General Chat

we had to explain to an American lady whose little boy Randolph joined the reception class why we found it so hilarious that his family called him Randy

seems that its mainly us White eyes that get upset because we fear we MAY upset others............

My mate, who grew up with apartheit, finds our racism quite amusing.

'Talk tidy', Ann.

it's all ridiculous - if someone calls me Taffy, am I offended? No I'm not - pleased to know they recognise my accent :-D

Viv neither did I...as you say 'we live and learn'...

Two viewers were concerned that the word 'slope' was an offensive racist term.......(degree of inclination in my Dictionary.)

An Ofcom spokesman said: 'After a thorough investigation, Ofcom has found the BBC breached broadcasting rules by including an offensive racial term in Top Gear, which was not justified by context.

Jeremy Clarkson used the word "slope" to refer both to an Asian man crossing a bridge, and the incline of the bridge. :-S

All words were created or evolved at some stage.

But why are certain words considered rude or unacceptable?

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

I have been called some horrible names in my time, my answer is always. I've been called worse names by better people, they don't know how to react to that and it does tend to shut them up :-D :-D

well I have never considered calling someone a pleb was offensive - never used the term myself, but certainly would not be offended if someone called me a pleb - that word has cost the UK thousands of pounds - why?

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-services/articles/crosscultural-marketing.html

Neither did I.......does this mean that our colloquialisms for various takeaways are suspect?

or even,our childhood slang names for different nationalities?



even "Grandad" can be used in an offensive manner.......towards a slow older driver for example.....

"inclined plane=slope up"

"slowpup= lazy dog"

"lazy dog=useless greyhound"

There is a Turkish restaurant we use occasionally.

We were there early one night on the way home from work and the Turkish chef was alone there. He was very polite and attentive but he called us Missus and Matey!

As the words were scripted ( and it was Clarkson's programme) they probably knew that it was a derogatory term. As a double entendra, for most of us it probably went right over our heads.

There are probably many words and phrases which are harmless in one culture, but insulting in another. I've been addressed as 'Dear' by a younger generation British Asian. Harmless if used to a related child but for me, uncomfortable.

I've also been addressed as Grandma by a Turkish teenager. I'm still not sure if that was supposed to be an insult or a respectful title!

To the pure in heart all is pure.

The key seems to be that Clarkson did know it was offensive.

I had no idea the offending word was a derogatory term for someone. You live and learn. :-S

Sir John Cheke (16 June 1514 – 13 September 1557) was an English classical scholar who wrote:

‘I am of this opinion that our own tung should be written cleane and pure, unmixt and unmangeled with borowing of other tunges; wherein if we take not heed by tiim, ever borowing and never paying, she shall be fain to keep her house as bankrupt‘.

in the light of Jeremy Clarksons'/Top Gear
faux pas on use of words, do you think that a word in common, innocent use in your own country/dialect should be considered offensive by another?

especially as you may not know at the time that your "word" is a possible suspect?

Bob