I have deliberately placed this in Lil’s, so the responses (if any) don’t have to be closely vetted! The intention is not to be confrontational, but to promote discussion.
In a post yesterday, in response to an already long running family saga, I used an old and popular (at the time) submarine phrase to describe how low in the pecking order a person could be.
I was brought to table and lid was doffed (by pm) and apologies all round etc. I was told this was not due to a complaint, but to prevent there being a complaint, and I have absolutely no problem with that. The offending word did have an asterix or two in it, but was easily identifiable, mea culpa.
I know that ‘my Navy’ is in a lot of ways different to ’today’s Navy’ mainly because until fairly recently I was still working closely with today’s Navy. It will come as no surprise to hear that I have never had to attend a diversity course – just as well, as I may have had to go round again! For example, we had a young-ish female friend over from the UK and I referred to someone (in general) using a well known and still used phrase involving rags, she was astounded!
A LOT of common usage phrases, said without thinking or malice, are now deemed unsuitable for public consumption – I cite MP Anne Marie Morris’ recent innocent fuax pas as an example. We stiil talk about going out for a Chinky (meal) but I think that is no longer allowed?
I am not racist or homophobic, though have my own views about both. I was even married to a WREN (she WAS a WREN, blue badges and all!) only mentioned because of the popular, butnow seen as derogotary, name by which they were referred at the time. I have two sets of very good male couples who joke about being, dare I say it, p**** and q*****, and as I mentioned recently, went to a sausage party there! I have a good pal who is - well to be brutally honest, I haven’t got a clue as to how I can correctly describe him these days – sad hey? Let’s just say he had dreadlocks until recently and got picked on by the Guardia Civil.
Please don’t think of this as a flounce or a rant. I’m just sad that we cannot use some common words or phrases for fear of causing perceived offence. As a Scot I still get called some ‘offensive’ (?) names meh – water off a duck’s back, banter, whatever. It isn’t a skirt, it’s a kilt!
I’m pretty sure a couple of the ‘right on’ regulars will reply and flame me – don’t care! Is the name ‘Snowflake’ illegal yet? Any chance of a decent discussion without the thread being pulled?
Sorry for anyone who saw the phrase and was GENUINELY offended by my throw away remark in the post. That’s it – off for my medication now.
In a post yesterday, in response to an already long running family saga, I used an old and popular (at the time) submarine phrase to describe how low in the pecking order a person could be.
I was brought to table and lid was doffed (by pm) and apologies all round etc. I was told this was not due to a complaint, but to prevent there being a complaint, and I have absolutely no problem with that. The offending word did have an asterix or two in it, but was easily identifiable, mea culpa.
I know that ‘my Navy’ is in a lot of ways different to ’today’s Navy’ mainly because until fairly recently I was still working closely with today’s Navy. It will come as no surprise to hear that I have never had to attend a diversity course – just as well, as I may have had to go round again! For example, we had a young-ish female friend over from the UK and I referred to someone (in general) using a well known and still used phrase involving rags, she was astounded!
A LOT of common usage phrases, said without thinking or malice, are now deemed unsuitable for public consumption – I cite MP Anne Marie Morris’ recent innocent fuax pas as an example. We stiil talk about going out for a Chinky (meal) but I think that is no longer allowed?
I am not racist or homophobic, though have my own views about both. I was even married to a WREN (she WAS a WREN, blue badges and all!) only mentioned because of the popular, butnow seen as derogotary, name by which they were referred at the time. I have two sets of very good male couples who joke about being, dare I say it, p**** and q*****, and as I mentioned recently, went to a sausage party there! I have a good pal who is - well to be brutally honest, I haven’t got a clue as to how I can correctly describe him these days – sad hey? Let’s just say he had dreadlocks until recently and got picked on by the Guardia Civil.
Please don’t think of this as a flounce or a rant. I’m just sad that we cannot use some common words or phrases for fear of causing perceived offence. As a Scot I still get called some ‘offensive’ (?) names meh – water off a duck’s back, banter, whatever. It isn’t a skirt, it’s a kilt!
I’m pretty sure a couple of the ‘right on’ regulars will reply and flame me – don’t care! Is the name ‘Snowflake’ illegal yet? Any chance of a decent discussion without the thread being pulled?
Sorry for anyone who saw the phrase and was GENUINELY offended by my throw away remark in the post. That’s it – off for my medication now.
