Suspected suicide bomber shot at Stockwell station.

[cori]

Have just heard an unconfirmed report on the radio. Anyone else?

I think it's perfectly natural to feel nervous on public transport (and no emma, I don't think you're being naive) but I think it is sad that people feel suspicious of certain individuals because of the colour of their skin - I look strangely at people with rucksacks now, no matter what their colour is, even though I know logically the chances of me sitting next to a bomber are minute.

that's very nice of you QoQ.

I'll ask you if you think I'm niave then?

Does MN and the whole world have to agree with you then?

(thansk Nutty, do you think we are?)

give qoq a break, shes upset, we all get like it sometimes.

ah, ok, understand that totally but there are better ways of making your point and you usually manage to do that very well.

fwiw, i'm trying to maintain some sense of balance about this as all these people would probably get off the bus if my dad got on as he could easily be mistaken for middle eastern.

She's upset because some posters on this thread have revealed their hitherto-well-masked foul, racist prejudices, I expect.

Now where's that rolling eyes emoticon when you really need it?

Can somebody please start a nice happy feeling Friday sort of thread?

Sophable - I have often got out of tube carriages because there are young white men in them. I have also turned around and walked into shops at night because otherwise I would be alone on a dark street with young white men.

happyhuggy i'm sure qoq is big and grown up enough to defend herself, in fact having crossed swords with her and been on her side in various debates i'm sure of it.

also, just as an aside, if ever i'm upset on mn, please no one call me hun as it will make me want to kill them

I'll also be terrified if I see armed police officers on the tube, because they have shot a man dead. I'll be terrified that they might start shooting near me and catch me, or other bystanders, in the cross fire. Unfortunately the police have been known to be trigger-happy in the past and they will, obviously, be extremely jumpy at the moment.

Does that make me prejudiced against the police?

ok sophable hun

Sophable I can absolutely guarantee that unless your father is approximately 19 years old, wears a baseball cap, carries a large rucksack and tends to look jumpy, then he will have the pleasure of my company.

QoQ, you do not live in London. This is not an experience that you have directly gone through. Some of us could have died, and if they have not finished, could very well die in the future. We just don't know. I am scared. And I do not think it too badly of myself to act in a way that I would not consider right under normal circumstances. This is not a normal circumstance. Just because your husband is black does not mean we are predujice in any way towards you. You are basically being a drama queen IMO. Who are you to judge and tell us to get our head out of our arses? F* off yourself, you are behaving most irrationally and judgementally.

Sorry, just

I probably don't even have a right to comment on this thread as I am here in America (and as HappyDaddy and many others would say "Thank God for the Americans (for protecting us, etc), BUT I am. Very scarey things are happening in London right now and everyone is entitled to their feelings. QofQ I find your comments insulting, and I think you are having a gross overreaction to some of the comments made on this thread. Clearly this is a deep, personal issue for you, but it is not alright to slag off posters that are here day in and day out offering brilliance and support for others. Can we all agree to disagree then?

(aside: Soph - did you e mail me last night? I doidn't get it?)

Seems a reasonable response Flossam.

I really think throwing accusations of racism around is not constructive. It's idiotic and makes real debate impossible.

Ok, guys, this is my first inflammatory thread, please be gentle with me.

QoQ is upset and firing in all directions, could everybody just duck and carry on regardless?

I agree with JanH

I thnk this is the most irrational thread I've ever read. Aloha your comment 'But I would quietly get off the bus if a young Asian man with a rucksack got on.' beggars belief

Ooohh, dunno Jan....you might have to try harder than that

we're all upset (well I am) I see no basis for calling people the 'c' word - totally inexcusable imo

Does her comment about not going into a carriage with a lone man in it also beggar belief?

I don't mind being called the c word. I'm all in favour of re-claiming it!

it didn't get thro cause it had a swear word in it blu

me too , it's a great word