The London 2012 Olympics: Current affairs discussion

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Straw man argument, Gary - you may think he/she thought that way, but that does not mean he/she thought that way, so your proposition is built on how you think they thought (because you may think that way), not on how they thought (because they may not think that way).

What?

Perhaps they took as an example Lewis Hamilton or Jessica Ennis's parents, and thought they were a good example of a British family - but, as I stated earlier, it's only a problem if you think it's a problem.

Rich mixed race families are good typical examples?

nobody is saying it's a problem really. but just because it's not a problem, there is still an answer.

I know lots of families like the one portrayed - and to me, they are just a British family, nothing more or nothing less.

Yes I know. but to some who think further outside the 2' x 2' box are eager to hear why.

I've never played the devils advocaat before, but to prove a point that there was some sort of biast in the way Britains history and its present was represented in the olympics ceremony, is. were there any rich black business people in the industrial revolution era. as there were shown to be in the production?
what I'm saying is. you wouldn't cast white people to represent the black slavery trade would you. just because there's white actors or volunteers willing and wanting to be part in it.

or maybe we would. just to be nice and neutral. I don't know.

Originally Posted by Gary L

I've never played the devils advocaat before, but to prove a point that there was some sort of biast in the way Britains history and its present was represented in the olympics ceremony, is. were there any rich black business people in the industrial revolution era. as there were shown to be in the production?.

This is just a reality of casting. They needed thousands of people so some of them will be black. Especially in London which has a higher percentage of ethnic minorities amongst it's citizens compared to Britain as a whole. At least 30% of Londoners do not identify themselves as 'White British'. So yes, there will be black performers in the Opening Ceremony. This is not to make a point but simply a reality and no one should, or seems, to care.

This isn't an issue. Even The Mail has pulled the most offensive parts of the article because they know they've gone a bit too far this time. The comments on the article aren't supportive. The real surprise is how badly Paul Dacre judged the public mood, he is usually more astute than that.

Originally Posted by Hugh

And there is absolutely no reason why it couldn't be the plain and simple family that they showed - it's only a big thing to those who think it is; I hadn't even noticed.... (which is why I asked the question earlier).

It has only just occurred to me that my next door neighbour has a black partner and a mixed race son...

Originally Posted by Maggy J

It has only just occurred to me that my next door neighbour has a black partner and a mixed race son...

Maggy, I think you're mistaken. The Daily Mail said it isn't so. (I also know of quite a few couples like this, they're even EDUCATED )

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

It has only just occurred to me that my next door neighbour has a black partner and a mixed race son...

If the son is theirs. he will be mixed race.

Mine are just white. no excitement in my street. apart from Barry the china man on the corner.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Gary L

What?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

A straw man is a type of argument and is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "attack a straw man" is to create the illusion of having refuted a proposition by replacing it with a superficially similar yet unequivalent proposition (the "straw man"), and refuting it, without ever having actually refuted the original position.

---------- Post added at 10:15 ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 ----------

Originally Posted by Gary L

I've never played the devils advocaat before.

Side-bar. My late Gran used to love that stuff. Always bought her a bottle at Christmas

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

Thanks Carl, but it was the other part.

Side-bar. My late Gran used to love that stuff. Always bought her a bottle at Christmas

I just bought mine socks and pants. she didn't drink.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Thanks Carl, but it was the other part.

The conversation went like this....

Originally Posted by Hugh

Straw man argument, Gary.

Originally Posted by Gary L

What?

So I don't know what "other part" you're referring to

I just bought mine socks and pants. she didn't drink.

Mine did (but not to excess, I have to point out!) Loved her Sherry. Each to their own

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

So I don't know what "other part" you're referring to

The rest after
Straw man argument, Gary.

Doesn't matter now, Carl.

http://davidprescott.wordpress.com/2...olympic-seats/

Just got back from the Olympic Park to hear Locog’s trying to solve the problem with empty seats at venues.
I managed to get a £10 entrance only ticket to the park, not expecting to see any Olympic action other than on the big screens.
But as we walked around the site, we came across a long queue for the ticket office. We assumed this was for tickets for the Mittal Orbit or maybe for other events later in the week.
But no. It was for recycled tickets to watch the basketball and handball. Every ticket has a barcode that’s scanned but not everyone wants to sit through the whole sporting event.
When they leave the venue, their ticket is scanned again, notifying the ticket office that seat is now free.
Those tickets are then put back on sale for a fraction of the price.
So after a half hour queue, I found myself picking up a £90 ticket to see the US v Croatia in the basketball arena for just….£5.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Gary L

The rest after
Straw man argument, Gary.

Which was, basically, an explanation of why he considered it such an argument. So that first sentence summed it up.

[devilincarnate]

My Nephew point this out this morning as he is the Solider in the middle of the three leaving Lords?

AN Olympic guard faces the sack for spitting at an Army hero drafted in to boost security — and yelling: “Baby killer.�
The Asian G4S worker flipped as he patrolled an archery contest at Lord’s cricket ground with the Afghan veteran.

A source said: “This security guard was ranting and raving at the soldier.

“He was trying to defuse the situation but the guard was going crazy. He spat at the soldier and screamed at him. He was calling him a baby killer.

“He left the soldier in no doubt he meant he’d been responsible for children’s deaths while serving in Afghanistan.

Sickening

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...BY-KILLER.html

[danielf]

Sour grapes from the Fail

We got our first medal, courtesy of cyclist Lizzie Armitstead. What an utter darling. According to commentators, she had ‘fresh legs in good shape’, which she used to batter heroically through a torrential rainstorm, only to come second to some bitch from Holland. Never mind, after the 80-mile race Lizzie emerged without a speck of mud on her flawless complexion, manicure perfect, looking ready for her close-up.

Morons.

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

My Nephew point this out this morning as he is the Solider in the middle of the three leaving Lords?

Sickening

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...BY-KILLER.html

Well at least he is facing the sack. The soldiers I have encountered so far have been professional and helpful, shows what a blessing in disguise it was that G4S failed to provide enough staff.

---------- Post added at 13:02 ---------- Previous post was at 13:00 ----------

Originally Posted by danielf

Sour grapes from the Fail



Morons.

The Mail is going quite crazy over the Olympics....

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by danielf

Sour grapes from the Fail



Morons.

Not news though was it?

It was a comment in a column, an opinion, and like it or not she's entitled to give an opinion.