Chief

[quote user="woolybanana"]Pious cobblers![/quote] What is???????????

[quote user="Russethouse"] I would guess that all the replies that seem to think it's ok to use these terms, are from white members of the forum? That says a lot about them. Really - perhaps you should read this http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/yasmin-alibhai-brown/we-pretend-to-be-united-but-racism-festers-among-the-ethnic-minorities-701419.html [/quote] So is this a justification for racism?????????

[quote user="Russethouse"] but what would Sooty's life and career be worth if he told Charlie Boy not to address him by such a racist epithet Why would it have made a difference ? http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/14/sooty-defends-prince-charles-over-his-racist-nickname-91466-22689552/ It looks he was a successful business man without Prince Charles patronage  I don't condone it, it's just a theory , I suspect it was the fact that Jade Goody used racist terms with anger that made other  people so outraged [/quote] "Why would it have made a difference?"........ Now you are beginning to sound ignorant. Its about social acceptance within ones chosen group. He may not like Charles at all, but in order to mix within those social circles, in which Charles also mixes, acceptance by Charles will and would make a massive difference to the individual. It really isn't rocket science, and i hazard a guess that there is some pretence to ignorance here on your behalf. I served in the british army. Something i now regret as i feel quite strongly now that person of ethnic origin should die for this country, given the widespread (my opinion) racial intolerance that exists. In order to exist with a degree of acceptance and harmony, it wasn't good enough to be better than the others, you HAD to fit in, you HAD to be seen as one of them, at times there was even pretence to be as STUPID and IGNORANT as many of them were due to there poor educational backgrounds and lack of any social or other understanding of the world in which they lived. Personally, i would have been delighted if Charles' asian 'friend' had smacked him straight in the mouth, and Harry had received similar treatment from his '****' friend. Now that would have been some demonstration that this kind of language is unacceptable...even from the ignorant and priviledge.

[quote user="Russethouse"] but what would Sooty's life and career be worth if he told Charlie Boy not to address him by such a racist epithet Why would it have made a difference ? http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/14/sooty-defends-prince-charles-over-his-racist-nickname-91466-22689552/ It looks he was a successful business man without Prince Charles patronage I don't condone it, it's just a theory , I suspect it was the fact that Jade Goody used racist terms with anger that made other people so outraged [/quote] "Why would it have made a difference?"........ Now you are beginning to sound ignorant. Its about social acceptance within ones chosen group. He may not like Charles at all, but in order to mix within those social circles, in which Charles also mixes, acceptance by Charles will and would make a massive difference to the individual. It really isn't rocket science, and i hazard a guess that there is some pretence to ignorance here on your behalf. I served in the british army. Something i now regret as i feel quite strongly now that person of ethnic origin should die for this country, given the widespread (my opinion) racial intolerance that exists. In order to exist with a degree of acceptance and harmony, it wasn't good enough to be better than the others, you HAD to fit in, you HAD to be seen as one of them, at times there was even pretence to be as STUPID and IGNORANT as many of them were due to there poor educational backgrounds and lack of any social or other understanding of the world in which they lived. Personally, i would have been delighted if Charles' asian 'friend' had smacked him straight in the mouth, and Harry had received similar treatment from his '****' friend. Now that would have been some demonstration that this kind of language is unacceptable...even from the ignorant and priviledge.

[quote user="Dog"]It is an ambiguous subject title but it could still be considered a little unusual to have a 1200 as a first bike. [/quote] ahh. Agreed, as most of my friends pointed out at the time. What i found was that at 6'1" and 18 stone, i tended to dwarf the 600cc range, and quite frankly, i looked stupid on them. Another factor was that the price differential between used and new then was well within my comfort zone, and the idea of looking stupid for 12 months on a bike i didn't want, and buying second hand when i knew i would soon be craving for a new bike, resulted in a decision to bite the bullet and go big on both size and budget. Was right decision for me, but perhaps not for everyone. At 38, and with over 20 years in a car, brain ruled more than ego, so not such an unwise choice for me.

i was once billed for cancelling an appointment with a dentist. No problem. It was about 8 months later when they rang and said they needed to cancel as the dentist was going to be late. I posted a bill to them for my time. The subsequent discussions over the telephone resulted in my £16 being returned to me by cheque, and pretty much an agreement that we would treat each other with a little more respect in future. Result

I don't condone abuse in anyway, but i have to add that the smell of hypocrisy is putrid here in scotland. As an englishman, i have to listen to diatribes from the likes of Alex (its all the fault of the english) salmond on a daily basis. The active promotion of the notion that any failing in scotland is the fault directly of the english is alive and well, and they accuse black people of playing the race card. They have slagged of the british parliament left right and centre up here, and then whinge because Clarkson calls one of their own a childish little name. They even want the word british struck from government correspondence because they say that british actually means english. Pathetic

