Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[kinboshi]

Amazing really isn't it how it is still perceived to be OK to discriminate against one group in society..Noone considers it OK to discriminate this way against Black or Asian people anymore (Noone in their right mind, I have to add) but you still hear this a lot. "Pikey bastards" is still a phrase I come across a lot in my industry and companies I deal with...you never hear the same people say "Fucking N*ggers" though. Admittedly we have had a few issues with travellers stealing stuff our guys have left on Telecomms sites but no more than we have with ned vandalism.

It's interesting (and wrong) how the media often reports on incidents that involve ethnic minorities.  A man is arrested for affray and will appear in court in the morning is a statement that is often qualified by "A black man" or "a man from the traveller community", etc.  All this does is reinforce stereotypes.  Of course, the Daily Mail is the main offender in this, twisting the truth through the words that are cleverly chosen to spin their preferred bigotry.

However, the media is often 'racist' in other ways that are less obvious (until they are highlighted and then are blindingly obvious).  Take the flooding in Australia - which of course is a terrible thing for those involved.  But how many people are aware of the other (arguably more damaging to their populations) similar flooding that is happening elsewhere in the world?  This article is quite an eye-opener:
http://www.dark-mountain.net/wordpress/2011/01/12/small-flood-in-sri-lanka-no-white-people-dead/

[boldie]

Yeah, it's the old "they don't look like us so we don't care" way of reporting. It happens everywhere. TBF, I don't give a crap about the 3rd largest city in Australia flooding and causing the deaths of 12 people. I am fairly sure there was bigger news out there somewhere (indeed the 93 people dying in Brazil would be higher up my list..then again I hate Aussies anyways)

[RED-DOG]

How long did it take you to write that, Tom?

Not very long actually, but I did think about it for a good while during the storm. I like to pretend it's just off the cuff. Then if it's crap, it's less embarrassing.

How many times did you tweak & fettle it?

I didn't, except to correct a typo the following morning. If I had been tweaking I would have changed it to:

Big fat raindrops ping off the tin roof, or strafe the windows with short staccato bursts, like soft wet machine gun bullets.

How do you feel about sloppily composed Posts?

Written English can be so wonderfully descriptive when used well. I love to read nicely composed posts, and we have so many talented worsdmiths on blonde. I'm not going to name them for fear that I might miss someone, but I will make an exception for Tighty, who is outstanding.

BTW- The new diarist's have been a revelation.

On the whole though, I don't mind how people write as long as they do their best and it gets the message across. There are lots of young Gypsies using Facebook now. Their literacy levels are way below average, but they are communicating, and they are improving.


My daughter Sadie showed me an entry on her cousin's Facebook page. (Asterisk is mine)

"i wusnt gunna go but then i did, cu*t miss a gud parti lik that"

[tikay]

Thanks Tom.

I like to pretend it's just off the cuff

Good luck with getting that one through!

[RED-DOG]

Thanks Tom.

I like to pretend it's just off the cuff

Good luck with getting that one through!

It could happen. Tank does it.

[kinboshi]

Thanks Tom.

I like to pretend it's just off the cuff

Good luck with getting that one through!

It could happen. Tank does it.

You calling Tank a tosser?

[RED-DOG]

Thanks Tom.

I like to pretend it's just off the cuff

Good luck with getting that one through!

It could happen. Tank does it.

You calling Tank a tosser?

Where is he anyway?

[RED-DOG]

14st 9lb

What's the target weight, Tom?

Get below 14st and then re-evaluate.

Don't want to become too irresistible, I'm struggling to cope as it is.

[RED-DOG]

Mrs Red has made two gallons of beef stew.

gg tomorrows weigh in.

[RED-DOG]

14st 8¾lb

[kinboshi]

14st 8¾lb

as Tintaniumbum would say:

 

[Laxie]

14st 8¾lb

Not too keen on the stew then?  Or just behaved?

[RED-DOG]

I am now going to write about my arse.

Minors, pregnant women, people with a heart condition, and those of you who are easily offended or of a nervous disposition, please look away now.

Last year, somewhere around February, my arse started hurting. Now, when I say arse in this case, I'm not referring to my entire posterior, that's too big an area, so I need to narrow it down a bit. (Did you notice the dieters joke there?)

It was actually the left buttock section of my arse that started hurting. To be even more precise, it was the top bit of my left buttock, just about where the opening to my back pocket is.

(Just to be clear, I don't have a pocket in my left buttock, I'm referring to the place my pocket would be if I had my trousers on, which, by the way, I do at the moment.)

I kept the situation to myself for a while, but it didn't improve, so I did what I always do in these situations, I complained to Mrs Red.

"So what does your arse feel like?" She asked. With childish predictability, I offered to let her feel it. A withering glance soon wiped the adolescent smile from my face, and sheepishly, I explained the problem properly.

I got my arse off my chest, so to speak.

The upshot was, Mrs Red parcelled me off to see the quack. The next thing I knew, I was standing in a draughty surgery, sans trolleys, while a young doctor (who's dress sense was a little too avant garde, if you know what I mean) spoke to me in a soft quivery voice, and examined my somewhat twitchy backside with soft quivery hands.....

[RED-DOG]

14st 8¾lb

Not too keen on the stew then?  Or just behaved?

Loved the stew (having it again for breakfast) just didn't have my usual 6/8 slices of buttered bread with it.

[Laxie]

14st 8¾lb

Not too keen on the stew then?  Or just behaved?

Loved the stew (having it again for breakfast) just didn't have my usual 6/8 slices of buttered bread with it.

Oooooh...good Lad.  Seriously - very well done you! 

Now get back to the arse.