‘N word’ at the BAFTAs

I font think equivalence in intent is equivalence. There’s a difference in how it resonates

What should happen and what would make a real difference is for "I swear" to be compulsory viewing then there would be no need for planning or fore warning or misunderstanding, everyone would know what's going on with no disrespect to anyone.

Nannee49

What should happen and what would make a real difference is for "I swear" to be compulsory viewing then there would be no need for planning or fore warning or misunderstanding, everyone would know what's going on with no disrespect to anyone.

Well that’s not going to happen and why should it? What’s wrong with planning? It’s called organisation. Or is it free pass for everyone except black people who just have to suck it up?

I don't understand how a greater understanding of a disability is a free pass...what does that even mean...a free pass for what?

Nannee49

I don't understand how a greater understanding of a disability is a free pass...what does that even mean...a free pass for what?

Sorry if I’ve not been clear. - the free pass is given to BAFTA and JD. They’re absolved of all responsibility

Well, it seems to highlight the message that I assume the film was trying to convey - that having Tourettes makes life very difficult, and sometimes dangerous, for the person that has it. If some people are saying John Davidson should not have attended, that is the height of irony.

If the racial slur was related to the two black presenters (the older gentleman did look rather stunned), I can understand them momentarily being shocked but hopefully they at some point realised that it was not deliberately aimed at them. As Tulip said, this occurrence was fairly predictable - I understand highly charged or stressful situations increase the likelihood of tic-ing - then the two presenters should have been pre-warned.

I heard two or three occasions when someone shouted but I didn't hear the words but even if viewers did hear them, so what!

My pov has always been that there was a lack of planning and preparedness. And also a down playing of the resonance of the N word to African -Americans. Of course life is difficult for people with Tourette’s - how could it not be? But that doesn’t mean other people can’t be considered as well as efforts are made to increase understanding of the condition and make it easier for them to participate in everyday life. That’s true of probably all disabilities. It’s shit having a disability and life is generally much harder but it doesn’t mean that the disabled people’s needs trump everyone else’s. It doesn’t and can’t work like that.

He was offensive only if he intended to be offensive. He didn't.

Nannee49

He was offensive only if he intended to be offensive. He didn't.

Of course he didn’t mean to be offensive but that does not mean it was ok for the BBC to behave as it did

I know the N word is seen as beyond the pale these days - and rightly so for any offensive term- but this was involuntary , Tourette’s is a disability in itself and makes its sufferers lives hell.
But can we honestly take umbrage at this incident when the F word, C word and other expletives are 10 a penny- even deemed funny?
Yes, the Beeb should have handled it better, otherwise why the time delay? Editing is supposed to mean just that. But for those who claim to be “shocked” by the utterance, stop virtue signalling.

If the N word is deemed to be so offensive to some members of our society, why is it that it is often used in rap and drill music by black artists?

GrannyGravy13

If the N word is deemed to be so offensive to some members of our society, why is it that it is often used in rap and drill music by black artists?

Whilst controversial a word is reclaimed by the group it's targeted towards, as a negative or insult, ultimately to dilute the power of the word and insult. The gay community reclaimed words like queer, faggot, dyke, which, possibly arguably, successfully reduced the impact on the community they were aimed at.

I understand how offensive that particular word is, but the over-reaction to it, especially on sections of social media, has been completely over the top. You've even got some people saying black Americans should cancel any plans to come to Scotland because apparently we're all raving mad racists and they wouldn't be safe here!

Old Frill

‘Whilst controversial a word is reclaimed by the group it's targeted towards, as a negative or insult, ultimately to dilute the power of the word and insult. The gay community reclaimed words like queer, faggot, dyke, which, possibly arguably, successfully reduced the impact on the community they were aimed at.’

Good response to attempts to minimise and delegitimise the upset caused by the actual N word. Of course the response on both sides has spiralled - that always happens. There is however a clear villain here - the BBC- you’d think they’d have learned something after Glastonbury. It’s horrible for everyone - it’s distracted from what should have been a positive experience for JD and for other attendees. It’s allowed closet racists to question why it’s so bad to use the word and by keeping it up on IPlayer as long as they did ( it should never have gone up unedited) they allowed the clip to be captured by many racists who have turned it into a meme and it’s all over SM with disgusting comments about the two black men. It’s possible to sympathise with both JD AND African-Americans simultaneously and it ill behoves those of us sitting comfortably in the UK especially if we’re white to criticise black reaction to the word especially in the States. We have not lived their history. The BBC are an increasing disgrace and they are the cause of all this upset- not JD and not black people.

Oh the irony of anyone moaning about what a man with Tourettes tics at a ceremony featuring a film about a man with Tourettes who can’t control what he says.It’s a disability and a dangerous one for the person concerned.
The BBC, and I’m not their biggest fan did do an editing job with as many of his tics as they heard.
My only thought is that the organisers of the ceremony should and maybe did for all I know, warn presenters beforehand that he was in the audience and may shout things.
Other than that there’s no blame at all.I feel very sorry that there’s a whipped up hysteria storm against John Davidson on SM.An utter disgrace.

Oreo good post 👍

I apologise for my ignorance of this condition but why are the tics shouted out obscene words?
why aren't 'nice' things shouted out?

Boz

I apologise for my ignorance of this condition but why are the tics shouted out obscene words?
why aren't 'nice' things shouted out?

Apparently it varies enormously but I suppose the obscene/ controversial ones get all the publicity.

Oreo

Oh the irony of anyone moaning about what a man with Tourettes tics at a ceremony featuring a film about a man with Tourettes who can’t control what he says.It’s a disability and a dangerous one for the person concerned.
The BBC, and I’m not their biggest fan did do an editing job with as many of his tics as they heard.
My only thought is that the organisers of the ceremony should and maybe did for all I know, warn presenters beforehand that he was in the audience and may shout things.
Other than that there’s no blame at all.I feel very sorry that there’s a whipped up hysteria storm against John Davidson on SM.An utter disgrace.

Who’s moaning about what he said? The BBC had two hours to edit before broadcast and longer to edit the Iplayed upload. They knew this was a predictable risk and it would have been child’s play to organise a system where one of the BBC staff in the auditorium was in touch with the recording staff. It really is that simple.

Boz

I apologise for my ignorance of this condition but why are the tics shouted out obscene words?
why aren't 'nice' things shouted out?

Some people who have Tourette's have what's known as coprolalia, which is involuntary swearing or the involuntary utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. Someone explained it as your brain coming up with the worst possible thing you could say in a particular situation and you can't help but blurt that out.

Who’s moaning about what he said?

Yesterday - EVERYBODY , present company mostlybexcepted. The media were alive with it. An F or C word would not have occasioned a blink.

Using expletives and discriminatory language is a way of getting attention, there has been more coverage of the N word than the whole BAFTA event.

I thought most people were complaining about the broadcasting of what he said and the role of the BBC in enabling widespread dissemination .

And F and C words are qualitatively different from the N word as you well know

Someone with Tourette's Syndrome may know that but be unable to help themselves shouting it anyway.

Why are some neurological disorders met with sympathy but this particular one is not by its very nature?