against this has to be balanced the possibility of offence. Rule 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code requires broadcasters to justify the inclusion of potentially offensive material through the context in which it is broadcast.

Relevant contextual elements in this particular scene were that:

the character of Jayesh has been established in previous episodes, when, it is clear, he is unhappy with the life and the life-partners Sunita has chosen. He is not necessarily a sympathetic character;
Jayesh, although a man with traditional views, does not necessarily represent any one particular group or community;
Sunita�s response to her brother clearly showed that his comments were unacceptable. She retorted �� some of my best friends are what you would call poor white trash�.
Very soon afterwards, because Jayesh persisted in his attitude, Sunita threw him out telling him never to come back.

cont.....

[THECORBYLOON]

cont.....

While the term �white trash� has obvious racist overtones, it can also be used in context to describe those from a low socio-economic group. It was clear throughout the dialogue and characterisation that the programme was not condoning the attitudes displayed by Jayesh. However, it is also clear that the programme, dwelling as it often does on contemporary social issues, has a right to reflect the fact that some people do hold such attitudes. By portraying them in dramatic form, in our view, the programme took a legitimate approach to exploring such matters.

Not in breach "

[Postdog]

"Over 10,000 People complained..."

I thought this was a bit exaggerated......

[Toureman]

The majority of tv programmes get complaints about thier content and all tv companies have a person who is responsible for these complaints.

A friend of mine did this job and we always used to have a laugh over some of them as most of the people in the tv companies do.

Some people will complain about anything!

[jaberwocky]

if a white was saying something about any other race all hell would break loose.FACT.

[agnabeya]

Don't you think, in this case, the expression 'White Trash' refers to a type of person - rather than their race or colour?

I know for me, it suggests a type of person rather than their colour.

Just like the term 'Gangsta' suggests a ned or yobbo to me - whether they are Black, White or Asian. It's not a colour thing.

The very premise of this question is founded on an error - there was no statement that White people lived like trash.