Chris Evans Poll

[Guest woolly]

sorry but i think this thread should be deleted.

[Andi]

I think it makes you think.

And thats not bad

 

Andi

[megadodo]

This post should not be deleted as its an excellent debate. If we try and stifle debate (as this and recent governments have tried to do) because we are scared we are offending someone of for any other reason the we are on a very slippery slope away from true democracy. The people of this country have NOT been allowed to debate and decide on many subjects in recent years, the membership of the EU for one, and this should NOT be allowed to continue. While I disagree with Daz's interpretation of racism he is entitled to express that view as I am and there is no reason why that can't be done in the public domain. While the joke may be in bad taste it does not express a prejudice based on race or religion. It is a comment on the poverty of the African nation more than anything else.

[agent_zed]

hmm quite an interesting debate. Its interesting peoples different interpretation of how things are written as someone pointed out he only said africans so why is it assumed that they are black (if that is the assumption). besides which those horn things are bl***y annoying whoever is blowing them.

 

In my opinion racism is when you have a predudice against a specific race of people and actively seek to incite others to dislike them. I don't think that that comment has anything to do with disliking africans it was a simple joke that we've all told, wihtout malice and with no intent to incite others. Ive said much worse things about the french in jest but no one cares because they aren't black so its ok.

 

Iam not a big fan of Chris evans to be honest maybe its because iam also ginger and ive had a lot of stick in my life which is just as racist (maybe more publicly) than other races. Its funny how its perfectly acceptable to tell jokes about gingers, i was told of one on little britain where their baby was ginger and the good news was that it had died! but this isn't racist because it wasn't asian or black etc. Chris evans has taken a lot of stick about being ginger but doesn't pull the race card every 5 minutes because most of it is said in jest and taken as such.

 

I just don't get some of the people in our country when they complain about things like this, we live in an incredibly tolerant society with a mix of hundreds of cultures, we have numerous different religions and churches, women have equal rights and everyone has a pretty good opportunity to work and have a decent life. In my street there is a turkish family, chineese family, A black(if that is ok to describe them as such) family and no-one even thinks about disliking each other for the colour of their race, colour etc.

 

just my thoughts on the subject

 

PS the weather is fantastic for the hood at the moment!

[Guest Stuartl]

My personal view is that most people who play the race card, whether they are black, white or a bit inbetween have other underlying issues and use the term 'racism' as an excuse.

 

I have friends from a huge range of ethnic backgrounds BUTIt takes something like this to remind me of that fact. To me they are my friends, whatever their creed or colour but I am sure that most, if not all of them are totally sick of people abusing the term 'racism' like it is done in today's society.

 

I dont like certain people. Some of them are black, some of them are white, some of them are Chinese, some of them are Welsh, French, English. Some of them are MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY!!!

 

However, the reasons that I dont like them has nothing at all to do with their skin colour, race or religion.

 

One personality trait I find very appealing in people that I meet is one that lets people laugh, joke and socialise and put all the politically correct nonsense to one side and leave it there.

 

Right, off my soapbox now

[Guest gdc]

was going to reply but got so far through the post and deleted it as it could have been read 2 ways .

sorry but thats the way its got ,

 

bored now

 

graham

[Mitch]

now if it had been the Duke of Edinburgh, that would have been priceless, one person who dont give a *bleep* about upsetting the ethnic majority , and no thats NOT a type error,

 

 

oh theres another here, ME

 

 

Mitch ,

[steve in stockport]

Sorry, but if you don't like what you see or hear on the internet, TV and radio just use your own power of censorship and switch channels or switch off.

I can't understand why, if you heard someone, celeb or not, had posted a 'racist' comment on his twitter sight and you knew you were likely to be offended by it you had to go and look at it.

 

As for me, well if all the spin the government gave out during the firefighters strike is to be believed, I make Chris Evans look squeaky clean.

[Guest docter fox]

Would it be racist if Chris Evans was racist? probably not in the same sense but it would definitely be frowned upon by some South Africans who could feel belittled by it. In a similar vain to Chris Rock, a black comedian, who has part of his stand up routine talking about niggers, whereas it may be taken as belittling by some black people, it is not seen as racist as he is black.

 

Would there be as many comments if it was said by someone like Frankie Boyle? As it would seem relatively tame to some of the things he comes out with... Would it be seen as racist to the same extent if he had said "South Africa" as a more direct reference to the world cup and the irritating drone that comes from every match?

 

Whereas I see it is interpreted as illegal in the eyes of the law, I believe the chances of him being prosecuted for it are very slim and for good reason (the little bit of common sense society has left). However, I do agree that it maybe wasn't the best thing to say as a representative of the BBC.

 

Most jokes poke fun at certain types of people and this is where the judgement of our society/other societies and every different individual makes the whole area very grey as to what is acceptable and common sense should be used for different audiences and environments. I agree that this will never be completely resolved but think it is important we still try to act as fairly as possible.

 

An interesting debate but there should be a word limit for each reply!

[fry61]

Word limited reply "Jokes are like fire; if you don't huff & puff over them they'll go out."