Just a couple of comments on the quoted article from The New York Sun. Why is the term Ms nonsensical? If a woman doesn't want to be recognised as being married or single, just as men aren't, then what's wrong with that? I frequently hold doors open for people, especially if they're carrying something, and have never experienced a negative response. Has anybody? Why would they? I don't know if the NY Sun is in the same league as our own squalid, toilet paper rag, but it sounds like it might be.
My rant for the day... You hold the door for somebody, and they don't bother their fechin arse to even say "TA". Pensioners seem to be the worst for this. One did it to me the other day, so, being in a bad mood already as he shuffled past me I said "Oh, you're welcome." Apparently he "fought in the war for the likes of me". Seriously doubt that, minimum age he could be was 92 to have done that and he looked about 60. So I'm pissed off on two levels, one cos he was ignorant, and two because he had the nerve to try and claim something that deserves respect that I doubt he had earned. I just said "Well, thank you for your service, but it didn't teach you any manners did it?" and left him to stew in his own pish.
My mate keeps telling people he fought a war for them, he was in the Navy in the seventies during the cod war with Iceland haha.
Can't remember where I heard this one so I will try to remember it as faithfully as possible After holding a door open for a woman who promptly said she doesn't need the door being held open for her by a sexist and chauvenistic male The bloke responds with, I didn't open the door for you because you are a lady I did it because I am a gentleman
"Seasons Greetings" comes from late Victorian times, and is intended to cover more than just the Christian Christmas celebration (e.g. it covers New Year as well). I wonder why it causes you so much offence? Especially since indications are that you are not a practicing Christian. Neither am I, but for one so offended by folks who don't say "Merry Christmas", I assumed you must be and would have expected you to be equally offended by your own profanity. I take my hat off to Lynne for putting up with your drinking, belching and farting - I think I'd be sent to the shed. Christmas sounds like it's going to be a bundle of fun. But, no offence taken here, and I wish you, and Lynne, a Merry Christmas too. And Happy New Year - lang may yer lum reek.
Billy, you are more than welcome to call me the "Y" word--as long as that's what I think it is. (Yank?!)
Wishbone, generally I agree but it seems that forum decisions should guided by the published forum terms and rules: You agree to not use the Service to submit or link to any Content which is defamatory, abusive, hateful, threatening, spam or spam-like, likely to offend, contains adult or objectionable content, contains personal information of others, risks copyright infringement, encourages unlawful activity, or otherwise violates any laws. The difficulty seems to lie in how those terms and rules are interpreted and enforced. Descriptions such as "likely to offend" and "contains adult or objectionable content" are highly subjective and dependent on personal opinion. Just take a scroll/stroll through the "This Made Me Laugh" thread. As a woman I find much--actually most--of it hilarious but I also find some of it offensive. However, it's my choice how to react and respond. I can ignore that which I find objectionable. I can respond directly to the person who posted it. I can ignore it. I can report it to admin. You get the idea. It's a very fine line and one not easily discernible. I do not envy @MrOrange nor would I want the responsibility of judgement that comes with some of the admin decisions he's faced with. I applaud him for stepping up to take on that difficult role. To a large degree I think we as a forum must be self-policing and hold one another accountable. We are after all and to large degree an online family, a community of members who, like a family, must learn how to co-exist and be open to differing points of view and opinions (and be able to express them) even when we disagree.
Think of a forum as a pub. Ultimately the landlord has the final say... But the clientele can make or break it too.
Some people these days seem to be permanenly offended and always looking for more ways to be so. When I was a kid if I was being a twat and upset over something unnecessarily I would get a "clip around the ear" and told that now I had something to be upset for....shame that principle is not applied in todays society for the perpetually offended
A phrase that Mr. Sandi and many of our friends and I use to similarly express that sentiment is "That's a 'first world' problem".
I believe in freedom of speech and the freedom to express views which others may find offensive, so long as the speech/views are not deliberately targetted at an individual to bully, harm or incite any form of harm. How can you truely judge a persons character if everyone is afraid to express their own true opinion, but are silenced or forced to express an opinion that has been pushed upon them? It is better to have opinions out in the open, and then you know if you want to associate with someone, and you can identify who the undesirables are. Freedom of speech is in theory protected by law, both UK and European (Human Rights) below are a couple of quotes from court cases: A case from European Court of Human Rights: "Freedom of expression, as secured in para 1 of Article 10 of the Convention, constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society, indeed one of the basic conditions for its progress and for the self-fulfilment of the individual. Subject to para 2, it is applicable not only to ‘information’ or ‘ideas’ that are favourably received or regarded as inoffensive or as a matter of indifference, but also to those that offend, shock or disturb the State or any section of the population. Such are the demands of that pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness without which there is no democratic society”. A judgement from the UK Supreme Court: “Freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 10 of the ECHR, includes the right not to express an opinion which one does not hold. This court has held that nobody should be forced to have or express a political opinion in which he does not believe. One is free both to believe and not to believe”. This is not intended to be provocative in any way, I am simply expressing an opinion.
Back to the pub analogy again. Two guys having an argument about race, creed, religion or politics, they can agree to differ, or they can take it outside. However, somebody else sat at the bar is offended (oooh, lilac handbags) and doesn't have a set big enough to say "Hoi boys, knock it off" and goes to the landlord and has a mump about it. Landlord gas to be seen to act, and hands out a leatherin or a barring. "Ooot! Ye're barred!" (how many times have I heard that?) Its the one who did the moaning that needs a good shoogle in my mind. After all, are we not all adults? Well... Actually.....
