Hello sooty.

I worked with an Asian guy years ago who earned himself the nickname ‘Sooty.’

Regards,

kev35

I worked with an Egyptian lad back in the sixties and everyone called him charcoal…he thought it was funny and so did everybody else…a different era i guess

I worked with an Asian guy years ago who earned himself the nickname ‘Sooty.’

Nothing at all to do with his ethnicity. It all stemmed from one extremely cold and snowy morning when he manged to set fire to the back of a van…..

Regards,

kev35

Sorry, but I fail to see how the word “Brit” is offensive (unless referring to Ms. Spears. In which case, she just IS offensive! :diablo: )

Absolutely – when Briton is abbvreviated it is generally not offensive, but when Pakistani is abbreviated in exactly the same way it generally is. It all depends on the context, and if people started using “Brit” as an insult (which might not be long now!) we probably wouldn’t be so happy about it.

Someone’s made the point that “coloured” is considered racist, although I believe that it is perfectly acceptable in the USA, where racism has been much more of a problem than in the UK. It all depends on what a handful of people decide will be offensive (offensive to others who they usually don’t consult first anyway).

Apparently “nitty gritty” is offensive because it refers to the detrius at the bottom of slave ships, but according to other sources this theory is rubbish. Whatever the truth, no-one would ever find the phrase offensive without first being told that they should be offended.

But why all the fuss about black and white anyway? We’re all just different shades of brown.

But to return to the main topic, does Charles call his friend Sooty because that’s what everyone else does, or because he made up the nickname himself (the former, I would guess)? And was Harry just using the same language as all of his mates and thereby fitting in? Probably – so why not make a huge fuss about how racist soldiers are in general? I’d love to see the PC brigade try that:diablo:

Years ago whilst working down south, my dad was subject to the old “alright Jock, how ya doing Jock ?” routine. He used to wittily retort with an “alright Cyril !” Which for some reason never went down particularly well…:D

My uncle Cyril wouldn’t have objected.

What’s the bloody world coming too…i suppose they’ll be carrying on about the words Geordie or Scouser or even Paddy next…oh please bring back the fifties when it was pleasantville… none of this political correctness sh1t …it wasn’t heard of

Happy to be known as a Jock.

Years ago whilst working down south, my dad was subject to the old “alright Jock, how ya doing Jock ?” routine. He used to wittily retort with an “alright Cyril !” Which for some reason never went down particularly well…:D

Kitty, words (and attitudes) evolve all the time.

Not long ago the BBC spent very large sums of money restoring episodes of The Goon Show, but then edited them when broadcast because of material now too offensive for broadcast. They argue that the shows are at least intact and restored in their archives.

20 years ago when I lived in Aberdeen, we spoke with affection of “P@ki shops”. They were, very specifically, corner shops, selling a huge range of goods, opening very early and not closing until 10 or 11pm. Nearly all were run by south Asian families. But the word has now been abducted into a term of abuse by the BNP and the like (such that you cannot even type it into this forum)

Words evolve but it can be very difficult to keep up to date with it all.

Just Gene Hunt for me 😉

Its interesting how words evolve and what is and isn’t deemed offensive. 60+ years ago a Wing Commander called his dog the N-Word. Now its been changed in the upcoming film to Nidge (be interesting what the code word will be). So PC won out over Historical Accuracy.

Now you can’t refer to a person as ‘coloured’ as it harks back to the days of Empire. If you don’t know their ethnic origin, and you have to describe them for anything then they are black (something despised by those of Asian origin.) BTW I am dating an Asian, so please don’t jump on me for this, am merely voicing a discussion we have on a regular occassion.

In Coronation Street filming locally they were filming a christian wedding in a church, but the PC brigade made them cover up the alter cross. Why? Its a christian wedding, a crucifix is kinda expected somewhere in the decor of a christian church.

I’m all for political correctness. hell no it’s just plain good manners, but why has it gone to such an extent? I cant keep pace with what is and isn’t expected now.

OK I’ll go sit somewhere quiet till i calm down again.

I am not advocating acceptance of hate words in a hate scenario but the recent news items about the Princes and the speed with which the media get onto the relatives of the recipients just get up my nose. So I want my share of petulance too.

anybody noticed now we have “hate crimes” – (to quote Gene Hunt, “as apposed to one of those I love you crimes” ) – pure George Orwell…. and we have a seperate offence for “racially motivated” crimes. So, Daz wigs out and takes pot shots at the co-workers (assuming his mellow out doesn’t work;)) he gets X-years – but if he takes a pot shot at one because he is purple skinned – he gets sentenced differently. Gene Hunt for Prime Minister I say…..

How on earth can you come to that conclusion

Also re DazDaMan’s similar point.

I don’t have to – If I want to feel it’s derogatory, then that’s all I need.

The law states that basically anything can be considered as racist/sexist/gender-ist etc.etc.etc if the recipient OR any other party deems it to be.

