I'm all controversial today… but ignoring the humourus 'fattist' thread this is a serious question.

Anton Du Beke has been pilloried in the press for referring to his dance partner as a '****'. But it's ok to refer to a British person as a 'Brit'.

Is it really that offensive to shorten a name? I've always struggled to understand this.

Can any equal opps. people shed some light on this. I'm not racist in any way, I just struggle to reason why one is deemed offensive and the other not.

While I'm on this topic, how come Kanye West can refer to '****' in his music while the rest of us would be lambasted?

I'm confused.

Chair – check
Pie – check
Pint – check
All set – carry on

Well the word Brit has never been used in a derogatory way to such an extent – it's not the simple shortening that's the issue…

Second thoughts,

what breakneckspeed said…

**** is racist because of it's widespread use as a racist insult – yes in an ideal world it wouldn't have racist connotations but it's not an ideal world.

Also in the context he used it wasn't it – 'you're not a **** are you?' – implying there is something wrong with being a ****.

While I'm on this topic, how come Kanye West can refer to '****' in his music while the rest of us would be lambasted?

Because he's black therefore he's probably not using it as a racial slur against black people?

I'm confused.

The world's complicated isn't it.

Synchronise watches…

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Its about context. "****" is used as a pejorative term.

"****" Kanye West is one thus can reclaim the word

Not a great explanation but its the best I can come up with. Its all about context and intentions – thus the circumstances the words are used in affect the way that they are viewed.

Just seems to me a bit much for Pakistanis to be crowing on about racism when they generally hate indians and the only thing they and the indians ever agree upon is that the Bangledeshis are the lowest of the low, they should look at their own prejudices before harping on about other peoples

And 3,2,1, here we go…

OMG TJ just called Kanye West a ****!!! 😈

Just seems to me a bit much for Pakistanis to be crowing on about racism when they generally hate indians

Really good point, well made. I wish all these Pakistanis would stop crowing on about racism.

:facepalm:

No really OTT replies yet, where are the lunatic fringe of STW? exhausted after fighting outside some kebab shop? 😉

so if i was a c+#t which ive been called before, does this mean i can reclaim the word and sing songs about myself or other c+#ts and not get in trouble ? just wondered as i work with some right c+#ts and can sing quite well 😉

Nice bit of negative sterotyping there toomanybikes.

I thought kanye west was a ganstarappin' tossrag – or is that fiddly cents ❓

grumm……….my missus worked in a day nursery in East Ham for 5 years believe me, all the so-called minorities hated each other guts, and it was down to race and religion.

Just seems to me a bit much for Pakistanis to be crowing on about racism when they generally hate indians

Well that's foreigners for you. They're brains haven't evolved to think logically like us Whities.

IanMunroe……….so tell me what the difference is

It is very, very difficult to rationalise all this stuff in a consistent way, especially the widespread use of "****". But it's fairly easy to spot a potentially problematic remark before it spurts out of your mouth if you've got a reasonably sensible head on. "Oh my god you look like a ****" just doesn't pass any sane person's filter.

And anyone who reckons they're "just" abreviating "pakistani" when they use "****" as a term of abuse is daft.

grumm……….my missus worked in a day nursery in East Ham for 5 years believe me, all the so-called minorities hated each other guts, and it was down to race and religion.

So because of some ethnic tensions between other nationalities, we should be free to be as racist as we like eh? If only we could go back to the non-PC days of the 70s where it was fine to openly abuse people of a different colour.

Tell you what what difference is?

Strictly come dancing! I dont know, if theyre not sadistically killing chickens, theyre racially abusing their dance partners. Ball room dancers – theyre worse than nazi crack users, I tell thee…

so if i was a c+#t which ive been called before, does this mean i can reclaim the word and sing songs about myself or other c+#ts and not get in trouble ? just wondered as i work with some right c+#ts and can sing quite well

You can't reclaim it, but I can 🙂 And regularly do. My friend and I give permission for men to use the word occasionally, but they must suffix it with the word 'bubble'.

bugger jojo . (just a statement not a request/promise ;-))

grumm, interesting, so because it's between people of the same skin colour, but different religions, and caste, it's ethnic differences, not racism, why is that? surely prejudice is prejudice.

A female friend of mine regularly threatens to 'kick you a new c unt' – she's a real charmer. 🙂

Ianmunroe……..tell me the difference between pakistanis hating indians and say whites hating pakistanis………..or did i misunderstand your post

grumm, interesting, so because it's between people of the same skin colour, but different religions, and caste, it's ethnic differences, not racism, why is that? surely prejudice is prejudice.

Yeah there's still prejudice – but does that mean we should be prejudiced too?

Also, in terms of Indians/Pakistanis – there is a history of actual bloody conflict (for which you could lay plenty of the blame at the door of Britain). Doesn't make prejudice right, just makes it easier to understand/harder to overcome.

By the way, if I can be sexist for a moment instead of racist, Laila Rouass would definitely get it.

She's a sweetie. Is she the celebrity then, and this Du Beke person is the one that can dance, or is it the other way round?

While I'm on this topic, how come Kanye West can refer to '****' in his music while the rest of us would be lambasted?

Grumm oh yes she would, very good looking lady.

"****" Kanye West is one thus can reclaim the word
yeah. taking it back.

Sounds like a girl after my own heart 😉
Actually my mot de jour is cnuttybaws which is possibly considered less offensive and nicely combines abusive use of the sex organs of both genders, thus rendering it neutral in the sexism department.

grumm……..don't get me wrong, I wish everyone would get on with each other, we have far greater things to worry about in this world than someones race, religion or skin colour, I just get fed-up with people harping on about being prejudiced against when it is happening all the time in their own countries.

And you can't lay the blame for the ills of the world on the British Empire, bloody conflict was happening before the British turned up and civilised them…….

grumm…..I have to agree with your sexist sentiments

Chris Rock explains…

NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui6-Wc0PDc4

"And you can't lay the blame for the ills of the world on the British Empire, bloody conflict was happening before the British turned up and civilised them……."

Please tell me this is supposed to be ironic.

And you can't lay the blame for the ills of the world on the British Empire, bloody conflict was happening before the British turned up and civilised them…….

Erm, try googling the partition of India – 12m displaced up to 1m dead – created all sorts of major problems which are still going on today.

aye id tap that 😉

not to be confused with tapping a cap in her ass

tho that might happen too