Tom Daley

[Dave]

Indeed Matt, some try so hard to show their not racist they refer to black people as coloured, a damn sight more offensive to a black person than referring to them as what they are, black. After all if you say coloured, what colour are they, red, yellow, pink ?

[AustrianAndyGull]

Indeed Matt, some try so hard to show their not racist they refer to black people as coloured, a damn sight more offensive to a black person than referring to them as what they are, black. After all if you say coloured, what colour are they, red, yellow, pink ?

Slightly disagree with this Dave, sorry mate. I think Alan Hansen used the term 'coloured' to refer to a black player and he was ticked off for it but around Yorkshire especially and with people of a certain era who grew up in the 50's and 60's many still do refer to black people as 'coloured' and they certainly aren't racist. It was just a term that was familial whilst growing up and I was indeed passed on this term from my family whilst growing up in the 80's. In the 80's around where I grew up amongst the pit villages of Yorkshire if you used the term 'black' then that was deemed harsh, offensive and a racist word never to be used and now it has come full circle again where 'coloured' is now deemed offensive.

I happened to use the word 'coloured' as a kid and teen and always thought it was the correct and respectful term to use. I hadn't been taught any different but my parents who themselves hadn't been taught from their parents and so on. Now we teach our kids that black is the correct term to use so if it changes as language does with the passage of time and they still use it even though it is outdated and considered racist then ARE they racist?

I just think a lot of folk who don't have a racist bone in their body are often confused by what they can and can't say in todays society. Apparently the N word is a term black men use with each other in an affectionate manner if I have been told correctly although I could be wrong and I have always held the belief that that word is not acceptable although that is probably the most obvious example.

It certainly is a can of worms but good, decent people are being accused of being racist (not saying you are doing this Dave ) just because they happened to grow up believing a word was appropriate and now it turns out it is not but they haven't been told yet.

Does that make any sense?

[stevegull]

Terrific post, Matt.

And that other person (I forget who) who mentioned the banners on buses "Some people are gay. Get over it." Most people certainly are over it. But it seems to me the homosexuals themselves are the ones who feel the need to announce their sexual preferences and expect fanfare when they do. To be fair, it shouldn't even be a 'brave' thing to do. I don't like the idea of someone being called 'brave' because they have told everyone which sexuality they are. If I went around my local town showing people my 'straight' video I wouldn't be called brave. I'd be called down right weird.

[Dave]

Slightly disagree with this Dave, sorry mate. I think Alan Hansen used the term 'coloured' to refer to a black player and he was ticked off for it but around Yorkshire especially and with people of a certain era who grew up in the 50's and 60's many still do refer to black people as 'coloured' and they certainly aren't racist.

I just think a lot of folk who don't have a racist bone in their body are often confused by what they can and can't say in todays society. Apparently the N word is a term black men use with each other in an affectionate manner if I have been told correctly although I could be wrong and I have always held the belief that that word is not acceptable although that is probably the most obvious example.

It certainly is a can of worms but good, decent people are being accused of being racist (not saying you are doing this Dave ) just because they happened to grow up believing a word was appropriate and now it turns out it is not but they haven't been told yet.

Does that make any sense?

Yep get where your coming, and I wasn't suggesting that anyone referring to a black person as coloured was indeed racist, just merely pointing out that's more likely to offend a black person than calling them black, and it's the same with homosexuality, there seems to be such a clamour amongst pressure groups politicians to be seen to do the right thing and just so 'PC' that it's getting to a point where by no one can make a public speech or write any thing that will be read in public with out first having it proof read by a lawyer, or someone like me, who doesn't have a great grasp of grammar may use the wrong word to describe what I am trying to say and end being branded some thing I am not because of a simple mistake in what I had written, madness.

Oh and you're right to an extent, as a manager of U16 football team can often here rap music coming from the dressing room, does appear to be a lot of Black rap artists who refer to them selves and each other n-----r's, surprised the same people trying to stop Spurs fans from celebrating there own heritage haven't jumped on the bandwagon and tried to get this music banned.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Hey Dave, no probs mate. It may appear that I slightly got the wrong end of the stick again. :Oops:

[ferrarilover]

I think coloured used to be the term, but, as Dave says, they got a bit pissed off. "What colour am I?" They'd ask (perfectly reasonably). Thus, the BBC compliance phrase was amended and 'black' it is.

Matt.