Jackpot Party - The Chat Sessions

[mimi26]

I was born while my my parents were living in one of the most notorious council estates in the East Midlands. My father and mother worked 12 hour shifts in terrible jobs, endlessly. When I was 9 or 10, they had raised enough for a deposit on a new private house in a nice area and we moved. My 2 brothers and I entered higher education, and all have successful careers. We know people from the council estates, who work hard and purchased their council house from the local council, in the 80's when there was a big push for people to purchase. These people work hard and take pride in their homes and communities.

Of course there are a percentage of the populace, that never work, spunk their dole check on gambling, booze or whatever vice makes their pointless existence tolerable. You will find this in every society that offers welfare protection. You are still indulging in the same activity though, spending hours and hours pressing 'spin' on what is essentially a device designed to take your money. I wouldn't feel overly superior.

Lumping in everyone into this ideal using 'from up north' or 'from council estates' makes you look ignorant. Your sweeping generalizations reveal you as the average Daily Mail reader that will swallow any old horseshit produced by the right wing press. Which section of society will you be blaming for everything next week?

Anyway the little band of Tea-Baggers and supposed 'libertarians' who post here will continue their ill informed rants regardless of what I post.

Very well said, it sickens me to the stomach the stereotypical attitudes that exist in this country today, thanks to all the vile propoganda that our media spews out.

 

[dunover]

We may not grasp them, but why are they not deemed "offensive" whereas "council estate up North" jokes are.

I believe "trailer trash" jokes are similar in nature to our "council house/ welfare scrounger" jokes. Both focus on the lowest rung of society, and use the stereotype that it is mostly their fault that they have ended up in that situation because they "can't be arsed to make the effort" to pull themselves out of it.

In truth, US "trailer parks" and UK "council estates" contain a mix of people, including the "can't be arsed" variety, but also those who have been doing well, but are unexpectedly brought down by external factors, such as illness, their firm going bust, even being the victim of crime where the financial loss is so great that they are forced down the social ladder.

Those who find this offensive would die of shock and rage if they attended a Bernard Manning gig, he is as un PC as it gets, and there are no taboo targets for his routines, especially the shows he does in private clubs.

The real problem here is the use of webcam. This shows people as they look, but shows nothing about who they are, their attitude to life, etc. It allows judgement to be made on looks alone, and once a negative judgement has been made on looks, it taints any judgement of what they may say in a chat room.

People do not "dress up" to sit in front of their PC, so you probably see players in the worst possible light via webcam.

I have tried a bingo room in the past, but it is so full of "lucky dust" that one is prone to choking. Chat is something to be avoided at all costs, a distraction to getting on and making WR on my bingo bonus. I quickly grew tired of the experience and stopped playing. I was well ahead after hitting a minor jackpot on one of their crappy slots, which also had the infuriating chat host, and even a few odd sprinklings of their lucky dust.

This makes me want to steer clear of Jackpot party unless I can routinely disable the chat and just get on with playing.

I would die of shock if they attended a Bernard Manning gig, as he's been dead 5 years.

PS, Bernard Manning DID have taboo subjects. He wouldn't poke fun at the jews, because his Grandfather died in Auschwitz; he got pissed one night and fell out of his machine-gun tower.

And before the PC and umbrage-takers pee their pants, Michael Winner, the famous Jewish film producer is on record, more than once, stating this was his favourite joke he ever heard......

 

[mimi26]

OK if I may say something. USA here. I was reading this thread and honestly I was shocked. I understand what you are calling British humor but if it is degrading and insulting what makes it funny? I'm trying not to bash here I'm trying to understand it. I mean as an outsider I read some really hurtful statements. I would hope these are not things said to someones face. Maybe it's just me not understanding, but if it can make someone feel less then what they are it's wrong to me. Like I said I'm just trying to see the funny part. What am I missing?

Well I am British and I dont think its funny (ahem humour) at all, to judge someone by the way they look or where they come from.

