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Police investigate 'racist' Cool Runnings carnival float

  • 30-08-2017 4:34pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 558 ✭✭✭


    Four carnival revellers who "blacked up" to look like a Jamaican bobsleigh team are being investigated by police for racism.

    The four men covered themselves in black bodypaint and Lycra bodysuits to dress up as characters from hit comedy Cool Runnings.
    But Dinah Mulholland - who stood for Labour at this year's General Election - said their fancy dress choice was "unacceptable".
    She said: "Utterly horrified to see this from Aberaeron Carnival today. How could this have been considered acceptable, or even legal, by the Carnival organisers?
    Police confirmed they had received a racism complaint and are investigating.

    A spokeswoman said: "Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of a perceived hate incident which occurred at Aberaeron carnival on Monday, August 28.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/30/police-investigate-racist-coolrunnings-carnival-float/


    Hatred: noun
    1.
    the feeling of one who hates; intense dislike or extreme aversion or hostility.

    Now, was this really hateful?
    It may surprise you to know that under UK law, there doesn't have to be an explicit racism or hateful act committed. It is entirely up to the 'victim' to perceive something as racist or hateful.
    Yesterday it was Gone With The Wind.
    Today it's Cool Runnings.
    Tomorrow it'll be something else.

    The multi million pound 'offence' industry claims another few scalps.
    What kind of sad bastard complains about comedy characters?
    Tagged:


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Now, was this really hateful?
    It's immensely derogatory and harks back to the day when black actors wouldn't be employed, so white actors 'blacked up'.
    The multi million pound 'offence' industry claims another few scalps.
    I prefer to think of it as the 'stop being sh!t to people' industry.

    It's interesting that you complain about people being offended, yet seem to be offended yourself.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 558 ✭✭✭Biggest lickspittle on boardz


    Victor wrote: »
    It's immensely derogatory and harks back to the day when black actors wouldn't be employed, so white actors 'blacked up'.

    I prefer to think of it as the 'stop being sh!t to people' industry.

    It's interesting that you complain about people being offended, yet seem to be offended yourself.

    You are referring to minstrel shows, where white actors lampooned black people as being stupid. THAT was definitely derogatory. Dressing up as a character from a comedy movie is lighthearted fun. Oh wait, is Robert Downey Junior derogatory too?

    rdj-tropic-thunder.jpg

    I'm not offended by anything, just puzzled by these bizarre reactions. You seem to be a bit confused.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,452 ✭✭✭✭The_Valeyard


    Dressing up as minstrels and the black cotton workers would be racist. This is just lads dressing up as a famous bobsleigh team, it's not putting them down or derogatory.

    If this is racist then black people cant white up for costumes or is it only one way?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,421 ✭✭✭major bill


    I googled Dinah Mulholland and she strikes me as a woman that hasn't got a slap of the mickey in years. Offended because she feels it is her duty to be offended.

    Feck off


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    Cracker ass crackers


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,690 ✭✭✭✭Skylinehead


    Another wonderful thread I see


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,166 ✭✭✭Are Am Eye




  • Site Banned Posts: 1,489 ✭✭✭Ralf and Florian


    Victor wrote: »
    It's immensely derogatory and harks back to the day when black actors wouldn't be employed, so white actors 'blacked up'.

    I prefer to think of it as the 'stop being sh!t to people' industry.

    It's interesting that you complain about people being offended, yet seem to be offended yourself.


    They're not actors FFS. And who were they being sh!t to? Are you sure that any black people even saw it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    Was the attention seeking twat really "horrified" at what she saw?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,165 ✭✭✭Captain Obvious


    What a load of nonsense. I see Ed Skrein has withdrawn from a role in the new Hell Boy after a massive backlash when he was cast as an originally asian character, despite the fact an Irish red head is being played by a black actor. In yet another "victory" for anti racists, an annual screening of Gone With the Wind has been stopped as it has been deemed "insensitive". Racism finally on the rocks it seems.


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  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    That Mulholland yoke seems like a thoroughly obnoxious fúcker. A creep and an abject bully always looking for some right-on high horse to get on and go full retard with the emotions by accusing some decent person of something unsavoury. Ugh.

    Too many of these people in politics.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭Senna


    Victor wrote: »

    I prefer to think of it as the 'stop being sh!t to people' industry.
    .

    Yeah and Islamic extremists are concerned about the earth's overpopulation and have found a way to solve it.

    This outrage crowd seek attention, they could fight for minority family's being put out of homes all over the UK. But no, 4 guys in a parade without a racist thought in the head are the easy targets.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,587 ✭✭✭DesperateDan


    There has to be a line somewhere. Obviously I'm sure they are not being intentionally derogatory, but their ignorance gives others an excuse to be. 50 years ago we all collectively worked out that dressing up as a black man should probably be stopped by everyone because the vast majority of people were doing it at racist shows for laughs.

