to think this has the potential to go tits up?

[Clarissimo]

Been asked to sell on behalf of a local charity a quiz sheet containing film quotes: one uses the word nigger. Now the film is an old one so fair enough but why oh why did they have to select that quote? I'm not happy about it and have said so but why, in the year 2009, would people not realise it just is not OK?

The chap who collated this is a public figure, a councillor- surely, you would hope, he'd cotton on?

That sort of argument is disingenuous though. There's been a lot of debate about whether the dog's name should be retained in the remake of the film. Any fool knows that the word is likely to offend people nowadays and should probably be avoided, unless there's a bloody good reason for including it.

Negro means black. There's a Mexican beer called Negro Modela (a black beer). Not offensive.

N*gger is offensive. Yes, ok, it's a dog name, but using that word lightly just isn't done, any more.

NotQuiteCockney, xposted then. Fair enough, but are you sure no one would think it was offensive anyway to speak about negros?

disingenuous onager

they didn't have to pick a quote from the dam busters, did they?

Molesworth I was going to post first that I probably would have scratched that one to save the hassle if it were me. Then I thought how awful that is. Pre-censorship to avoid upsetting the easily confused (since it isn't about black people at all. It just sounds like it is)

Anyway I'm not expecting to change anyones mind, but you should see that it is possible to have included it innocently and that it probably isn't a BNP conspiracy.

The "easily confused"?

I don't see it as "pre-censorship". It's simply being considerate in light of modern sensibilities. It's a charity film quiz fgs, not a symposium on the British war film.

LOL at bnp conspiracy when I have specifically postedthat I dont believe tis group are racist just under-informed

That is not hw I feel anbout the bnp I can assure you!

The idea that dhtaks these into a multicultural workplace (or any other obv) and sells them is unacceptable and I thin he'd hav placed his employment at risk

Sorry, that word can't be used innocently any more. I'm not suggesting that we go around changing the content of old films, or renaming The Nigger of the Narcissus (for one thing The Fluffy of the Narcissus just sounds silly ).

But with bazillions of films to choose from, each with famous lines, why pick this one? At the least this is ignorant or an attempt to be provocative.

errm yes but 'negro' is not offensive
'nigger' however, is

oh well, at least the chairman seems to be bothered, hopefully his attitude will filter down.

Sorry but I fail to see how anyone, no matter how out of touch they were with the modern world, could use that word innocently these days.

It sounds like whoever was setting the quiz was maliciously stirring.

Lots of things were culturally acceptable in days gone past but drawing attention to them by using them as questions in a quiz is a silly attention seeking device.

Wonder if he printed it off the internet and didn't even read it properly

If he printed it off, he should have noticed the intro:

'tell us which films they was in'

Obv unrelated to N issue and far less severe, but...

besides copyright was pointed out as an issue so will pursue on those grounds alone I think

I do think this chap probably did print or copy the list- but we need to learn and move forwards

Yes, to insist on retaining it, with all the billions of other quotes from films that could be used, is just twattishness, not bravely standing up for free speech.

(and DS paternal grandad used to have a dog called that, as well 60 odd years ago - doesn't make him a BNP member but it's not something you'd brag about in the present day).