30 or more years later and the same issue crops up but in a different light. How can the laws wanted be enforced? Is the famous football chant "Who ate all the pies" to be outlawed?
An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is grossly overweight impedes my progress; but is muttering, under my breath, "Come on you fat bastard get a move on" soon going to be a criminal offence?
Will alcoholics and beggars soon be demanding laws to protect them, specifically, from abuse? I'm a biker - can I have a law to stop people looking at me in a funny way?
Where does it stop?
gary -- "I really like this jacket but the sleeves are much too long"
> 30 or more years later and the same issue crops up but in a different > light. How can the laws wanted be enforced? Is the famous football chant > "Who ate all the pies" to be outlawed?
> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you happen > to be a copper). > I find it irritating if someone who is grossly overweight > impedes my progress; but is muttering, under my breath, "Come on you fat > bastard get a move on" soon going to be a criminal offence?
However a polite "excuse me" will often work wonders. IME little old ladies are the worst for impeding progress, they must go on a course, nobody is that good without training.
> Will alcoholics and beggars soon be demanding laws to protect them, > specifically, from abuse? I'm a biker - can I have a law to stop people > looking at me in a funny way?
I too am overweight [1], but I very rarely get abuse. Perhaps this is because I'm six and a half feet tall and the cowards that pick on lonely women tend not to trouble tall strapping blokes.
What about a roundworld campaign for equal heights :-)
> 30 or more years later and the same issue crops up but in a different > light. How can the laws wanted be enforced? Is the famous football chant > "Who ate all the pies" to be outlawed?
I guess it'll go the same way as any other form of discrimination: As society and individuals mature they will stop attacking fat people, verbally and otherwise, just as most of us have already stopped attacking other minority groups.
> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you happen > to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is grossly overweight > impedes my progress;
I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever their weight.
-- Lesley Weston
The addy above is real, but I won't see anything posted to it for a long time. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca, adjusting as necessary.
>> 30 or more years later and the same issue crops up but in a different >> light. How can the laws wanted be enforced? Is the famous football >> chant "Who ate all the pies" to be outlawed?
>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >> happen to be a copper).
>> I find it irritating if someone who is grossly overweight impedes my >> progress; but is muttering, under my breath, "Come on you fat bastard >> get a move on" soon going to be a criminal offence?
> However a polite "excuse me" will often work wonders. > IME little old ladies are the worst for impeding progress, they must go > on a course, nobody is that good without training.
That wipes up anybody who might not have been offended by Gary's post.
-- Lesley Weston
The addy above is real, but I won't see anything posted to it for a long time. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca, adjusting as necessary.
>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you happen >> to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is grossly >> overweight impedes my progress;
> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever their > weight.
Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
-- Stacie, fourth swordswoman of the afpocalypse. AFPMinister of Flexible Weapons & Bondage-happy predator AFPMistress to peachy ashie passion "If you can't be a good example, you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
Large Dave wrote: > I too am overweight [1], but I very rarely get abuse. Perhaps this is > because I'm six and a half feet tall and the cowards that pick on lonely > women tend not to trouble tall strapping blokes.
I imagine that this is the same reason that PETA throw paint over women wearing fur coats, but not over bikies wearing leather jackets.
-- W . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est ---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------
Large Dave wrote: > Thomas Zahr wrote: >> Large Dave <D...@nospam.invalid> wrote: >> ...
>>> What about a roundworld campaign for equal heights :-)
>> shouldn't that be girth?
> <smiles> > I much prefer diameter cos it doesn't sound so much when it's girth > divided by three and a bit :-)
Radius sounds even smaller. ;^)
-- W . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est ---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------
>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>> grossly overweight impedes my progress;
>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever their >> weight.
> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove necessary to get by them?
>>> 30 or more years later and the same issue crops up but in a different >>> light. How can the laws wanted be enforced? Is the famous football >>> chant "Who ate all the pies" to be outlawed?
>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>> happen to be a copper).
>>> I find it irritating if someone who is grossly overweight impedes my >>> progress; but is muttering, under my breath, "Come on you fat bastard >>> get a move on" soon going to be a criminal offence?
>> However a polite "excuse me" will often work wonders. >> IME little old ladies are the worst for impeding progress, they must go >> on a course, nobody is that good without training.
>That wipes up anybody who might not have been offended by Gary's post.
I was waiting for "And of course conservative politicians...", myself.
>>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress;
>>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever >>> their weight.
>> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
> The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove > necessary to get by them?
My initial intention was to present a rhetorical question about "What do they want the law to be and where do we stop?"
Do I have to stop greeting a friend of mine who is of somewhat greater girth with the words "You alright then you fat northern bastard?" to which he replies "Not bad you soft southern shandy drinking[1] git" just in case it offends anyone overhearing? I've only known him for 20 years from university after all and it's a ritual when we meet up.
