h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

John Carter is a NZ MP who rang up his mate John Banks (also an MP) on his radio show calling himself Hone (Maori form of John) and proceeded to justify a series of racist stereotypes widely held about Maori in the redneck regions. I think he actually admitted it in Parliament. I think Banks knew it was a set-up too.

As a bigot, but not a redneck, from the regions I can attest that no one I know, Maori or Pakeha seriously uses comic phrases like "jees bro". Cus is still reasonably common though.

i'm quite curious as to how its possible to be a bigot but not a redneck. please explain. (btw to my eternal shame i do know people who still use cus - they are largely shunned)

A bigot is a person who feels strongly about issues like politics, religion or race and is quite prepared to stand up and defend his/her beliefs. This can have a positive spin, especially in countries where freedom of speech is threatened. It can also be an asset if you hold strong left/right political views.

The Collins dictionary definition of a redneck is (disparaging, usually North American) a poor uneducated White farm worker.

This can I suppose be extended to the beliefs held by these people.

awww! No lynching in this discussion, Lance? Dammit, no one ever allows me to lynch any one anymore. It's enough to make a grown man cry ...

Seriously though folks, racism is always a big bugbear. If Loony is a bigot, then I guess I gotta confess to being a bleeding heart liberal. No one enjoys a good joke better than me (especially when that joke is Pat Buchanon), whether that joke be sexist, racist, homophobic, about necrophilia, beastiality, sadism, or vegetarianism. In fact, some of my best friends are sexist, racist, homophobic necrophiliacs with a sideline in sadistic vegetarianism. Admittedly, I don't invite them home often, and when I do, I make them stay firmly in the closet, preferably handcuffed to something solid. But I digress: The problem is not racist jokes, it's with racist jokes that try to pass themselves off as facts. I guess all I saying is ... can't we all just get along?

Play nicely.
(any snarky comments like "thanks mom" will open a nasty old can of whoop-ass, by the way)

my pocket oxford (which incidentally, doesn't actually fit in my pocket) defines Bigot as "one who holds obstinately to a belief or opinion intolerantly of others."

Oh crap. I think that means all of us. Bloody dictionaries.

More intolerance of intolerance, I say.

For more on rednecks check out Anonymouse's fine article on Hillbillies which lives at

http://www.h2g2.com/A119459

The accompaning thread is quite enlightening as well

the whole pocket thing is very misleading - the key is actually to buy a "mini" which is much more likely to fit in your pocket (although you'd still need large pockets) - don't worry it'll all be solved when we, i mean they, bring in Newspeak

as to the free speech stuff - i've had a few arguments about this this year (one of which ended up in the person telling me i wasn't respecting their views threatening me with broken legs if i didn't shut up, which was an interesting spin on free speech) and i guess for me it boils down to not tolerating statements which are part of justifying violence or hate of one part/group of society - not that your comments (LT&PP) necessarily were, because i realise they were a joke - but i've heard some dozzies this year on campus (and off) and i have something of a light trigger finger now. besides, someone has to.

i'll be sure to pass it on to hillbilly barbie ( who doesn't have internet access that they can work out how to use, but likes to read over my shoulder from time to time) - thanks

Spanner Girl, I noticed you have posted from my biography forum thread. Did you spot the 2 Maori women in the picture?

They speak proper, no choice bros from them.

I'm starting to wish I never started this "choice, Bro" thing!

I agree. Lets go international

I have always wondered if Australians mind if all noisy raucous bad-mannered people on their OE from downunder are called drunken Aussies.

Heck, no. Well I don't care, I cant speak for the rest of us. Heck, it's usually true.

Ken Livingston a left-wing Pommie politician standing for nomination to the same post as you, Mayor of London, recently tried to get a noisy, all night partying crowd of Aussies evicted from their flat near his house.

Complained to the council, storys in the national papers. Turns out everyone got it wrong. They were Kiwis with, so-called, white-collar jobs in the city.

It happened to me quite often when I was on a working holiday in London. I was pouring petrol at a service station which only employed Aussies and Kiwis. People would pull in for petrol and when I spoke invariably said, "Not another Aussie." When I pointed out I was a Kiwi, they all apologised.

Me? Virtual Mayor of Oondon? I'm not even on the field.... with competition like Fenchurch, who needs the stress?

And it dosent surprise me a bit that Kiwis are mistaken for Aussies in detrimental situations. Aussies have the reputation, but kiwis have the reality.

I mean London, of course. I am already Mayor of Oondon.

LIAR. The only reason you are Mayor of Oondon is that you tied Me up and put me in thge closet on election day. Everyone knows I was a shoe in for Mayor. WATCH YOUR BACK, I HAVE A FULLY LOADED RUBBER CHICKEN!

What was that shoe in, exactly?

Don't play dumb with me.

The insomniac, dyslexic agnostic stayed up all night wondering if there really is a Dog

3