State of the parties as 2015 General Election looms.

[Richard Barrett]

Posters have been confusing Latin and Greek today and I thought I'd join in. Hilarious, isn't it?

you're such a snob

[Beef Oven!]

First you would need to admit that flying a St Geo's flag was the sign of a 'racial stereotype'. As in, that he was English?

She has apologised but it is by no means clear that she was apologising for conveying that Rochester had such flags flying. I would have taken that to mean that there were signs of a strong UKIP presence. I'm not sure where the idea came from that it was a statement on the 'white working class' - that seems to be the gloss put on it (along with the 'sneering' and 'champagne socialism') by the right wing press.

I think she would have been perfectly right to apologise to her Labour colleagues and to Ed Miliband.

It's clear that it is a racial stereotype of the white working class. Who on earth do you think the white van man with Inger-laand flags thing is about?

The sort of 'apologising' and explaining that we've had on here today, is just what the UKIP go in for when one of their people says something racist or homophobic.

[teamsaint]

I have completely lost track of whether certain people are currently good guys or bad guys.

but I do think French Frank should look into taking a nice seaside holiday in the Medway towns......Rochester Cathedral for cultcha, and so on.....

Oh, and if Thornberry's tweet wasn't about certain types of stereotyping, what WAS it about?

(sorry if I missed the explanation earlier).

[teamsaint]

Posters have been confusing Latin and Greek today and I thought I'd join in. Hilarious, isn't it?

"Hilarious" is from the greek Hilaros, incidentally.

[P. G. Tipps]

... something racist or homophobic.

And there lies the crux of the 'politically-correct' problem.

Hitler was a racist. The thug who murdered a gay man in Trafalgar Square is homophobic. To any reasonably intelligent person these terms do not apply to the huge majority of folk who may disagree with a person who happens to have a different colour of skin or be a homosexual.

When even clearly decent men like Dave Whelan, Chairman of Wigan FC, is branded as a 'racist' for even discussing the word 'chink' when referring to a Chinese person (and he also said he wouldn't dream of using the word) and saying that Jews are fond of chasing money 'just like the English', it is clear that we have now reached the stage of complete absurdity.

Some people are 'offended' much too easily ... they have been encouraged by this wretched metropolitan liberal elite in both government and media to be so.

If I had received a penny for every time I'd been called a 'jock' or a 'tightfisted Scottish b******' I'd have been rather richer than I am now!

[Richard Barrett]

this wretched metropolitan liberal elite in both government and media

- apart of course from the most powerful elements in both, viz. Cameron's Tories and the Murdoch organisation... how do they fit into this strange scheme of yours? Both kneejerk "political correctness" and kneejerk railing against it are IMO wastes of time.

[P. G. Tipps]

- apart of course from the most powerful elements in both, viz. Cameron's Tories and the Murdoch organisation... how do they fit into this strange scheme of yours? Both kneejerk "political correctness" and kneejerk railing against it are IMO wastes of time.

Of course you think that because events yet again have demonstrated that the pseudo-Marxism of the current metropolitan liberal elite has shown even more contempt for the 'working-class' of the country than the Tories they claim to be so despicable in that regard.

The voters have finally rumbled to that and UKIP are exploting it to the full.

Don't blame me ... unlike you I'm not an advocate of any form of Marxism and could see from the start that would only end up in chaos and confusion and an eventual despairing lurch to the Right.

Congratulations ...

[Richard Barrett]

the pseudo-Marxism of the current metropolitan liberal elite

But who are these people? The "elite" actually consists of CEOs and Bullingdon boys and their chums as far as I can see.

[teamsaint]

all those socialist labels and groupings are tricky. Can't tell my pseudo marxist from my Faux Left :(

[teamsaint]

I have to say that I struggle to see any marxism, pseudo or real, among people that might be described as metropolitan liberal elite.

[Richard Barrett]

Well, the last time I looked, the metropolitan elite seemed to consist of Bullingdon boys and their chums. That can't be who he means surely.

[jean]

When even clearly decent men like Dave Whelan, Chairman of Wigan FC, is branded as a 'racist' for...saying that Jews are fond of chasing money 'just like the English'...

What he originally said was “I think Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else.” He added the bit about the English later, in an attempt to de-racialise the remark.

[MrGongGong]

ALL Planets are REAL
even the HOOT planet where Tiny Clanger sails to on the music boat

Some people are 'offended' much too easily ... they have been encouraged by this wretched metropolitan liberal elite in both government and media to be so.

Erm

I usually avoid using language that people find grossly offensive, it's not that difficult
I don't address my black colleagues by the N word
NOT because it's PC but because its offensive

You make a totally spurious comparison
There is a huge difference between what you have experienced and what many others have
people should be allowed to define themselves

Having empathy and sensitivity to others is to be encouraged not dismissed.

[Richard Barrett]

Having empathy and sensitivity to others is to be encouraged not dismissed.

It's only called "political correctness" by those who think they need the freedom to be insensitive.

[MrGongGong]

It's only called "political correctness" by those who think they need the freedom to be insensitive.

So not using offensive terms is a HUGE problem in the UK ?
Hummmmm

I thought we had other things to worry about?

I really want the freedom to call people by whatever word I choose and not be dictated to by some Islington lefty elite?
:Laugh: