Do you agree ...or not?

Alegrias ah, yes, that makes sense (re Cabbie's comment)

Cabbie's comment. I think its an example of how silly this has got; people actually think they're not allowed to say the word "black". All that c*** about blackboards and coffee, if it really happens, needs to be called out and highlighted for the daftness it is. I think we've got bigger fish to fry when it comes to racism.

Like thinking anybody who wants to learn English is a foreigner, for instance.

It's a tricky one as English is taught as a foreign language widely around the world

Callistemon

^Are you serious?^

No because I didn't think you were being serious.

Good. I was being sort of semi-serious. Referring to the part where Anne Robinson thinks its clever and funny to refer to all non-English speakers learning English as foreigners. And why people seem to think that's OK.

Lucca I actually lolled when I read Cabbie's comment

Cabbie - what were you thinking of?

Are you serious?

No because I didn't think you were being serious.

Cabbie21

I was wanting to identify a friend to another person. I said” I am not being racist, but N is black” . It was the quickest way to identify the person I meant. She agreed,
There is a load of nonsense about politically correct language in my opinion.

Why say I am not being racist then!!!

I'd be surprised if she could manage 'a cheeky wink' these days! (miaow ?)

I always quite liked The Weakest Link. I loved her cheeky wink at the end. It was as if to say 'only kidding'. 'The Chase' is no different really. Expect to have the 'mickey' taken out of you.

Callistemon

Yes, it's rather sad, Bluebelle
For a 76 year old she looks very strange.

From the trailers, it seems that Robinson has trouble speaking properly. It must be very uncomfortable.
I don't think that she will be doing it for more than one series.
I can't see her being popular with the punters.
After that they'll give it to a safe pair of hands, like Gyles Brandreth.

In the early 1990’s I attended training called Racial Equality run by trainers from the local voluntary sector. We were told among other things never to ask for white or black coffee or tea, it should be with or without milk. I and others experienced the trainers as aggressive and actually quite frightening, hectoring people. Did the training raise my awareness? Well, it made me afraid to ask questions during that very long day and fearfully watch my words at work for many months to come. I understood far more from informal discussion with peers who were happy to explain why they found some terms and behaviour offensive and were understanding and respectful of the history I also carried with me Since then preferred language has changed goodness knows how many times. I understood training approaches had also changed. How sad if people are again going to be treated aggressively rather than engaged in genuine discussion to improve understanding. Not a circle I would wish to see completed.

I was wanting to identify a friend to another person. I said” I am not being racist, but N is black” . It was the quickest way to identify the person I meant. She agreed,
There is a load of nonsense about politically correct language in my opinion.

Callistemon

^There are still a few people who have Scots Gaelic as their first language^

Does that mean they have a second language?
If so, which language?

Are you serious?

Dear me, lots of people getting a wee bit defensive here.

Hellogirl1 I didn't see your post so wasn't commenting on it.

Callistemon, I wasn't making any comment on anything you said either, no need for indignation.

Newatthis wrote that she was told to substitute "non native speaker" instead of calling someone foreign. So I was pointing out why not all "non native speakers" are foreign.

All clear now?

Yes, it's rather sad, Bluebelle
For a 76 year old she looks very strange.

Her poor face

There are still a few people who have Scots Gaelic as their first language

Does that mean they have a second language?
If so, which language?

Just don't assume that people who don't speak English are "foreigners".

I did not assume that or say that.
Either you misunderstood or twisted what I said for whatever reason.

Alegrias1

Callistemon

There are still a few people who have Scots Gaelic as their first language. If they wanted to learn English, would you feel entitled to refer to them as foreigners?

No, but they would be learning English as a foreign or second language.
It's just a term.

Perhaps best to contact the bodies which award the teaching qualifications for teaching English as a foreign language.

Its got nothing to do with how various teaching organisations describe their courses. Just don't assume that people who don't speak English are "foreigners".

Did I say that?

I don't think so.

Alegrias, I had described most of our neighbours as foreigners, and a certain regular poster accused me, in no uncertain terms, of being racist. The next time I looked, my post had been deleted.

I was just being pedantic, FarNorth.
If a British person teaches English to eg Swedish and Dutch students in France then all are foreigners!

It could get very complicated.

Callistemon

^There are still a few people who have Scots Gaelic as their first language. If they wanted to learn English, would you feel entitled to refer to them as foreigners?^

No, but they would be learning English as a foreign or second language.
It's just a term.

Perhaps best to contact the bodies which award the teaching qualifications for teaching English as a foreign language.

Its got nothing to do with how various teaching organisations describe their courses. Just don't assume that people who don't speak English are "foreigners".

Interesting, ayse , he has certainly come up in the world from charcoal burning!

I realise that Callistemon.
In the context of the teaching, tho, if the students are learning a foreign language then the teacher and other native speakers of English must be foreigners to them.
The language is not being taught to foreigners.

welbeck that makes sense, and also makes it clear that Anne Robinson's comment was indeed rude.

Callistemon

I know someone called Blackman, he's fair (well grey now) and blue-eyed.
Perhaps his ancestors were charcoal burners.

The last name Blackman is most common in the SE of England and mainly in the Weald. GGG grandfather was a charcoal burner (amongst other things such as smuggling). Your friend ‘s ancestors may have originated in this part of the world.

Apologies for going off piste, btw