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

A nutter isn't someone that's mentally ill, and it has bugger all to do with mental illness. It's someone that in theory is of sound mind, but appears to have been hiding behind the door when the common sense and healthy regard for danger were being handed out. Equally, to me a 'spade' is a miner. Pansy isn't a gay person either- it's a jessie, big girl's blouse, a wimp, a wassock.

Wazzock! I haven't heard that for ages! I think I shall use that the next time a friend is being !

Q

i think it depends where you come from. this is an international site.

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possibly 'spade' is no longer known as an insult for blacks because of the pressure to stop using racist language. in brittain in the 70s and early 80s it definitely was considered a racist term.

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i really like the word nutter. however it does have a number of meanings depending on context. again its how you use the word.

It's probably offensive to the people of Wazz

I'm from England, and I've only ever known Spade to mean a miner. a) because they use shovels and picks, and b) they come out the pit black as the ace of spades.

sure. which show that words have different meanings.

you knowing 'spade' as miner doesn't mean it isn't also used as a racist term.

I does suggest however that we should avoid assuming words are being used in racist/homophobic/predudiced words, just because that's what a word means to *you*.

Hi.. Er, sorry to interupt but i was just wondering at your name Kea.. Did you get that Speed of dark quote from Thecolour of magic..?

"I does suggest however that we should avoid assuming words are being used in racist/homophobic/predudiced words, just because that's what a word means to *you*."

well thats interesting KerrAvon because my whole repeated point is that i'm looking at context, not what the word means to me personally. maybe you haven't understood what i have been saying.

Deus, there is a very small explanation at the bottom of my PS about my second name.

plus a short convo - F107909?thread=250961


i don't know what 'the colour of magic' is...

*intrigued*

Then why did Subcom and yourself question 'nutter' and 'pansy' in the first place? Context clearly suggested that nutter didn't mean mentally ill, yet both of you suggested it wasn't an appropriate word to use, despite the fact that to those in the conversation it didn;t mean person with a mental illness.

Oh.. Sorry buddy.. Its One of terry pratchets books.. Just thought you might have been a fan.. No prob..

Or maybe kea you're not understanding what KerrAvon is saying.

"I does suggest however that we should avoid assuming words are being used in racist/homophobic/predudiced words, just because that's what a word means to *you*."

I took it as *you* in general, not you kea personally.

"you knowing 'spade' as miner doesn't mean it isn't also used as a racist term"

Equally, someone cannot be accused of being racist if they've never known the term 'spade' to be used as anything other than a minor.

Again - you can take offence at anything, if you really want to.

Q

* "minor" should be "miner" !

Yes, I meant 'you' as A N Other person, sory, should have made that clearer.

ok, thats good to know, i thought you meant me personally.

i'm going to reread what i have posted earlier because i do feel misunderstood...will try and clarify.

ok, thats good to know, i thought you meant me personally.

i'm going to reread what i have posted earlier because i do feel misunderstood...will try and clarify.

Bloody hell, that was a slow multipost

yeah theres all sorts of weird sh*t going on the last 24 hours. often i get a timeout and think it hasn't posted and so i keep trying an eventually get through and find its already there. there's a problem at the bbc end i think.