Is calling someone a "Mars Bar" racisct

[McRobbo]

My 12 year old son has been charged with racial abuse for calling an asian boy a "Mars Bar" during a football match, which he denies, but is this racist?

[Ice.Maiden]

I'd never go out of my way to be racist about anyone and therefore insult or upset them, but I certainly say what I think, and so do all my friends. I still say "blackboard", I 'd still "Ba ba Black Sheep" - and anyone who darent adnit to doing that as well, has been brainwashed!

[Goodsoulette]

There are instances where some people make up rules that you cant say this or that! Generally they are sat in council offices and white and have nothing better to do than think up things that might be deemed offensive.
You can all say what you like. I still say I like my coffee black, yet years ago the rumours were we weren't going to be able to say it.People are only going to oppose you when you say something genuinely bigoted and if wasn't people will think the person objecting is a loon.

The question here is intent. I can't believe that calling an asian lad a mars bar during a football match could be intended as anything other than racist.

[natalie_1982]

I'm with China here, the first thing that went through my mind was a Bounty Bar / Coconut connection. I don't think it's very nice either way. Why did he have to call him a name atall? And what's your son's excuse for name calling anyway? Did the other kid say anything to him in response or did the other kid start it?

I think being charged is a bit far fetched, it probably would have been enough for the coach to explain why calling someone a mars bar is inappropriate, and if, as your son says, it was not meant in a racist manner, then there isn't a problem and he knows for next time to call him a jelly tot or something.

[Ice.Maiden]

True, said in this way could have other implications. Sorry, I was just going off at a tangent for a bit, thinking how ridiculous most of the pc brigade are.

[Quinlad]

*reads the question*

*reads the replies*

Looking for a reasoned response to an emotive issue? You've certainly come to the right place.

[daffy654]

I'm going to disagree with the majority here,I do think that called someone a mars bar is racist. Maybe because I was brought up in inner city Leicester and know how seemingly innocent remarks like this can genuinely upset someone.

[Ice.Maiden]

Whatever, I won't have some jobsworth telling me how I can, and can't speak, and what I can and can't do!

[China Doll]

So bounty bar is acceptable too?

[Quinlad]

Drop all of the deep-seated hysteria around political correctness for a second.

Forget all the fiction about not being able to say 'black coffee' or 'accident blackspot' or whatever.

And look at what was said. Of course it was meant as a racist slur. Why else would he possibly have chosen that term? Or do all kids go round calling each other 'Twirl' and 'Monster Munch' as a laugh?

The fact that you've not heard it used before doesn't make it less racist. There isn't a list.

[RevFunk]

When I was playing football sometimes you got called some rather unrepeatable names. Either ignore it or make sure your next tackle on the person is a hard one.

OOoooohhh miss he called me a name. So what, whatever the name is.

[Ice.Maiden]

I think people've said that maybe this instance was meant in the wrong way, but too much stuff's taken out of context. I've heard adults give others nicknames such as: FA Cup (for prominent ears), FB (for someone of a large stature), I'VE been called Dipstick, Pipe cleaner (because I'm tall and slim) - and so WHAT????

[Gromit]

If he didn't say it then there will be no proof, so no problem.

The Urban dictionary records it as a slang term for a black man.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term =mars+bar

If you yourself cannot see it is an offensive term, then it would not be surprising if your child did not know it was offensive either.

[natalie_1982]

To an extent, I can see where you're coming from - people get picked on for all sorts of reasons; big ears, being ginger, wearing glasses, being overweight.... the list is endless, but I don't think that racism should ever be tolerated, and it has nothing to do with "political correctness gone mad".

If the remark was made with a racist slur, which I think it was, then it is wrong, if McRobbo's son has a habit of being offensive by calling people snack related names, then that's something different altogether.

[Goodsoulette]

Icey, there's a world of difference. Years upon years of oppression and violence don;t surround those with big ears and slim long legs. It's still hurtful, i'm not suggesting it isn't but being thin or pug eared has rarely been the cause for having your house desecrated by vandals or getting a random beating off of people who don;t like your sort.

[tigersam258]

but the thing is ALL wars have surrounded race and religion therefore racism is a potential powder keg. not many wars have started because someone called another person Dipstick (although George W Bush might have come to think of it!)

I think that racism although not right is rife and it will never disappear. It is pent up emotion releasing itself in verbal methods.

I am sure that everyone here could be a very racist person in the heat of the moment but generally self control stops it.

Another thing is that there is never much made of the racism surrounding 'gypos' is there. Surely that is a derogatory as some of the words to describe asian or african people.

Again I say, it will never disappear.