There has already been a variety of feelings in this thread. One does, one doesn’t like ‘Jock’ . I remember news items of the various home Nations talking about racism by (mainly) the English against them. How the dickens is a Scot or a Welshman (sorry – Welshperson) a different race to me.

I am not advocating acceptance of hate words in a hate scenario but the recent news items about the Princes and the speed with which the media get onto the relatives of the recipients just get up my nose. So I want my share of petulance too.

Perhaps I didn’t use enough emoticons to get the irony across in my post so I’ll make up for it now.

:dev2::p:D:diablo:;):rolleyes:

Brian
(English with a bit of Scot married to English with a bit of Irish)

I’m sorry but the shortening of British or Briton to Brit is insulting and derogatory to me.

It HAS been used as a hate word e.g. “Brits Out”

How on earth can you come to that conclusion because it was used once in a derogatory fashion?
Would “British Out” have been more suitable?

Most collective national names have been used in nasty ways on many occasions and I won’t even consider listing them here.

I use an expat forum here in Spain and Brit is commonly used as an abbreviation of the collective noun.

It’s even listed twice in the Oxford Dictionary:
Brit n. (colloq.) British person. [abbr.]
Brit. abbr. Britain; British.

I’m English, but cannot object to being referred to as a Brit, even if it’s used in a derogatory fashion, which so far I haven’t heard.

PC has gone much too far, IMLO.
Luckily, the Spanish don’t suffer from it!

That was a while ago, Steve. I have mellowed somewhat.

Maybe.

.
Having said that, I’m not a racist, I’m just xenophobic – I hate EVERYONE! :diablo:

According to your My Space rant you want to get a gun and kill all your workmates???

I’m living in the most racist country in the world…it’s a national sport in this country to make jokes about Aboriginals or Abbo’s as they’re called here…if your British you’re a Pommy bast*rd …Lebanese are lebo’s and so on… so if you’re a bit sensitive this country is not the place to be…personally i couldn’t care less what they call me and i don’t take offence to anything..as far as that Prince Harry goes he sounds like he’s the most down to earth normal kid amongst that pack of tax payer funded parasites they call the Royal family

I’m sorry but the shortening of British or Briton to Brit is insulting and derogatory to me.

It HAS been used as a hate word e.g. “Brits Out”

In order to use the word at all, you must be a fellow Briton (and even then I am not keen on it), I will not accept it from any other NATIONALITY ( I emphasise that to differentiate from ethnicity or religion).

Political correctness is a double edged sword.

Regards Brian

Sorry, but I fail to see how the word “Brit” is offensive (unless referring to Ms. Spears. In which case, she just IS offensive! :diablo: )

“Brit” refers to the Briton as a person – always has, always will. You can’t say that this is offensive and expect the same kind of backlash as if you used the word “****” – which is, and always has been, a racist term.

I’m quite happy to be called a “Brit” – certainly not a Limey, and definitely not a “Jock”, since I was brought up in both environments (English mother, Scottish environment).

Having said that, I’m not a racist, I’m just xenophobic – I hate EVERYONE! :diablo:

Here we go again.
PC versus free speech.
Let’s be clear, racism is wrong on all levels. Good humour and banter is right on all levels and should be encouraged and responded with equal banter.

PC’ness is equally wrong on all levels. It belittles those it is supposed to protect. It was created by bone-idle idiots, usually in local authorities who had nothing better to do than think of things we mustn’t say. “Chalkboard” FFS! The Black in Blackboard was not negative to Black people so why was it deemed so. “Ship shape and Bristol fashion”, not PC because these wan***s had assumed it meant that the slaves were all lined up and ready for sailing; which just shows that most of these sorts obviously wasted their time at school.
Thankfully, PC ness is on the decline, proper comedy is appearing back on the TV and the circuit.
As for Harry, he has been sent on a PC training course, to learn that in this mans Army he must not be “One of the lads” when there are sh**stirring nomarks lurking around with a camera.

Sorry to sound off and nothing personal intended, Brian

Not at all, no issues from me- its a debate/discussion forum after all. If we’d have been face to face in a pub for example, and I used the word and you had objected, I’d have have said “Oh sorry – is it your round?” job done,- no keyboard fury for me – its too easy these days !

I do get described at work by my European colleagues as “very English” – not sure if that is a compliment, but I chose to take it as one….

Duly ammended – no insult or offence intended on my part, apologies if any caused.

Sorry to sound off and nothing personal intended, it’s just a point I feel the need to bring out every now and again. I do like what you have amended it to (as an Englishman) but that opens another can of worms :diablo:

Brian

I’m sorry but the shortening of British or Briton to Brit is insulting and derogatory to me.

Regards Brian

Duly ammended – no insult or offence intended on my part, apologies if any caused.

Happy to be known as a Jock.