 

[dunover]

Very well said, it sickens me to the stomach the stereotypical attitudes that exist in this country today, thanks to all the vile propoganda that our media spews out.

Bad assumption. I based my observations on real life and experiences. Not media propaganda. I don't read papers, for that very reason.

 

[mimi26]

Bad assumption. I based my observations on real life and experiences. Not media propaganda. I don't read papers, for that very reason.

ah assumptions......isnt that what you are doing making assumptions, I mean how on earth could you possibly know how badly educated these people are by the way they look and where they live

 

[dunover]

ah assumptions......isnt that what you are doing making assumptions, I mean how on earth could you possibly know how badly educated these people are by the way they look and where they live

Nope. You made an assumption which is borderline arrogance; that those who disagree with you are in the thrall of evil media influence, and cannot form their own views. I made an observation, generalized.

 

[vinylweatherman]

I would die of shock if they attended a Bernard Manning gig, as he's been dead 5 years.

PS, Bernard Manning DID have taboo subjects. He wouldn't poke fun at the jews, because his Grandfather died in Auschwitz; he got pissed one night and fell out of his machine-gun tower.

And before the PC and umbrage-takers pee their pants, Michael Winner, the famous Jewish film producer is on record, more than once, stating this was his favourite joke he ever heard......

Can't say I noticed, he was crap, and rarely on the telly (except the news after a particularly offensive gig).

What many fail to appreciate is that the downtrodden minorities have their own non-PC jokes about the majority they feel oppresses them, it's just that you don't hear them because the majority don't usually let the minorities have the same level of access to the mass media. Some jokes are also not what they seem to the PC brigade. A joke may involve an ethnic minority, yet the butt of the joke is the ignorant oppressor, rather than the ethnic minority. Such jokes all get bundled together as "offensive to minorities", but it creates a situation where the majority can freely make jokes about themselves, but minorities can't be seen as the "winner" against an "oppressor" in a humorous tale.

In some cases, it is the majority that has deemed that a minority ought to be offended by something, and so it gets banned. This has had minorities up in arms because THEY, not the PC brigade, get the blame for PC inspired decisions such as the banning of Christmas in all aspects of public life, something that was actually the spawn of an out of control PC committee in some left wing council that deemed anything to do with Christmas would be offensive to non Christians. Of course, such PC inspired cock-ups do not remain a local issue for long as the tabloid media make a massive deal out of it, which then has the majority up in arms over "special treatment" being given to a minority group, rather than it being the same set of laws and rules for all.

 

[dunover]

Can't say I noticed, he was crap, and rarely on the telly (except the news after a particularly offensive gig).

What many fail to appreciate is that the downtrodden minorities have their own non-PC jokes about the majority they feel oppresses them, it's just that you don't hear them because the majority don't usually let the minorities have the same level of access to the mass media. Some jokes are also not what they seem to the PC brigade. A joke may involve an ethnic minority, yet the butt of the joke is the ignorant oppressor, rather than the ethnic minority. Such jokes all get bundled together as "offensive to minorities", but it creates a situation where the majority can freely make jokes about themselves, but minorities can't be seen as the "winner" against an "oppressor" in a humorous tale.

In some cases, it is the majority that has deemed that a minority ought to be offended by something, and so it gets banned. This has had minorities up in arms because THEY, not the PC brigade, get the blame for PC inspired decisions such as the banning of Christmas in all aspects of public life, something that was actually the spawn of an out of control PC committee in some left wing council that deemed anything to do with Christmas would be offensive to non Christians. Of course, such PC inspired cock-ups do not remain a local issue for long as the tabloid media make a massive deal out of it, which then has the majority up in arms over "special treatment" being given to a minority group, rather than it being the same set of laws and rules for all.

I think this thread proves the tendrils of self-flagellating umbrage-takers and PC drones extend far beyond out-of-control lefty councils......

