Has political correctness gone mad - by Trevor Phillips

IronGiant

Would it have had racial connotations if Ross Barkley was ethnically black rather than only 1/4 ethnically black?

nabby

Possibly not intentionally racist. But it's pretty stupid of a columnist to have likened someone to a gorilla, without finding out that they have African forebears, however I think he's going to be in as much in trouble for his Merseyside drug dealers comment as the dim-witted as a gorilla one.

Edit: cross posted with you nabby. Good point.

PC1975

Exactly, not overtly racist but stupid enough to have racial connotations that could lead to accusations of racism, intentional or otherwise.

Philly112

Whatever it is it's just an absolutely horrible thing to write about someone who has done nothing more than take to a football pitch. There's wit, humour and poking fun but this is just a completely ott and unjustifiable character assassination.

I don't know why people can't see that and still buy into publications like this.

I don't know. Am I wrong here? Is it just a bit of fun? Am I being over sensitive and too serious about it?

It just seems completely unnecessary and the knock on effect is that this type of nasty, bullying behaviour is deemed acceptable in society.

Maybe I need to find my own 'safe area'.

nabby

Maybe not racist, but it's certainly pretty offensive:

From the article: His eyes make him "certain not only are the lights not on, there is definitely nobody at home", adding: "I get a similar feeling when seeing a gorilla at the zoo."

I believe a couple of gorillas at Chester Zoo are consulting libel lawyers.

On a more serious note, I'm not sure what McKenzies motivations were - footballers can be a bit thick and overpaid. Really?

nabby

By all accounts McKenzie was not aware of his ethnicity.

But just to be clear, you can liken a white man to a gorilla but not a black man? Particularly bearing in mind he was talking about intelligence and not any physical characteristics.

nabby

I agree.

But it isn't racism.

IronGiant

Don't jump down my throat, I asked a question.

My thoughts on it all are posted above in post #66.

IronGiant

You seem to be wanting to have an argument with someone as that's the third time you've stated explicitly that it's not racism in your opinion and I don't see anyone in here that has replied that they believe it was racism.

IronGiant

Wasn't aware i had jumped down anyone's throat.

Your post #66 seems to say you think it was somewhat racist. As did the question you asked in the previous post.

I'm not disputing it was a pretty unpalatable character assassination. I'm posting in a thread about political correctness with an example of ultra sensitive PC concerns labeling a man and article as racist when IMHO they are nothing of the sort. If that's not what this thread is about then what is it for?