The world's gone PC mad.

[No Longer Posh Red]

As arriba posted above, it's often not the words but the way they are said.

I have some sympathy with Hansen's comments, he resists using the word black (I guess because of what John Terry said), but struggles to work out what to use instead that is PC.

It's going to be like the US soon, where no-one is black or white, they are African American or Caucasian.


If Terry had called Ferdinand a "Fucking Person of African Origin Cunt" would that have been ok?

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

I'm far from someone who embraces political correctness, but like "half-caste", describing someone as "coloured" is wrong and offensive in my opinion and he's right to have to apologise.

Really? That offends you Barry? I'd have thought it was more accurate than 'black'. Honest to God, the world has without doubt gone stark staring mad. I'm pretty sure Hansen is not a racist and shouldn't have to apologize. We live in a multi-racial and in the main pretty racially tolerant society (notice I put 'in the main' in italics which means I realise we're far from perfect). Some of us are different to others and referring to those differences is not in itself 'racist'. I suspect that he didn't know what fucking word to use and ironically was probably trying to be politically correct.

It's soon going to get to the stage where no public figure is going to want to discuss any matter relating to race for fear of being totally caned in the media and potentially fucking up their career. This cannot be a good thing.

As has been quite rightly said, it is not so much the word itself but the intent behind it. I used to work with a bloke and we were good mates. He happened to be Scottish and I called him a 'Jock Bastard' all the time. Guess what? He wasn't offended because he knew I was only pissing about.*

*he probably also knew I was factually correct 

P.S. That was not a rant aimed at you Barry. I just picked up on your point and used it to expound my own views on the subject.

[otanswell]

This whole shebang is getting on my tits now
Do we call the half caste people chocolate babies cos that pretty much every Londoner calls them?!

[yeo]

I'm pretty sure in the 70's and 80's people used to think coloured was a polite way of saying black.I'm not black though so its not for me to decide whats offensive. I've never been victim of racism,if a black person says coloured is wrong then fair enough its wrong.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

I'm pretty sure in the 70's and 80's people used to think coloured was a polite way of saying black.I'm not black though so its not for me to decide whats offensive. I've never been victim of racism,if a black person says coloured is wrong then fair enough its wrong.

Someone at some point decided that 'Eskimo' was racist. Now they have to be called 'Inuits' or something...until someone decides that's racist I suppose 

.....actually, come to think of it, I'm starting to feel a little bit offended.....

[Ralphy]

I don't get why people get so up tight about it to be honest. Racism is wrong but if an American called me a Limey I wouldn't give a toss !

[chalkies_shorts]

I don't get why people get so up tight about it to be honest. Racism is wrong but if an American called me a Limey I wouldn't give a toss !

But in the UK you can't be offensive to a white, heterosexual, non disabled, non pikey.

[janaage]

This Hansen 'non event' is pathetic. It seems some people are just waiting to be shocked, offended or appalled at any moment.

I'm offended at the way people take offence so easily.

[Batch]

This Hansen 'non event' is pathetic. It seems some people are just waiting to be shocked, offended or appalled at any moment.

The only way they be more shocked, offended or appalled is if Clarkson himself had said it.

[leefer]

People should only take offence to words if they are said to offend.

I kind of agree arriba....but the proof in the pudding is when it is you or your family..if you were in town Xmas shopping and someone called your wife/son a name for example that person might laugh and say...just kidding mate,dont take it so serious.

Would you say ok bud no problem?.....dont know if i would,it is a fine line knowing if a person has said something in Malice.....whats wrong with him apologising....nothing in my view.

Its not him apologising is it.....just the Beeb doing there best to appease all as usual.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

This Hansen 'non event' is pathetic. It seems some people are just waiting to be shocked, offended or appalled at any moment.

I'm offended at the way people take offence so easily.

Couldn't agree more McSporran

[Barry Scott]

Really? That offends you Barry? I'd have thought it was more accurate than 'black'. Honest to God, the world has without doubt gone stark staring mad. I'm pretty sure Hansen is not a racist and shouldn't have to apologize. We live in a multi-racial and in the main pretty racially tolerant society (notice I put 'in the main' in italics which means I realise we're far from perfect). Some of us are different to others and referring to those differences is not in itself 'racist'. I suspect that he didn't know what fucking word to use and ironically was probably trying to be politically correct.

It's soon going to get to the stage where no public figure is going to want to discuss any matter relating to race for fear of being totally caned in the media and potentially fucking up their career. This cannot be a good thing.

As has been quite rightly said, it is not so much the word itself but the intent behind it. I used to work with a bloke and we were good mates. He happened to be Scottish and I called him a 'Jock Bastard' all the time. Guess what? He wasn't offended because he knew I was only pissing about.*

*he probably also knew I was factually correct 

P.S. That was not a rant aimed at you Barry. I just picked up on your point and used it to expound my own views on the subject.

I think perhaps saying I'm offended is going a bit over the top. I feel myself cringe and know that many people hate it. I think to be honest, that I'm more reacting to the fact society, or a large portion of it, is offended.

In many ways I'm sort of in Ralphy's camp. People do need to grow up, but on the flip side, unless you are part of a minority and have experienced discrimination I imagine it's hard to know quite how people really feel.

There's a YouTube video of Morgan Freeman somewhere, where he says if people just stopped talking about it, racism would stop and he's right to a degree. It's like I saw some disabled bloke on TV in the build up to the Olympics saying disabled people should not be called disabled. What?! Get a life. If you want to be treated the same as everyone else, get on with your life, stop fucking whinging about the badges society gives you and how you think you're owed something.

And I know you weren't ranting at me OST.

[janaage]

See I get the whole issue with words like n*gger, p*ki and such like, as all too often they've been used in such ways that the historical meaning gives them their uber racist tag. Same as calling a disabled person a sp*stic. It's not right. However jock, Taff, paddy, even chinky has no such overly negative historical association, as far as I'm concerned. Although I know plenty of Scots who don't like being called jock, but that's not to say it's offensive, well that's my take on it.

Now let's have a group hug.

[jonny72]

There's a YouTube video of Morgan Freeman somewhere, where he says if people just stopped talking about it, racism would stop and he's right to a degree.

I've thought this for a long time. All of the protection against discrimination that is given to ethnic minorities, women, the disabled and so on just defines them as being different and becomes self fulfilling. If you want equality you have to treat everyone the same, not give certain groups special treatment.

I wonder how many of the people complaining about Hansen's comments have told or laughed at a joke about Scottish people being tight, or alcoholic? Bet you all of them have, fucking hypocrites.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

There's a YouTube video of Morgan Freeman somewhere, where he says if people just stopped talking about it, racism would stop and he's right to a degree. I

He is indeed right to a very very large degree.

One example being when I moved house a few years ago and I signed on with the local doctor and you have to fill out a standard form. One of the questions asks you what ethnic group you belong to. I was very tempted to tick the 'Irish Traveller' box or cross it out altogether and write 'Pikey Scum' or 'Gillingham Fan'.

In all seriousness though.....WAKE THE FUCK UP. AS LONG AS YOU ARE ASKING IRRELEVANT POLITICALLY CORRECT BULLSHIT BOLLOCKS QUESTIONS LIKE THIS WE CAN NEVER CALL OURSELVES A TRULY RACIALLY MIXED SOCIETY!!

Fuck me.