Now where's my can of Round-up.......

 

[Nifty29]

I think this thread proves the tendrils of self-flagellating umbrage-takers and PC drones extend far beyond out-of-control lefty councils......

Now where's my can of Round-up.......

More bigotry. How refreshing.

 

[cpdnd31]

OK all I can say is I treat others as I would like to be treated. I speak in a way that I would like others to understand me. If I lend a hand to a fellow friend I never ask for the favor to be returned just passed on. My belief is and always will be we make the world what it is, so lets try to make it better, This is our forum we make it what it is. I love being in USA and meeting someone from somewhere else and learning from them and them learning from me. I will not bash your humor but like I said before its just hard for me to understand, I guess its a gotta be there kinds joke?

I also think its harder for me to understand because I was never the kind of person to make a "trailer park trash joke" just not my style. But Thank you for trying to explain it to me.

Now God save the Queen--- did I say that right LOL

 

[dunover]

OK all I can say is I treat others as I would like to be treated. I speak in a way that I would like others to understand me. If I lend a hand to a fellow friend I never ask for the favor to be returned just passed on. My belief is and always will be we make the world what it is, so lets try to make it better, This is our forum we make it what it is. I love being in USA and meeting someone from somewhere else and learning from them and them learning from me. I will not bash your humor but like I said before its just hard for me to understand, I guess its a gotta be there kinds joke?

I also think its harder for me to understand because I was never the kind of person to make a "trailer park trash joke" just not my style. But Thank you for trying to explain it to me.

Now God save the Queen--- did I say that right LOL

You did indeed! I hope my explanation made it a little clearer. One thing I like about the USA is the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution. I remember 25 years or so ago studying US politics as part of my 'A' Level politics course. In those less restricted times, we students at 17 years old were all calling 'why the hell do you need it written down - us Brits take it for granted under our unwritten constitution that our leaders serve to preserve' (paraphrasing the general consensus of opinion here.)

Now, after 15 years of wet PC poliiticos and their treason and betrayal, I know why your Founding Fathers wrote it down in stone. In fact you should have sent them back to Britain to help us. You see, HERE you can be summarily arrested, have your house searched, you computer seized, be dismissed from your job and have children taken from you and put in care if somebody makes allegations against you of the 'wrong' type of statements or opinons being expressed. (ALL these examples have happened more than once; if you want I can point you to the articles and stories.)

Americans I speak to are unbelieving and horrified that this happens in the UK, often seen as a paragon of freedom and democracy. They tell me they can say what they like; if someone finds it offensive and smacks their face, that's another thing, but they CANNOT be arrested or prosecuted for actually saying it.

Now this culture of Stasi-like informing, contrived umbrage and outrage of anything outside of what we are 'supposed' to say has become endemic in the UK, like a disease eating away at the unity and very bones of society. It permeates the press, TV, workplace and education system. Everywhere. Now if we are talking genuine offence, THAT is what I find offensive. Limey, Pom, Imperialist, Honkey whatever just don't cut the mustard; water off a duck's back. But then I wasn't brought up in such 'enlightened' times........

 

[vinylweatherman]

You did indeed! I hope my explanation made it a little clearer. One thing I like about the USA is the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution. I remember 25 years or so ago studying US politics as part of my 'A' Level politics course. In those less restricted times, we students at 17 years old were all calling 'why the hell do you need it written down - us Brits take it for granted under our unwritten constitution that our leaders serve to preserve' (paraphrasing the general consensus of opinion here.)

Now, after 15 years of wet PC poliiticos and their treason and betrayal, I know why your Founding Fathers wrote it down in stone. In fact you should have sent them back to Britain to help us. You see, HERE you can be summarily arrested, have your house searched, you computer seized, be dismissed from your job and have children taken from you and put in care if somebody makes allegations against you of the 'wrong' type of statements or opinons being expressed. (ALL these examples have happened more than once; if you want I can point you to the articles and stories.)