It's probably illegal for me to greet a female friend that I met back in the 80's with "Alright you old trollop, how's it going" 'cos that would be sexist
It just seems to me that we have so many "ist"s and "ism"s that it's almost impossible to speak, or otherwise express an opinion, without offending *somebody*, should they choose to take offence at an innocent remark, even if one had no intention of doing so.
gary
[1]I do not drink shandy. -- "I really like this jacket but the sleeves are much too long"
>>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress;
>>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever their >>> weight.
>> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
> The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove > necessary to get by them?
Solution: go to the hardware and plumbing aisle and get a can of WD-40.
Lubricate the floor all around them. Then it only takes the smallest of pushes.
> >>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you > >>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is > >>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress;
> >>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever > >>> their weight.
> >> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
> > The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove > > necessary to get by them?
> My initial intention was to present a rhetorical question about "What do > they want the law to be and where do we stop?"
Well, there are plenty of anti-discrimination laws on the books regarding the abuse of people for their race, sexual orientation, disabilities, gender, etc. already. I've yet to see any news stories about arrests of hip-hop/rap artists for use of racial epithets, advocating violence against women, gay men getting busted for referring to a peer as an "old queen" or similar.
> Do I have to stop greeting a friend of mine who is of somewhat greater > girth with the words "You alright then you fat northern bastard?" to > which he replies "Not bad you soft southern shandy drinking[1] git" just > in case it offends anyone overhearing? I've only known him for 20 years > from university after all and it's a ritual when we meet up.
> It's probably illegal for me to greet a female friend that I met back in > the 80's with "Alright you old trollop, how's it going" 'cos that would > be sexist
> It just seems to me that we have so many "ist"s and "ism"s that it's > almost impossible to speak, or otherwise express an opinion, without > offending *somebody*, should they choose to take offence at an innocent > remark, even if one had no intention of doing so.
> gary
> [1]I do not drink shandy. > -- > "I really like this jacket > but the sleeves are much too long"
> Motorhead - 'Back At The Funny Farm'.
I note the article you linked to didn't contain anything like what you just described. The incidents included were miles away from being an interaction between friends. They all seemed to be abusive confrontations by strangers. Some were out and out verbal or physical assaults. Not a one of the incidents described, theoretical or actual, included a scenario where a third party overheard two friends addressing one another or policing the way two consenting people interact with each other.
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you and your friends probably don't issue a friendly physical beatdown resulting in dozens of bruises when you run into each other on the train or hurl beer cans by way of greeting.
>>> Esmeraldus wrote: >>>> "Lesley Weston" <brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message >>>> news:hcetci$iar$1@mud.stack.nl... >>>>> GaryN wrote: >>>> <snip> >>>>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>>>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>>>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress; >>>>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever >>>>> their weight. >>>> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything? >>> The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove >>> necessary to get by them? >> My initial intention was to present a rhetorical question about "What do >> they want the law to be and where do we stop?"
> Well, there are plenty of anti-discrimination laws on the books > regarding the abuse of people for their race, sexual orientation, > disabilities, gender, etc. already. I've yet to see any news stories > about arrests of hip-hop/rap artists for use of racial epithets, > advocating violence against women, gay men getting busted for > referring to a peer as an "old queen" or similar.
>> Do I have to stop greeting a friend of mine who is of somewhat greater >> girth with the words "You alright then you fat northern bastard?" to >> which he replies "Not bad you soft southern shandy drinking[1] git" just >> in case it offends anyone overhearing? I've only known him for 20 years >> from university after all and it's a ritual when we meet up.
>> It's probably illegal for me to greet a female friend that I met back in >> the 80's with "Alright you old trollop, how's it going" 'cos that would >> be sexist
>> It just seems to me that we have so many "ist"s and "ism"s that it's >> almost impossible to speak, or otherwise express an opinion, without >> offending *somebody*, should they choose to take offence at an innocent >> remark, even if one had no intention of doing so.
>> gary
>> [1]I do not drink shandy. >> -- >> "I really like this jacket >> but the sleeves are much too long"
>> Motorhead - 'Back At The Funny Farm'.
> I note the article you linked to didn't contain anything like what you > just described. The incidents included were miles away from being an > interaction between friends. They all seemed to be abusive > confrontations by strangers. Some were out and out verbal or physical > assaults. Not a one of the incidents described, theoretical or actual, > included a scenario where a third party overheard two friends > addressing one another or policing the way two consenting people > interact with each other.
> I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you and your friends probably > don't issue a friendly physical beatdown resulting in dozens of > bruises when you run into each other on the train or hurl beer cans by > way of greeting.
No, that's only in Texas or Alabama, maybe Arkansas.
>>>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress;
>>>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever >>>> their weight.
>>> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
>> The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove >> necessary to get by them?