    Now that a bit of time has passed we are deeming it okay? It's simply idiotic and unfunny.

    If I decide to black myself up, sure why don't I use shoe polish instead of brown paint, slap on some lipstick and sing a jaunty song about eating water melon and being a cotton picking n***** in rags with a Jamaican accent. Most would agree that's racist but how do you define which of those components qualify as derogatory?

    The answer is you ban it all because you are a tw*t for trivializing any of it in the first place.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,644 ✭✭✭cml387




  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,741 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    There has to be a line somewhere. Obviously I'm sure they are not being intentionally derogatory, but their ignorance gives others an excuse to be. 50 years ago we all collectively worked out that dressing up as a black man should probably be stopped by everyone because the vast majority of people were doing it at racist shows for laughs.

    Now that a bit of time has passed we are deeming it okay? It's simply idiotic and unfunny.

    If I decide to black myself up, sure why don't I use shoe polish instead of brown paint, slap on some lipstick and sing a jaunty song about eating water melon and being a cotton picking n***** in rags with a Jamaican accent. Most would agree that's racist but how do you define which of those components qualify as derogatory?

    The answer is you ban it all because you are a tw*t for trivializing any of it in the first place.

    If an Englishman dresses up as Conor McGregor, is that racist? Like, he puts on the accent and everything.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,165 ✭✭✭Captain Obvious


    If an Englishman dresses up as Conor McGregor, is that racist? Like, he puts on the accent and everything.

    St Patrick's Day should really be name cultural appropriation and racist day too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,117 ✭✭✭✭Junkyard Tom




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,570 ✭✭✭Ulysses Gaze


    major bill wrote: »
    I googled Dinah Mulholland and she strikes me as a woman that hasn't got a slap of the mickey in years. Offended because she feels it is her duty to be offended.

    Feck off

    A Labour MP as well.

    Wish she was as vocal about the rampant Anti-Semitism in her party. And particularly Naz Shah and her actions.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    It may surprise you to know that under UK law, there doesn't have to be an explicit racism or hateful act committed. It is entirely up to the 'victim' to perceive something as racist or hateful.

    But...does there not have to be a crime?

    I thought that the perception issue arose where there was a crime committed, such as an assault or hate speech...and only after that is there a consideration of whether it was aggravated by a racial element.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,221 ✭✭✭✭m5ex9oqjawdg2i


    What a fcuking total waste of resources. There's nothing to investigate here. Blackface is not racist, but there are plenty of people who are just looking for any excuse to be offended and outraged.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,129 ✭✭✭Arsemageddon


    Cool Runnings was a shyte film. The fact that anyone could think it would be great crack to dress up as the characters from it would tend to indicate that they are morons.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,984 ✭✭✭Venom


    But...does there not have to be a crime?

    I thought that the perception issue arose where there was a crime committed, such as an assault or hate speech...and only after that is there a consideration of whether it was aggravated by a racial element.

    It leading the UK to a very scary place, when it's up to the "victim" and how they perceive something as being a hate crime or not and not the law itself.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 558 ✭✭✭Biggest lickspittle on boardz


    There has to be a line somewhere. Obviously I'm sure they are not being intentionally derogatory, but their ignorance gives others an excuse to be. 50 years ago we all collectively worked out that dressing up as a black man should probably be stopped by everyone because the vast majority of people were doing it at racist shows for laughs.
    When did we collectively decide to stop dressing up as black people? Was there a UN committee meeting? How many votes were passed? I don't recall that one. Did you ask black people first, or did you decide what was best for all brown people on their behalf? Because there's a word for people who do things like that.
    Now that a bit of time has passed we are deeming it okay? It's simply idiotic and unfunny. If I decide to black myself up, sure why don't I use shoe polish instead of brown paint, slap on some lipstick and sing a jaunty song about eating water melon and being a cotton picking n***** in rags with a Jamaican accent. Most would agree that's racist but how do you define which of those components qualify as derogatory?
    Nice strawman. Nobody is deeming minstrel shows okay, as you very well know.
    But...does there not have to be a crime?

    I thought that the perception issue arose where there was a crime committed, such as an assault or hate speech...and only after that is there a consideration of whether it was aggravated by a racial element.

    Incredibly, the law allows for 'perceived' crime. So there may be a perceived incident. For example, you are looking at someone across the way on the train. If they perceive this to be based on their personal identity, then you are in a world of trouble.
    This is directly from the Crown Prosecution Services guidelines:
    6.2 A Hate Incident is defined as:
    “Any incident, which may or may not constitute a criminal
    offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other
    person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.”