Americans I speak to are unbelieving and horrified that this happens in the UK, often seen as a paragon of freedom and democracy. They tell me they can say what they like; if someone finds it offensive and smacks their face, that's another thing, but they CANNOT be arrested or prosecuted for actually saying it.

Now this culture of Stasi-like informing, contrived umbrage and outrage of anything outside of what we are 'supposed' to say has become endemic in the UK, like a disease eating away at the unity and very bones of society. It permeates the press, TV, workplace and education system. Everywhere. Now if we are talking genuine offence, THAT is what I find offensive. Limey, Pom, Imperialist, Honkey whatever just don't cut the mustard; water off a duck's back. But then I wasn't brought up in such 'enlightened' times........

That's a bit rich given that a UK teenager sent a rude and abusive letter to Mr Obama, and he set the FBI on him and had the UK police arrest him and "lean on him" just to teach him a lesson; but surely, a letter, no matter how rude, wrong, etc, is just another form of free speech. It seems things are not quite as free as you think in the US, and saying the wrong thing about the president CAN have the FBI on your case.

The teenager ended up being banned for life from ever entering the US, but other than that, nothing more happened, he was leant on, and then the FBI and Police left him alone.

It seemed quite draconian, since the offence didn't even take place on US soil, so should have been dealt with purely by the UK authorities without the involvement of the FBI.

The actual letter was never published, the content merely described in broad terms as "rude" and "insulting". Maybe his parentage and birthplace was questioned more robustly than managed by the Tea Party, and he lost his temper and called in the FBI.

If there is really free speech in the US, then any opinion, no matter how foul and distasteful, can be freely expressed in public without interference or fear of arrest. I find this very hard to believe.

 

[dunover]

That's a bit rich given that a UK teenager sent a rude and abusive letter to Mr Obama, and he set the FBI on him and had the UK police arrest him and "lean on him" just to teach him a lesson; but surely, a letter, no matter how rude, wrong, etc, is just another form of free speech. It seems things are not quite as free as you think in the US, and saying the wrong thing about the president CAN have the FBI on your case.

The teenager ended up being banned for life from ever entering the US, but other than that, nothing more happened, he was leant on, and then the FBI and Police left him alone.

It seemed quite draconian, since the offence didn't even take place on US soil, so should have been dealt with purely by the UK authorities without the involvement of the FBI.

The actual letter was never published, the content merely described in broad terms as "rude" and "insulting". Maybe his parentage and birthplace was questioned more robustly than managed by the Tea Party, and he lost his temper and called in the FBI.

If there is really free speech in the US, then any opinion, no matter how foul and distasteful, can be freely expressed in public without interference or fear of arrest. I find this very hard to believe.

Yes, that proves my point surely? The US is well aware of draconian 'complaint' based powers of arrest we endure here in the UK, and know full well the consequences of 'officially' reporting the matter to our authorities. Which they did, and it achieved its objective. Secondly, we don't know exactly what the kid wrote, because if it was threatening that becomes a different matter. If it wasn't, and the kid was in the US, this action wouldn't have been taken. The protests would have caused too much controversy and made Obama look even weaker than he is.
Whether Klansman or Black Panther, you can stand in a public place and express your views and opinions, and the Police have no powers of arrest, even if bystanders complain they don't like what's being said. Obviously if you're inciting people to commit crime or threatening them, that's different. But the things you can get arrested for here would be considered banal there, and laughable.
Quoting your Mr. Manning example; he would be arrested here now for his jokes and act. In the US, he wouldn't, and couldn't be. That's the difference.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

Quoting your Mr. Manning example; he would be arrested here now for his jokes and act. In the US, he wouldn't, and couldn't be. That's the difference.

Oh I dunno, considering what Frankie Boyle gets away with I don't think so.

The UK isn't quite as bad as you're making it out to be in all honesty.

