So... to recap... if abuse is not racist then is fine?

[Lucy]

There are plenty of reasons to insult you, Francko
And we don't abuse Chico because he's a Christian (which is debatable) but because of the tulipe and drivel he posts.
There is a logical basis to Political Correctness, you know: It's that we should not insult people about things for which they have no choice e.g. race.
However if people choose to be stupid, they are fair game.

This is too complicated Francko.

Please post a nice recipe to cheer us up.

[sasguru]

To me it doesn't make sense, it's the act of abuse to be punished, not the motivation. We are going to end up in a society with no ethical values, apart from the protection of certain categories. It's fine to point out the wrong motivation but still it's the crime and misbehaviour that counts. Who remembers Di Canio in the 90's being sent off for 10 games of more because of pushing the referee to the ground? He was given the right punishment. He tried to appeal to the fact that he was treated differently because he was a foreigner, didn't speak english well, blah, blah, and he had to react like this, and so on. Now, probably the referee would have been punished.

Well it depends how you define abuse, doesn't it. Unless you are unusually sensitive, being flamed on a bulletin board doesn't comprise abuse. Simply switch off the computer and walk away.

[Francko]

Well it depends how you define abuse, doesn't it. Unless you are unusually sensitive, being flamed on a bulletin board doesn't comprise abuse. Simply switch off the computer and walk away.

Well, then the same can be applied to the people who engage in racial/sexual/other remarks. Abuse is abuse. Stop. Not talking about your witty replies to me or AtW but when the insult is deliberate and offend the person dignity then it is abuse.

[sasguru]

Well, then the same can be applied to the people who engage in racial/sexual/other remarks. Abuse is abuse. Stop. Not talking about your witty replies to me or AtW but when the insult is deliberate and offend the person dignity then it is abuse.

I find it hard to see how I can insult (and for that matter be insulted by ) someone I don't really know and have not met. Of course I can be irritated by them.
Assuming that people are honest on this forum, we still know next to nothing about each other.

[Lucy]

Well, kind of, but some people make really nasty, personal remarks, and that can be hurtful. I understand what you mean about not knowing the person, but that doesn't take away from the fact that you can still feel hurt or humiliated...

[hattra]

I find it hard to see how I can insult (and for that matter be insulted by ) someone I don't really know and have not met. Of course I can be irritated by them.
Assuming that people are honest on this forum, we still know next to nothing about each other.

A good point - are you actually insulting a real person? And are the views expressed genuinely held, or simply a wind-up? Seems a bit difficult to apply normal rules to characters that don't really exist, and aren't saying what they really mean

[Lucy]

I do exist !

[hattra]

I do exist !

But how do I know?