Were you offended?

GG

Her views are not mine I agree.

Your view of hypocrisy seems to vary from mine too, what's new?

As for using the word Harperson it is some what timid compared to the pure nasty comments, words and insults a few posters have used when talking of the likes of Gove, Pickles , Osborne, Thatcher etc. Law for one and not another I guess.

Harriet Harperson has been used for 'years'. It was a nickname given to her from the Labour ranks, wasn't Damien McBride who started it off, not sure.

I think the migrants are already feeling they are not seen as human beings. They shout out "We are not animals" (yes, I know, all human beings are animals but you get their drift I'm sure). I think in their situation I would not like being described as being part of an anonymous and threatening "swarm".

Of course, these sorts of expressions only fall from usage if more and more people start to think they are inappropriate and that's as it should be. However, it should still be OK for people who have misgivings about using such a word to be able to express that opinion. I think a prime minister, in particular, should be quite careful about the expressions he uses. As durhamjen's link showed, the Swedish minister at least was not particularly impressed.

Nine migrants have died since June - that surely gives some indication of their level of desperation and motivation. Is it possible that they might make a reasonable contribution to this country and show great commitment to it if they are given a chance?

Hmm. More petty squabbling I think petra rather than anyone really caring that much.

Good thread subject though, before it went silly.

Has any actually asked any of the migrants if they feel offended?
I expect they are too busy worrying about their futures to feel offended about a word.
Hattie should be worrying more about the migrants' futures and the future of the Labour Party than mere words and their meanings.

Jingle. Your post at 15.50. The numbers speak for themselves.

Once again I don't think that 'Dave' has thought his new policy through, no surprise there. The one where private landlords have to vet tenants.
On the news at lunchtime there was a chap from Hillingdon council. He said that there is still a law in place whereby if a family with children are evicted the local borough must rehouse them, legal or not. Back to the back of the envelope Dave.

Does anyone really give a flying fu fart about any of this? Buggered if I do.

Start a thread Elegran.

Yes. Definitely call those nasty Vikings "swarms".

midst not mist!

I really don't know why the word 'swarm' is considered offensive; having been part of a swarm of people rushing on to the Tube after a big event in Hyde Park I can think of no better way to describe it: many people all rushing together with one objective - to try to get through carriage doors and into a small space. Very frightening it was too, particularly trying to protect two small children in the mist of the swarm.

As for the whole migrant problem, that is another matter altogether from the squabbling over semantics.

A letter from a German in Saturday's i summed up my sense of outrage and disgust when he said he was shocked by British racism
What I do find is offensive is a German man calling the British racist in the light of present-day racist and anti-Muslim rallies in that country.

That's right, Jings, words like that one. As far as I am concerned, you can use it if you feel you must, but there are many people who say they are offended by it - even more than the swarms of people who are offended by being referred to as a swarm.

Freedom of speech works all ways.

Picture them, swarming over the sides of their boats to invade...

Swarms, I tell you, positively swarms!

And as for the Germanic hordes....

I reckon the Vikings came in swarms too, in their elegant boats. I think I have some Viking blood.

Why have I got back into this silly thread? Too many small minded nit-pickers methinks.

Oh! For fuck's sake Elegran! That comment is, at best, lame. Why make it personal?

But........ we're not talking about you Bags, or any other Gransnetters, or the population in general. We are talking about the Prime Minister.

You, of course, can use whatever words you want.

Pointing out hypocrisy is however a valid comment considering it was her comment that set the 'crazy ball' rolling.

It certainly is valid to comment on hypocrisy POGS, however, you do not seem to have shown, in any way whatsoever, that HH was being hypocritical. You may not like what she said or agree but you have no proof that her views are other than what she was saying while I would suggest that her politics are well enough known to suggest that it is more than likely she did believe what she was saying. Simply by saying it cannot make it hypocritical; you would have to show her words were a pretence, for instance, that she had said one thing and done another.

There is a difference between opinion and fact again with "that set the 'crazy ball' rolling". It may be you opinion that discussing this is a "crazy ball rolling" but it is equally mine that this was a very suitable subject for discussion.

You have not, in any way, shown her to be being hypocritical. All you have only shown that her views are not yours.

There are quite a few people on Gransnet, jings, who think you should not use all the words you do in the context you do, but you don't let it stop you.

Nothing to do with sympathy or compassion. Empathy.

No you dont need permission thatbags. But is that not where the empathy discussion comes in?

petra. No. I just mean that a larger population, from whereever it comes, is not all doom and gloom, from a jobs perspective.
Any increase in population will result in more jobs or part jobs for others.

Censorship is essentially what some of you are after. Well, tough, you can't have it.

I don't need permission from anyone else to use a word.

We understand that some people don't think the word swarm should be used of people. Have you got that? We understand that you don't like it. Fine. Don't use it in that way then.

But leave the rest of us with the same choice: to use words we like and think apposite and not to use words we don't like for whatever reason.

That's all there is to it.

Why would I be offended? The meaning of the noun includes this:

(a swarm/swarms of)
a large number of people or things:
"a swarm of journalists"
synonyms: crowd · multitude · horde · host · mob · gang · throng ·

I especially like the example of a swarm of journalists. Seems fitting!