BS: Prince Harry - What a star!

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 06:07 PM

Just a few years ago, the late Anglo-Irish comedian Spike Milligan appeared on our television screens as a mixed-race Pakistani-Irish worker called "Paki-Paddy", and everyone laughed ! ( including the --er--um--people from Pakistan,shall we say ??). Personally, I cannot see what all the fuss is about. I am quite sure,and certain, that there are people in Wales--Scotland--France--Germany--Russia--Italy--Pakistan---India---Egypt---Turkey---Australia---Canada---The USA---Mars---Ursa Major---who all have less-than-complimentary names which they often use to describe ME, an Englishman !! In fact, I would be UTTERLY AMAZED if that were not the case !! And do you know what ?? I DON'T GIVE A FUCK !! Why not ?? Because I believe in HUMAN NATURE, and that is something that you will NEVER legislate against !I served for 11 years in the British Navy, and ,probably on a daily basis, I referred to Krauts--Frogs--Eyeties-Dagos--Slopeheads--Chinks--Wogs --Coons--Jocks-- Taffs--Brown Hatters- Poofs--Knob Jockeys--ShirtLifters--Ass(arse)Bandits--the list goes on and on and it was all POLITICALLY INCORRECT !! But hey !---That's Sailors for you!! We meant no HARM by it...we sought not to incite RACIAL HATRED by it...it was just the way we SPOKE about things and people.And ANYONE who seeks to take that away from us is a FASCIST !!And,if I lived in India, or Pakistan ,or Harlem,where I might get called "Honky", or "White Trash", am I going to burst into tears and 'phone the United Nations ?? No Way !! Come on, all you snivelling, sycophantic,bleeding-heart Liberal apologists out there ---get real, and get a life, and concentrate on some REAL issues, like Gaza and Zimbabwe. (Please !!).

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: skipy
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 06:28 PM

Guest Alan, then you are not close enough to them! If you & they are truly friends there would be NO problem. I spent 25 years in the military & never, repeat never saw any racism, but we called each other whatever suited.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 08:50 AM

Thanks Bubbly and Skipy, some common fuckin' sense being spoken at long last.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 09:14 AM

times change...the world changes. you can't say 'what you want' any more. and if we're in with a chance of it being a better world, if we give it a go. perhaps we all should. even members of the royal family.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 10:11 AM

More's the pity, Al.

But the truth is that, as usual, it's a case of bone-idle, brain-dead so-called 'journalists' going for the lowest common denominator - they never allow real news about real issues get in the way of a good old-fashioned bit of rabble-rousing do they?

In the light of all the other serious stuff going on around the world, someone calling someone else a daft name on a private video (which should never have been published in the first place, IMHO), pales into utter insignificance. It's playground stuff, and if the worst thing anyone ever has to 'suffer' is being called a daft name by a pal, they'll be doing alright, won't they.

And the crazy thing is that, if this video hadn't been made public by these dopey journos, no-one other than a very small handful of people would have ever even heard what was said, and a very great many people would have been saved whatever 'hurt' or 'insult' they've chosen to feel. So who's the worse Racist - Harry or the Journos?

I know where my vote goes.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Rasener
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 11:42 AM

The next time anybody takes the piss out of me for being a brummie, I am going to accuse them of being rascist. If the Scots, Welsh and Irish can do it, so can I.

All bloody ludicrous really. I find all the jokes (no matter how bad or distateful they may seem to some) about Brummies just humerous and never find them offensive. However if I had somebody who was obviosly aggresssive to me becuase I was a Brummie, that would be a different situation.

We have to be able to distinguish humour from rascism. There are some miserable buggers out there.

God help us if anybody ever forces The Black Country to be changed to anything else. When I lived in Brum, there was always great humour between us and the Black Countryites.
In fact if you listened to all the black country jokes, you would think everybody was called Aynock & Ali

Aynock: Wots the difference between a buffalo and a bison
Ali: Dow now mate
Aynock: You cor wash yer onds in a buffalo

Aynock always thought their Aylie was in need of a little ferther education so decided he would tek im to the big city, Bermingham.

Aynock took him round the city explainin what building was what and the local history attached to them. Eventually they arrived at Victoria Suare and by this time Aylies brain wus in a right spin, suddenly Aylie turned and saw the large building and said to Aynock 'is thet a palace our kid ', naa seys Aynock, that's the Council House. ****** hell ses Aylie I've got me name down for one of them.