Some of Billy Connolly's recent material has been pretty extreme too, even delving into the 'no-no' areas of religion, including Islam.

And lest we forget that The Satanic Verses were published here.

 

[dunover]

Oh I dunno, considering what Frankie Boyle gets away with I don't think so.

The UK isn't quite as bad as you're making it out to be in all honesty.

Some of Billy Connolly's recent material has been pretty extreme too, even delving into the 'no-no' areas of religion, including Islam.

And lest we forget that The Satanic Verses were published here.

Yes, but the two you mention are Boyle and Connolly, establishment favourites, with socialist views and plenty of BBC airtime. Manning certainly wasn't, and he became a constant target of the Islington trendies and right-on politicians and social commentators.

As for the Satanic Verses, if you remember that was back in the 1980's, before 'cultural enlightenment' of ZaNu Labour.

Times they are a changin'

 

[vinylweatherman]

Yes, that proves my point surely? The US is well aware of draconian 'complaint' based powers of arrest we endure here in the UK, and know full well the consequences of 'officially' reporting the matter to our authorities. Which they did, and it achieved its objective. Secondly, we don't know exactly what the kid wrote, because if it was threatening that becomes a different matter. If it wasn't, and the kid was in the US, this action wouldn't have been taken. The protests would have caused too much controversy and made Obama look even weaker than he is.
Whether Klansman or Black Panther, you can stand in a public place and express your views and opinions, and the Police have no powers of arrest, even if bystanders complain they don't like what's being said. Obviously if you're inciting people to commit crime or threatening them, that's different. But the things you can get arrested for here would be considered banal there, and laughable.
Quoting your Mr. Manning example; he would be arrested here now for his jokes and act. In the US, he wouldn't, and couldn't be. That's the difference.

Not when he saves his best (worst?) material for his gig at the private police social club.

It has come to light during a more general fuss over racism in the force that he presented a session at a private police club gathering, and some sly bugger snuck in with a recording device He used some very racist material, stuff that could never be used in any theatre, let alone on the telly, and far from being arrested, the coppers present were laughing at it.

This was clearly never meant to see the light of day, certainly not officially recorded, but because someone DID make a recording, the matter came to light, and just at the worst possible time for the police in general thanks to clever timing of it's release by the media. Clearly old material given that Manning has been dead for 5 years, but with a well timed release, the damage is done.

 

[dunover]

Not when he saves his best (worst?) material for his gig at the private police social club.

It has come to light during a more general fuss over racism in the force that he presented a session at a private police club gathering, and some sly bugger snuck in with a recording device He used some very racist material, stuff that could never be used in any theatre, let alone on the telly, and far from being arrested, the coppers present were laughing at it.

This was clearly never meant to see the light of day, certainly not officially recorded, but because someone DID make a recording, the matter came to light, and just at the worst possible time for the police in general thanks to clever timing of it's release by the media. Clearly old material given that Manning has been dead for 5 years, but with a well timed release, the damage is done.

I'll reply to that one with an excerpt from your post yesterday.

"..... Some jokes are also not what they seem to the PC brigade. A joke may involve an ethnic minority, yet the butt of the joke is the ignorant oppressor, rather than the ethnic minority. Such jokes all get bundled together as "offensive to minorities", but it creates a situation where the majority can freely make jokes about themselves......"

I heard the recording on a documentary by the BBC when they sent (just before he died) a black journalist to one of his gigs. The recording in question did exactly what you said - the jokes were actually mainly about Police racism.
The journo interviewed Manning after, and pointed out parts of his material that he found, or might be deemed 'offensive'. Manning was unapologetic. He told the journo "they (the audience) paid to see me, they all knew what they were getting and they all went home laughing. So did you but you aren't laughing. They'll come back again, you won't. That's all there is to it. Your choice and that's their choice. What right do YOU have to stop them?"

I never saw a journo so stuck for words.