Does anyone here wear socks with their sandals? Apparently it is now the thing to do..

That implies that you already have sandals. I think we should be told. Personally I think sandals are wrong. Just wrong.

Discuss, at exceedingly long and tedious length.

Oh OK. Thanks for that.

What’s the difference, exactly?

It is about context and intent. None of the examples you’ve quoted are intended to be insulting or demeaning.

Clarkson used it unthinkingly – hardly racist but ill-advised at best.

What about white rap-artists? Or young white men? What about Asians (young or middle-aged) using it? What about broadcasting it on the BBC? Or broadcasting tracks on the BBC with the ‘offensive’ lyrics edited out; is that acceptable?

Can you call Jeremy Clarkson a smart-**** because you are (presumably) white and middle-aged? Is is acceptable if a young black man called Jeremy Clarkson a smart-****? What if Jeremy Clarkson complained to the BBC that he’d been called something he found offensive (and I’m sure he has) on a programme that was broadcast; would the person who made those comments be forced to beg for forgiveness or risk jeopardising their career?

Good Grief! So many questions!

I Have no idea if any white rap artists or Asian ones use the “N” word. I doubt that they do somehow but as I said, it is all about the context of the usage.

If you noticed I didn’t call Clarkson anything. I said that he was trying be a smart ****, the implication being that he fell short, by some way.

I’m sure if Jeremy Clarkson wanted to take offense at some of the names he’d been called then I’m sure he could. The number of people that have called him names must run into the millions by now though.

If the Libyans don’t like it they know what they can do.

Why have a go at the Libyans? They haven’t done anything and I doubt they care one way or another.

he believed the fence to have been erected out of fear of offending the Libyan troops

David Crowe, chairman of the Friends of the Eighth denied the fence had anything to do with the Libyan troops and instead said the fence was erected for “security reasons.”

“The barracks is undergoing refurbishment in preparation for the Libyans and the fence could have been added to the list of things to be done when it shouldn’t have been.”

A non-story based on rumour and supposition. Good for getting passengers for the outrage bus though.

A field you created – nice.

The problem is that racial abuse, banter or whatever may be great fun for those involved in dishing it out. It is not so great fun for those on the receiving end and unless you have been on the receiving end then you will never know. Hiding behind your mates is no excuse either.
When men deliberate place nude calendars to embarrass female employees, how do you think the women feel about that? When women have to make long detours in order to avoid leering men. Is that right? When management turn a blind eye because they are as bad? Is that right.
What Clarkson did seems trivial compared to what others put up with but it is the thin end of a very fat wedge.
Have some respect for your fellows. Is that so hard?

Eh? we do what we do, I know little of these conditions & shorter hours of which you speak Del, again I live in the real world, based around the ‘operation requirements’ which you will be unaware of. So please do not make assumptions about our working patterns.

So don’t make assumptions about me and my life either then.

You have me baffled now. Now you and your mates in your rufty tufty job get along. A minute ago the left had spoiled it all for you. Which is it?

The problem is that you are blaming the left. I have to do diversity training, respect courses etc. A lefty thing? Hardly. I work for a large US defence company – not particularly left wing.

I pleased all your mates get on and I hope that you never have to suffer bullying abuse of any kind, in the work place or anywhere else for that matter.

then S0d off Cuba

Charming. I hope Cuba knows about this.