White van man to pedestrian:
S'cuse me mate does yow now if there's a B & Q in Wolverhampton?
Pedestrian:
Sorry mate oi don't, but I nows theres 2 D's in Dudley


Now come on how many of you round the country have taken the piss by telling these sort of jokes and had no intention of being insulting to the Black country People. Simple humour but still IMHO funny and not offensive, even if it does portray them as a bit simple.

In actual fact the Black country dialect is one of the oldest dialects in the country.

Lets liven up and deal with more serious issues like stopping bully countries from going in and blitzing other countries, killing innocent people - Iraq springs to mind.

Likewise, lets start putting all these morons that wander our streets effing and blinding and getting rat arsed and having big fights etc, behind bars. I am more worried about the lawlesness that has slowly crept up on us and is threatening our own safety.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Stu
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 11:58 AM

"The next time anybody takes the piss out of me for being a brummie, I am going to accuse them of being rascist."

Well, here's the reason I'm a miserable bugger on this one. I moved from the outskirts of Brum when I was 16 to a small town south of Manchester. When I arrived here complete with accent I received a barrage of abuse I was totally unprepared for. Although many people were fine, I got such stick about my accent in the end I purposefully lost it in order to fit in.

I've regretted doing this ever since, and I'm sure the small-minded tossers who endlessly went on about my Birmingham accent never realised they were causing offence (I kept quiet about it), to them it was all a big laugh. Nowadays I don't give a shit. I would rather have been raised a Brummie than anything else and although not born there I consider myself a Brummie before anything else - at school we all thought of ourselves as Brummie.

I tell you what Villan, if everyone had the self-deprecating humour of the Brummies the world would be a better place.

The royal family are all w*nkers as far as I'm concerned anyway, racist or otherwise.

Bostin!

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Rasener
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:12 PM

Sugarfoot
I am a real Brummie, born and bred in Great Barr and above all a Villa supporter. You are not a real Brummie if you are a Blues supporter.

I can't say I have ever experienced your issues and I have never tried to hide the fact that I am a Brummie. I have lived all over the country and Scotland and Holland.
One thing you can't really hide is your accent.
Les

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:22 PM

Nowadays I have become more considerate and as I have a million other ways to express myself I allow myself to see beyond obvious predictable areas of focus and I relate to people on more varied and interesting ground.

Well-said. One thing to point out: the WHITE world has by and large been the big, bad oppressors and it is them using the N word and others which continues the bullying/denigrating/etc. to minorities which effects whole communities. With a few exceptions, white humans have enslaved and debased those of more colour and it is NOT okay to use that kind of language in a day to day matter of fact way. Maybe in the military where it is "equal opportunity for denigrating nicknames" or between friends who are comfortable with such, but not in a general way. I don't agree with the video of Harry being released and causing such a furor, but I also don't agree that it should be condoned or shrugged off. A little education about the effect of such never goes amiss, imo.

An example which is non-racial: some girl friends and I have claimed the word "cunt" to take away the hateful way in which it is sometimes used and because we can joke comfortably with one another about it. We don't do it often, but still we do. Now, how would any of you feel if you found your mother/sister/daughter/etc. was being called a cunt as a daily off-hand reference?

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:28 PM

solution to problem

Have we got enough troops left over there to send Harry on a tour of Northern ireland, equipped with The Frank Carson book of thick Paddy jokes?

I think a few bridge building exercises with the community round Crossmaglen should do it.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Rasener
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:30 PM

Kat
That reminds me of an expression I use as i was brought up on it in Birmingham.
If somebody does something daft. I say "You dosy twat". However I don't say it with malice or to offend. Its just an expression and I am normally smiling or laughing when I say it. Its almost like a term of endearment. I use it amongst friends or people I know well.
Les

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:36 PM

Want to say that I appreciated Lox's honest, personal and revealing posts here.

But ffs, wtf is Harry anyway? If he can't properly do his job as an official ambassador for the UK then he needs to earn his livlihood in other ways.

I have my own somewhat bizzare take on the Royal Family, and see them as a useful focus for those numbnuts (aplenty!) who still need incarnate Gods to worship. IMO they are a pragmatically valuable saftey valve against the kind of fanatical religious Idiolisation of politicians which has occured in other parts of the world. The deification in the public mind of politicians, is IMO one hell of a dangerous thing! Do 'Royal Families', help to divert that type of mindless public Idolatry? I for one, think that they may do so. And most valuably too.

