There is presently an investigation in Football regarding something, allegedly that John Terry has said to Anton Ferdinand, I don't know what he said, so can't comment.

There is another regarding Tiger Woods and his ex-Caddy Williams, I do know what Williams said and that was wrong, he called him a black a@sehole, in front of a large audience including reporters, and thought it wouldn't be reported. Quite incredible really.

However, a client came into my office and two of my guys were present, one is black and one is white and the client thanked them both for their contribution to his work but mentioned he couldn't quite remember which name belonged to who.

So I told a joke, about Paddy and Jim who bought two horse's and couldn't tell them apart so they tried coming up with various solutions,

'I'll tell you what Paddy, I'll give my horse a mane hair cut and then we will know which one is mine'.

But Jim liked the look so much, he gave his the same style, so back to square one.

'Well, I'll tell you what Jim, I will plait my horse's tail and then we can tell them apart that way'.

But again Paddy liked the style so much he did the very same thing to his horse.

Finally Paddy has had enough, he says, 'look Jim you have the Black one and I'll have the White one'.

Nobody took offense and everybody laughed, although the client only laughed when he saw us all laughing,

So, where is the cut off point when racism becomes wrong and offensive? or do you think my joke was beyond the Pale?

There is nothing racist about that joke. It is making fun of two morons that could not tell a black horse and a white horse apart and since we do not know Jim's nationality, it can not really be called bigoted either.

Hmmm, I am not surprised you missed the point.

The point being that Paddy and Jim weren't really concerned about the color of the horses and it never entered their minds.

Were they both Irish?

When working in Nigeria, I was called 'wi'boy' by all the Nigerians.

Didn't matter for 99.9% of the time, it was not racist in my opinion.

But one time I was in a traffic jam, caused by others, pushing through where I could, as was everyone else, when one of the other drivers started shouting at the wi'boy, saying that I was causing the jam, I shouldn't be there. To me that was a racist remark, but made by a very irate Nigerian. So I ignored it, although it rankled.

Your joke would be interpreted as racist by those who wish to do so, but to me this is always in the mind of the listener. And Anton Ferdinand has, to my mind, behaved superbly through all this nonsense.

I miss the less sensitive way Hollywood dealt with race humor back in the 70's. The stuff done in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles or TV's The Jeffersons or All in the Family probably couldn't be done today without making people nervous or afraid. Blacks and Whites both laughed back then. Political Correctness has done more harm to the world than good that's for sure.

This video is a re-enactment of a famous Saturday Night Live skit with Chevy Chase interviewing Richard Pryor for a job. I couldn't find the original. Probably because the subject matter is too sensitive for today's audiences because I found other old SNL skits on YouTube. Anyway, if you ever saw the original it'll bring back some funny memories...

Hmmm, I am not surprised you missed the point.

Racism is always wrong. Humour is generally funny.

Hmmm, I am not surprised you missed the point.

Which point is that - that I "missed"? Please explain to us common folk how that joke is "racist".

So, where is the cut off point when racism becomes wrong and offensive? or do you think my joke was beyond the Pale?

I would say it is basically intent that decides

So, where is the cut off point when racism becomes wrong and offensive? or do you think my joke was beyond the Pale?

I would say it is basically intent that decides

Years ago I thought "Paki" was just an abbreviated form for someone from Pakistan. Only later I found out that is was more like "Raghead".

So, where is the cut off point when racism becomes wrong and offensive? or do you think my joke was beyond the Pale?

I would say it is basically intent that decides

Years ago I thought "Paki" was just an abbreviated form for someone from Pakistan. Only later I found out that is was more like "Raghead".

It started out the way you thought.

It was only when we got so many "<deleted> lazy Paki's" in the UK that the term became insulting.

(No racist slur intended - just that that was the way the rest of the population saw it. And still sees it.)

Years ago I thought "Paki" was just an abbreviated form for someone from Pakistan. Only later I found out that is was more like "Raghead".

