The Bbc Racist, Surely Not?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3799755/BBC-accused-racism-against-Scots-use-word-Jock.html

[sp1814]

Twitter.

[anotheoldgit]

[Zacs-Master]

I suspect Mr Fraser is Scottish. Is it possible to be racists, against ones own race?

Seems he's a bit of a controversial character
http://www.newsnet.scot/nns-archive/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4791:skintland-its-only-satire-says-bbc-scotlands-douglas-fraser-&catid=4:commentary&Itemid=35

[andy-hughes]

Careless and thoughtless use of the term - an apology should be forthcoming, but in the mean time, hopefully the Twitterspehere won't explode with righteous fury.

[jno]

hard to say. The other examples cited as getting people into trouble seem to couple Jock with some derogatory adjective - useless jock, sweaty little jock. In those cases, insults were clearly intended. Not so here. People are probably being oversensitive. It doesn't sound like a "colonial attitude" to me.

[anotheoldgit]

jno

/// hard to say. The other examples cited as getting people into trouble seem to couple Jock with some derogatory adjective - useless jock, sweaty little jock. In those cases, insults were clearly intended. ///

Would the same apply if a non British were to use these terms "useless Brit", "Sweaty little Brit"?

Insults yes, but racist insults?????????????

[jno]

could be, aog, but I've never heard those particular phrases.

[douglas9401]

Michty me, what a stramash over nothing. Dinna fash yersels.

Noo whaur's ma see-you Jimmy bunnet and ma wee Nessie doll?

[youngmafbog]

What a load of cobbers.

[naomi24]

Oh gawd! More groan-worthy petulance!

[mikey4444]

When exactly did the word Jock become a racist word !

Drivel.

[douglas9401]

You tell 'em Taff. :)

[mikey4444]

Exactly Dougie....Taff or Jock, its not a racist term

[Zacs-Master]

Not when used by a person of that race.

[mikey4444]

If ever there was a storm in a teacup, its this case.

Strewth !

[Quizmonster]

Jock...racist? What arrant nonsense! I have lived for nigh on eight decades and have never felt anything but pride when the word has been used to refer to me. Here on AnswerBank, I myself have often used it to include me and my compatriots.
The word is just a friendly Scottish variant of John, just as Taff is a friendly variant of David (or its Welsh equivalent) and Paddy is a friendly variant of Patrick. Why would anyone, other than a plonker determined to be offended, find any of these derogatory?
I most certainly will never stop using it.

[andy-hughes]

Greetings Jock McQuizmonster, how are ye the noo?

[Quizmonster]

Aye-aye, Andy! A'm fine foo're ye daein yersel?

[Baldric]

http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=JOCK&title=21st

http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=TAFF&title=21st

[Quizmonster]

The Oxford English Dictionary:
Jock
"A by-form of the name John
A Scotsman or a member of a Scottish regiment
Any Scotsman, frequently as a nickname."

Clearly, the name Jack was a middle version between John and Jock. My quote above is from the printed version of the OED which dates from the mid-1980s. Consequently, any notion that it might be offensive is a very recent development, given that the OED does not even mention that.

I will remain perfectly happy to go on using it in exactly the way I always have and let "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" or whoever else objects just get on with it!