Military Police Launch Probe After Private Whatsapp Message Is Exposed.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3732904/Racism-storm-Prince-Harry-s-former-regiment-soldier-caught-using-N-word-shocking-WhatsApp-messages.html

But what this as got to do with Prince Harry is anyone's guess?

[TheChair]

Nothing. But it makes for an attention-grabbing headline.

[andy-hughes]

Absolutely - any royalist readers will see PH's name and read the story, which they might have otherwise passed over.

[sp1814]

AOG

It's simply an attention grabbing headline.

Nothing to do with Harry at all.

[Togo]

//Absolutely - any royalist readers will see PH's name and read the story, which they might have otherwise passed over. //

Wrong end of the telescope view? More like.... any anti-royalist readers will see PH's name and read the story, which they might otherwise have passed over.

[anotheoldgit]

All have addressed the attention seeking headline, since the Mail chose to include the Prince in the text, but wouldn't it still had been attention seeking to some, if any reference to him had been removed?

"Racism storm as soldier is caught using N-word in shocking WhatsApp messages"

/// Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer, an ex-Army captain, described the incident as 'astonishing'. ///

Would that be because a private phone exchange between a group of soldiers, reaches the press?

/// A black former-Army friend of one of the men in the background said his friend was furious but felt powerless to do anything about the racist remarks. ///

I can understand his feelings but these racist comments were not made directly at the individual.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - //Would that be because a private phone exchange between a group of soldiers, reaches the press? //

No - that would be because he is ashamed to think that British soldiers can harbour such offensive and disgusting attitudes towards people of colour.

The fact that these attitudes were revealed in private does not mitigate or excuse them - such an appalling way of thinking should not be tolerated in the minds of any citizens, and that includes members of HM's forces.

[sp1814]

Especially seeing as these 'n*****s' have joined the army to serve their country and should expect a degree of professional respect from their colleagues.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// Especially seeing as these 'n*****s' have joined the army to serve their country and should expect a degree of professional respect from their colleagues. ///

Doesn't seem they class themselves as colleagues, seeing that they have chosen to separate themselves from their white counterparts.

[RandyMarsh]

It is odd that the n***** have not sat with the people that call them n***** AOG.

[Mamyalynne]

No it wasn't necessary to use Harry's name prominently in the headline or text, we know it was his former regiment.

As to the obnoxious message, I do wish people would engage a brain cell or two before pressing keys or buttons.

[andy-hughes]

Mamya - //No it wasn't necessary to use Harry's name prominently in the headline or text, we know it was his former regiment. //

I must confess I would not have known it was Harry's former regiment - I am not a Royal supporter, but since it is irrelavent, I didn't need to know anyway for the purposes of the story.

Of course, The Mail being as Royalist as it can get, wants to ensure that the true heavens-to-Betsy's impact can be drawn out of this - the notion that even His Royal Highness' regiment have these odious oiks in it - whatever is the world coming to ...!

[THEMOTLEY1]

There has always been banter within The Armed and The Emergency Services which those who have never been a part of will either not understand or will be offended by. However I would suggest that putting it out on WhatsApp was not the brightest idea that guy ever had.

[andy-hughes]

TheMotley1 - //There has always been banter within The Armed and The Emergency Services which those who have never been a part of will either not understand or will be offended by. However I would suggest that putting it out on WhatsApp was not the brightest idea that guy ever had. //

No argument there - but I don't think referring to soldiers of colour using that particular term comes under the banner of 'banter' - and it is far too big a stretch for anyone to try and minimise its offence by attempting to say so.

[Mamyalynne]

Banter with mates out of earshot is one thing, stuff that can go public is another.

[THEMOTLEY1]

You should hear some of the names they have for their White Comrades, but of course I would not expect any reaction to those as they would directed at and not coming from a White person. Funny old World.

[THEMOTLEY1]

Mamyalynne, agreed, I believe I said that as well.

[Mamyalynne]

Folks should be aware their 'banter' may be reported/repeated whoever it is from or aimed at.

[Mamyalynne]

We agree, yes.

[anotheoldgit]

RandyMarsh

/// It is odd that the n***** have not sat with the people that call them n***** AOG. ///

Why have they openly called them n****** before? I must have missed that.

[Old_Geezer]

Whilst it is unfortunate he felt the need to use the description, we can not have thought police telling folk what they must think. What we might think of someone who feels the need to use that description is a separate issue.

I don't know what sort of language is deemed acceptable, and not given second thought to, in the barracks, but it seems to me that the person who should be investigated is the one that put that private conversation onto the Internet so that it could offend.