Was this really meant to be offensive?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....n-in-wheelchairs.html

Oh dear, oh dear someone has once again dared to speak without first checking for unintended insensitivities.

Although Ms Currie isn't my favourite person by a long stretch of the imagination, I don't think she meant any harm when she said what she said.

/// One reply, from @mbisace described the comment as "singularly the most offensive thing I have seen on Twitter". ///

If that is so, I wonder how long it will be before the Police arrest Ms Currie?

[RATTER15]

Just a silly thing to say, Im sure it just came out wrong and nothing intended.

Im sure the PC crowd will want her head though!!

[Mosaic]

I think the point is AOG that since she occupies a position in the public eye, she ought to watch her gob. Otherwise 'not bad for a black/ gay/ jew / girlie' would still be commonly used, but more disturbingly, commonly thought.

[chelle7272]

No I don't think it was intended. A bit thoughtless though as she is in the public eye.

[Kiki-frog]

That's the downside of being in the public eye. There's always going to be someone who picks you up on the slightest thing

[daffy654]

It wasn't offensive, she just didn't think how the comment would come across.

She really didn't need to mention the wheelchairs though. It ended up being a very back-handed compliment.

[wolf63]

A little girl said to her mum "mum that fat lady (me) gave me this to give to you" the mother went into OTT apologising mode. Why? I am fat and the little girl wasn't being offensive.

I would hate to be in the public eye - open your mouth and someone will be offended.

There are a lot of eejits out there that need to be muzzled - and I don't mean Pudsey or Lassie.

[Bazile]

She should be made to do the 100m breast stroke in pool of raw eggs

[Kiki-frog]

And at the risk of being offensive, when I watched the athletes' parade last night, I also thought that some of the Italian guys were rather tasty. But I suppose Edwina's problem was her use of the word "even". It changes the meaning.

[Mosaic]

Think you've nailed it, Kiki.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Otherwise 'not bad for a black/ gay/ jew / girlie' would still be commonly used, but more disturbingly, commonly thought. ///

Yes but that would be 'Racist', 'Homophobic', anti-Semitic, or 'sexist'.

Is there a word for someone who says "not bad for a person in a wheel chair"?

[Ellipsis]

I see it as no worse than "gorgeous even in wellies", "gorgeous even in his overalls", etc. I'm sure John Major was "gorgeous even in his glasses and grey underpants".

[joko]

well it sounds like to me that she was just trying to pay a compliment... she meant - wheelchairs are ugly.
they are not attractive things and even their ugliness could not spoil the looks of the people in them.

in this instance i think some people have jumped the gun with being over sensitive.

[bazwillrun]

doesnt take much to get the PC brigade foaming at the mouth, in fact they are positively looking to be offended and start throwing their rattles from the pram.

They wont be satisfied until everybody thinks the way they want them to think

[sp1814]

AOG

It wasn't meant to be offensive, but it WAS insulting.

"He was really generous, even though he was a Jew".

"He was really clever, despite being Irish".

"She was an excellent manager, even though she was a woman".

Do you see how a compliment can actually be insulting, when put into that context?

[daisya]

I wonder if those she was referring to have made a complaint? It often transpires that anyone offended by anything rarely complain but's it's the PC police who do. No wonder things go on and on when left with nothing said it just fizzles out. Just my opinion in this PC world where everyone is afraid to open their mouths for fear of being considered wrong.

[marval]

A little unfortunate, but I don't think it was meant to be offensive.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

No sp your examples are being stereotypical, something that you have criticised others of doing in the past.

I noticed though that you used Jewish, Irish and women in your examples, but chose to leave out Blacks and Homosexuals, was there a reason for this?

[AB Editor]

I think offence is only there if it's looked for.

Full comment, according to the Telegraph:

The row began as the athletes paraded into the stadium during the opening ceremony, when Ms Currie tweeted: "Italians are gorgeous even in wheelchairs. Love 'em."

More a joke on well dressed Italians than anything?

[daisya]

I agree Ed - much ado about nothing (unless one is the PC police). Think Ellipisis hits the nail on the head and also Bazwillrun in their posts.

[bazwillrun]

"AOG

It wasn't meant to be offensive, but it WAS insulting.

"He was really generous, even though he was a Jew".

"He was really clever, despite being Irish".

"She was an excellent manager, even though she was a woman".

Do you see how a compliment can actually be insulting, when put into that context? "

does the word patronising mean anything to you ?