Alan, I agree entirely that no individual topic is off-forum. It is entirely possible to discuss, say, immigration in a reasoned and unprejudiced way. However, some appear incapable of this, and if their opinions are offensive and they cannot seem to stop making them, then this needs editorial action. This would be entirely normal for a local newspaper or even a polite dinner party, and should be for here too.it is about language, but not only in the pedantic sense - one of the most regular offenders in particular appears to think that by phrasing his words very carefully, it means he can then make very clear and quite offensive implications, and then protest his innocence with "tell me exactly where I said that", but then it's all OK. Blatant prejudice is still blatant prejudice even if certain words are not used.Any topic goes. But not any opinion, if the opinion is clearly the result of an offensive degree of prejudice. If comparing Ealing Broadway with Tunbridge Wells station (to switch examples since one could argue Ealing and Wembley are quite similar demographically), and someone talks about Labour vs. Tory councils (for example), then it's all legitimate wider context. Even if someone brings in immigration, in a balanced way, this is also fine. But if someone says - to make a fictional example - "just count the brown faces on the platform at Ealing and it's obvious why there's a problem with parking here and you can never get a seat on the train", then that would be highly offensive without a single racial epithet being uttered. These are subtle distinctions ,but one that any newspaper letter editor makes daily. So how do we draw the line? We go back to my proposal to the Editor - if 5, 10, or whatever number of readers object to her that something posted is offensive to them, then it would be reasonable to take their word for it and edit it. This is simple polite discourse, and is no different to a dinner party host stopping a conversation and politely suggesting a change of topics if it is clearly making one of her guests uncomfortable.No individual topic is off-forum, but people need to
Gerald Cabb ● 5970d