BBC apologises after Mensa guest says anyone with an IQ of 60 is a ‘carrot’

[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by joglynne

Sparkle a dog is a dog it is also canine. A human being can be male or female but is never a carrot. I am surprised that you can't see the difference. Just because you don't intend to cause offense by your post doesn't mean that you are not guilty of doing so.

Dear joglynne,
I think you've misunderstood my post, perhaps I didn't explain it well. A dog is not a dog. A dog can be a dog, but it is also used as a derogatory term, hence why I suggested it is offensive. Bearing that in mind, do you still find what I wrote offensive?

[rogerdraig]

"joglynne
Calling anyone a carrot may sound amusing, silly, or just 'off the cuff' insensitive but it is still an insult."

it may be insulting in some context but he was trying rather badly to give some sort of description to the numbers of IQ i think the reaction of complaining about it was a little over the top and insulting in the same manner as the the first description

by the way i don't intend to complain about it

[Sparkle]

Another example I've see in America is with the word "black". I can see them banning or attempting to ban that word entirely over there.

Black people are African American, whereas white people are still white people, oddly. Its gotten so bad, that the PC brigade are scratching their heads trying to figure out what on Earth to call an actual black sheep.

Even here in the UK, authorities have decided it best to side-step the problem altogether, and just call it a "rainbow sheep".

Nursery opts for "rainbow" sheep

If black is deemed offensive, then surely so is "dog".

Another sign of the growing over sensitivity of society and the right for people to be offended on behalf of others lets be honest ask anyone (if you can find someone) with an iq of 60 or below and they probably have far better things as we all do to worry about. It will get to the point where people are so scared to say anything not pre approved or acceptable that truth will be a thing of the past in public only muttered behind closed doors. There are many truths in this world i would probably be offended by but that doesn't mean no one has the right to say them and my skin should be thick enough to hear it or failing that in relation to tele the remote control is your friend.

It's pretty funny I think. Rude but funny.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by rogerdraig

"joglynne
Calling anyone a carrot may sound amusing, silly, or just 'off the cuff' insensitive but it is still an insult."

What's wrong with insulting someone? Winston Churchill was very good at it.

If I feel compelled to insult someone, I will.

There are plenty of thick people out there, I fear they are the majority.
I'm fairly sure that the average guest list for the Jeremy Kyle show would struggle to hit an IQ of 60, collectively.

On the flip side, as I have always stated, if you're offended by something....so what.

Being offended is a personal reaction to an event that only affects you, and you alone. Just because you may be offended doesn't mean anyone else is, or that any apology is required.

So if you're offended, be offended, but do so quietly.

[dilli-theclaw]

Originally Posted by Chris

I'd bet that every single person who complained to the BBC was offended on behalf of someone else. I despair of our society, we really have completely lost the ability to hold things in proportion. Everything has become an excuse for outrage.

I have been in various places in the last few years and the people with me have been offended on my behalf - when I'm not. It REALLY grates my carrot I can tell you!

[joglynne]

@ Sparkle. Calling a dog a dog can only be regarded as derogatory by the person doing it. Anyone hearing the description would only hear the word and not the insult intended. Now if you were to call me a dog I may just wop you one.

@ Roger. The man who made this comment prides himself on his superior IQ. Surely he is responsible for the words that come out of his mouth. I did not make a formal complaint and do not intend to do so but I do think the apology was needed though not from the BBC but from the " leading member of high IQ society Mensa" who voiced an opinion on National Television.

Should we not stand up for those of us who, for no fault of their own, do not have the ability stand up for themselves. Is standing up against this type of stereotyping now not allowed? Is there now a form of second class level of society that can become victims because no one will speak on their behalf.

Chris earlier in the thread said :-

I'd bet that every single person who complained to the BBC was offended on behalf of someone else. I despair of our society, we really have completely lost the ability to hold things in proportion. Everything has become an excuse for outrage.

.... and this is why I posted. Likening being offended when comments/jokes etc were aimed at minority groups who are well able to fight their own battles to being critical when someone targets groups of people who can not so ably defend themselves is completely wrong.

