Quote: don rushmore @ October 9 2010, 6:41 PM BSTIf anyone wants to know, once and for all, if the word is acceptable, an email/letter to the BBC is probably in order.
This was my attempt at putting an end to, at least, my input into the debate.
Otherwise I think we're just going to go round in circles.
It's been an engaging thread though, I've enjoyed reading the different points of view.
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ October 9 2010, 6:58 PM BSTThe word 'nignog' meaning a raw, untrained or incompetent person has a demonstrably (i.e. dictionary-verified) non-racist history dating back to the early 20th Century.
It is also, quite separately, a racist term being effectively duplication of 'nigger'.
The fact that it has a non-racist meaning did not save Jim Bowen from being sacked from his radio show recently when he used the term in its non-racist sense.
Perhaps because it is thought of these days, by almost everyone, as a racist insult; not only is Spoon not, but I imagine most people never actually use the term at all. I know I haven't since about nineteen eighty nine.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 9 2010, 7:01 PM BSTPerhaps because it is thought of these days, by almost everyone, as a racist insult; not only is Spoon not, but I imagine most people never actually use the term at all. I know I haven't since about nineteen eighty nine.
I said it last month. As a treat.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 9 2010, 7:01 PM BSTPerhaps because it is thought of these days, by almost everyone, as a racist insult; not only is Spoon not . . .
This is not intended to be a swipe at either conributor but Matthew (following Nat's example) seems to be citing his own experience as typical of that of 'almost everyone'.
I don't claim to represent 'almost everyone' but I assure you I have never in my life heard the noun 'spoon' used to refer to anything but (i) the familiar eating implement of that name and (ii) a black person.
Where are you from, Ming? (Or did you already say.)
Quote: don rushmore @ October 9 2010, 1:05 AM BSTNot always. Often, the contraction is established from the rhyming word.
I am struggling to think of examples. It seems to defeat the purpose.
Quote: zooo @ October 9 2010, 7:47 PM BSTWhere are you from, Ming? (Or did you already say.)
That's a very fair question, given the subjects currently under discussion.
However, I really do not want any mad bastards from BCG's otherwise sane and civilised membership coming round to my house with flaming torches and pitchforks, thank you very much.
No one's asking for your house number, ming!
Quote: Timbo @ October 9 2010, 7:51 PM BSTI am struggling to think of examples. It seems to defeat the purpose.
I did think that.
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ October 9 2010, 7:53 PM BSTThat's a very fair question, given the subjects currently under discussion.
However, I really do not want any mad bastards from BCG's otherwise sane and civilised membership coming round to my house with flaming torches and pitchforks, thank you very much.
Ha! Fair enough.
Quote: Timbo @ October 9 2010, 7:51 PM BSTI am struggling to think of examples. It seems to defeat the purpose.
I did say 'established from the rhyming word'. For example, battle cruiser (boozer) becomes 'I'm just going down the cruise.'
If the rhyming word has the same amount of letters/syllables - agreed, that would be daft. Obviously.
Plank
Dumbo
Shitehawk
Dunderhead
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ October 9 2010, 7:39 PM BSTThis is not intended to be a swipe at either conributor but Matthew (following Nat's example) seems to be citing his own experience as typical of that of 'almost everyone'.
I don't claim to represent 'almost everyone' but I assure you I have never in my life heard the noun 'spoon' used to refer to anything but (i) the familiar eating implement of that name and (ii) a black person.
I was talking about the term nignog, and I don't think I'm wrong to say that if you asked most people, they would say they thought it was a racist term. And, with Spoon, I am talking about, yes, the whole of Cumbria. Wherever you're from, you've heard of it used in that way, fine, where I'm from, it was always used in the way I mention.
That's it.
I think we've blathered on pointlessly enough about this now really.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 9 2010, 8:54 PM BSTI think we've blathered on pointlessly enough about this now really.
It's not pointless: it's a process of sharing views and experiences and thus being drawn closer together as a community.
In Australia, the word spoon means "slut", being rhyming slang for "spoon drawer = whore". The word spoon has therefore been banned. The seemingly innocent word "chair" has also been banned by the police, as it stems from "table and chair = ethnic minority". Thus, table is now off-limits as well. Anyone who disagrees with me or is unaware of this lexical lineage is an idiot.
