Just saw this on the news, and to be honest I don't get this ..... since when was calling someone coloured considered racist? I just thought it was a descriptive word, without any negative connotations.
Am I just horrendously naive?
Just saw this on the news, and to be honest I don't get this ..... since when was calling someone coloured considered racist? I just thought it was a descriptive word, without any negative connotations.
Am I just horrendously naive?
Don't know but I think you'll find that ALAN HANSEN is too busy counting his money to keep up with what is considered racist or not.
The negative connotation comes from the implication that a black person has been 'coloured' ie is different from the norm.
It's just one of those terms that's not used any more, wouldn't go far as to say it was racist though, just old fashioned. I wouldn't really feel comfortable using it. A bit like using handicapped instead of disabled. If people don't like it, it's not that hard to accommodate them by using something they find more acceptable.
It concerns the concept of 'othering' and also hinges on the eurocentric preposition that white is the natural order of things, so there are whites and then 'coloured' people. It's considered belittling.
what jon1973 said.
There are words that were once considered OK as descriptors of people, which are now no longer considered acceptable in that context.
Coloured is one of them.
For people of Afro-Caribbean origin, we use "black", etc.
However, if you go to sub-Saharan Africa, coloured has a very specific meaning, and can - in certain circumstances - be the most derogatory descriptor.
Frankly, language changes and the imputed meanings to words also change. I tend to take the view that certain things are probably more offensive than others, but just try my best to keep up with what's in and out and tread carefully if I don't know.
If I don't like someone, it's not because of the colour of their skin, religious beliefs or ethnic origin.
And no, none of this is PC gone mad.
the world has gone totally mad - coloured, black, whatever he said he is not a racist (and i am coloured); it dosent matter and we should all wind our necks in and get on with dealing with serious matters like famine in East Africa, child poverty etc - Things that really matter. (rant over!!!)
spot on mashie.. in my short but interesting time on eart, we started off using the term 'black' but moved to 'coloured' as it was more inclusive now it seems i have to take my pallet out and find the most apropriate colour descriptor.. fwiw i understood that white was a colour.
the world has gone totally mad - coloured, black, whatever he said he is not a racist (and i am coloured); it dosent matter and we should all wind our necks in and get on with dealing with serious matters like famine in East Africa, child poverty etc - Things that really matter. (rant over!!!)
Absolutely spot on!! People are falling over themselves to see who can be the most PC, and it really detracts from the important issues.
And yes, it IS pc gone mad.
OK, not just me thinking this is mental then.
I suppose it'd be like calling a white person whitewashed.
*don't think he mean't it in a bad way. It's not like he's done a Big Ron.
this is mental then.sorry you can't use the word mental, it's demeaning to those who are mentally challenged
Hansen has tried, I think, to be sensitive and put his size 15 right in it.
Not a racist, never has been, press frenzy, not even a proper story. End.
sorry you can't use the word mental, it's demeaning to those who are mentally challenged
I knew there was something about that TV series "the mentalist" I found offensive
I fancy the one at the front
Not the first time he's missed the mark, is it?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Es-RIBnba8
mikey74And yes, it IS pc gone mad.
Its PC living with mental health issues
mashiehood - Member
the world has gone totally mad - coloured, black, whatever he said he is not a racist (and i am coloured); it dosent matter and we should all wind our necks in and get on with dealing with serious matters like famine in East Africa, child poverty etc - Things that really matter. (rant over!!!)
+1
what on earth is going on in this country, its so depressing, i absolutly hate what this country has become, i hate living here and the do gooders that make up such awful rules....i honestly wish i could move to oz, i wouldnt mind somebody calling me a white piece of trash if it got me out of this country!
:(
great riding though, shame about absolutly everything else its has come to...
tazzymtb - Memberthis is mental then.
sorry you can't use the word mental, it's demeaning to those who are mentally challenged
I think you'll find that's madness, gone politically correct
I do kind of associate the word "coloured" with racism in the american deep south and south africa, and while not being particularly racist I think their is a racist association to it being used in everyday language.
It is the kind of language that if I used it, and someone explained that it may cause offence, I would apologise try not to use it in that way again
*does a little facepalm at El Plástico's post*
yossarian - Member
Hansen has tried, I think, to be sensitive and put his size 15 right in it.Not a racist, never has been, press frenzy, not even a proper story. End.
it is indeed a press frenzy, but until his name has been totally shamed (for NOT being racist) and the bbc gets 3 complaints, the media wont rest until hes been sacked, and the bbc will look stupid, our country will yet again look stupid, and it will make me more depressed along with just about every other man and his dog about the state of this country....
I started a rumour at work that Kings of Leon used to be Hanson.
Hold on hold on hold on; I think it best if we ask a 'coloured' person, don't you?
Ah, I'm actually light-brown coloured, so that'll be me then!
Am I insulted or offended or owt?
Erm, let's have a think.....
No I'm not actually!
Ah well. That's that settled then. Excellent!
(At worst, it's a bit of an outdated term, which some folk aren't too comfortable with, because of historically negative connotations of the use of the term, but that's about it. Seems that Mr Hansen may possibly be a little 'out of touch', but that is the absolute limit of it. It was not sed in a negative or derogatory manner, quite the opposite, so a non-story imo)
to me personally i find that the word black sounds like a more offensive word than the term coloured (not all 'black' men are fond of being called black as it simply generalises them as african etc), a few lads i know refer to them selves as coloured, as they are not black. it really does baffle me how a word like coloured could even be remotely classed as derogitory or offensive, or even racist?!?!
Elf - you ain't "coloured" tho are you? You is brown. "coloured" is mixed race in south africa. In south africa you would be Indian IIRC, Coloured in the US would be negro.
even this pics above stating coloured or white only.....the simple fact is they are coloured (as they are not white), guess just as it was at that time they are trying to change the way they were thought of......
i bet if those pics above said 'black only' it would now be an offensive term to say black.....
Half caste is a term I hadn't actually considered to be racist, but read this a few years back and could see the possibility to offend and haven't used since (till now).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2006/oct/28/colourblind
Being brought up in an environment that was casually racist, I am quite happy to be educated about the language I innocently use which sections of society may be offended by because of past associations.
Think I'd rather be called 'coloured' than 'non-white'...
Elf - you ain't "coloured" tho are you? You is brown.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

(Is now too distraught to even think)
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