“You don't like the pandering or the need to avoid even the slightest offensive remark,but society needs it??? Why?Why does society need to pander or avoid making the slightest offensive remark(or perceived offensive remark)?” The very essence of society means it has to be all inclusive. We are a collective, a nation and a society. It’s a social responsibility to include others no matter what there culture, colour or gender. Racism, gender or religious discrimination, destroys society. And the issues all start with the joke, the comment, the words lightly used and accepted. You say that you are British, well what makes Britain Great is its acceptance of difference. I think we have had to go over the top with this in order to make life better. It is part of my life now, I think, speak and write differently to say ten years ago, I am more open to difference in people and cultures and I believe that makes my life better. This multicultural,gender neutral society makes life so much better? How? Life's just ****ing wonderful at present isn't it?? I'm all for live and let live but I draw the line at this namby pamby 'I'm offended' *** If the flagship broadcaster the BBC doesn’t set the highest standard, then society will have nothing to gauge itself on. It seems to me and judging by your personal attack on another poster that you don't have a problem making grossly offensive remarks.....Hypocrite. The poster may as well be a fictional character. If he takes offence, great. I am a hypocrite, but it’s the British character in me that makes me protect the weak and support the underdog. If it means that I have to be offensive to do it, so be it. I am not proud of my posts, but take pride in my views.
It's just the extremes that political correctness get taken to that worries me. I have a mate who wears a 'man bag' sometimes (he'd lived darn sarf for a few years' and I'd not seen him for a while. Now when I saw he had a manbag, I had a crack about him wearing a handbag. Now he didn't say anything but the look on face said it all. He was offended. Something had changed in him since he moved down South, I know this because he would have normally taken it as it was, a joke and he'd have had a go back at me. So I felt offended, haha! No not offended, but somewhat hurt/disappointed that he thought I was serious. I was the offended. Homophobic? My youngest neice recently came out and after literally 5 seconds, my mind just naturally said, so ****ing what? You haven't changed from the wonderful, beautiful girl you always were. I sent a message to her on hearing this news from her Mam, my Sister. My niece is called Stacey and she told me how she cried her eyes out with happiness at what I said. My point then....I have been known, to make a joke about blacks, gays, whatever. But if anyone called me Homophobic, Racist, anything that I'm not, then I'm offended. I'm the average white male and it's all my fault.
On the manbag front, it's not a southern thing, but I do accept the some people in some places might look at them differently. I use my bags when I go into London as it is so much easier to carry everything you need as travelling on the underground it makes sense. I have different sizes, a messenger bag, pocket bag and a small shoulder bag. I don't use the pocket and small bags much now, but I used to carry my compact camera, dictaphone and PDA in them as well as a small note pad, pens and tape measure. Now most of that is on my phone, so less of a need. As well as my bags, I also use (nearly everyday) aluminium flight cases, one has a printer/scanner and paper, one for my laptops, camera and tripods and one for tools and PPE.
I actually have a 4 wheel collapsible trolley that I use! If I have to go on the underground, I have a light weight folding sack truck that I strap everything to.
I just want to add to this to hammer my point home.... If someone suggested I was gay, I wouldn't feel anything. If someone suggests I'm homophobic or racist, I'm ****ing furious.
