Foxy Knoxy

[ampersand]

Simple question - do you believ people should be allowed to move to this country if they do not have a basic understanding of the language, yes or no?

[ampersand]

Not for me.

[strudders]

I use plenty of humour that would offend the masses as well... Is that ok ? Or is just when its about minorities ?? I called a friend a honkey once... We all laughed I also called a friend a bible basher... Even called someone a f**king c**t once...in a jokey way...and we all laughed...

For me humour (or lack of it is all about the where, when and why)...

[ampersand]

Thats OK until somebody takes offence at the terms used.

Who would you react then? or do you know that your friends and peers accept it and are OK with it?

I would not accept being called a F**cking C**t jokingly or not as for me, C**t is offensive on may levels.

However we are talking about a saying that is a derogatory term for a Lesbian.

It is used in context by many to cause offence.

I call my daughter a dick head, that is specific to her, although she gets offended its not a term used to generalise and pigeon whole a group based on their sexual orientation.

I have learned over many years what is and what is not acceptable terms of phrase and words. I don't use them because I feel they are wrong, not nice and offensive to many.

[llcoolphil]

no, its not. there's a difference between me shouting across the street at a homosexual and calling him a faggot, and me calling my brother gay for going to see shirley bassey.

is gavin and stacey homophobic then? gavin said on the phone to smithy that he wanted him to know that he loved him. smithy laughed and said 'you're so gay'. and hung up the phone.

[rabid]

I would not accept being called a F**cking C**t jokingly or not as for me, C**t is offensive on may levels.

[llcoolphil]

would you like some cotton wool to wrap the whole world round in?

i've been at stand up shows where people have walked out due to being offended. should the comedian just walk off stage cos he's offended someone? game over!?

[Cardboard Box City]

You see if you hadn't been too busy trying to misrepresent the original exchange, you may recall the entire point is that Tarantino's character in his circumstances would not have used the word 'nigger' in the context that he did.

[Cardboard Box City]

Not for me.

[llcoolphil]

as long as theyre learning from the minute they get here, i see no problem. and if they can't learn it then tough shit. i think living in japan would be pretty cool. but i wouldn't expect to be able to live there if i couldn't learn. which i couldn't.

[ampersand]

I did exactly that, couldn't speak a word. Yes, initially I did the 'british thing of being ignorant' - but I was young, and er ... a little ignorant regarding language. I soon started learning though ... not because I felt I had to out of some moral obligation, but because I wanted to expand my knowledge and also because its almost impossible to speak to any German over 50 in English - its a generational thing, it would appear. I would imagine you could move to the Netherlands without ever having to learn dutch, cos nearly everyone I've encountered can speak English brilliantly.

[oafc0000]

Well I guess this is the whole problem about offensive language, you could quite happily call someone that in a joking manner up here, but said in a different tone it could kick off WWIII.

[ampersand]

Out of interest, what level of english do you think they should have to acquire? What would you do with all the british adults who cant read or write? Would you let them have help to understand things or would that just be tough shit? You see a 40 year old who cant read or write has had 35 years to try and do it but hasn't managed it, yet you want anyone not british to be learning this and tough shit if they cant. What is the difference?

[llcoolphil]

i'm not on about any moral obligation. i'm on about an obligation to be able to contribute to society. and not be ignorant, like i would feel. i got on fine in germany, the campsite owners were fantastic, the irish pub i went to felt like home but it was mostly germans working, but the gig was a bit of a problem as the bar staff couldn't really communicate with me.

i still wouldn't move to holland if i couldn't speak dutch. unless its a sort of welsh thing they've got there where english is the language of choice?

[strudders]

would you like some cotton wool to wrap the whole world round in?

i've been at stand up shows where people have walked out due to being offended. should the comedian just walk off stage cos he's offended someone? game over!?

[llcoolphil]

enough to be able to get by with doing every day things and not look clueless and just know 'yes and no'.

[llcoolphil]

Exactly...

[ampersand]

What do you mean by everyday things? Ive spent holidays in Greece and got by doing everyday things but only have about 6 words of the language.

So it is ok for someone who is British and had, say, 40 years to learn to read and write not to be able to do so, but an immigrant from,say, Africa needs to have better language skills than this native speaker. How are you testing whether they have these skills?

[ampersand]

No.

Contribute what? The tax on your wages? Sorting your rubbish into the right coloured bin?

No, its not a 'sort of Welsh thing' ...

I assume it is part of their education.

[-pogo-]

In the context of heterosexual men using the term 'carpet muncher' in the context it was, explain how it wasn't a derogatory reference to lesbians

[sifi]

Has there really been a seven page argument as to whether or not Oaf should have used the phrase "Carpet Muncher" to mean lesbian?

[-pogo-]

Has there really been a seven page argument as to whether or not Oaf should have used the phrase "Carpet Muncher" to mean lesbian?

[sifi]

It's more of a "was the joke homophobic or was it more in tune with other racy humour."

[rabid]

Oh.

I wonder if Oaf would find it offensive if I called him a thick northern monkey? As a joke, mind.

[Langdale Wolf]

Has there really been a seven page argument as to whether or not Oaf should have used the phrase "Carpet Muncher" to mean lesbian?