Well back in the early 80's (When was the original song released, 82 was it ?) as a kid i knew a fair few horrible words in the playground but faggot i never used.
When the song was released they didnt say the word faggot as a derogatory term towards gays anyway. I presume back then it was just a normal insult word (like twat !). Would make more sense in the song then if one of them was gay and they were insulting them with that word but they werent, its ugly bloke vs Kirsty, theyre not gay. Wasnt meant as a gay insult.
I'm glad theyve reversed it but what a stupid thing to do to begin with
Speaking as WoS's token poof, can I just say that we collectively don't give a shite what Peter Tatchell thinks!
Personally, it's my favourite christmas song of all (Stop the cavalry is next) and the first time I hear it each year is the point when it starts to feel like christmas is on the way. It should never have been edited, though I have to say it's not the first time. I've heard a version with the very same alterations as the Radio 1 version used in shops in years gone by, and it was a mistake then as well.
Ahhh Mark and Lard. Loved listening to these two plus they played some great music. Was sad to hear their last afternoon show one friday years ago. Was great listening material when i used to have the long drive to see the gf at the time.
Remember listening back in the 90's thinking how do they get away with that ! I really enjoyed their morning show before that got moved, he always mentioned his local pub the 'Hand Shandy'.
Mark and Lard were quality, what other afternoon radio show would have AC/DC's Stiff Upper Lip as their record of the week?
I still listen to Mark Radcliffe with Stuart Maconie in the evening, still very entertaining.
Well back in the early 80's (When was the original song released, 82 was it ?) as a kid i knew a fair few horrible words in the playground but faggot i never used.
When the song was released they didnt say the word faggot as a derogatory term towards gays anyway. I presume back then it was just a normal insult word (like twat !). Would make more sense in the song then if one of them was gay and they were insulting them with that word but they werent, its ugly bloke vs Kirsty, theyre not gay. Wasnt meant as a gay insult.
I'm glad theyve reversed it but what a stupid thing to do to begin with
Actually, that is true, Langauge Pathology, is something I probably would study, if I ever did go to uni.
Just because faggot refers to homosexual men, in the USA, it does not neccesarily mean it does in the UK.
Okay, I am picky (and my problems with spelling aside) insist on writing e.g gaol instead of jail.
I would assume, that faggot in it's original sense means something you burn/firebrand. So, we call cigarretes fags, as they burn. And the American bible-belt, called homosexuals faggots becuase they should burn in hell.
I notice, for example, that the word piss, doesn't seem as rude in the USA as it does here, and will often slip in very, very pre-watershed on shows like the Simpsons.
Fags - were also, I think, some sort of underling in the public school system.
And to echo the post(s) above, I can remember the word faggot, being a general mild term of abuse when I was at school.
This post, was brought to you, by the no_bugger_will_read_this_thread_killer_hangover_society_of_uk@prestel.8
The word, 'whilst' is still as valid, and has not been supplanted by, 'while.'
Whilst is I believe a more recent word and is good for a descriptave narrative. It is best used to immediately set a scene.
Whilst the rhubarb was being collected, the grapes were crushed in large vats.
You can see that using the word, 'while' in that sentence would soften and draw out the sentence, and make it awkward. It just doesn't sit right, especially with the force of the word, 'crushed' not too far ahead of it.
While is useful in dialogue and for directly addressing characters...
Sara quietly got undressed while Fiona watched through the keyhole.
You couldn't really use, 'whilst' here as the cadence would be spoilt.
Use of while and whilst in the above sentences will completely change the tone of your prose. Think before you use them :)
Not to be confused with amid and amidst, which are the same, the latter having a superlative, 'st.' Don't use the ST in this case*
Whilst and while may be predominantly regional things. It's only ever been brought to my attention when an American developer noted that I'd used the word "whilst" in a CMVC defect I wrote when working in Houston. I see "whilst" used all the time, I would hardly call it archaic if it's heavily used.
I'd agree that 'gaol' is archaic. I've never seen anyone spell it that way apart from a small number of pedants on Usenet.
Comments
When the song was released they didnt say the word faggot as a derogatory term towards gays anyway. I presume back then it was just a normal insult word (like twat !). Would make more sense in the song then if one of them was gay and they were insulting them with that word but they werent, its ugly bloke vs Kirsty, theyre not gay. Wasnt meant as a gay insult.
I'm glad theyve reversed it but what a stupid thing to do to begin with
Personally, it's my favourite christmas song of all (Stop the cavalry is next) and the first time I hear it each year is the point when it starts to feel like christmas is on the way. It should never have been edited, though I have to say it's not the first time. I've heard a version with the very same alterations as the Radio 1 version used in shops in years gone by, and it was a mistake then as well.
Marko
I still listen to Mark Radcliffe with Stuart Maconie in the evening, still very entertaining.
What ever happened to Lard?
Screw the Hawk ... I had completely forgotten about this one!
EDIT: Duh! was thinking of another more obvious person with a very similar name ... you kinda threw me off there ;-)
I'm not sure I needed to be reminded :lol:
Actually, that is true, Langauge Pathology, is something I probably would study, if I ever did go to uni.
Just because faggot refers to homosexual men, in the USA, it does not neccesarily mean it does in the UK.
Okay, I am picky (and my problems with spelling aside) insist on writing e.g gaol instead of jail.
I would assume, that faggot in it's original sense means something you burn/firebrand. So, we call cigarretes fags, as they burn. And the American bible-belt, called homosexuals faggots becuase they should burn in hell.
I notice, for example, that the word piss, doesn't seem as rude in the USA as it does here, and will often slip in very, very pre-watershed on shows like the Simpsons.
Fags - were also, I think, some sort of underling in the public school system.
And to echo the post(s) above, I can remember the word faggot, being a general mild term of abuse when I was at school.
This post, was brought to you, by the no_bugger_will_read_this_thread_killer_hangover_society_of_uk@prestel.8
Stuart Maconie does the Freak Zone (a 3 hour show on Sundays starting at 5pm) on Six Music, well worth a listen.
(edit, snip bit about Mark Radcliffe, I was thinking of Marc Riley)
The word, 'whilst' is still as valid, and has not been supplanted by, 'while.'
Whilst is I believe a more recent word and is good for a descriptave narrative. It is best used to immediately set a scene.
Whilst the rhubarb was being collected, the grapes were crushed in large vats.
You can see that using the word, 'while' in that sentence would soften and draw out the sentence, and make it awkward. It just doesn't sit right, especially with the force of the word, 'crushed' not too far ahead of it.
While is useful in dialogue and for directly addressing characters...
Sara quietly got undressed while Fiona watched through the keyhole.
You couldn't really use, 'whilst' here as the cadence would be spoilt.
Use of while and whilst in the above sentences will completely change the tone of your prose. Think before you use them :)
Not to be confused with amid and amidst, which are the same, the latter having a superlative, 'st.' Don't use the ST in this case*
*Should have got an Amiga instead!
I'd agree that 'gaol' is archaic. I've never seen anyone spell it that way apart from a small number of pedants on Usenet.
But, it wasn't written by American citiizens, so my point is still valid.
When the song was released i think most people didnt think of the word faggot as an offensive term.