"English Spoken"

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Comments

  • markwalker wrote:
    Westerberg wrote:
    markwalker - what a thoroughly unpleasant and small minded person you've proven yourself to be in the time you've 'graced' us with your presence on these boards. There are a wide range of political views displayed on this forum - not all of which I agree with but most of which are within the realms of a 'normal' range on the left-right scale, mostly put across with good humour (not to mention intelligence and good grammar). You are an obvious exception. Of all the good folk on this forum who are brought together by a shared love of cycling, you're possibly the only one I'd never hope to come across on a ride anytime soon.

    got that off your chest have you? btw if commenting on my grammer please punctuate properly.

    It looks like very poised punctuation to me. And correct spellings too.

    my mistake i thought sentances had a capital. only got as far as the first one.
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    johnfinch wrote:
    Depends how much notice they get. If they've been planning on moving to the UK for a long time, then of course they should learn as much of the language as they can before they get here, but in some cases they might just get a few days notice.

    The same thing happened to me a few years back. I spotted a job advert in Slovakia and 5 days later I was over there, knowing only how to say please, thank you, hello and good-bye.

    Life isn't always simple, unfortunately.

    You made a personal choice to migrate. It wasn't like you were 'conscripted' there. You made the choice to apply for a job in Slovakia. Therefore you don't really have any excuse if you get there and feel 'outcast' because you can't speak the language.

    Migration isn't as simple as you thought, unfortunately. Again, don't be so narrow as to assume that your experiences are the be all and end all.

    I never said I felt like an outcast when I got there (I didn't), and I never said my experiences are the be all and end all. I merely pointed out that people sometimes jump at an opportunity, and gave a personal example. I also didn't think migration would be simple.

    Internet forumland - where people come to put words into the mouths of others. :roll:
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    But I wasn't maligning the guy for moving to Slovakia without learning the language. I was maligning the fact he ignores the different circumstances of Economic and Political Migration

    I fully understand the differences between political and economic migration. Where the hell did you get such an idea from, just because I said that economic migrants might come at short notice, you think that means I don't know the difference between someone who has come to escape persecution and somebody who has come to look for work?
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    johnfinch wrote:
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    But I wasn't maligning the guy for moving to Slovakia without learning the language. I was maligning the fact he ignores the different circumstances of Economic and Political Migration

    I fully understand the differences between political and economic migration. Where the hell did you get such an idea from, just because I said that economic migrants might come at short notice, you think that means I don't know the difference between someone who has come to escape persecution and somebody who has come to look for work?

    I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I and I :roll: Anyway lets not take this too seriously. I for one just like a good moot. I just felt the points you put forward were very narrow. Maybe that meant that i've misunderstood your points? Maybe not? I would actually love to know what you think of my points rather than you pointing out what you don't like about what I said about you.

    I make my best effort to stay generic in these forum environments because it's very easy to misunderstand what people are thinking.
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    johnfinch wrote:
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    But I wasn't maligning the guy for moving to Slovakia without learning the language. I was maligning the fact he ignores the different circumstances of Economic and Political Migration

    I fully understand the differences between political and economic migration. Where the hell did you get such an idea from, just because I said that economic migrants might come at short notice, you think that means I don't know the difference between someone who has come to escape persecution and somebody who has come to look for work?

    I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I and I :roll: Anyway lets not take this too seriously. I for one just like a good moot. I just felt the points you put forward were very narrow. Maybe that meant that i've misunderstood your points? Maybe not? I would actually love to know what you think of my points rather than you pointing out what you don't like about what I said about you.

    I make my best effort to stay generic in these forum environments because it's very easy to misunderstand what people are thinking.

    As I said to you in my original reply, of course migrants who have spent a long time planning coming to the UK for work should learn some English before coming here.

    My point was narrow because it was just a quick example, rather than an examination of all the different circumstances under which somebody might find themselves in another country.