Only when applied to the people.

Where I come from, we still nip round the corner to the Paki Palace for a curry, still go to the Paki grocer, 'cos he's open at 11 at night.

It's strange - there are some very hardworking families, there are some very religious families and there are a bunch of welfare/benefit families. The word 'Paki' is used with affection towards the former, as a racist slur against the latter.

Best not to discuss the middle option.

Hmmm, I am not surprised you missed the point.

Racism is always wrong. Humour is generally funny.

Agreed, Smokie, but so often what constitutes racism is a kind of over-sensitiveness (which can be on either side). For example, golliwog was a term of affection; Darkie toothpaste (now renamed Darlie) was a reference to the white teeth of nigger minstrels (remember the Black and White Minstrel Show? In neither case was anything offensive intended.

Hmmm, I am not surprised you missed the point.

Racism is always wrong. Humour is generally funny.

Agreed, Smokie, but so often what constitutes racism is a kind of over-sensitiveness (which can be on either side). For example, golliwog was a term of affection; Darkie toothpaste (now renamed Darlie) was a reference to the white teeth of nigger minstrels (remember the Black and White Minstrel Show? In neither case was anything offensive intended.

"nigger minstrels"?

Hmmm, I am not surprised you missed the point.

Racism is always wrong. Humour is generally funny.

Agreed, Smokie, but so often what constitutes racism is a kind of over-sensitiveness (which can be on either side). For example, golliwog was a term of affection; Darkie toothpaste (now renamed Darlie) was a reference to the white teeth of nigger minstrels (remember the Black and White Minstrel Show? In neither case was anything offensive intended.

"nigger minstrels"?

Renamed Galaxy minstrels. Surely no one finds those offensive?

Hmmm, I am not surprised you missed the point.

Racism is always wrong. Humour is generally funny.

Agreed, Smokie, but so often what constitutes racism is a kind of over-sensitiveness (which can be on either side). For example, golliwog was a term of affection; Darkie toothpaste (now renamed Darlie) was a reference to the white teeth of nigger minstrels (remember the Black and White Minstrel Show? In neither case was anything offensive intended.

You know I currently reside on an island where in order to get a decent job if your colour is not white then you will have to be at least 10% better than any white candidate. Probably doesn't apply to every job nor in every circumstance but its unspoken yet exists.

Personally I think its wrong and I would never apply such a bais in employing someone. I wonder what kind of person does really.....bit like looking deep into someone's soul and finding something you did not expect.

I've seen that too recently enough but I digress.

Edit: sp

Jokes start being racist when the subject of the joke doesn't laugh at them. They start being racist when spite or malevolence is involved.

Two people picked up the phrase "nigger minstrels". In the era I was referring to, nobody thought this was offensive... and even the niggers called themselves niggers! This highlights just the point I was making, that much so-called racism is created by over-sensitivity when it wasn't really there in the first place. The foolishness of PC!

Take the word 'farang' as used in Thailand. Yes, it can be racist, but more often than not it's just a way of referring to a white person. The villagers in my village refer to me as 'farang' because they either don't know my name or can't pronounce it (since my name is Mike, I can't really see the difficulty, but I've heard them trying!). To say, "It's only a b..... Thai" is just as racist really.

I loved the UK telly show.......

Bless Thy Neighbour.

MUST have been one of the funniest shows ever.

Whites were......"HONKYS"

Blacks were ......"NIG_NOGS".

Where I was working in NZ, we called each other the disrespctful names.

NO offencee was taken, until a newbie came on the scene.

He / she soon learned the names were not regarded as racist.

We had europeans, (pakehas) indian, all the pacific islands and a couple of chinese and black africans, a real melting pot..

Two people picked up the phrase "nigger minstrels". In the era I was referring to, nobody thought this was offensive... and even the niggers called themselves niggers! This highlights just the point I was making, that much so-called racism is created by over-sensitivity when it wasn't really there in the first place. The foolishness of PC!

