Quote: Lee Henman @ February 5 2009, 10:46 AM GMTI've been saying that ever since. I couldn't believe the other harpies got away with it and Jade took all the heat. Disgraceful.
Go us! \o/
Speak Your Brains Page 8
Quote: Aaron @ February 5 2009, 1:59 PM GMTWell perhaps not the things weak people seem to find most offensive.
It's all that Coming Of Age love I can't stomach.
Quote: Lee Henman @ February 5 2009, 11:15 AM GMTJust so we all know where Thatcher was coming from.
Personally the less I see of Thatcher on my TV screen the better. But at the same time, surely this all depends in what context she made the remark. If she said "Look at that big f**king golliwog!" then fair play, she's a racist bitch and deserves to be villified. But I suspect that wasn't the case. She was probably just referring to his 'fro. So is that racist?
Prezunctly.
There's a HUGE difference between directly calling someone a golliwog (as your scenario quotes), and making an off-the-cuff remark that, for example, a particular facial expression he pulled during a game combined with the 'fro, reminded her of the look of the jam character. Still a stupid comment to make, but the two are worlds apart.
Quote: Lee Henman @ February 5 2009, 11:50 AM GMTAgreed. I'm just not 100% convinced it was meant as a racial thing.
Ah Lee, not only are you one of the very very few funny people here, you're almost the only one with any sense of objectivity and decency. 
Quote: Matthew Stott @ February 5 2009, 1:34 PM GMTBeing an idiot an innocent child I didn't even realise they were supposed to be black people; I thought a gollywog was just a gollywog!
I never heard that term before? Gollywog? Sounds like something from Harry Potter.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ February 5 2009, 2:05 PM GMTIt's all that Coming Of Age love I can't stomach.
There's something delightful about puerile jokes like that.
Quote: Griff @ February 5 2009, 1:41 PM GMTa gat?
...?
The salient point for me is she didn't apologise, where as Ross and Goody did. Goody suffered a miscarriage and said it was a punishment from God for being racist.
If your work has rules and procedures then if you choose to unapologetically break them, you force them to act.
I've known people to be sacked for continually being 10 minutes late or not cleaning up their tea cups.
I think Carole may actually be naive or stupid enough or just not worked enough in the real world not to get that.
A person who works at McDonald's and picks their nose probably deserves a ticking off. A person who works at McDonald's and refuses to stop picking thier nose deserves sacking.
Yes, what is a gat please thank you?
A gun, I think?
Ah. That makes sense.
Quote: sootyj @ February 5 2009, 9:54 AM GMTAaron virtually never types what he's actually thinking.
So true. He always seems to tone it down.
What's going on? Clarkson, Thatcher, Ross & Brand, Prince Harry, etc., etc.,
All causing offence for different reasons: disability, racism, and sexually bullying with foul language - or have they? Is it media fuelled (falling circulations?) or is the media truly only reflecting what modern Britain will, and will not, tolerate?
(P.S. All controversies apart from Prince Harry, from presenters contracted to the BBC - relevant, or not?)
Clarkson having already sniffed the air, apologised almost the instant the media got hold of his utterances and - it's over.
And Thatcher - Quote: "A source said the atmosphere among the team on The One Show was currently one of disbelief that the Carol Thatcher story had become so big". However, news today from The Times (unsubstantiated), reports that an insider said her outburst was far, far, worse than has been reported, and several times called the victim a golliwog, a half-golliwog, and a golliwog frog.
And on a daytime talk-show today, as I was flicking through channels for the latest weather reports (I travel over the closed bridges on the weekends), the presenter - after announcing that Jonathan Ross will be hosting some awards this week/next week - had to shush the audience as it catcalled and booed at the very mention of Ross's name.
Just what is happening? I ask because I believe the country may be going through one of those periodic changes that are only obvious years later, when viewed in retrospection.
There was a time when Prince Phillip could throw racial slurs about with gay abandon, with only a limited follow-up from the media as regards 'front-pageness'. Were they reflecting our lack of interest or theirs? Or is it now somehow, all tied in with the Obama effect for those perceived to be in a minority position, be it sexual, physical disability, or racial?
Whatever it is, something's afoot.
Quote: Leevil @ February 5 2009, 6:09 PM GMTA gun, I think?
Yes, it's derived from Gatling gun, an early machine gun used in the U.S. Civil War.
Hence Jay Gatsby.
Random fact for you fact fans. 
Quote: PhQnix @ February 6 2009, 5:31 PM GMTJay Gatsby.
What?
Quote: Danny K @ February 6 2009, 5:17 PM GMTOr is it now somehow, all tied in with the Obama effect for those perceived to be in a minority position, be it sexual, physical disability, or racial?
Eh? What's Obama got to do with whatnow?