Period Tradesmen

[LadyArowana]

Seems we must all be rather more sensitive about the nicknames we might attach to our tradespeople. Happily "B****y idiot" is probably still OK although if they happened to be from Wyoming or Texas then maybe "cowboy" might be considered offensive.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3772860/Pole-dubbed-Borat-wins-2k-for-racism.html

 

[JoceAndChris]

:roll: Man up, world.

 

[Flyfisher]

Indeed. I blame the lawyers.

 

[Penners]

It's interesting how a perfectly ordinary and acceptable first name can, apparently, become an insult, according to how and when it's used.

I have a friend who can never remember people's names. So he calls everyone "John". But if, for example, he was to call an Arabic person "Abdul", I guess this would be regarded as racist and insulting.

 

[LadyArowana]

It's interesting how a perfectly ordinary and acceptable first name can, apparently, become an insult, according to how and when it's used.

I have a friend who can never remember people's names. So he calls everyone "John". But if, for example, he was to call an Arabic person "Abdul", I guess this would be regarded as racist and insulting.

Hmmmmm, very true. Do you suppose Mr Wittington's first name is off limits too?

 

[JoceAndChris]

I have a friend who can never remember people's names. So he calls everyone "John".

:lol: is that another Norfolk thing?

When I was little, my name was Jocelyn Sadie Witchard. I was always called Joss Sticks Sadist Witchcraft, in full. I quite liked it really. I suppose it depends on the relationship you have with the name-callers.

I like the way English humour often revolves around rather cruel punning and stereotyping, they're some of the essential ingredients of comedy.

 

[robgil]

It could be worse , he may be calling everyone ''dick'' . :lol:

 

[Penners]

Do you think that might have been what Lady Arowana was referring to, in her "Whittington" comment above, Rob?

Do keep up, there's a good chap.

 

[LadyArowana]

Do you think that might have been what Lady Arowana was referring to, in her "Whittington" comment above, Rob?

Do keep up, there's a good chap.

Actually I had forgotten the other unfortunately named brother, I was thinking of the younger sibling Numpty Wittington.

 

[robgil]

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed today I have to admit.

 

[Feltwell]

When I was little, my name was Jocelyn Sadie Witchard. I was always called Joss Sticks Sadist Witchcraft, in full. I quite liked it really. I suppose it depends on the relationship you have with the name-callers.

I like the way English humour often revolves around rather cruel punning and stereotyping, they're some of the essential ingredients of comedy.

My very flat-chested friend Jenny Robus eventually got used to being called Jenny No-bust. Mind you, her sister (who clearly received all the sisterly allocaton in that department) really hated being called Sarah Bigbust.

But if, for example, he was to call an Arabic person "Abdul", I guess this would be regarded as racist and insulting.

I think it would. I have an Asian Muslim friend who, like many Muslim men, uses his surname as his generally used name. I asked him why one time, thinking I'd get a religious answer - but no, in his words "It's just practicality. Try going to any Muslim part of Birmingham - if someone called out "Mohammed!" then nearly every man in the street would turn round." He's got a point.

 

[Penners]

Not just Birmingham.

Muhammad (in its various spellings) is now the most popular boy's name in Britain.

 

[Feltwell]

Mind you, you don't need to be called Mohammed for your name to cause confusion in Birmingham you know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU-tuY0Z7nQ

Which, for those without a good memory of 1970's car adverts, was a send-up of this beautifully shot Fiat advert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fXV6KzhBbM

Although this version, with advance apologies to Middi, is funnier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNPTlT8HXjk&feature=related