I also think that Plato got it right about the dangers of Democracy. Our Royal Family are *in no way* to be mistaken for Plato's ideal of Philosopher Kings, But then that's a whole other thread for a whole other forum...

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:59 PM

Prince Charles has become the latest member of the Royal Family to be embroiled in a race row after it was reported he calls an Asian man "Sooty". This gets better.

The development comes a few days after his son Harry was widely condemned for calling a former Army colleague by an offensive name.

Charles has apparently called Polo club member Kolin Dhillon Sooty.

Graham Smith, campaign manager for the organisation Republic, said: "I think it goes to show the Royal Family are not a symbol of unity, it's not something we can rally around, they're quite divisive.

"People are saying they are not racist but on the evidence in the public domain I think that's to the contrary.

"It also shows how hugely out of touch they are and that they live in a very isolated world, only mixing with a certain kind of person."

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 01:22 PM

The good thing is that 'Sooty' is coming to his defence.... The name has been used affectionately as was Harrys..... when will people see that it is only when the names are used 'OFFENSIVELY' that it becomes a problem.... Sooty is quite happy to be called Sooty.... wonder what he calls Charles?????. Harrys friend didn't actually complain himself.
Some people spend time looking for things to blow out of proportion... especially the press and the media.... why can't they try to understand what is happening and give the 'real' story instead ???

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 01:45 PM

I must call Amid a few names when I get my papers in the morning, let's see if he sees the funny side of it !

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:05 PM

I use it amongst friends or people I know well. My point exactly, Villan, thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:30 PM

To "The Villan " and "Sugarfoot Jack": I used to teach in the Arts Faculty of a University in the UK, and I remember how members of Staff, with humorous intent, imitated a Billy-Connolly-style Glasgow accent, with the additional implication that those speaking with such an accent were ignorant, crude, ill-bred and ill-mannered. The fact that I have a Glasgow accent isn't the worst thing about such a demonstration of crass ignorance; it's the fact that the University was itself in Scotland, though as is usual there was a great preponderance of English Public Schoolboys among these "Academic colleagues". Was it E M Forster who said that, in Britain, "people are branded on the tongue"?

Returning to the current diversion taken by this thread, there was a Court case in Glasgow some ten years ago when some youth was arrested by a Police officer for using the very same "P" word in referring to a shopkeeper. When the case came to Court, and the shopkeeper was asked his name and occupation, he replied that he "keeps the wee Paki shop in ****** Road". Case dismissed.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Stu
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:31 PM

"I am a real Brummie"

Me to.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Rasener
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:43 PM

>>the shopkeeper was asked his name and occupation, he replied that he "keeps the wee Paki shop in ****** Road". Case dismissed. <<

LOL That says it all :-)

Sugarfoot - up the Villa :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:50 PM

Reading some of the above, words like 'Grow', 'a' and 'skin' spring to mind.

I've been called all sorts of names by all sorts of people - usually by way of impolite and unpleasant reference to my being follically challenged and, until a few years ago, seriously overweight. I always found that the best way to confound someone who told me I was a 'baldy-bastard', or a 'fat cunt' was to ignore them. Works like a charm, and anyway who gives a flyin' fuck about a few words spoken by a prick? Life's too short to get in a lather about something so inconsequential.

And yes, Villan does call people 'dozy twat'. He's called me it loads of times, usually when I've behaved loik wun! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:54 PM

Many years ago, I used to teach sailing with a French organisation (Breton, if you want to split berets) which had/has bases in Ireland. I would arrive at the base with a list of the Irish stagieres/trainees provided by the Dublin office. At the bottom of the page it would say - ".... Plus fifteen Frogs."! My French equivalent would arrive similarly equipped with a list of the French trainees, from the Paris office - at the bottom of which was the line "Plus fifteen Paddies"!

Parity of lack of esteem has its advantages - provided it preserves a sense of humour.

Regards

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Stu
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 03:02 PM

it's a good time to be a Villa fan - I hope to get to the Trinity Lane stand again before the season's out!

This is what they want!

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Stu
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 03:10 PM

""people are branded on the tongue"

This is true, and when I first moved here I acquired the nicknames "Jasper" and "Birmingham Bill". The latter was a tad unimaginative, but being called Jasper I considered a compliment especially as Jasper himself lived close to where I lived and he talked about places we knew, such as our local chippy.

I've heard the phrase"Dummie Brummie", but I'd rather be a dummie Brummie than a clever twat.

