Comments

Someone somewhere — 16 Comments

  1. You have it all wrong. It's not that it was offensive, it was offending the wrong people. As long as your art, music, speech, and so on only offend those who do not "think" correctly it will not only be tolerated, but enthusiastically endorsed by the ruling elite. 

    • Wrong people?  Right people?  It doesn't matter.  So long as there is a potential to offend somebody.

      • No he’s right grandad there’s a prevailing culture of tolerating only what the government and pressure groups want you to tolerate. If you don’t fit into those groups or act like a sheep they won’t tolerate you or your opinion… When was the last time you heard a good soild debate on anything in goverment or the news about the like of mass immergration? or something that isn’t instantly mared by useing the isms by one side to shut down debate while the other meekly backs off. Natural reaction to years of that nonsense is the rise of far right political groups and simmering resentment cause there’s no room for debate in the standard partys or culture… Won’t end well in the medium term I suspect

  2. Hi 'Grandad',

    Just came across the blog in search of some Irish bloggers out there writing on a daily basis. This piece interested me because it's not a topic many others fancy challenging and that should be appreciated whether we all agree with it or not.

    Today in college we spoke about racism and terrorism. Terms used too loosely in media and society nowadays leading to a loss of meaning. A lot of people are offended by everything and ashamed of nothing which perhaps would have been a better title for this piece – but that's just me being picky.

    I enjoyed it nonetheless and will be back for more. All the best,

    Dale

    • Welcome Dale!  I tend to write about the world as I see it, from the perspective of someone who has been around since the middle of the last century.  Some agree with me and some don't which is great as it shows we haven't yet morphed into a single bland flock who all think what they are told to think.

      Titles are tricky buggers.  I like to keep 'em short and sweet for various reasons.  My biggest problem with both titles and subjects these days is avoiding repetitiveness – I have been writing now for the best part of eight years so I tend to repeat myself somewhat!

  3. The vagrant stranger looks like a cross between a budgie and a kookaburra. I find that really offensive. 

    • As an Australian, I take offence. And one day, I'll take all those people (my so-called friends) to court for calling me 'Aussie' – sometimes to my face! – which is the same think as 'Paki', 'Jap' or 'Abo'.

      On the subject of 'Jap', I am reminded of this: http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-week/letters/6845783/letters-229/ . At my local, there are many Japanese patrons, and we are reluctant to insult them. So we don't call them Japs, we call them Junts. I am being absolutely serious.

  4. You might think that, Grandad, but I couldn't possibly comment!

    Having worked in Japan and had very good Japanese friends, my love of the country and its people is at odds with having also had a grandfather who also worked for them – on the Thai-Burma railway.

    The concoction of this word was a reaction to the faux outrage of Mr Okaniwa and others, who do not understand that English speakers use contractions with no malice intended. This outrage appears to be held only by non-white races.

    • One thing about being Irish – there is no contraction!  I had to make do with being called Paddy, Mick, Murphy and a few other choice names.  Never bothered me in the slightest.

      • Indeed, as an Englishman in Australia in the 70s, being referred to as a 'Pom' if they were being nice, or a 'Pommie bastard' if they were just being normal was standard. When I was driving semis (articulated trucks) interstate, I was one of the only non-third-generation Aussies in that particular business, it being very much a closed-shop situation in those days, and it took a couple of years before I was grudgingly accepted into the 'club'. I knew I'd made it when another driver who I was driving in convoy with one time introduced me to a mate of his with the words "This is Xxxxx. He's alright for a Pom". High praise indeed! 🙂

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