Take the word 'farang' as used in Thailand. Yes, it can be racist, but more often than not it's just a way of referring to a white person. The villagers in my village refer to me as 'farang' because they either don't know my name or can't pronounce it (since my name is Mike, I can't really see the difficulty, but I've heard them trying!). To say, "It's only a b..... Thai" is just as racist really.

Are you a black person from that era? Do you know anyone from that era and did they personally tell you they didnt mind it at all? or do you think they were just being quiet so they wouldn't get lynched for being an uppity nigger?

In my era, they were called "Negro Minstrels" in West Texas.

In my era, they were called "Negro Minstrels" in West Texas.

That's how I've always read they were called.

just back from a weeks long holiday, should i comment? .... Na

Two people picked up the phrase "nigger minstrels". In the era I was referring to, nobody thought this was offensive... and even the niggers called themselves niggers! This highlights just the point I was making, that much so-called racism is created by over-sensitivity when it wasn't really there in the first place. The foolishness of PC!

Take the word 'farang' as used in Thailand. Yes, it can be racist, but more often than not it's just a way of referring to a white person. The villagers in my village refer to me as 'farang' because they either don't know my name or can't pronounce it (since my name is Mike, I can't really see the difficulty, but I've heard them trying!). To say, "It's only a b..... Thai" is just as racist really.

Are you a black person from that era? Do you know anyone from that era and did they personally tell you they didnt mind it at all? or do you think they were just being quiet so they wouldn't get lynched for being an uppity nigger?

No, no, and no, sbk! But then I'm not an American either. Uppity African-American, please!

In the UK "Nigger Minstrels" referred to a certain type of show (musical entertainment) featured in most seaside resorts during the summer, and epitomised by the 'Black and White Minstrel Show' on TV.

It was not considered offensive until various PC people within the BBC (the worst organisation in the UK for PC-ness) got hold of it and got it discredited in all it's many guises. Thus thousands of lower-grade entertainers who relied on the summer season shows had to get permanent jobs as waiters or shoe salesmen (sorry; wait-persons and shoe-sales persons).

Not the cream of the entertainment industry - just the backbone.

In the UK "Nigger Minstrels" referred to a certain type of show (musical entertainment) featured in most seaside resorts during the summer, and epitomised by the 'Black and White Minstrel Show' on TV.

It was not considered offensive until various PC people within the BBC (the worst organisation in the UK for PC-ness) got hold of it and got it discredited in all it's many guises. Thus thousands of lower-grade entertainers who relied on the summer season shows had to get permanent jobs as waiters or shoe salesmen (sorry; wait-persons and shoe-sales persons).

Not the cream of the entertainment industry - just the backbone.

Thanks, HB, for clarifying. I haven't lived in UK for fifty years (in a seaside town, too... Brighton)... and my memories are sometimes a little disjointed! But I was certainly pre-PC!

In the UK "Nigger Minstrels" referred to a certain type of show (musical entertainment) featured in most seaside resorts during the summer, and epitomised by the 'Black and White Minstrel Show' on TV.

It was not considered offensive until various PC people within the BBC (the worst organisation in the UK for PC-ness) got hold of it and got it discredited in all it's many guises. Thus thousands of lower-grade entertainers who relied on the summer season shows had to get permanent jobs as waiters or shoe salesmen (sorry; wait-persons and shoe-sales persons).

Not the cream of the entertainment industry - just the backbone.

Thanks, HB, for clarifying. I haven't lived in UK for fifty years (in a seaside town, too... Brighton)... and my memories are sometimes a little disjointed! But I was certainly pre-PC!

I.ve been away a long time, too, but I had many friends on the fringes of show-biz (extras in films, rep., summer shows), all with the occasional 'big' part as West End dancers and so on. But it was the little stuff that sustained most, and a lot of that was cut when the minstrel shows were suddenly non-acceptable.

Still maintain contact with a few, but many have turned their toes up in the past few years.