Opinionated Ignorance

[Guest]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8889306/Robert-Peston-fends-off-homophobia-claims-over-Queer-Street-comments.html

This just confirms what I've always thought about twitter users!

[amateur51]

As usual, Peter Tatchell is a beacon of good sense

[Norfolk Born]

Does this explain the references, in Thursday's absolutely brilliant episode of 'Rev', to PT's status as one of the best reasons for attending the Greenbelt Festival?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

This slang term was recorded in 1811 in an updated version of Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, entitled Lexicon Balatronicum: A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence:

QUEER STREET. Wrong. Improper. Contrary to one's wish. It is queer street, a cant phrase, to signify that it is wrong or different to our wish.

The phrase is often associated with debtors, although not exclusively so. Queer Street may have been imaginary but it where it was imagined to be was certainly London. By 1821 the term had found its way into Pierce Egan's Real life in London:

"Limping Billy was also evidently in queer-street."

Of course, the phrase was coined long before the 1920s when 'queer' was first used as a synonym for 'homosexual'.

mr peston might well claim a prior usage ....

not that i would wish to inflame a gay sensitivity, nor a homosexual one .... but words do have many meanings and the full compass of usage and thought is not centred on issues of discrimination or orientatioon or indeed preference .... words are like children, one's own are tolerable but others' are horrendous ....

[Anna]

In Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend there is a chapter entitled 'Lodgers in Queer Street' and here is an extract of that chapter

‘As to Christians,’ proceeded Fledgeby, ‘look out, fellowChristians, particularly you that lodge in Queer Street! I have got the run of Queer Street now, and you shall see some games there. To work a lot of power over you and you not know it, knowing as you think yourselves, would be almost worth laying out money upon. But when it comes to squeezing a profit out of you into the bargain, it’s something like!’

So, will Dickens now be bowdlerised?

[Frances_iom]

This just confirms what I've always thought about twitter users!

we must have a fair few on this M/B then judging from many posts - good job he didn't mention nine-bob notes

[Mandryka]

In Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend there is a chapter entitled 'Lodgers in Queer Street' and here is an extract of that chapter

‘As to Christians,’ proceeded Fledgeby, ‘look out, fellowChristians, particularly you that lodge in Queer Street! I have got the run of Queer Street now, and you shall see some games there. To work a lot of power over you and you not know it, knowing as you think yourselves, would be almost worth laying out money upon. But when it comes to squeezing a profit out of you into the bargain, it’s something like!’

So, will Dickens now be bowdlerised?

That passage would probably have been banned by the ILEA (remember them?), had any of them ever got around to reading it.

I'll admit to being fortunate in having a naturally enquiring mind as well as relatives who were knowledgeable about the derivations of old sayings, etc. - unlike the majority of knee-jerk dunderheads who 'tweet'.

[Nick Armstrong]

Does this explain the references, in Thursday's absolutely brilliant episode of 'Rev', to PT's status as one of the best reasons for attending the Greenbelt Festival?

Reading upwards from the latest post, I assumed you were talking about Petroc Trelawney Loathe though I am to pass up any opportunity to put the boot into the awful Peston, that story (if true) does leave one sympathetic to him and Tatchell.

Tatchell, Peston and Trelawney - I never thought there would be cause to pack three of my least favourite 'meedjuh' people into one short paragraph...

Norfy, 'Rev' is great, isn't it? Have saved up this week's for a treat this weekend. Good to know the 2nd episode is so good - I thought the first was too, with a couple of top-drawer cameos from Hugh Bonneville and especially Ralph Fiennes... Voldemort does sitcom He was magnetic as a suave, trendy yet still sensitive and sensible Bishop, leonine hair and beard and beady stare. I loved the tiny look he gave, implying that he thought the Rev's sidekick was a bumbling fool: astonishing how much Fiennes can do with an infinitesimal movement of a facial muscle...

[amateur51]

That passage would probably have been banned by the ILEA (remember them?), had any of them ever got around to reading it.

Are you or have you ever been a teacher or youth worker or trainer thereof in London, Mandy?

No I thought not.

ILEA is still much-mourned by those who were, I can tell you and those of us who speak of it get looks of open-mouthed awe from younger present day practitioners who hear of it.

[Mandryka]

Are you or have you ever been a teacher or youth worker or trainer thereof in London, Mandy?

No I thought not.

ILEA is still much-mourned by those who were, I can tell you and those of us who speak of it get looks of open-mouthed awe from younger present day practitioners who hear of it.

Actually, I DID work as a teacher, in innner London, when ILEA was operational. So, how would you like your words served, sir?

Tbf, it did have its virtues, though they were matched by proportionate vices, the principal one being a 'scorched earth' policy, re the kind of thing being talked of on the racism thread.

[amateur51]

Actually, I DID work as a teacher, in innner London, when ILEA was operational. So, how would you like your words served, sir?

Tbf, it did have its virtues, though they were matched by proportionate vices, the principal one being a 'scorched earth' policy, re the kind of thing being talked of on the racism thread.

Oh bravo and many apols, Mandy - I was mistaken

If it hadn't been for the 'scorched earth' policy of ILEA and GLC as you call it, we'd still be stuck in the dark ages in London. They dragged us all up to meet the challenge of diversity in schools and youth clubs, public housing, welfare benefits services etc. You couldn't get a grant from GLC unless you could show that you knew who was using your service and who wasn't and possibly why.

[handsomefortune]

homofrowny

i wonder just what sort of people send robert peston tweets?

[Panjandrum]

And there was I thinking that this was going to be a thread about Mandy's witless witterings.

[Mandryka]

And there was I thinking that this was going to be a thread about Mandy's witless witterings.

Now that you've contributed to it, the thread title has new meaning.

Btw, panjandrum, do you ever actually make any positive contributions to threas, or are your efforts confined to your usual repertoire of cheap digs and sneers? I've looked through some of your contributions to other threads and it would seem to be the latter.

Aint you got a bridge to hide under?

[Nick Armstrong]

And there was I thinking that this was going to be a thread about Mandy's witless witterings.

You do have a talent for flushing a decent discussion right down the panjandrum, don't you?

Out of order, I thought