Human vanity

[slinger]

That Fawltey Towels is perhaps the funiest comedy episode I have ever seen. Still never mind, just don't mention the War.

I did, once, but think I got away with it.

[Lindsayt]

And if films like Gone With the Wind are to be withdrawn from streaming services because of their portrayal of the black characters in it, what about withdrawing all those Hollywood films where the good guys have American accents and the bad guys English accents?

[Geoff.R.G]

I saw a mention earlier that slavery is racist, let us be quite clear that a slave can be of any skin colour or gender. A woman trafficked from Eastern Europe is as much a slave as was a man taken from West Africa to the United States. Slavery is unacceptable in any form.

The situation with George Floyd is different in that he was treated as being of less value and with less respect by those arresting him than would have been accorded to a white man in the same situation. That is absolutely wrong. I believe that in the United States one is still innocent until proven guilty thus, in theory, anyone arrested should be entitled to a degree of respect and the same care taken to preserve their life, irrespective of any other consideration.

[savvypaul]

And if films like Gone With the Wind are to be withdrawn from streaming services because of their portrayal of the black characters in it, what about withdrawing all those Hollywood films where the good guys have American accents and the bad guys English accents?

Removing films (and other media content) that were made in 'different times' is not a great reflection on our perceived ability to think for ourselves. However, if there had been greater equality in the film industry in the last 30 years then maybe the clamour to remove 'old' films would be less.

[TheMadMick]

It's really simple folks. It's all about treating everyone with respect and valuing their contribution..

To do that, we need to recognise that we all have hang ups and prejudices - and keep them under control. That also means being respectful to those you don't like for whatever reason.

Peace to all.

[slinger]

Like most "sudden" attempts to right perceived wrongs, it has swung from zero to eleven in no time at all. People are involved in fiercely competitive virtue signalling:

"This is terrible."
"No, this is worse."
"You're both wrong, look at this..." etc.

Eventually calmer heads will, I'm sure, prevail and things will settle down to a nice four or five. That's not to say that everyone is wrong, but not everyone is right either. I'm pretty sure that the KKK Film Society doesn't show Gone With The Wind more than once a year for instance, and UKTV has today reinstated the Farty Towels episode, albeit with a warning about "offensive content and language."

While I'm pontificating, a quick word about "All Lives Matter," which has gained some unwelcome traction. This is how it was explained to me, in pictures.





The slogan "All Lives Matter," has been co-opted by racists on social media. The danger is that it sounds innocuous and seems, on the face of it, quite reasonable, but when we repeat it we're unwittingly spreading their message.



For once this is not simply my opinion, it's what's actually happening on Twatter, and Farcebook etc.

[ArloFlynn]

That Fawltey Towels is perhaps the funiest comedy episode I have ever seen. Still never mind, just don't mention the War.

I did, once, but think I got away with it.

It has been returned. Comedy matters.

[Docfoster]

Is this "gettable"? Genuine question. I'm not sure it's clear enough.

[Docfoster]

This better...?

[Docfoster]

Like most "sudden" attempts to right perceived wrongs, it has swung from zero to eleven in no time at all. People are involved in fiercely competitive virtue signalling:

"This is terrible."
"No, this is worse."
"You're both wrong, look at this..." etc.

Eventually calmer heads will, I'm sure, prevail and things will settle down to a nice four or five. That's not to say that everyone is wrong, but not everyone is right either. I'm pretty sure that the KKK Film Society doesn't show Gone With The Wind more than once a year for instance, and UKTV has today reinstated the Farty Towels episode, albeit with a warning about "offensive content and language."

While I'm pontificating, a quick word about "All Lives Matter," which has gained some unwelcome traction. This is how it was explained to me, in pictures.





The slogan "All Lives Matter," has been co-opted by racists on social media. The danger is that it sounds innocuous and seems, on the face of it, quite reasonable, but when we repeat it we're unwittingly spreading their message.



For once this is not simply my opinion, it's what's actually happening on Twatter, and Farcebook etc.

It's important that this point is made.

Another analogy I've heard is that of a fit and healthy person standing outside a hospital and complaining about all the sick patients inside getting all of the hospital's attention.
"But everyone's health matters!" he moans.