Lawrence Fox candidate for Mayor of London

I didn’t know he was putting up for London Mayor until I saw this thread, nor do I know whether he has mental health issues or not. I’ve only ever seen him once and it was on Question Time. I won’t be voting for him because I don’t live in London, on the basis that he would ‘open up’ London on 6th May, I wouldn’t vote for him. I agree with timeline that the government have proposed and see no reason to change it, and further more, I don’t think individual mayors should be allowed to change it. If they do, it should be a criminal offence.

I certainly won’t be reporting it suzie. I don’t believe reporting every little comment is a good thing. It prevents proper discussion. I merely made an observation.

It could be maddyone and Anniebach, but as I am also white and I am not using his colour to actively prevent him accessing opportunities open to others but closed to him on the basis of prejudice it probably isn't. Posh white boys are not and never have been oppressed or subjugated, posh white boys have never been denied equal healthcare, good housing, decent pay, education, decent employment etc etc etc. If the worst thing they might have to endure is a white woman insulting them on a message board then I think they'll do OK. But I am happy to stand corrected if anyone feels otherwise.

That's a bias if ever I heard one !

Well NellG you’re right in all the points you make, but racism can be as simple as an insult based on a person’s colour. Hence Meghan complains of racism because someone discussed the colour her baby would be. If Meghan is correct, then so is calling someone ‘a posh white boy.’ Or those other insulting names, the n.... word, a white honkey, and so on. Name calling based on using a person’s colour must be racism, otherwise those terms would be acceptable, but thankfully, they’re not.

A fair point maddyone and well made. May I still call him *$%& though as it's not racist, just insulting?

I will be so delighted to see the back of the dreadful Khan that practically anybody would get the thumbs up from me.

I am though not a huge fan of Laurence Fox as a person although I have agreed with a lot of what he has said in the past, particularly with his determination to fight back against the ‘woke’ brigade.

NellG

It could be maddyone and Anniebach, but as I am also white and I am not using his colour to actively prevent him accessing opportunities open to others but closed to him on the basis of prejudice it probably isn't. Posh white boys are not and never have been oppressed or subjugated, posh white boys have never been denied equal healthcare, good housing, decent pay, education, decent employment etc etc etc. If the worst thing they might have to endure is a white woman insulting them on a message board then I think they'll do OK. But I am happy to stand corrected if anyone feels otherwise.

I’m inclined to agree with you, it’s not racist for the reasons you give.

Wouldn’t it be nice or fun or interesting or something to have a thread which didn’t include another dig at you know who? Just a thought.

I’d still like to know what exactly is meant by the woke brigade. Are they a military unit?

Lucca I wasn't making a dig on this occasion, only towards LF in all honesty. In fact I'm not sure I've ever made reference to them/her on any other threads other than the one's started for that topic. At least I don't think I have, you may be able to tell me different. I've certainly never started a thread on the subject. If anyone ever starts a fun interesting thread I will respect it and either stay off or post accordingly.

Lucca

I’d still like to know what exactly is meant by the woke brigade. Are they a military unit?

They're first cousins of the PC brigade.

Luvaduck what has this guy done? We don’t hear about it here, only see him as an actor. He seems to have engendered a lot of dislike/hatred.

Being white, posh and male does not, as a general rule, impede a person's journey through life. Whereas being black, poor and female most certainly does. (No doubt somebody will now mention all the poor, black females who have had fabulous success - but that is the exception rather than the rule).

Using posh, white boy as a description of someone is making certain assumptions and could therefore be described as stereotypical and prejudiced, but I think it would be misleading to call it racist. My understanding of racism is prejudice plus power. Anyone can be prejudiced against whomever they like but not everyone can put that prejudice into practice by affecting the life potential of another person.

I expect, in days gone by, people who stuck their necks out and suggested that there should be laws to prevent women and ethnic minorities from being discriminated against in employment, housing, etc., would be called "do gooders" or some such label - perhaps the precursor to "the woke brigade".

They were being facetious Eloethan. I was just being judgmental and insulting towards an unpleasant and potentially politically disruptive man.

I don't think jennifereccles was being facetious in her admiration for Laurence Fox's stated disdain for what is often sneeringly known as wokeness.

I know much of the country regards Londoners as stupid, privileged white southerners, but the chances that we'll vote LF as our mayor really aren't that great. London is the most diverse area of the whole UK, none of your 85% and above areas of 'whiteness' here. In the 2011 census just over 44% of Londoners were white. We really aren't that daft. Yes we voted Boris as mayor, then Khan, but that was more due to the opposition, we voted for the least bad option.

NellG

Lucca I wasn't making a dig on this occasion, only towards LF in all honesty. In fact I'm not sure I've ever made reference to them/her on any other threads other than the one's started for that topic. At least I don't think I have, you may be able to tell me different. I've certainly never started a thread on the subject. If anyone ever starts a fun interesting thread I will respect it and either stay off or post accordingly.

And I wasn’t referring to you, it was a general comment.

Woke is the derogatory term for anyone who is anti racist.

Lucca Quoting my post made it appear to be directed at me, so I addressed your comment because my posts over time seem to have been a particular problem for you.

Woke didn't start off as a derogatory term though, it just became that way when everyone got righteous and stopped communicating with decency and started flinging mud. On both 'sides'.

NellG

Lucca Quoting my post made it appear to be directed at me, so I addressed your comment because my posts over time seem to have been a particular problem for you.

Yes I blame my lack of clarity.

“my posts over time seem to have been a particular problem for you.”

I feel it is vice versa though !

I don’t mind “woke”. However I do feel when it is teamed with “brigade” it is sneery?

I am a bit wary of woke because it's so vague, there isn't a lot of clarity of what it means.

Lucca As that's how you feel I guess we could either discuss it over PM if you feel it's a larger problem or just leave each other alone? Whichever suits you.