    6.3 A Hate Crime is defined as:
    “Any incident, which constitutes a criminal offence,
    perceived by the victim or any other person, as being
    motivated by prejudice or hate.”

    http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/htc_policy.pdf

    Don't forget the ludicrous decision by Nottingham Police to label wolf whistling as a hate crime. As in, up there with the Holocaust, lynchings, and ethnic cleansing:

    http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/this-political-correctness-gone-mad-11615155

    And then there was the guy who was charged with hate crimes for teaching his dog to do a Nazi salute. Stupid? Yes. Amusing? Mildly. Hate crime? It's a dog, for fcuk sake: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/09/nazi-salute-dog-man-faces-hate-crime-charge-scotland


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,734 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    But...does there not have to be a crime?

    I thought that the perception issue arose where there was a crime committed, such as an assault or hate speech...and only after that is there a consideration of whether it was aggravated by a racial element.

    You are correct, the OP is not.

    Somebody, such as the victim, might believe that a particular crime is motivated by hostility or prejudice, and they are free to report it to the police as such.

    But it must still be proven to the satisfaction of the court that the crime itself was motivated by hostility or prejudice. The perception of the victim alone, is not enough.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Incredibly, the law allows for 'perceived' crime. So there may be a perceived incident.

    I didn't think of it like that, that the incident may be perceived only.

    I understand that the incident, the assault, the speech, the act etc. has to be established anyway. It cannot simply be perceived. It is aggravated if there is a hate element, and that may be linked to the perception of the victim or target of the crime.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,984 ✭✭✭Venom


    osarusan wrote: »
    You are correct, the OP is not.

    Somebody, such as the victim, might believe that a particular crime is motivated by hostility or prejudice, and they are free to report it to the police as such.

    But it must still be proven to the satisfaction of the court that the crime itself was motivated by hostility or prejudice. The perception of the victim alone, is not enough.
    I didn't think of it like that, that the incident may be perceived only.

    I understand that the incident, the assault, the speech, the act etc. has to be established anyway. It cannot simply be perceived. It is aggravated if there is a hate element, and that may be linked to the perception of the victim or target of the crime.

    It's all well and good saying its up to the satisfaction of the courts but that won't stop people's good name getting dragged through the mud by the media, all because of the perception of some looking to be offended type.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,734 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    Venom wrote: »
    It's all well and good saying its up to the satisfaction of the courts but that won't stop people's good name getting dragged through the mud by the media, all because of the perception of some looking to be offended type.
    You are correct - people's good names can get baselessly dragged through the mud.

    I am just pointing out that the level of proof needed for conviction of a hate crime is more than just the perception of the victim.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Venom wrote: »
    It's all well and good saying its up to the satisfaction of the courts but that won't stop people's good name getting dragged through the mud by the media, all because of the perception of some looking to be offended type.

    Have there been many prosecutions for "blacking up"?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 558 ✭✭✭Biggest lickspittle on boardz


    osarusan wrote: »
    You are correct, the OP is not.

    Somebody, such as the victim, might believe that a particular crime is motivated by hostility or prejudice, and they are free to report it to the police as such.

    But it must still be proven to the satisfaction of the court that the crime itself was motivated by hostility or prejudice. The perception of the victim alone, is not enough.

    Just to clarify, the mere suggestion of a perceived hate crime is enough for someone to be charged. But the case is then brought before the courts where it is decided by the judiciary. I wasn't trying to suggest that a perceived hate crime is enough to have someone convicted there and then.


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  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Just to clarify, the mere suggestion of a perceived hate crime is enough for someone to be charged. But the case is then brought before the courts where it is decided by the judiciary. I wasn't trying to suggest that a perceived hate crime is enough to have someone convicted there and then.

    I presume the same standards exist as for the prosecution of any crime.

    As in, the police have to be sure there's a prima facie case, and a prospect of a successful outcome.

    Again, my understanding is that the hate element is tacked on if that exists and the victim also complains of a hate element. In that case, the police treat it as a hate crime and the prosecution will look for an increased penalty...but there is no lowering of the standard of evidence to establish the crime.

    It's a bit like using victim impact statements to assist in sentencing. It's the court listening to the perception of the victim.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 386 ✭✭Spider Web


    There has to be a line somewhere. Obviously I'm sure they are not being intentionally derogatory, but their ignorance gives others an excuse to be. 50 years ago we all collectively worked out that dressing up as a black man should probably be stopped by everyone because the vast majority of people were doing it at racist shows for laughs.

    Now that a bit of time has passed we are deeming it okay? It's simply idiotic and unfunny.

