Linkspam: Fairytale election results with rather large rodents

[matgb]

Right then, last year, you lot voted that Best Xmas song lyric ever is:

You scumbag, you maggot You cheap lousy faggot

Well, this morning, BBC Radio 1 decided this was offensive to some listeners but then later on in the day saw sense and backed down. I agree with pickwick, it's a damn shame that the BBC manages to tie itself into hoops as often as it does. Naturally, someone disagrees, and bagrec doesn't like the song and suggests alternatives. But he's a freaky morris dancing types so you don't want to listen to him ;-)

Elsewhere, it's the Arsehole of the year grand final over at publicansdecoy's place, and hullfire already covered the other main stories of the day:

So, Nick Clegg is the new Lib Dem leader and in a monstrous piece of stupidity the Government has lost more of our stuff, but in really important news, RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE ACTUALLY EXIST!

I do have to say I do share some of Jennie's concerns about the potential of Clegg's leadership but I'm nowhere near as cynical about it. He has at least hit the ground running, complete with YouTube appearance filmed on cheapskate handheld already. Although the town meeting idea does sound like it might have some legs.

What, you expected analysis? Don't be silly, I've been reading stuff about it all day, besides, I didn't end up voting, I couldn't make a decision between the two of them, they're both nice blokes. We'll be fine. Right? Someone tell me we'll be fine. Damnit, they need to do better, else the damn country's doomed FFS, that's why I joined them...

Calm. Now I tag this entry. Um, is there a limit to how many you can use? Appears not. Oh, wait, I forgot a link. Be very glad she's going to be a Doctor of paleontology not medical stuff, medical doctors play with gadgets much more scary than microwaves.

Comments

[mdmnmdllr.livejournal.com]

"In the US, I get that it might not go across so well ..."

Heh. Um, yeah ... not well at all. Same goes for the right proper term (in the Kingdom, anyway) that is 'fag'.

Utter either of them in here in the States and it's a solid way to earn the 'bigot' term for oneself.

They'll suspect you even if you use it in the right context, too.

(If, by that, you take me to mean that I believe the politically correct set is run amok here in the States, you are correct, sir! As BtC would say - ACK thpbpht!!!)

[matgb]

Oh, agreed in many respects, on your side of the pond many words have different usages, and thus a US version may need differnt lyrics or would be taken in a different context. But the BBC is broadcasting to the UK.

OTOH, assertions of bigotry based on word usage always bother me, if you censor what people are socially allowed to say too much, how do you sort out the genuine bigots from those that are merely ignorant? Hard to say.

[mdmnmdllr.livejournal.com]

Quick dirty answer: It's almost impossible to sort them out. That - of course - is why it's so crazy. Compound it with the set who like to use words normally considered bigoted vulgarities on and to each other ('nigger', anyone?).

Confusion is the rule.

And - since we're near to the topic - let's not get into when I try to actually (gasp) use the word 'niggardly'. It's as good as my rhetorical life when I do, sometimes even when I'm writing in a sympathetic forum. >rolleyes< Stupid, stupid, stupid ... I HATE it when MY language must be stilted by the biases and ignorances of fools - and that is every single day.

Somehow, I think you know what I mean.

[matgb]

Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean—we have similar issues over here: I have an intense dislike of people using the word "gay" as a synonym for "bad", but I also dislike that describing something weird as "queer" is effectively no longer an option, let alone misunderstood meanings.

Ignorant, for example, isn't technically an insult, and I'll use it where appropriate, but so many people think it means "stupid". Ah well.

the set who like to use words normally considered bigoted vulgarities on and to each other
See, I do support the idea of reclamation, take a term that's used as an insult and reclaim it, but if you do that, then it has to be acceptable use for everyone or it doesn't work. Ah well.