Jeff Lynne is God.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Rasener
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 03:48 PM

But Jasper is a Blues supporter LOL

Well you are not dosy BWM, but a twat at times, just like me LOL :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 05:23 PM

So will it be okay to request the new president to sing "Old man river" in a few weeks time ? Does he use Robertson's Jam ?

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 06:06 PM

I think you boys have your genders mixed up. We girls would never call each other cocks!:-)

Seriously, another Mudcatter sent me a link to this commentary and I was esp. interested in the 8th and 9th paragraphs, i.e. the casual culture of racism.

Since white men, as a whole, have never been a part of minority it may be difficult for them to fathom just how much words can effect a whole community, not just one member of such. And, I am talking colour and gender here, boys, not yer accents.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 07:47 PM

the thing is, if you were some minor public official - you might lose your job. certainly if you'd been working on the checkout and you used those termes, you'd probably get your cards for upsetting customers.

These people get zillions for the job they do. they will never have to worry about making a repayment, or wonder if they are getting the best medical advice or treatment.

they are not amateurs - they should know better.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 08:42 PM

Well said Al. Prince Philip has been doing it for years and getting off with it. We could also explore "Jack the Ripper" he was a royal.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Rasener
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 04:24 AM

Kat

I think its a yorkshire expression

It can be used as a term of address, usually affectionate. E.g."Right cock, that'll be 46 pence please. Would you like it in a bag?"

If I remember rightly Charlie Williams (British Comedian) used to call people "cock". one of the first black players in British football after the Second World War, and later became Britain's first well-known black stand-up comedian.

In fact, he broke all the rules about being PC.

He caused offence to some by defending the Robertson's golliwog trade mark, and for saying that immigrants to the UK should conform to the British way of life.

Makes you wonder doesn't it.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 05:08 AM

One for The Villan:

"Cosner keck a bow agen a wow?"

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Rasener
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 05:11 AM

lol

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 06:35 AM

Prince Philip insults individuals and nations for years and got off with it. In recent years both India and China took offence at remarks he made. So in the case of Prince Charles the apple never falls far from the tree, as for Harry, well I don't know enough about Major Hewitts father.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 07:08 AM

Racism?

Just a pigment of the media's imagination.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 07:29 AM

It's just as offensive to insinuate (or plain outright state) that Prince Harry's father is not Prince Charles - but some of you are still doing it.

Paki, Nigger or bastard, they're ALL offensive.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,goatfell
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 07:48 AM

just like Prince Charles calling a black friend Sooty

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 08:09 AM

"It's just as offensive to insinuate (or plain outright state) that Prince Harry's father is not Prince Charles - but some of you are still doing it.

Paki, Nigger or bastard, they're ALL offensive."

Absolutely, Liz. As are 'Baldy-bastard' and 'Fat cunt'. But I'm not one of those who searches for things to be offended about, and I'm sufficiently adult to be able to disregard insults when they're aimed at me.

I stand by my earlier assertion - the guilt lies far greater on those who chose to publicise Harry's unfortunate choice of words in a deliberate attempt to whip up outrage and stir up racial tension than on his original use of those words.

Harry clearly wasn't trying to cause offence and outrage when he called his buddy "Paki", but the press definitely were when they published the video.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 08:55 AM

If I called a coloured member here a paki, my comment would be deleted as stated in rules and rightly so. If a pack of freeloaders like Charles and young Hewitt do it, everyone finds a reason to defend them.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 08:55 AM

Neither Harry or Charlie were being offensive and that's the crux of the whole 'racist' issue.... When the names, words, phrases etc are used OFFENSIVELY ... then it becomes racial abuse...... not when used affectionately. When will people learn???

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 08:58 AM

FOR INSTANCE.... if I were to call Backwoodsman a 'Baldy Bastard' at the Folk Club.... it would only ever be done in fun and he would accept that..... He would probably say something equally as funny to me and we would laugh about it........ neither of us would feel offended....
Can you imagine the newspapers the following day if they got hold of the story......
The whole thing is so pathetic.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 09:14 AM

Absolutely correct, GS.

As I said earlier, it's a modern fashion for the National Brigade of PC-Idiots to actively seek out offence where none is intended or need be taken. Quite deliberate over-sensitivity, for the sole purpose of taking some sort of imaginary 'High Moral Ground'.

And the gutter-press are guilty of whipping up racial tension by publishing something which was private, and should never have been published. When will someone take a grip on these flappy-mouthed dickheads in the media, and make them accountable for what they publish?