    BTW, I used the word "I" 3 times in my post, you used it 6. So there. :wink: :P
    EDIT: Unless, of course, you were referring to the post above the one you quoted as well... :oops:
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    johnfinch wrote:
    BTW, I used the word "I" 3 times in my post, you used it 6. So there. :wink: :P
    EDIT: Unless, of course, you were referring to the post above the one you quoted as well... :oops:

    Fair game :wink::lol:
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    johnfinch wrote:
    BTW, I used the word "I" 3 times in my post, you used it 6. So there. :wink: :P
    EDIT: Unless, of course, you were referring to the post above the one you quoted as well... :oops:

    Fair game :wink::lol:

    Haha, yeah, I was a bit annoyed that you seemed to be taking my words way out of context but no harm done, eh? Handshakes all round, etc
  • awwww alls well that ends well gromit :D:D
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    Yeh, to be honest I'd snap someones hand off to go to Slovakia and get paid well. Not the most glamorous part of the world but having been to the Polish Tatra's (and straying occasionally into Slovakia) I really like the region.
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    Yeh, to be honest I'd snap someones hand off to go to Slovakia and get paid well. Not the most glamorous part of the world but having been to the Polish Tatra's (and straying occasionally into Slovakia) I really like the region.

    I didn't exactly get paid well, and I ended up in the very, very flat southern part of Slovakia, although I did move on to Bratislava in the end.

    Beautiful country, a train ride through the north of Slovakia was one of the best journeys I've ever made.
  • markwalker wrote:
    PBo wrote:
    markwalker wrote:
    teagar wrote:
    Hey Mark.

    In case you're in denial that you are racist, here's the UN definition for racial discrimination:
    "the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life."


    As I understand it, you are restricting, excluding, and prefering on the basis of national origin, for that particular job you are apparantly advertising.

    but the fundamental freedoms and responsibilities afforded to citizens of Europe dont apply to those people from Africa in relatioin to employment. stop clutching at strraws teagar, Im sure Cherie bleading heart blair couldfind reasons why they do but i cant imagine anyone wanting to interviewa goatherder for a customer services and sales role in the uk unless it was vet or feed or goat meat related and even then why bother. Actually dont answer that were going round in circles and its getting as boring as you

    There is only one person clutching at straws, and that's you Mark.

    It is clear from your original comment about Africans that you were discriminating against them all because you had pre-judged that they couldn't speak sufficent English. Don't throw this EU employment mcguffin in - that came later, and in fact someone else brought it up.

    Frankly, you are showing yourself up to be:
    a) racist
    b) unable to argue cogently
    c) quite unpleasant, the way you throw very condascending insults at other posters


    Sunshine i dont care what you think but for the record i dismiss their applications becasue i dont need them and first port of call is and has to be europeans. i dont care if you cant understand that or need a more cogent argument and it was me that brought the EU point up i believe. so dont label me without facts unless you dont mind me calling you a liberal bleeding heart coc k sucker


    I've tried to stay out of this thread as much as i can, but i have to ask... Mark, what are the views you hold so dear that anybody who disagrees with them is fair game for personal abuse?

    I mean, you've called me exactly the same as you called Teagar twice now, once for asserting that whilst I could disagree with somebody I could still support their right to free speech, and once for stating that I didn't believe prson sentances were an appropriate response to cheating at sport.

    I would regard myself a right wing liberal (small l), in that I believe people know better what their priorites are and should be than the state, and that the state should trust them more ot look after themselves both economically and socially, I'm a believer in small government and freedom of speech, association etc for all, no matter how stupid I think their views.

    Teagar, I think, (forgive me if i'm wrong) would support most of that but is comin gto it from more of a left wing perspective.

    Can you kindly explain what you understand by the word "liberal" and what you object to in it.

    As you have no knowledge of Teagar's gender or sexual preference am I also to presume you have a problem with oral sex or homosexuality? If so, what is the basis of this?
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • Look, I’m fed up with people telling me I’m racist or whatever and being all indignant just because I’ve made my views known. In summary I don’t encourage or accept applications from outside the EU for a role that can adequately and easily be filled from within. It just so happens that a requirement of the role is the ability to speak English beyond a basic level.