    If I decide to black myself up, sure why don't I use shoe polish instead of brown paint, slap on some lipstick and sing a jaunty song about eating water melon and being a cotton picking n***** in rags with a Jamaican accent. Most would agree that's racist but how do you define which of those components qualify as derogatory?

    The answer is you ban it all because you are a tw*t for trivializing any of it in the first place.
    Obviously it's not being deemed okay, given this news. Not that this incident relates to a similar attitude to the Jim Crow days.

    The key elements are intent and context. In the extreme example you gave, there is clearly intent to offend. In this case, it is a few guys emulating physical traits for fancy dress, the way any fancy dress costume would be put together. It's surely easy to see the difference.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,734 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    Just to clarify, the mere suggestion of a perceived hate crime is enough for someone to be charged.
    Again, I don't think is correct at all. There is no automatic filing of criminal charges/obligation to file criminal charges solely on the perception of the alleged victim.

    The prosecution have to make a decision whether to file criminal charges or not, and what particular charges to file, based on the evidence before them, not just the word/perception of the alleged victim.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,736 ✭✭✭Irish Guitarist


    The crowd look really offended. Especially the large portion of black people there.

    TELEMMGLPICT000138770764_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RWtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpeg?imwidth=1240


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,548 Mod ✭✭✭✭Amirani


    Joe Rogan had a black guest on his show recently, think it was Jamie Foxx. The guest talked about doing this sort of thing and said he saw no issue with it at all and thought controversy around it was ridiculous.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,570 ✭✭✭Ulysses Gaze


    Amirani wrote: »
    Joe Rogan had a black guest on his show recently, think it was Jamie Foxx. The guest talked about doing this sort of thing and said he saw no issue with it at all and thought controversy around it was ridiculous.

    Morgan Freeman said it best when asked "How Do We stop Racism?".

    Morgan replied "Stop talking about it."


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,902 ✭✭✭RayCon


    If only people would just **** off.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,813 ✭✭✭Noveight


    And then there was the guy who was charged with hate crimes for teaching his dog to do a Nazi salute. Stupid? Yes. Amusing? Mildly. Hate crime? It's a dog, for fcuk sake: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/09/nazi-salute-dog-man-faces-hate-crime-charge-scotland

    God that's funny :D


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,309 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    The crowd look really offended. Especially the large portion of black people there.

    TELEMMGLPICT000138770764_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RWtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpeg?imwidth=1240
    That's outrageous......where the hell is John Candy's character?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,561 ✭✭✭✭Varik


    Amirani wrote: »
    Joe Rogan had a black guest on his show recently, think it was Jamie Foxx. The guest talked about doing this sort of thing and said he saw no issue with it at all and thought controversy around it was ridiculous.


    Mentioned on there Bunch of actors swapping race for his new film all star weekend.

    Think rdj is Mexican rancher in it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    The crowd look really offended. Especially the large portion of black people there.

    TELEMMGLPICT000138770764_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RWtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpeg?imwidth=1240

    The lads look the part. The bobsled is a bit ropey looking though, no wonder they came last.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,969 ✭✭✭Assetbacked


    The crowd look really offended. Especially the large portion of black people there.

    TELEMMGLPICT000138770764_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RWtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpeg?imwidth=1240

    Why do black people need to be offended when there are pathetic white folk to get offended on their behalf?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,750 ✭✭✭iDave


    Wonder if the film White Chicks is considered offensive?


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    iDave wrote: »
    Wonder if the film White Chicks is considered offensive?

    Yes. It offends my intelligence.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,672 ✭✭✭elefant


    Cool Runnings was a shyte film. The fact that anyone could think it would be great crack to dress up as the characters from it would tend to indicate that they are morons.

    This post is the most offensive thing about this thread.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,942 ✭✭✭topper75


    Is it really true that Jamaicans tend to have darker skin than Welsh people?

    What should I believe here PC people? Help me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭Pedro K


    Cool Runnings was a shyte film. The fact that anyone could think it would be great crack to dress up as the characters from it would tend to indicate that they are morons.

    This is the real hate crime!


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,741 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    topper75 wrote: »
    Is it really true that Jamaicans tend to have darker skin than Welsh people?

    What should I believe here PC people? Help me.

    It's not usual.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,034 ✭✭✭Ficheall


    mzungu wrote: »
    That's outrageous......where the hell is John Candy's character?
    If you look behind the bobsled float, you can see the right-hand side of his face.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,029 ✭✭✭um7y1h83ge06nx


    Comedy is going to get so crap with the way things are going. I couldn't imagine the likes of Father Ted being green lit these days for instance, would probably be deemed offensive against priests, Irish people, British, Chinese etc. Etc.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    Why didn't they just use black people? Problem solved. It does seem a bit stupid to black up nowadays.


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