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View Full Version : Wick Gala makes national news for all the wrong reasons !



BetterTogether
29-Jul-15, 13:37
It seems Wick Gala has made front page of the telegraph for a racism debacle which shows three people dressed as Gollies during the parade.

This has caused national embarrassment to the town and created a complaint which is now being dealt with by the Police.

As we are all aware modern sensitivies around racial issue are higher than ever and the law is quite clearly written, I'm surprised these people where allowed to take part as anywhere else in the UK they would of been refused or arrested.

If they appeared in a major town or city they'd be lucky to escape uninjured given the sensitivities around the Golly and is racial overtones.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11770320/Racist-golly-costumes-worn-in-town-parade.html

rob murray
29-Jul-15, 14:18
It seems Wick Gala has made front page of the telegraph for a racism debacle which shows three people dressed as Gollies during the parade.

This has caused national embarrassment to the town and created a complaint which is now being dealt with by the Police.

As we are all aware modern sensitivies around racial issue are higher than ever and the law is quite clearly written, I'm surprised these people where allowed to take part as anywhere else in the UK they would of been refused or arrested.

If they appeared in a major town or city they'd be lucky to escape uninjured given the sensitivities around the Golly and is racial overtones.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11770320/Racist-golly-costumes-worn-in-town-parade.html

WHilst not condoning this I feel that it was an innocent mistake made by youngsters in a community with very little non whites...now if it was done in some parts of the UK, yes in all probability they wouldnt have done it as they would have been aware of the concequences which may have involved violence to them. Does send out all the wrong messages though

cptdodger
29-Jul-15, 14:22
I'm 52, so I was born in 1963, from where I stand, as a child it was perfectly acceptable to have a golly as a toy, and think nothing of it. I think it was Robertson's Jams that had them on all their jars. It certainly was not intended as a racist slur, on my part anyway. My parents used to listen and watch Al Jolson. Then you had the Black and White Minstrel Show on a Saturday evening and I highly doubt they will ever repeat Love Thy Neighbour again. All that is totally unacceptable now.

But then you turn on it's head what was acceptable then, is not now, and what was unacceptable then, say homosexuality which was a criminal offence, is accepted now.

While I never intended any harm, by using the full term Golly***, and I am surprised they printed that, ( in the link ) I now know that it is a highly offensive term, and certainly would not allow my children / youngsters to dress like that.

rob murray
29-Jul-15, 14:29
I'm 52, so I was born in 1963, from where I stand, as a child it was perfectly acceptable to have a golly as a toy, and think nothing of it. I think it was Robertson's Jams that had them on all their jars. It certainly was not intended as a racist slur, on my part anyway. My parents used to listen and watch Al Jolson. Then you had the Black and White Minstrel Show on a Saturday evening and I highly doubt they will ever repeat Love Thy Neighbour again. All that is totally unacceptable now.

But then you turn on it's head what was acceptable then, is not now, and what was unacceptable then, say homosexuality which was a criminal offence, is accepted now.

While I never intended any harm, by using the full term Golly***, and I am surprised they printed that, ( in the link ) I now know that it is a highly offensive term, and certainly would not allow my children / youngsters to dress like that.

Times change and the term and dress is now offensive end of. As I said, comming from a largly almost exclusive white area maybe the message hasnt got through....although you would have thought that schools would have hammered home the message....but then maybe not ! Perhaps schools should re visited by police and remind people of the law

cptdodger
29-Jul-15, 14:50
Times change and the term and dress is now offensive end of. As I said, comming from a largly almost exclusive white area maybe the message hasnt got through....although you would have thought that schools would have hammered home the message....but then maybe not ! Perhaps schools should re visited by police and remind people of the law

That never occurred to me, that it would'nt occur to people here, that dressing up as a golly might be deemed as offensive. Although, granted there is not the same level of diversity in nationalities here, surely they watch the news and read newspapers? It would dawn on them quick enough if they were put where I lived in East London for a month !

rogermellie
29-Jul-15, 15:03
agreed, everyone knows of the racist over/undertones, but 'blacking up' seems to be a bit of a laugh up here because they think only black people are offended by racism.

it's a shame such a great even has been marred by this - Donna needs to admit the mistake and make sure it doesn't happen again, to deny any of the organisers even saw them is a bit of an arse covering exercise.

(otherwise how would have this one below been collecting for them?)

http://www.caithness.org/photos/fpb/2015/july/wick_gala_2015/SAM_1076.jpg

cptdodger
29-Jul-15, 15:06
Not being funny, but the Policeman is not exactly running after her to arrest her.

roshep
29-Jul-15, 15:08
What a sad sad world we live in.

rob murray
29-Jul-15, 15:15
Not being funny, but the Policeman is not exactly running after her to arrest her.

Again Im not condoning this but it was the gala and the cop possibly never thought anything of it, to stop further infringements maybe the gala committee could offer written guidelines on what is accpetable, not war and peace, but do's and dont's so people are kept right

rogermellie
29-Jul-15, 15:36
Not being funny, but the Policeman is not exactly running after her to arrest her.

you're right, but he'd have to do something if he'd received a complaint at the time of it happening... or have i got that wrong ?

cptdodger
29-Jul-15, 15:44
you're right, but he'd have to do something if he'd received a complaint at the time of it happening... or have i got that wrong ?

I do'nt know, but the Police are investigating it now so surely if it is against the law to dress like that, regardless of whether a complaint was made, or not, when she walked past him she was already breaking the law.

