@not_for_sale2025 wrote:
@springyzone wrote:
@rogespeed wrote:
I think to many influencers within society are becoming so trite yet indignant if affronted , that many can not cope with dealing with the legitimate use of a word and it's use in other contexts as a metaphor - therefor the default reaction is to banish the word
Yes. I personally don't mind what people prefer to be called. If someone prefers to be called black, that's fine, same as it is fine (to me) to call someone white. They are just descriptive terms.
But what really gets me down is extrapolating from that and not allowing the word black to be used in any other context. If we are going to get into trouble for terms such as black sheep or black magic, then for heavens sakes, the black people need to decide on another term, I don't know why black has to be hijacked.
The example someone gave of their daughter asking a person if they took their coffee black or white was just over the top for me.
I don't care if the milk should be in a jug, I don't care if the person could have said milk. They weren't talking about skin colour. Black & white are common terms for coffee. For anyone of any colour to take offence is just getting to the point of ridiculous.
I think a lot of the people who go on about racism are trouble makers who are looking for attention and who are wanting to split people from different races. I pay little attention to them. Then there are those who can become upset if they interpret a racist comment. I certainly do not want to offend them. But it can become difficult in trying to work out who is genuine and who is just looking for an opportunity to attack.
I've seen a lot of videos and images over the last weeks of white people waving "Black lives matter" banners across the world. I am not aware of any complaints about the wording. I also assume the wording is fine because I have seen many black people waving the same banners alongside the white people. So surely it is reasonable to assume that 'black' is not regarded as offensive if used in a positive way.
What has been lost over time is the question of intent. Whether the use of the word 'black' was intended to be offensive or not is the real issue IMO. But hey, I too have been barreled for making comments that were totally innocent and with no offense intended. Dunno what the solution is.
I have no issue with people identifying themselves as black (or white or whatever). It seems to be the accepted term at the moment.
But where it gets leery (to me) is when that is taken and stretched to say that because some people are called black, the use of the word in any other context, especially one that might imply anything bad, has to be changed as it is racist. That wasall i was saying. That if we had to go down that path, it would be easier to leave all the terms or sayings and just change the identifying word for black people. Unlikely to happen though.
This is what i am seeing a lot these days: Any mention of race, nationality, colour, even gender, can be taken by some people as racist etc
This is how I interpret racism.
* The thief was an English man. Not racist
* English men are all thieves. Racist.
* That person has black skin. Not racist
* That person has black skin therefore he can't have a job here or mix with us. Racist.
* Black lives matter. Not racist
* Black lives matter more than white lives or that a person has to be treated with preference because he is black (or white, or anything else) Racist.
