[RichardCoulter]

As one gets older it can be difficult to acknowledge and change lifelong terminology and attitudes as the world changes. When I was much younger, I knew a man who (without any malice) calmy explained to the office that he'd painted his house 'nigger brown', whilst the younger members of staff looked on aghast. I guess as we become older the same can happen to us. There will be some terminology and attitudes currently held by the young generation that will be considered outdated and unacceptable when they are much older.

I'm not immune either, as a child, due to institutionalised discrimination, I used to refer to the 'paki shop' without a second thought!

An act of unlawful discrimination can be made on the internet, via phone, letter or done in the street. The fact that it's done online matters not as the internet is viewed as merely another form of communication and you will find that most website owners will make every attemot to stop this to protect themselves as it can get them into serious trouble for facilitating it.

It can be frustrating or even downright irritating having to change ones attitude and language, but I think that it's better than minority/disadvantaged groups having to put up with insults and remarks about how, for example, their disability affects them. The act of discrimination doesn't have to be verbal or written either, for example, if I was talking to someone and, because I sometimes have memory loss, if I were to forget my name and they made a facial gesture or rolled their eyes, that would be classed as an act of discrimination too.

Over the years, defences such as the disabled person is too thin skinned, was over reacting, etc have been tried and failed. The average pay out, however, is only £1,000, but it makes people think twice before doing it again. If the behaviour is repeated, is not discouraged by those further up the hierarchy or attempts are made to punish people for complaining with less favourable treatment, the damages can go much higher. Eg if a man repeatedly belittled and humiliated a disabled man in a bar and he complained to the Designated Premises Supervisor and nothing was done about it, or the disabled person was asked to leave, kept waiting at the bar on purpose or even barred from the premises altogether, it would not only be the original perpetrator that would be guilty of disability discrimination in the eyes of then law, the DPS would be liable too. The highest that I have ever received was a few months ago in a settlement reached out of court. The courts appear to be taking the issue much more seriously (I can't go into too much detail due to a non disclosure clause; presumably they are embarrassed about it), but this is how I was able to give some to charities of my choice and make £3,500 available to Cableforum.