[quote user="Frederick"]As Michael Portillo said on TV the other night ...If the bonus is not given they are hardly likely to leave.... nobody is hireing "[/quote] A contract is a contract. They have to pay. The Govt missed a trick by not making it a condition of investment that bonuses were reviewed in light of the financial failure of the bank, and that any govt investment would be conditional upon a satisfactory outturn from such a review. I think the bankers would have got the message. :-)

[quote user="Dog"][quote user="Chief"]Suzuki Bandit 1200 Honda CBR1100 Super blackbird (carbed) Honda CBR1100 Super blackbird (Injected) Triumph Rocket 2300 BMW K1200S (with all trick bits)[/quote] So you started with a Bandit with balancing wheels and a 30bhp kit? [/quote] Are you perhaps referring to the new restrictions on riders, or the bike i learned to ride on???? Not sure but for clarity. I learned on (but did not own) a ER5. Aged 38..ish The first bike i owned was a Bandit 1200S There were no restrictions on the size of bike you could own after passing your test 2002-3 I passed my test on a tuesday and picked up the bike from Stoke-on-Trent on the saturday morning.

[quote user="Dog"][quote user="Chief"]Suzuki Bandit 1200 Honda CBR1100 Super blackbird (carbed) Honda CBR1100 Super blackbird (Injected) Triumph Rocket 2300 BMW K1200S (with all trick bits)[/quote] So you started with a Bandit with balancing wheels and a 30bhp kit? [/quote] Sorry you have lost me with the last comment

[quote user="odile"]I agree Sweet. Please don't it him over the head as he already has got sore knees. I had dropped the subject as it was going no where. But having read Chief's poignant comment - I was incensed by the extreme insensitivity of the reply I bid you Good Night. [/quote] Odile. Thanks for your comments and understanding. The other side of this coin in a sense is that by having outlets where people can demonstrate their ignorance (not directed at any posters here) allows a reasoned and challenging debate. The thatcher woman has exposed herself to everyone. We all now know where her understanding of the world she lives in rests. Never thought much of her mothers policies, but i am she she brought her up to know a little better. With regard to those who state she made private comments, i would say this. There is no such thing as a private conversation, email, phone call, natter in a pub over a pint anymore. Once it is out and heard it can travel anywhere. I personally never say anything to anyone that i seriously don't want repeating. I never put a single word in an email that i am not prepared to have read, or in a text message either. The reality is that we truly have no idea where our information goes......... :-)

Suzuki Bandit 1200 Honda CBR1100 Super blackbird (carbed) Honda CBR1100 Super blackbird (Injected) Triumph Rocket 2300 BMW K1200S (with all trick bits)

Not sure if this is on the same subject matter, but i recently read that Porsche make more money out of stock market trading than they do selling cars worldwide. One commentator called them a hedge fund that also sells cars, so dramatic is the shift from core business.

[quote user="Puzzled"]I do and try and have a look at a number of UK news websites. It does almost seem that there is a concerted effort by the DM and its readers to have certain words that died out with ' Love thy neighbour' reintroduced as acceptable mainstream terms.  Referring to a black tennis player as a gollywog, I don't know how that can't be racist. It may be harmless to those of us with whiteskin but I'm sure many people of afro caribbean origin growing up in the UK not that many years ago wouldn't agree. Bit like calling someone a 'paki' , it just isn't the same as Brit because for many people who had it shouted in their direction it was usually followed by 'f**k off back home'. [/quote] I think you hit the nail on the head. As a black man i find the use offensive, because i grew up asnd went to school with the words "f*ck off home you golliwog, nigger, coon, etc" ringing in my ears most days. I am sure that to the majority of white children growing up with me it was just a harmless toy, and i guess unless you were subject to the abuse, it is hard to understand. But for those who think it is a case of PC (whatever that is...figure it something to do with being polite and respectful to all, but who knows), feel free to call me a golliwog anytime, and i will feel at liberty to do my utmost to abuse, harass and intimidate you as well....no problem at all.

[quote user="Russethouse"]Please don't bother - I live 5 minutes from the Chiltern Hills, 5 minutes from an area where I can eat 'around the world' and can be in London in 45 minutes (door to door) and Portsmouth is 90 minutes if I am using the ferry. If I am flying I can get to Souhampton airport in about an hour - believe me, there are much worse places to live....[/quote] Touche