Coronation Street - Current Episode Discussion - IV

[Perdita]

Wikipedia says:

Play the white man is a term used in parts of England meaning to be decent and trustworthy in one's actions.[citation needed]
The origin of the phrase is obscure. The term carries with it a reference to an obligation which many English civil administrators in the latter years of the British Empire might have considered themselves to be under: that is, the obligation to uphold respect for their county abroad by maintaining personal standards of behaviour and fairness which darker-skinned native peoples could respect[citation needed]. The act of calling upon someone to remember his personal moral obligations in this way is expressed in Rudyard Kipling's poem The White Man's Burden. On the other hand, the racially neutral colour white has long been associated with pureness and virtue.
A similar expression in the United States is "That's mighty white of you", meaning, "Thank you for being fair". Among African Americans, this phrase is said in response to being patronized or told what to think.[1] [2]
It is also widely believed that the term 'Play the white man' comes from the days of black and white movies where, to differentiate between the groups of people, they put the 'goodies' in white and the 'baddies' in black - it had no relationship to the colour of their skins.

That is what I thought it meant ... not racist at all

[parkerman]

Of course it's a racist comment. The explanation you've given from Wikipedia was obviously written by a white person. The implication in the phrase is that you need to be white to play fair and that in Colonial days it was the Europeans who were playing fair and needed to show the indigenous how to be fair. In any case, whatever the actual origins of the phrase might be, can you not see why the phrase might appear racist to a black person and indeed be very offensive these days.. The modern implication is that only white people play fair, otherwise why use the phrase.

[Perdita]

Explained like that, I can now, never thought about it like that before

[alan45]

I dont think the storyline is about racism at all. Its more about male pride. Paul made the off the cuff remark without thinking. He didnt mean it as offensive. Lloyd chose to take offence at it so Pauld should have apologised immediately. For Lloyd to call him a racist over 1 throwaway remark was a bit rich. Now the two of them have dug their heels in and the storywriters are making a huge issue out of it.

If I was to make a complaint of rascism every time I get called Paddy then i would be in court more often than Jeffrey Archer

[alan45]

I dont think the storyline is about racism at all. Its more about male pride. Paul made the off the cuff remark without thinking. He didnt mean it as offensive. Lloyd chose to take offence at it so Pauld should have apologised immediately. For Lloyd to call him a racist over 1 throwaway remark was a bit rich. Now the two of them have dug their heels in and the storywriters are making a huge issue out of it.

If I was to make a complaint of rascism every time I get called Paddy then i would be in court more often than Jeffrey Archer

[Perdita]

I don't use the phrase myself but have heard it from a few in the military when there were a mixture of ethnics around and none of them ever got into any trouble either

[Dazzle]

I don't think Paul is a racist but the fact remains that the phrase he used IS racist, as explained eloquently by Parkerman above.

Lloyd is subject to frequent racist comments by people in the back of his cab, so he doesn't need to hear from his so--called friend - and in front of his family too. Paul should have apologised immediately.

Neither of them will back down now due to male pride.

[parkerman]

Being called a Paddy is not the same thing as being told that only white people can play fair if you happen to be black.

[sarah c]

I was always under the impression - and I am happy to be corrected - that if a comment is made, and the person hearing it finds it offensive, then it is an offence - whether it is racist, homophobic etc?

almost in the way the 'N' word when used by a white person is offensive, but acceptable when used by a black person? as it is the receivers perception?

[alan45]

Being called a Paddy is not the same thing as being told that only white people can play fair if you happen to be black.

Its still a racist remark granted not on the same scale as a coloured person being told to act the white man but its similar to someone being called a Paki or other such terms. Fortunately I am thick skinned and being called Paddy doesnt bother me. I am fortunate in working with a very mixed workforce so what may be seen as racist to some people is taken as banter by the supposed victims. Personally I feel it all depends on the manner in which the remark is made and wheter its designed to cause offence to someone. Lets face it there are folk who will go out of their way to be offended.

How many of us have talked about going for a Chinky when referring to a Chinese Carryout. We all have said it without realising that most Chinese folk find it very offensive yet its a very common term.