to think that there is NEVER an acceptable reason to call a 32 year old woman a "young girl?"

[Hullygully]

No I'm not.

I couldn't care less what emotive flannel is flung about.

IT. IS.NOT.ACCEPTABLE.

The end.

is this not the same principle as the one that operates in the iraq war? just because you disagree passionately with our involment seems to lead to being callous and uncaring about british troops dying? a very strange conflation that does obscure the actual point? kneejerk emotional responses to something very different to the actual point. and wfiw what i find truly disgusting is the emotional vampirism that enables a poster to decide what the dead police officers would be thinking riht now. that is grotesque.

Nah she's not old enough yet.

Jemma

your quote doesn't support what you then say after it.

yes, so all cleaners and McDs employees are feminists? Well good on them

Get a life you halfwit - a career in domestic cleansing or fast food distribution awaits you

I'm sorry, I really really am but tears streaming down my face at this.

Agree in part Hully. Disagree mostly. This is one situation. A BAD example. One of grief and love and shock. Any offensive comment was so small in the grand scheme of offensive comments that to pick upon it and separate it from the grief, love and shock is unfair to the person who made the comments and actually disrespectful to the person the comments were about.

For me, whether I am offended at being referred to as a young girl completely depends on how it's said, what the context is, and all the other words that surround it.

Even the word 'woman' can be used with scorn. Its not automatically a sign of respect.

Pick a better example and I may well agree with you, but not on this.

it seems to be snobby shite to me usual.

It was just so random. And aimed at Hully.

MN has finally done for me

Aldiwhore-excellent post.

Is it fuck emotional vampirism. If for one second the people that knew them thought that their friends/partners/children would be offended at the terms of the descriptions, they would not have been used.

If one of the officer's relations had been a precious nit picking over zealous puritan, then I suspect she would have been told to STFU and show a little respect.

I agree again aldi

Jenna - I don't think the quote demonstrates hully is a half-wit. And what's the shame in being a fast food worker (I used to be one)

Does it need explaining ?

People way underestimate the affect of language on people subconscious perceptions. I'm a bit confused why there seems to be an assumption that finding "young girl" an inappropriate description of an adult woman (however well intentioned) makes you a radical feminist

"Young girl" from my 95 year old grandmother = fine and appropriate. From anyone under 80 or anyone (of any age) in a professional capacity = not appropriate.

At least until the day that a 32 year old professional man is described as a "young boy".

er, is there a statute of limitations on discussing the iraq war? btw jemma, may i congratulate you on your searing putdown to hully. there really is no comeback from that. becuase we all know that people who cook, clean or work behind a till are utters morons. high five!

jemma - not really, you were trying to insult someone by saying they will have a career in what you think are "menial "jobs, non?

Never.

Domestic cleansing (I think she means cleaning) and fast food sales are both vastly more honourable and worthwhile occupations than the one Jemma is engaged in; namely, being a gobshite.
OP, YANBU. And it's pity you have had to waste any energy at all making clear your point is not meant to trivialise these terrible events.

Strawberry, do you not think informal banter= unthinking prejudice?
I'm sure you would have had some diversity training in your career.

To not care means you may reinforce the predjudice unwittingly. I get the fact that banter is part and parcel of the police environment but if you accept it, you are endorsing unacceptable behaviour.

And i used to lead PR for a multinational..but after becoming preggers i was sidelined...and as for going back to work ....not a shock eh girls