[dimtimjim]

Looking gooooooooood...

[Nicola_Red]

I think the problem with Topher's position is merely a question of semantics - I think he is applying a personalised definition to the word "racism" - ie he is "taking it to mean" something - and its not really accurate. I think a better description of what Topher is describing is historical oppression, and I completely agree that in this country at least, that isn't something caucasians can really claim to have suffered. Racism in and of itself though clearly has no required basis in history.

This comment comes from an article written by a South Asian woman who was on the receiving end of a racial slur from a white guy (for context):

racism is backed up by institutionalised systems which wouldn't be in place if I were to say that to him. Same argument for how "reverse racism" doesn't exist.

I'm not sure whether I agree with that or not, but I think it's essentially what Toph was trying to say.

[Topher]

Yes - as usual someone can explain it better than me.

[chrysostom]

I don't think I understand the quote. It's been a long day

[Nicola_Red]

So to clarify, she was in bed with a white English guy who told her he was "freaked out by her race", and she was declaring him racist in the article about the experience. A commenter asked her if it would qualify as racism if the conversation had been reversed, ie if she'd said that to the guy - and that quote was her response. Hope that helps a bit

[chrysostom]

But why would institutional racism not be in place if the minority was to openly criticise the majority?

Or am I misunderstanding the quote?

[neilt0]

I know someone who lived in Hawaii and apparently, there is a lot of racism against WHITEY! there: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/i ... n-paradise

[Bruvva]

Cowardly Australians badgering the umpires into going off for the light in the final test, 4 overs to go, building up to a great climax : England may or may not have won. Laws need to be changed to prevent this kind of thing in the future, that was still playable.

[The Deadly]

Cowardly Australians badgering the umpires into going off for the light in the final test, 4 overs to go, building up to a great climax : England may or may not have won. Laws need to be changed to prevent this kind of thing in the future, that was still playable.

England would have done exactly the same thing. Rules are rules.

[Bruvva]

Aus wouldn't have complained so much had it been 200-9 though, plus the umps were completely happy to keep the players on before the constant antipodean whining got too much for them. And anyway, Aus bowled at eleven overs an hour - that's deliberate time wasting to put it politely, umpires should have told em to stick it.

Still, 3-0. Complaining about it not being 4-0 is maybe churlish

[The Deadly]

The umpires are put into that position by the ICC though. The rules should change but I can't blame the umpires really or Clarke for him trying to get the game stopped. I accept its very frustrating to watch though. A great game and conclusion ruined by the rule book.

[Bruvva]

Great game? Nah. Great last day, yes. The previous 4 days were horrendously attritional or rained off. And Clarke's declaration was a cynical attempt to gain favour back home, Oz were never going to get 10 wickets in 50(?) overs on that wicket.

Agree with the rule book comment.

[exeter4eva]

The umpires are put into that position by the ICC though. The rules should change but I can't blame the umpires really or Clarke for him trying to get the game stopped. I accept its very frustrating to watch though. A great game and conclusion ruined by the rule book.

They shouldn't have taken a reading - therefore no reason to come off
Just needed to say that they didn't think the light was too bad

[The Deadly]

The umpires are put into that position by the ICC though. The rules should change but I can't blame the umpires really or Clarke for him trying to get the game stopped. I accept its very frustrating to watch though. A great game and conclusion ruined by the rule book.

They shouldn't have taken a reading - therefore no reason to come off
Just needed to say that they didn't think the light was too bad

So you wanted them to ignore the fact it might have been too dark to play cricket and potentially endanger players? What do you think might have happened if one of the players had been struck on the head by the ball? The umpires would have been blamed for it and lost their jobs. The umpires did nothing wrong and nor did Michael Clarke. Cook would have been exactly the same if the roles were reversed.

[Bruvva]

The light wasn't actually that bad at that point, and your point about the safety of the players would be valid if Oz weren't trying to sling every ball 2 feet down leg side, they're hardly the West Indies side of Joel Garner et al.

Now Karachi in 2000, THAT was dark.

[The Deadly]

My argument in this case would be with ICC who enforce the rules and not with the umpires. They were just following the letter of the law which I think came into place after the game in Karachi.

[The Deadly]

I knew the second I applied to the Army that there would be a major international conflict. FML.

[Nicola_Red]

Just read an incredibly upsetting but powerful piece by a woman who was raped last week. Very triggering (I had to go into the bathroom because it was making me cry) but definitely worth a read.

http://www.xojane.com/issues/i-was-sexually-assaulted-just-a-week-ago-and-i-have-no-hope-that-my-attackers-will-ever-be-caught

[The Deadly]

Ed Miiliband is annoying me this morning. His smug approach to the vote on military action will come back to bite him in the arse hopefully. I'm not a fan of David Cameron but he did the right thing in going through the democratic process in Parliment and accepting the decision. He hasn't blindly followed the American lead on the Syria issue. Instead of the criticism he is receiving by some people he should be praised in this instance for the way he has handled the Syria problem.

Now over to America to bomb the shit out of the place.

[Nicola_Red]

I'm blocked here from posting on any page Badger has posted on cos of his location. It's not against the rules as it isn't actually a swear word - it's just that I'm up against an over-enthusiastic firewall. Oh well, the forum's quiet enough that the other mods will manage without me, it just bums me out that I can't read or make any attempt at moderating most pages.

[chrysostom]

No mods, you say?

[JayE]

Intriguing. Anyone fancy one of our classic chrismoyles.net arguments?

[Johnny 1989]

Let the anarchy commence!

[dimtimjim]

I'm blocked here from posting on any page Badger has posted on cos of his location. It's not against the rules as it isn't actually a swear word - it's just that I'm up against an over-enthusiastic firewall. Oh well, the forum's quiet enough that the other mods will manage without me, it just bums me out that I can't read or make any attempt at moderating most pages.

ROFL.

[chrysostom]

Let the anarchy commence!

If I could find it, I'd play the clip of Dom, Chris & Dave when Aled leaves the studio and they go very strange - including French chat, a pub and duck sounds.