Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

In an attempt to sound clever, he quoted a Shakespearean quote on Twitter that contained the word 'ape' to two people. The second person was black (Martin Shapland) and he believed this to be a racist comment:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/a...-a4348261.html

Was he being racist? Should he have been forced to stand down?

Mr Stewart denies being racist, Mr Shapland says an apology would have sufficed and has received abuse and a death threat.

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

Another angle on the story.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/30/alast...eaks-12152812/

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

If you need to ask then gawd help us all...

---------- Post added at 16:47 ---------- Previous post was at 16:46 ----------

If anyone with an ounce of sense would leave Twitter and social media alone. Too many snowflakes that make it their job to be offended.

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

You sound "triggered"... ;)

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

No, he wasn’t being racist.

No, he shouldn’t have stood down.

Shapland is an inferior intellect (which is what the Shakespeare quote means), who was shown to be so in debate with Stewart, and then cried “racist” in order to shut down the argument. Shapland is a disgrace.

On the other hand I learned years ago, through participation in web forums long before the advent of twitter, that you can’t win an argument online. All you can ever do is exchange views and move on. If it becomes verbal tennis, the wiser course of action is to walk away. Stewart was not racist but he was unwise.

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

And then there are those that just get their kicks by enticing.

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

No shortage of times where the word "ape" is used for white people, even in an indirect way, ie "knuckle dragger".

Eg

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

Hes 67 years old, time to retire anyway.

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

:dozey:

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

I was once visiting a friend who is a childminder. One of the children said something mildly offensive and she called him "a cheeky monkey". I did wonder what would have happened if she had said that to one of her black children who went on to tell their parents.

Yes, it's wrong to be deliberately offensive to black people because of the colour of their skin, but someone who who isn't racist would never equate black people and apes, monkeys etc and vice versa so wouldn't even think about any connection.

Are those that take offence because they do make a connection (black or white) the ones being racist? Having said that, anyone black whose been reffered to as a primate is bound to feel uncomfortable.

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

I can understand why someone accustomed to being on the receiving end of racist abuse might be predisposed to identify it more readily, however in accusing Stewart of making a racist insult, Shapland isn’t just talking about how words make him feel, he is making claims about Stewart’s motives. Therein lies the problem.

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

Receiving end? He was the one dishing it out.
Link

Re: Alistair Stewart steps down amid race row.
 

In Scotland we call that “whataboutery”. ;)

Nothing Shapland has done himself alters the factuality of my statement. Even in these relatively enlightened times, black people in this country are accustomed to being on the receiving end of racist abuse.