[SAV1OUR]

Shes the one we're all meant to hate, not only did she escape the (now cancelled) Friday eviction, yet in light of this new thing she looks like one of Viv's saints now.

[S4B]

I'm still reolute in my determination not to watch it!

[DemonHorse]

Shame it was only a special effect. Perhaps they could put Russell Brand in there too, and we could get the real thing?

thats something I would watch... hell I'd PAY to watch that.

[Yudster]

It does make sense to me, but somehow it's been deemed okay for black people to say it cos they are referring to themselves and so it can't be being used as an insult. Like how gay people have reclaimed the word 'queer'.

Reminds me of a football story - apparently some Premiership clubs are being investigated under anti-racism legislation because of chanting by their fans at White Hart Lane which refers to the Spurs fans as "Yids". The fact that the Spurs supporters call themselves "The Yid Army", and most of their own songs use the term is apparently irrelevant.

[foot-loose]

This kinda highlights what I meant when I said:

If a group of friends take the piss out each other, thats different. Its a thin line I admit, but I do think that there are too many people out there who take life far too seriously.

From my point of view, for me to be told "shut it ya poof" from one of my mates would be no big deal, but if some random said that to me, it would be meant as an offensive remark rather than a bit of banter.

I aint seen any of this big brother nonsense yet so I dunno really how it was said, but the indication is that it was only meant in jest and its prob been blown way out of context. But then, it is channel 4 we are dealing with here.

On the other hand, the daft bint should maybe have remembered that she was on a television show that received the highest number of complaints ever about a race row only six months ago.

[Mcqueen_]

If someone believes that they are a better person than someone else because of that persons colour, beliefs, sexuality or abilities then they need to address that - that is what I would see as racist.

This is probably the most stupidest thing you've said.

Believing you are better than someone because of their sexuality or abilities is racist?

Seriously just read what you've written. You must have some form of common sense to realise that you are talking absolute shit.

[Mcqueen_]

Ohhh now I've just read your last post.

From my point of view, for me to be told "shut it ya poof" from one of my mates would be no big deal, but if some random said that to me, it would be meant as an offensive remark rather than a bit of banter.

....

On the other hand, the daft bint should maybe have remembered that she was on a television show that received the highest number of complaints ever about a race row only six months ago.

Bint ey?

An offensive derogatory term for a woman? Are we having a sexist moment here?

[S4B]

I hate that word. The B one can't even bring myself to type it

[foot-loose]

If someone believes that they are a better person than someone else because of that persons colour, beliefs, sexuality or abilities then they need to address that - that is what I would see as racist.

This is probably the most stupidest thing you've said.

Believing you are better than someone because of their sexuality or abilities is racist?

Seriously just read what you've written. You must have some form of common sense to realise that you are talking absolute *.

Whoa, calm down a notch there.

I'm happy to discuss it and if there is something that I have said thats wrong or upset you then I apologise.

I think your point is that I have included sexuality and abilities in the same discussion as racism. As much as the word "racist" refers to discrimination against a particular race, I am bringing in other forms of discrimination as they are often a similar subject.

If you don't agree with that then fair enough, I'll accept that discriminating against someones sexuality or abilities isn't "racism".

Don't think it was worth that response from you though.

Bint ey?

An offensive derogatory term for a woman? Are we having a sexist moment here?

I think it was meant to be a humerous comment based on what I had written above that.

I aint seen any of this big brother nonsense yet so I dunno really how it was said, but the indication is that it was only meant in jest and its prob been blown way out of context.

Again, if you have taken offense to that, my apologies.

S4B - same for yourself. I have never thought that word was overly offensive - here it just means "silly girl" - but judging from your reaction, you think it is. Sorry if any offense was caused and if Console wants to edit, i'm sure he will.

[MK Chris]

I like the word 'bint'.

[foot-loose]

I like the word 'bint'.

Is it as bad as it seems?

[S4B]

I like the word 'bint'.

Is it as bad as it seems?

On behalf of most women YES!!!

[foot-loose]

On behalf of most women YES!!!

Well, since this came up, I have asked a couple of folks and they don't seem to think so.

However, it was never my intention to offend so again, im sorry.

[catherine]

S4B's what do you find so offensive about the word bint ? If you don't mind me asking, just wondering if its a generation thing.

[MK Chris]

It does make sense to me, but somehow it's been deemed okay for black people to say it cos they are referring to themselves and so it can't be being used as an insult. Like how gay people have reclaimed the word 'queer'.

Just seen this. I understand why it's not offensive when black people use it, but I still don't agree with it.

I think if a word is to be deemed offensive, no one should use it, regardless of race, creed, sexuality, etc. Why should a word be acceptable for you to use simply because of the colour of your skin? That is almost as racist as using it in the first place.

Personally I have never used that word (and would never use it) and the only time I would ever use 'queer' is when not in the context of describing a gay person (though I haven't used it at all in a long long time, especially now that it seems to have become synonymous with gay people).

Personally I find 'the C word' fine, though a lot of people don't, it depends on your outlook; in my opinion perjorative terms are fine to use as long as they do not carry connotations of discrimination against any particular group.

[Yudster]

When I was reading the old original Thomas the Tank Engine stories to my lad the other night, I found myself substituting the word "strange" whenever the text said "queer". Is this the right thing to do or not?

[Ballbag]

My teachere always used to preech that you should "treat people how you think you'd like to be treated"................ when in fact you should "treat people how you think they'd like to be treated". Silly nuns.

[Yudster]

When I was reading the old original Thomas the Tank Engine stories to my lad the other night, I found myself substituting the word "strange" whenever the text said "queer". Is this the right thing to do or not?

I mean the word substitution, not whether or not its ok to read Thomas the Tank Engine.

[MK Chris]

See I think in that context it's OK; if it's written and I were reading it, I would probably not change the word. But I've never read Thomas the Tank Engine to a child so I don't know.

[Yudster]

Theoretically I completely agree, its a legitimate word, and was used in a legitimate context. But the word itself has been so bastardised by misuse and confusion of use I automatically altered it without even really thinking about it. It has become one of "those" words, the ones you don't use, in the same category as other words which have only ever had perjorative meanings. Seems a shame to me.

[Nicola_Red]

S4B's what do you find so offensive about the word bint ? If you don't mind me asking, just wondering if its a generation thing.

I also loathe and detest that word and I'm not much younger than S4B; can't really explain why. Something about it just grates on me. Maybe it has a patronising quality but I'm not sure that's it.

[claradooblue]

I'm roughly the same age as you red and i use it a lot. Isn't it an arabic word meaning daughter or something like that; not entirely sure though.

[Nicola_Red]

I'm roughly the same age as you red and i use it a lot. Isn't it an arabic word meaning daughter or something like that; not entirely sure though.

I looked it up on dictionary.com:

bint
–noun British Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a woman or girl.

[Arabic, daughter; see bn in Semitic roots.]

[Yudster]

I wonder - just wonder you understand - if the reason that the word has become a term of insult in our language is because of the Western perception (right or wrong) of women being inferior and degraded in Arabic culture?

[S4B]

I think that's what it is Yudster. I can even cope with the C word better than that one. I'm not often called it mind you!