    This stance apparently appals those who see it as discriminating against people on the basis of colour or race though what fevered machinations have brought them to that conclusion I have no idea. So having decided that I must be all that is evil in race relations they feel free to call me RACIST or give me other unpleasant and inaccurate tags.

    Quite why there should be any surprise when I respond by saying Blow me indicates just how important some of you people think you are. An indication given more weight when I’m expected to accept your views and publicly renounce racism when i haven’t encouraged or condoned it. I think the Anti Racism screaming is as unpleasant as racism and easily as destructive and I won’t be swayed by either unpleasant group.
  • markwalker wrote:
    Look, I’m fed up with people telling me I’m racist or whatever and being all indignant just because I’ve made my views known. In summary I don’t encourage or accept applications from outside the EU for a role that can adequately and easily be filled from within. It just so happens that a requirement of the role is the ability to speak English beyond a basic level.

    This stance apparently appals those who see it as discriminating against people on the basis of colour or race though what fevered machinations have brought them to that conclusion I have no idea. So having decided that I must be all that is evil in race relations they feel free to call me RACIST or give me other unpleasant and inaccurate tags.

    Quite why there should be any surprise when I respond by saying Blow me indicates just how important some of you people think you are. An indication given more weight when I’m expected to accept your views and publicly renounce racism when i haven’t encouraged or condoned it. I think the Anti Racism screaming is as unpleasant as racism and easily as destructive and I won’t be swayed by either unpleasant group.

    I didn't call you racist or imply any such thing. I simply asked you to clarify why you though "liberal" or "c ock sucker" were insults.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • Well liberal as used to describe the rantings of a person unable to acknowledge real life practicalities when espousing and dictating doctrine is an insult because it implies that the value of said liberals utterances is zero.

    C ock sucker is an insult to a man as its derogatory and indicates the c ock sucker is a submissive and just to be used. This is not an anti gay thing, and i readily accept that some some men and women may enjoy performing felatio. Irrespective of laws there is global acceptance that calling someone a c ock sucker is an insult.

    Or maybe today ill be told that thats wrong too
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    markwalker wrote:
    Look, I’m fed up with people telling me I’m racist or whatever and being all indignant just because I’ve made my views known. In summary I don’t encourage or accept applications from outside the EU for a role that can adequately and easily be filled from within. It just so happens that a requirement of the role is the ability to speak English beyond a basic level.

    This stance apparently appals those who see it as discriminating against people on the basis of colour or race though what fevered machinations have brought them to that conclusion I have no idea. So having decided that I must be all that is evil in race relations they feel free to call me RACIST or give me other unpleasant and inaccurate tags.

    Quite why there should be any surprise when I respond by saying Blow me indicates just how important some of you people think you are. An indication given more weight when I’m expected to accept your views and publicly renounce racism when i haven’t encouraged or condoned it. I think the Anti Racism screaming is as unpleasant as racism and easily as destructive and I won’t be swayed by either unpleasant group.

    I can't see how been anti-racist is a bad as been racist. It's like saying that fighting the NAZIs in WW2 is as bad as been a NAZI. At the end of the day, at least we a choosing a side and in my opinion it's the right side.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    do racists ride compact, or standard...?
  • My point is that i don’t consider race religion etc in my decision making and find the constant barrage of incorrect anti racist bile that’s pointed in my direction as offensive as I would find racist propaganda.

    Labelling and vilifying people with tags like racist is bad on any number of levels, even the race relations people believe things have changed and have started adopting a less confrontational and more cooperative approach, even going so far as to criticise as daft some of the more ridiculous liberal led laws. All this drum banging is ultimately counter productive its time people moved on.
  • softlad wrote:
    do racists ride compact, or standard...?

    I dont know but they insist on white bartape :)
  • markwalker wrote:
    softlad wrote:
    do racists ride compact, or standard...?

