Has PC ruined the British Sitcom? Page 5

Thanks!

Does anyone know the legal definition of what consists 'racism', i.e. the legal definition of a 'racist' comment?

I will Google it and see if I can find out...

My point is, if there are 3,000,000 viewers and 300 complain about a comment in a program being racist, what about the 2,999,700 that didn't complain? At what point does that minority complaining voice have to be listened to and why does it have to be listened to at all?

Even if 3,000 complain, so what, it's still way less than 1% !

I believe in racial equality by the way but I'm not against jokes about race... as I know the difference (at least in my own mind) between racial discrimination and a joke... or discrimination against gay people and a joke... etc.

ajp29 is our resident ambulance chaserLionel Hutz , I'm sure he'll know.

Totally agree Frankie.

Oddly, Ken Livingstone signs up to the strict definition that if one person percieves something as racist then it is racist, which is frankly silly, and he went and proved the silliness of the position by telling a Jewish reporter to 'lighten up' after he made some tactless remark concerning the holocaust. Now, if we'd said the same comment, Ken would want our jobs taken off us.

As far as I can see from a brief surf of the net THERE IS NO coherent legal definition of racism or what constitutes a racist comment.

This may be part of the problem...

Now then how about some Welsh gags...!

Just joking ok!!

You got the nail on the head, Frankie. Everyone says that something is or isn't racism because their personal definition of the word is different to everyone else's. Compare Manning's v RG v Ken Livingstone's definitions. And the earlier post about personal / socail meanings that we are fond of bolting onto words.

Racism paradoxically isn't all black and white.

Quote: Leevil @ July 14, 2007, 3:32 PM

ajp29 is our resident ambulance chaserLionel Hutz , I'm sure he'll know.

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Under the Race Relations Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone on grounds of race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), or ethnic or national origin. All racial groups are protected from discrimination.

The Race Relations Act generally applies to the fields of employment, planning, housing, the exercise of public functions (both by public authorities and also private bodies exercising public functions, for example, privately-run prisons). It also applies to the provision of goods, facilities and services, and to education.

Yippee, lock and load, lads. There's a good few loopholes in that legal definition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svLyyzBC_qI

Quote: ajp29 @ July 14, 2007, 3:50 PM

Under the Race Relations Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone on grounds of race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), or ethnic or national origin. All racial groups are protected from discrimination.

The Race Relations Act generally applies to the fields of employment, planning, housing, the exercise of public functions (both by public authorities and also private bodies exercising public functions, for example, privately-run prisons). It also applies to the provision of goods, facilities and services, and to education.

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Trouble with this is it's the legal position on racial discrimination, which is fair enough and fairly clear...

But Racial Discrimination and Racism aren't the same thing (I've found)

Now that we can see what Racial Discrimination is, from this definition, what then is Racism? And what is a Racist comment?

Any clues?

God knows.
But I think any sane, right-thinking person knows what is racist and what isn't. Don't get paranoid.

The law views them as the same thing Frankie.

Quote: Retinend @ July 14, 2007, 9:38 AM

What's all this RG (post-modern) racism I hear about? Can someone give me a few examples?

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.

How about when hes about to tell the joke about a black man and stops because a black man comes within earshot.

Quote: ajp29 @ July 14, 2007, 5:15 PM

The law views them as the same thing Frankie.

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Sorry if I am being paranoid or pedantic but...

If the law sees 'racism' and 'racist comments' as being those comments that would discriminate against race e.g. favour a 'white man' rather than a 'black man' for a job or any unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of racial prejudice, then what has that got to do with comedy?

Comedians tell jokes about ALL races and religions so why is any of it 'racist' as it's not discriminatory. If comedians only told jokes about Welshmen then that would be discrimination, i.e. racial discrimination against Welshmen. But they don't, they tell jokes about ALL races and therefore by legal definition comedians telling jokes, if they are not being discriminatory, are therefore, not being 'racist'.

Right or wrong?

And why is that right or why is that wrong?

Quote: ajp29 @ July 14, 2007, 5:31 PM

How about when hes about to tell the joke about a black man and stops because a black man comes within earshot.

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Sid James did exactly the same thing in one of the 'Carry on's' so that's pretty modern then!