I now realise my views are out of line with the way some of you view your obligations to protect certain groups of society but I make no apologies for my opinions and will now withdraw from this thread.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by joglynne

As far as I am concerned, having heard the offensive remark, this just goes to prove that a high IQ does not make a person any more able to live in society or relate to his fellow human beings than the people he regards to be less than human due to their reduced IQ.

I have been tested and came out in the top percentage of what is purported to be a intellectual gauge of a persons level in general society but refused the membership I was offered after reading some of the elitist garbage spouted by many of Mensa's members. Having a high IQ does not absolve one from learning how to interact with other people or of realising that 'off the cuff remarks' can be offensive.

My family have, over the years, fostered many young people who would have trouble getting an IQ of 60, they have been a joy to all who came into their lives, but I doubt whether they would have had the intellectual skills to voice their indignation at being likened to a carrot so I consider a complaint on their behalf to be totally in order.

Most people I have encountered in Mensa either in real life or online have really low emotional intelligence scores, which imo and an increasing number of.employers is more important than any IQ score.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by joglynne

I now realise my views are out of line with the way some of you view your obligations to protect certain groups of society but I make no apologies for my opinions and will now withdraw from this thread.

Are "thick" people a recognised society group?

Surely there are thick people in every society group?

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Another example I've see in America is with the word "black". I can see them banning or attempting to ban that word entirely over there.

Black people are African American, whereas white people are still white people, oddly. Its gotten so bad, that the PC brigade are scratching their heads trying to figure out what on Earth to call an actual black sheep.

Even here in the UK, authorities have decided it best to side-step the problem altogether, and just call it a "rainbow sheep".

Nursery opts for "rainbow" sheep

If black is deemed offensive, then surely so is "dog".

Not that bunch of round things again.

This was crap when it was first reported in 1986, and it still is now - as Private Eye reported

For the record, the charity Parents and Children Together, which runs the two play groups at the centre of last week's outbreak, told the Press Association that "children at the two family centres sing a variety of descriptive words in the nursery rhyme to turn the song into an action rhyme. They sing happy, sad, bouncing, hopping, pink, blue, black and white sheep etc. This encourages the children to extend their vocabulary." Curiously, this explanation went unreported by any of the national papers.

[Sparkle]

How is it crap? They removed the word black, did they not?

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...aa-Black-Sheep

If they want to sing about other colours/shapes, then they can sing a different nursery rhyme rather than change an old classic.

Looks like maybe the "explanation" is to avoid coming under fire for excessive political correctness.

---------- Post added at 00:48 ---------- Previous post was at 00:40 ----------

Another from the huff..
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012...n_1414042.html

---------- Post added at 01:02 ---------- Previous post was at 00:48 ----------

The way I see it, is like this. If the class wanted to add in different words, they could do so without omitting the word black.
Additionally, one has to remember that schools for young children are notorious politically correct.

This might shed some light on why:
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6004257

---------- Post added at 01:11 ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 ----------

Racism witch hunts in schools

Seems to be lots of these cases, beggars belief really.

Read the quote above - the word 'black' wasn't removed.....

btw, loved the last link in your post - the viewpoint of an organisation run by a man who used to fund the BNP is bound to be truly unbiased......

Originally Posted by Hugh

Read the quote above - the word 'black' wasn't removed.....

btw, loved the last link in your post - the viewpoint of an organisation run by a man who used to fund the BNP is bound to be truly unbiased......

Every few years stories crop up about people being banned from using the word black or being they can't fly the union jack and every time without fail they are proven to be a load of rowlocks when the detail is examined

Originally Posted by Pierre

What's wrong with insulting someone? Winston Churchill was very good at it.

If I feel compelled to insult someone, I will.

There are plenty of thick people out there, I fear they are the majority.
I'm fairly sure that the average guest list for the Jeremy Kyle show would struggle to hit an IQ of 60, collectively.

On the flip side, as I have always stated, if you're offended by something....so what.

Being offended is a personal reaction to an event that only affects you, and you alone. Just because you may be offended doesn't mean anyone else is, or that any apology is required.

So if you're offended, be offended, but do so quietly.

Well Winston Churchill chose his victims carefully..and for a good reason.I very much doubt he would have abused anyone who was intellectually challenged because it just isn't good sport.He was after all, considered a gentleman.