Well, blow me!

[zebedee]

My wife and I have a friend in Southampton who comes from Barbados. During a chat one day, my wife used the phrase 'coloured'. Our friend laughed out loud and said to my wife "You have yellow hair, pink skin, blue eyes and you call ME coloured!" She has a point, don't you think?

[Flummery]

My grandad referred to a friend of his as 'coloured' when it as not considered offensove to use much worse terminology. I was 7 at the time and innocently asked what colour he was. I had rainbows in my head!

[Two_Sheds]

The term 'coloured' was common in the 60s. It comes from the ideology of racism, that white people are white, and everyone else is somehow "other" - ie. coloured. As a term it was not chosen by those to whom it refers, but was instead imposed by white society.
We have people on our Site who still refer to black people as niggers...unbelievable
However, taking offence is a subjective thing. I personally object to being called "girl" by men who are only slightly older than me. I don't refer to them as "oldie" or "wrinkly" ! (perhaps they use it because they can't remember - or be bothered to remember - my name)

[beefy]

"When I'm born I'm Black,
when I grow up I'm Black,
when I'm in the cold I'm Black,
when I'm in the sun I'm Black,
when I'm sick I'm Black,
when I die I'm Black.
And you...
When you're born you're Pink,
when you grow up you're White,
when you're in the cold you're Blue,
when you're in the sun Red,
when you're sick you're Green,
when you die you're Purple.
And you dare to call ME a coloured....".

Malcom X

[johnty greentoes]

It was the Housing Benefit what done it. Trying to save the taxpayer a few quid by chucking a cancer-ridden vegetarian cyclist out on the street...

This makes me so angry...after 10 years of a NL Government etc...a govt that I worked to get elected...I think it's time my membershiup card went back...at one level I don't want to believe what you are saying...and yet you are...

You seem to face all this with incredible good humour...which amazes me...

Take care.

[bubblewrap]

This makes me so angry...after 10 years of a NL Government etc...a govt that I worked to get elected...I think it's time my membershiup card went back...at one level I don't want to believe what you are saying...and yet you are...

You seem to face all this with incredible good humour...which amazes me...

Take care.

I gave them 27 years & a fair amount of cash' No MBE or Knighthood just a kick up the backside & no thanks.
So in the end I gave them two fingers(2005)

[bubblewrap]

I got evicted from my home when I was having chemotherapy, cos "they" reckoned I was 'housed' in hospital and therefore didn't need/deserve my house.
When I (successfully) appealed this decision, "they" then decided my home was under-occupied (being a single person in a 2 bed terrace) so they evicted me anyway.

Bitter, moi?

. A excuse for evicting maj & phil the greek from buck house.

[bubblewrap]

Ah, poor Gordon. He'll never be Queen

No! Tony will always be quean!

[OverWyreGrower]

I went to university to do a teaching degree in 1998.

I went through 2.5 years of a 4 year course and left.

Everyone always says "Oh, was it the kids" and I truthfully reply:

"No, it was the adults! There was such a culture of 'do as i say, not as i do' and so many hoops to jump through, it wasn't about the children at all"

As a 18-20 year old student teacher I had a chair thrown at me by a parent, the tyres on my car let down (by a parent), I encountered children who had been neglected and abused by their so-called parents. Not for me, thanks.

[madderbat]

I went to university to do a teaching degree in 1998.

I went through 2.5 years of a 4 year course and left.

Everyone always says "Oh, was it the kids" and I truthfully reply:

"No, it was the adults! There was such a culture of 'do as i say, not as i do' and so many hoops to jump through, it wasn't about the children at all"

As a 18-20 year old student teacher I had a chair thrown at me by a parent, the tyres on my car let down (by a parent), I encountered children who had been neglected and abused by their so-called parents. Not for me, thanks.

Glad it's not just me owg. I went to a 10 year reunion of friends from college (not official). Turned out that out of twenty of us, only 3 were still in teaching.
We all got on well with kids, were good at leading/explaining things to them, and took pride in their achievements. What did for us was the system, the regulations, the paperwork, and the attitude of officials.
That was in the 70's before the parents started getting uppity too!

[Two_Sheds]

No! Tony will always be quean!

Quean...I had to look that up. (Scots for a disreputable woman, usually a prostitute)

[TPeers]

I know exactly what you mean! You go through years of teaching your children to think before they speak, always say please and thank you and to consider other people and when they get to school NEVER a please or thank you from the teachers (good teachers please don't take offence, you must exisit but you are such a minority!) Oh yes, the only fight on the playground - two parents at it hammer and tongs and I had to step between them! (I'm only 5'5" and not too bulky - v. scary, but couldn't let them carry on like that and the language!

[Alison]

Quean...I had to look that up. (Scots for a disreputable woman, usually a prostitute)

Oh, I just assumed it was a typo

[bubblewrap]

Quean...I had to look that up. (Scots for a disreputable woman, usually a prostitute)

So I was right Tony was born in Edinburgh in 1953 therefore a scot & he has prostituted the Labour party to the city & big business

[johnty greentoes]

I know exactly what you mean! You go through years of teaching your children to think before they speak, always say please and thank you and to consider other people and when they get to school NEVER a please or thank you from the teachers (good teachers please don't take offence, you must exisit but you are such a minority!) Oh yes, the only fight on the playground - two parents at it hammer and tongs and I had to step between them! (I'm only 5'5" and not too bulky - v. scary, but couldn't let them carry on like that and the language!

hmm ... secondary school I guess ... I'll not enter a debate - blood pressure and LJ wouldn't like it. Just to say that your characterisation of all teachers is illogical beyond belief.