are we now allowed to ask questions of the riots then?

[R1Geezer]

I'm confused, I had several questions on the subject removed so I assumed the subject was taboo, imagine my surprise today when I see below.

[funnygirl]

Well since it is happening everywhere, it is hard to avoid the subject!!

[emmie]

perhaps ED thought there was too many?

[B00]

Ed's stickied one of my posts about it, and posted a thread of his own, so yes, i'd say we're allowed to ask questions about it.

[jackthehat]

We can ask questions but without the use of pejorative words or opinions......

[Gromit]

R1Geezer,

Your banned question was probably libelous. It was removed to protect the site. Why the rest were removed, including my own is still a mystery.

[Sqad]

What does "pejorative" mean?

[jackthehat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pejorative

[Sqad]

Ah! thanks. Have lived my life without using that word, don't know how, but i shall rectify this ...forthwith.

[emmie]

sqad don't use big words, you know it upsets some people.

[Sqad]

em 10....you mean the word "forthwith?" ;-)

[emmie]

noooo, you know, opinion, something that we must not have.

[modeller]

Like R1Geezer I am confused . What is a racist remark ?
If someone is telling the truth involving someones race is that being racist or is that the right of free speech ?
I heard a retailer, on Radio 4, in Hackney saying a crowd of blacks gutted my store .
He then added that black businesses in the same area were not touched .
Was he being a racist ? Or does it depend on the race of the person saying it ?

[jno]

perhaps the Hackney retailer was able to report his persona olbservation whereas ABers in front of the telly had to fall back on personal prejudice without direct evidence? It has been known to happen.

[modeller]

But jno if we see things happening on the TV isn't that evidence ? Or must we always be present on the scene before we can mention a person's race. ?
I know TV and the media are selective in what they report but does that make the report itself less valid. I've been watching our and the foreign news channels about our riots and I have my own opinions about who are the main culprits but should I express those views would I be accused of racism.

[jno]

it's very inadequate evidence. If the only TV you ever saw was Obama's inauguration, your 'evidence' would be that all US presidents are black. All you are seeing is, first, what cameras have been able to record; and second, what editors (or YouTube posters) have chosen to select. (And third, what you've been around to watch; who knows what you've missed?)

If you see one black face - clearly, not in the shadow of a hoodie - you can say so. But one poster on AB claimed 99% of rioters were black. Where did he get that remarkable statistic? He didn't say.

[bazwillrun]

ok then jno maybe this is more to your liking, all the areas are known to have large black populations, and the vast majority are also are wearing hoddies and the vast majority of the rioters look black

[jno]

if you say so, baz

http://i.dailymail.co...00578-763_964x617.jpg

[modeller]

bazwillrun You are not quite right on your first point I have checked up on the ethnic breakdown in several of the boroughs and the black population is only a 25% of the total but they seem to be the majority of the rioters as seen in all the photos . Witnesses and victims all make the same claims.
Now this could all be a nationwide conspiracy . W