> Solution: go to the hardware and plumbing aisle and get a can of WD-40.
> Lubricate the floor all around them. Then it only takes the smallest of > pushes.
>>>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress;
>>>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever >>>> their weight.
>>> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
>> The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove >> necessary to get by them?
>My initial intention was to present a rhetorical question about "What do >they want the law to be and where do we stop?"
>Do I have to stop greeting a friend of mine who is of somewhat greater >girth with the words "You alright then you fat northern bastard?" to >which he replies "Not bad you soft southern shandy drinking[1] git" just >in case it offends anyone overhearing? I've only known him for 20 years >from university after all and it's a ritual when we meet up.
>It's probably illegal for me to greet a female friend that I met back in >the 80's with "Alright you old trollop, how's it going" 'cos that would >be sexist
>It just seems to me that we have so many "ist"s and "ism"s that it's >almost impossible to speak, or otherwise express an opinion, without >offending *somebody*, should they choose to take offence at an innocent >remark, even if one had no intention of doing so.
>gary
Have you ever noticed how much political correctness resembles a complete lack of a sense of humor?
-Chris zakes Texas
As for myself, I am simply Hop-Frog, the jester--and *this* is my last jest.
>>>> "Lesley Weston" <brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message >>>> news:hcetci$iar$1@mud.stack.nl... >>>>> GaryN wrote: >>>> <snip> >>>>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>>>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>>>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress; >>>>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever >>>>> their weight. >>>> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
>>> The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove >>> necessary to get by them?
>> My initial intention was to present a rhetorical question about "What do >> they want the law to be and where do we stop?"
>> Do I have to stop greeting a friend of mine who is of somewhat greater >> girth with the words "You alright then you fat northern bastard?" to >> which he replies "Not bad you soft southern shandy drinking[1] git" just >> in case it offends anyone overhearing? I've only known him for 20 years >>from university after all and it's a ritual when we meet up. >> It's probably illegal for me to greet a female friend that I met back in >> the 80's with "Alright you old trollop, how's it going" 'cos that would >> be sexist
>> It just seems to me that we have so many "ist"s and "ism"s that it's >> almost impossible to speak, or otherwise express an opinion, without >> offending *somebody*, should they choose to take offence at an innocent >> remark, even if one had no intention of doing so.
>> gary
> Have you ever noticed how much political correctness resembles a > complete lack of a sense of humor?
I've just seen 'Cirque du Freak - The Vampire's Assistant' and one of the hypocrisies about such things was exposed. The towns people wanted the circus closed because it was wrong for people to profit from exhibiting 'dirty freaks'.
>>> "Lesley Weston" <brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message >>> news:hcetci$iar$1@mud.stack.nl... >>>> GaryN wrote: >>> <snip> >>>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress; >>>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever >>>> their weight. >>> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
>> The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove >> necessary to get by them?
> My initial intention was to present a rhetorical question about "What do > they want the law to be and where do we stop?"
The Law is irrelevant, as it so often is. All that's needed is to avoid hurting people. If the person you're talking to (or about in their hearing) could be hurt by what you say, then don't say it. So we stop at whatever point meets this objective. If what you say to your friends will not hurt them, then there's no reason not to say it.
All this assumes, of course, that it's not your (generic) /intention/ to hurt them, which is not always the case. In that situation, social pressure works much better than laws.
-- Lesley Weston
The addy above is real, but I won't see anything posted to it for a long time. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca, adjusting as necessary.
>>>> "Lesley Weston" <brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message >>>> news:hcetci$iar$1@mud.stack.nl... >>>>> GaryN wrote: >>>> <snip> >>>>>> An assault on someone, for whatever reason, is illegal (unless you >>>>>> happen to be a copper). I find it irritating if someone who is >>>>>> grossly overweight impedes my progress; >>>>> I find it irritating if /anybody/ impedes my progress, whatever >>>>> their weight. >>>> Yeah, what the hell does weight have to do with anything?
>>> The amount of inertia which has to be overcome by the violent shove >>> necessary to get by them?
>> My initial intention was to present a rhetorical question about "What do >> they want the law to be and where do we stop?"
>The Law is irrelevant, as it so often is. All that's needed is to avoid >hurting people. If the person you're talking to (or about in their >hearing) could be hurt by what you say, then don't say it. So we stop at >whatever point meets this objective. If what you say to your friends >will not hurt them, then there's no reason not to say it.
The kicker there is the people who take offense *on behalf of* other people. My favorite bad example is the fact that "Speedy Gonzales" cartoons aren't shown in the US any more, because they *might* be offensive to folks from Mexico... even though the cartoons are still shown--and are quite popular--*in* Mexico.
-Chris Zakes Texas
As for myself, I am simply Hop-Frog, the jester--and *this* is my last jest.
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