Whether Charles or Harry are freeloaders is totally irrelevant to this discussion.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 10:16 AM

What is Prince Philips excuse ? he didn't know the the Indians he insulted (over memorial to those killed by the British) or "Chinks" he insulted.

Are you saying he is excluded from blame too ?

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Mr Yeahbut
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 10:26 AM

yeah but..

Ok.. the royal family are a bunch or gormless parasitic cretins
who should be abolished and walled up permanently in a remote highland game park
at the earliest opportunity we have to vote on a referendum..

now then..

Does that sufficiently establish my anti-royalist credentials..

however, now lets stick to the main point that
these 2 wankhead individuals have been deliberately quoted out of context
by a maliciously profit motivated
irresponsible and anti social gutter press..

thank you and good afternoon..

Consistent identity does not mean in just the last few posts, rather a consistent identity always. I am going to allow this post, but if you start using multiple identities you will be deleted. Why not just join? But if you choose not to, you must stay consistent. Thanks.

---

Guest Policy, from Joe.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 03:14 PM

If black people want to call each other 'nigger' using the term in an ironic reclamation of a racist sneer, that's fine. I'm certainly never going to call any other human being by such a name.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 04:03 PM

There is more racism among coloured than white on black. Africans hate Jamacians, they in turn hate Indians.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 09:03 PM

Sooty? He was a TV star Teddy Bear. Here's a picture of him.
...............................

The thing is sometimes words get loaded with hate and contept, and you just have to stop using them in any context where that message is liable to be understood. Nothing wrong with the word "yid", just the word for "Jewe" in theYiddish language - one that and thousands of non-Jewish Spurs fans use it regularly to refer to themselves - but in other settings it's a word to be avoided because it is takes on that load of hate and contempt from the way it's been used too often.

And it's the same for Paki, and that's what makes it different from Aussie or Scotty. Those abbreviations don't have that loading of hate and contempt.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 05:04 AM

Try telling a USAian that he's not American but North American!!

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 06:25 AM

The fact that Harry wasn't "deliberately trying to cause offence" by calling someone a Paki, that he was (possibly) using the term "affectionately", makes it no less racist.

There's an Asian girl in my daughter's class at school. Lincolnshire isn't a particularly culturally diverse part of the country, so she's one of a handful of non-white girls in the year group. My daughter came home one day quite shocked, because some of her friends had been referring to the girl as a "Paki". They even said it to her face. The girl laughted it off, because she felt she had to. She later told my daughter that she hated it, and that if her parents found out they'd go mad. But she continues to put up with it, because she doesn't want to have a row or alienate herself from the group.

Do these girls think they're causing offence? Probably not. Are they deliberately setting out to enforce racial hatred? Of course not. Are their words nevertheless hurtful and racist? Undoubtedly.

Thuis is the problem with low-level, culturally-reinforced racism. These were schoolgirls, probably just repeating what they've heard at home. Prince Harry really ought to bloody well know better. And I would have thought the same is true of some of the Mudcatters below who have defended it.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Stu
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 06:56 AM

"FOR INSTANCE.... if I were to call Backwoodsman a 'Baldy Bastard' at the Folk Club..."

Fine - but that's a bit of banter between you two. If you were to call Backwoodsman "Baldy Bastard" whenever you saw him, all the time and described his entire family as "Baldy Bastards" and anyone of his race as "Baldy Bastards" until an accepted term amongst your race for Backwoodsman and his people was "Baldy Bastards", and then sat at home one night some over-privileged whelp unbeknownst to you films you and it's broadcast on the news with the commentary "Ah, there's our Baldy Bastard friend Backwoodsman . . ." I'm guessing the ability to brush it off as a harmless josh would soon wear thin with him, his family and everyone he knows.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Rasener
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 08:13 AM

Sugarfoot
Thats exactly the point.
You have to distinguish between banter and something that is meant in a nasty way.
Of course Backwoodsman would put one on him, if he did what you had suggested. But then he wouldn't be a friend anyway if he did that.

Subject: RE: BS: Prince Harry - What a star!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 08:20 AM

We-e-ell SJ, I understand your point, but sorry old lad, I choose not to take offence when I'm insulted - as distinct from some others who seek to find offence in virtually everything they see and hear. AAMOF, I chose my current Mudcat name because it was a word used by another Mudcatter, one given to occasional hysterical rantings, in an effort to 'insult' me and some of my friends - I was so 'hurt' (NOT! I decided to change my name forthwith to Backwoodsman. :-)

Call me anything you like, I'm an adult and I don't give a shit. :-) :-)