The Mayor and the Journalist ........

Originally posted by dottewell
Well I do work as a journalist, and I wouldn't be particularly offended by any of that. People say such things all the time. Other professions face the same sort of thing (corrupt politicians, scheming lawyers, etc.)

How much more offended would I be if I were Jewish? I don't know.

How much more offended should I be?

How offended would a "reasonable person" be?

Were the mayor's comments "unnecessarily insensitive"? How "sensitive" does a mayor have to be under the "reasonable man" standard?

Originally posted by bbarr
And this is supposed to mitigate the offensiveness? From the reporter's perspective, how many things in your translation would you find offensive? I count at least four independent aspects that I would find offensive.

The claim that the reporter's job is merely to hassle (rather than, say, report).

The claim that the reporter is someone who would do ...[text shortened]... rter was Jewish. When that is factored in, the claim seems pretty much constructed to offend.

Pfft. I make more offensive comments than that every day to schoolchildren.

Originally posted by no1marauder
Get lost. I was asked a question, I responded. I know England is a very silly country with a monarchy and lawyers wearing powdered wigs. That's enough for me.

As you have exposed yourself as a typical semi-literate Yank who resorts to personal invective as soon as anyone challenges his ignorance I expected that sort of reply from you.

Originally posted by no1marauder
How offended would a "reasonable person" be?

Were the mayor's comments "unnecessarily insensitive"? How "sensitive" does a mayor have to be under the "reasonable man" standard?

That's my point. I don't think a reasonable person would be particularly offended. The fact the reporter was Jewish means the comments will be more offensive - but enough to suspended the mayor for such a length of time? I don't think so.

Originally posted by dottewell
That's my point. I don't think a reasonable person would be particularly offended. The fact the reporter was Jewish means the comments will be more offensive - but enough to suspended the mayor for such a length of time? I don't think so.

My point is a group of people can say whatever they want and assert they are conforming to the "reasonable person" standard in a case like this where the criteria to be applied is so vague.

Originally posted by Nargaguna
As you have exposed yourself as a typical semi-literate Yank who resorts to personal invective as soon as anyone challenges his ignorance I expected that sort of reply from you.

You are trolling. If you have nothing to say about the subject at hand, STFU. Others seem to be engaged in a discussion with me about the subject; you seem to be only interested in personal attacks.

Originally posted by dottewell
That's my point. I don't think a reasonable person would be particularly offended. The fact the reporter was Jewish means the comments will be more offensive - but enough to suspended the mayor for such a length of time? I don't think so.

Fair enough. But your answer to the question "How offensive were the words?" seems to be "not very". Correct?

Originally posted by dottewell
Fair enough. But your answer to the question "How offensive were the words?" seems to be "not very". Correct?

I guess. I'm not easily offended, though. I have no idea how easily offended a "reasonable person" is. Mr. Finegold was offended; is he unreasonable? I don't know.

Originally posted by dottewell
Well I do work as a journalist, and I wouldn't be particularly offended by any of that. People say such things all the time. Other professions face the same sort of thing (corrupt politicians, scheming lawyers, etc.)

How much more offended would I be if I were Jewish? I don't know.

How much more offended should I be?

Well, if you are not offended by direct attacks on your professional and moral integrity, nor by being likened to a murderous thug, kudos to you! The only possible response to a question like "how much more offended should I be by X" is to point out aspects of X that are mean, or callous, or whatever. If somebody that you empathized with told you that they took offense at being told that they had no professional or moral integrity, or being called a nazi, would you reject their complaint as being unwarranted? Could you understand their point of view?

Originally posted by dottewell
Fair enough. But your answer to the question "How offensive were the words?" seems to be "not very". Correct?

That question is nonsensical. It's not a though offensiveness is an intrinsic property some words possess.

Originally posted by no1marauder
You are trolling. If you have nothing to say about the subject at hand, STFU. Others seem to be engaged in a discussion with me about the subject; you seem to be only interested in personal attacks.

I asked you what you knew about English affairs and you responded by saying that England is a 'silly Country'. I may as well, with an equal lack of logic, tell you that Bush strikes me as being mentally retarded.

Originally posted by bbarr
Well, if you are not offended by direct attacks on your professional and moral integrity, nor by being likened to a murderous thug, kudos to you! The only possible response to a question like "how much more offended should I be by X" is to point out aspects of X that are mean, or callous, or whatever. If somebody that you empathized with told you that they t ...[text shortened]... ld you reject their complaint as being unwarranted? Could you understand their point of view?

Personally, I'm flattered by direct attacks on my professional and moral integrity as well as when I'm likened to a murderous thug; it shows I'm doing my job correctly when I piss people off. It hurts when they criticize my choice of ties though.😞

Originally posted by Nargaguna
I asked you what you knew about English affairs and you responded by saying that England is a 'silly Country'. I may as well, with an equal lack of logic, tell you that Bush strikes me as being mentally retarded.

I wouldn't insult the mentally retarded in that manner.

Originally posted by no1marauder
Personally, I'm flattered by direct attacks on my professional and moral integrity as well as when I'm likened to a murderous thug; it shows I'm doing my job correctly when I piss people off. It hurts when they criticize my choice of ties though.😞

Well, I don't mind it either. It indicates that my opponent has run out of arguments.

Originally posted by bbarr
That question is nonsensical. It's not a though offensiveness is an intrinsic property some words possess.

To be fair, he seems to be asking "How offensive do you feel the words were".