    I dont know but they insist on white bartape :)

    Why's that? Are you implying only white people can be racist? :wink:

    I think you'll find there are people all around the world that are seriously racist.
    Tail end Charlie

    The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Why would anyone want to be seriously racist - if they must be racist wouldn't it be more fun to be a jolly racist ?

    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • Why would anyone want to be seriously racist - if they must be racist wouldn't it be more fun to be a jolly racist ?

    the jolly racist sounds like an eastlondon pub :)
    No Dogs
    No Blacks
    no Irish
    No brown ale
  • racist-tshirt.jpg
  • markwalker wrote:
    Why would anyone want to be seriously racist - if they must be racist wouldn't it be more fun to be a jolly racist ?

    the jolly racist sounds like an eastlondon pub :)
    No Dogs
    No Blacks
    no Irish
    No brown ale

    :lol::lol::lol:

    Do they serve Indian Pale Ale or ginger beer?

    White lightening ? but any chance :!:
    Tail end Charlie

    The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
  • Garry H wrote:

    Nothing for you to worry about though, you're white...

    But i'm definalty not 'from round these parts, which i think makes me *new* here and therefore only entitled to the back of the line (or soemthing like that) :)
  • nope and its white rum only and dont even get me started on the ginger beers its a bar for real men.
  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    I suppose a Black Russian would be out of the question then? :lol:
  • Ands wrote:
    I suppose a Black Russian would be out of the question then? :lol:


    Absoloutley especially as he wouldnt be from the EU region tsssk silly question :)
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    markwalker wrote:
    My point is that i don’t consider race religion etc in my decision making and find the constant barrage of incorrect anti racist bile that’s pointed in my direction as offensive as I would find racist propaganda.

    Labelling and vilifying people with tags like racist is bad on any number of levels, even the race relations people believe things have changed and have started adopting a less confrontational and more cooperative approach, even going so far as to criticise as daft some of the more ridiculous liberal led laws. All this drum banging is ultimately counter productive its time people moved on.

    Constant barrage? Really? I work in a multi-racial place where many people are non-British in terms of nationality and I can honestly say it hardly ever comes up. We don't discriminate in any way and I haven't even had a heated discussion on this topic. It just isn't a major issue for anyone - we all just get on with our lives. It's not utopia, we just don't have time for this kind of thing!

    I do agree though that labelling somebody as a racist is often counter productive and unecessary; then again racial discrimination (rather than simply prejudice) is often illegal and quite rightly so, Whatever you think is your personal decision, but actually discrimating against someone is a different issue.

    Also, and I'm genuienly interested in this, which laws are ridiculous?
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Free speech on here as far as I am led to believe and have been told by members on a number of occasions.

    Accusing someone of being racist on here is potentially dangerous and limiting. People will revert to language that others may not be comfortable with, but look at it this way.

    If you feel so vehemently anti-racist then direct your anger at the BNP and their like, not arguing the toss on a cycle forum. It is wasted sentiment and the arguments on here (and debate) are very concentrated. It would not be like this were we all sitting in a bar having a conversation about it.

    Thing is having free speech means that if it is taken to the letter and within the law it can be a very bitter pill to swallow to those opposed in ideals, viewpoints and backgrounds.
    I do not care what colour, creed, religion, caste or whatever you may be.
    Calling someone racist on the forum is definitely on a slippery slope, heated discussion aside.
    The sad fact is we have people and have had in this country now, who take benefits, state handouts, healthcare and infrastructure who want to destroy the British way of life. We had to eat 5hit with the Paramilitaries in N.I., which still doesn't sit well with a lot of people and a lot of anger is now aimed at communities who are not UK born. On this basic premise of an understanding of English has to be an underlying point when considering employment.
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    dmclite wrote:
    The sad fact is we have people and have had in this country now, who take benefits, state handouts, healthcare and infrastructure who want to destroy the British way of life.

    While this is true...i would guess that the sentence above describes more 'indiginous white british' than it does folks from other backgrounds. However, I have no figures to back this guess up.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.