@fmf saidAgreed. As a white person, saying you were also offended would indeed be a dilution of the word 'offended.' (In a similar way to using 'delusion' outside of a mental health context).
As the C20th century wound down and the C21st has worn on, identifying oneself as offended has become a political act, in many instances.
It's understandable if the guy in question, along with other Black Britons, feel offended by the broadcaster's indiscretion or even by some possible underlying disrespect that gave rise to it, but I think if I were to claim I was offended t ...[text shortened]... ression 'to clutch one's pearls' dates back only as far as 1987. It has a relative newness about it.
I hope this particular case has already blown over. It did however go beyond common courtesy, as we unfortunately do live in a world where people discriminate on account of a person's skin colour. Best not to play into that.
@ghost-of-a-duke saidI disagree. I see this is a case of a lack of common courtesy.
I hope this particular case has already blown over. It did however go beyond common courtesy, as we unfortunately do live in a world where people discriminate on account of a person's skin colour. Best not to play into that.
I doubt that ordinary Black Britons ~ at least those who aren't purveyors of identity politics ~ need liberal White Britons such as ourselves defining what discrimination is and isn't for our Black compatriots.
White Britons making a fuss about Fiona Bruce referring to an audience member's ethnicity [or, its shorthand, skin colour] is not supporting in any meaningful way Black Britons who face discrimination. It's just virtue signalling.
@torunn saidwe can't continue using colour distinctions when we speak of people
Leaving this particular case aside, we can't continue using colour distinctions when we speak of people - black, white, coloured and all other nuances (red, yellow) - it would prove impossible.
Aside from the particular context of this thread, I scarcely use them. But people can and will continue to use them. I think the era in which progressive sensibilities about these matters were championed and imposed as a kind of default setting even for people who don't share them may be over.
1 edit
@great-big-stees saidNot to the color blind. We all just bleed.
We all bleed red.
I say we issue unique alpha/numeric designators to people. THX 1138, for example. Or C3PO.
2 edits
@torunn saidSo long as no malice is intended I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.
There are other ways of describing a person - we shouldn't use 'black' or 'white'.
When the Police are looking for someone and want the publics help color and height, weight are as a rule used, as well as what the person was wearing.
Oh yea and while I am at it. Merry Christmas not Seasons' Greetings. 🙂 😛
-VR