Attention!!!

My only issue with the statement Leazes was that you know for a fact there is one coloured person on this board. There could be hundreds! I could be purple for all you know!

 

Think he meant at least one, so Tash could definitely be offending people.

 

As could any of us. Add in visitors as well and we can have no idea how many people could be offended by his remarks.

 

Knew it was coloured or black can never remember, which so make sure I don't use them incase I offend anyone.

 

To be fair it changes every other year and I know people who prefer to be called one and not other and other people the other way round. I had a mate training to be a social worker and got bollocked for calling a woman a "lady" even though thats what your mum tells you is the polite way of introducing someone to a woman

 

What term DO you use then?

There are people with a full range of skin tones - from black skin, to brown skin. It's a part of life. It's nature, so it has to be openly recognised. Sometimes I think it will get to the stage where every term for dark skin is considered offensive, and it then becomes impossible to talk about it.

 

I keep away from differentiating, though I do forget about that most of the time and use black. But yet I still refer to white people as white, including myself.

 

I just say black, if you're that sensitive to get upset by it you deserve to be offended. I've never met a black person who's offended by it though, it's usually over-PC white people trying too hard not to appear racist, all they usually end up doing is creating a really uncomfortable social environment.

 

It is difficult I admit. Go back a hundred years and there were all sorts of terms to describe just about every variation of race or mixed race, most of which are now considered offensive. I don't think you will offend anybody too much if you say coloured rather than black, even though black is the current politically correct term, as long as the context you say it in is correct/positive. Remember Tash actually said black, but used it attached to abusive statements, so the right word can still be offensive if used in the wrong way.

 

It is over PC, and I don't know any black people who would take offence, but u just never know, someone might take it seriously and smack me one.

 

Like the feminists who say holding a door open for a woman is sexist...

Intent plays a big part.

 

Incredibly over PC it's unreal. I know I don't have any personal racist intentions whatsoever, nor would ever have anything racist to say. You just feel like you're treading on glass though sometimes. And 9 times out of 10 it's probably white people who get a bee in their bonnet over it. I don't know any black people who would take offence either.

 

Precisely. So what do we do, slam it in their face?

 

I blame the Yanks, this would never have happened if they hadn't been so racist.

 

This.

 

Racial language is ingrained in our culture and usually used without second thought. Like some of my friends will say, "I'm just off to the paki shop." Whilst I personally don't like the term, I know it's not meant in a racially-charged way, they're just going to the corner shop.

It's when this language is used directly, in particular if it's attended to offend or provoke, that it is a problem. The word itself is not wrong, just the way it is used.

Compare it to swear words. Down the pub if your mate downs your pint whilst your back is turned you may call him a cheeky ****. If you're waiting at the bar and someone turns up and gets served before you and you say, "oi I was here first you ****!" expect trouble.

It's all about context, something the extremists do not understand. Just ask baa baa rainbow sheep...

 

Why? Is differentiating a bad thing? Discrimination is, but differentiating is just stating the obvious fact - skin colours and physical traits are different. It isn't a bad thing. It's just nature.

I never really ever speak about race mind. In fact, the only time I ever do is when I watch JD and Turk in Scrubs and wish I had a black best friend. There's even a joke in an episode where Ted says having a black best friend would make him cooler (to which Turk replies "I should be offended, but he's right").

However, if I ever wanted to discuss it with someone, then it has to be acknowledged and described.

Funnily enough, as a white person, I'd consider 'black' to sound more offensive than 'coloured'. It's not my place to say which is and which isn't, though.

 

I know there nothing wrong with it but its other people who might take offence and I don't want to appear racist. Racism is wrong as u rightly say and I don't want to be associated.

 

I hold a door open for anyone, but that's the private school education coming out!
I used to have to stand when a teacher came into the room too out of respect & we had silent zones where if you even so much as uttered a word you received a weeks worth of detentions!
Also had demerits, uniform slips (top button undone or tie not tied up properly or hair styled in any way but down on your head) - one lad was expelled for having a mobile phone on him (we had to hand them into reception on a morning & he lied when they did a random check).
Still shudder at the thought of my old school!

 

I remember the episode where Dr Cox's old college buddy visits and he pretends to be offended by JD.

JD: "I'm sorry my African American friend."
Turk: "Please, call me brown bear."