BetterTogether
29-Jul-15, 15:45
My feeling is, it just goes to show how out of touch some are to the modern world just because we live in a remote Higland area and is considered a bit of a giggle by some locals we should never forget that we are at the height of the tourist season with people from all over the world passing through. This wouldn't be acceptable anywhere else in the UK nor in any part of Europe let alone the USA. I noticed in some of the Gala photos there where also other people dressed up in Oriental costumes that would be considered equally offensive.

cptdodger
29-Jul-15, 15:58
I noticed in some of the Gala photos there where also other people dressed up in Oriental costumes that would be considered equally offensive.

Dear me, I remember when I was a child going to my one and only fancy dress party, I went as a Japanese girl. My aunty is Japanese and had sent myself and my sister kimono's over from Japan. Again, never gave it a second thought, if I think back now though !

Fran
29-Jul-15, 16:08
My daughter went dressed as Michael Jackson at wick gala some years ago. So much fuss over nothing. They should have got the prize for most original and they've got a lot of publicity for the gala.

BetterTogether
29-Jul-15, 17:21
My daughter went dressed as Michael Jackson at wick gala some years ago. So much fuss over nothing. They should have got the prize for most original and they've got a lot of publicity for the gala.So negative press for Caithness is a good thing makes us look bad throughout the country that's a new one on me. Maybe you should go down to a large town and city and express the opinion that blacking up is original and should get prizes I don't rate your chances of not needing a police escort out of town !


But then the police waste their time investigating race crimes I guess or don't you realise that what it comes under. Just because some locals may consider it just a bit of fun doesn't mean others don't find it grossly racially offensive.

andyw
29-Jul-15, 17:36
So can a Coloured person dress as a Golli_ _ _ and get away with it

BetterTogether
29-Jul-15, 17:49
Now other media outlets are picking up on the story it doesn't give the town good reputation despite how some with outdated views may try and justify it or make light.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3178865/Police-investigating-youngsters-blacked-Golliwogs.html


http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/anger-as-trio-attend-wick-parade-dressed-as-gollys-1-3844293

rogermellie
29-Jul-15, 18:01
So can a Coloured person dress as a Golli_ _ _ and get away with it

using the term 'coloured' means you're what i would call an Old Skool Racist, bit like Fran, not an out and out racist, but pretty ignorant none the less.

just to be clear, you don't have to be black to be offended by racism

BetterTogether
29-Jul-15, 18:08
Let's put this into context if you're entire family had been sold into slavery a few centuries ago, then your people spending since then trying to get some form of respect and equality from the country who forced all that upon them would you still consider it just a bit of harmless fun.

Alrock
29-Jul-15, 18:22
Just wondering...

Is using fake tan racist?

Is a man in drag sexist? (what is the difference between a man wearing womans clothing & a woman wearing mens clothing)

dragonfly
29-Jul-15, 19:37
Oh for goodness sake, mountain out a molehill!

People are dying, starving, homeless and people turn a blind eye.....dress up as a character from a long ago written book and all hell breaks loose.

BetterTogether
29-Jul-15, 21:58
Seems the predominately white population have now become arbiters of what is considered racially offensive to people of other races.

Neil Howie
29-Jul-15, 22:19
"Seems the predominately white population have now become arbiters of what is considered racially offensive to people of other races."
Yes that sums it up entirely.

sids
29-Jul-15, 22:27
very little non whites..

Are they midgets or dwarves?

cptdodger
29-Jul-15, 23:46
Are they midgets or dwarves?

I wish there was a "like" button on this !!

cptdodger
29-Jul-15, 23:54
I lived in London (Walthamstow) and the South East, Gravesend and Chatham, Kent for a few years, you have to adapt very quickly to your surroundings and the people within those surroundings. As such, if this discussion was in a forum in that area, I would write golly, and that would be it, I would not use it's full title, even writing it is deemed as highly offensive.

theone
30-Jul-15, 01:28
Just wondering...

Is using fake tan racist?

Is a man in drag sexist? (what is the difference between a man wearing womans clothing & a woman wearing mens clothing)

Exactly.

Would people be up in arms if they were dressed as red indians? What about vikings? Ninjas? Morris dancers?

What is the crime here?

Racism is the belief that some is inferior solely due to their genetic background. Plain and simple.

If somebody dresses up or disguises themselves as someone of a particular ethnic background in order to ridicule, demean or insult that race then yes, I 100% agree they should be punished as a racist.

But dressing up as someone of another race for the purpose of humour and fundraising is not racism, and not a crime.

rogermellie
30-Jul-15, 01:56
But dressing up as someone of another race for the purpose of humour and fundraising is not racism, and not a crime.

last time i checked golliwogs aren't a race

rogermellie
30-Jul-15, 01:59
they are in fact an old fashioned piss take of black people, that's why nobody outside of wick dresses up as them

theone
30-Jul-15, 02:16
last time i checked golliwogs aren't a race

No, but the basis of this outrage is that people believe racism is apparent towards blacks. It's not the fact they were gollywogs that seems to be offending a large number of people, but that the were 'blackened' up.


they are in fact an old fashioned piss take of black people, that's why nobody outside of wick dresses up as them

In what way are they a "piss take".

Gollywogs were characters from childrens books a couple of hundred years ago. I've seen no evidence that they were ever intended to ridicule black people anymore than Sooty ridicules bears or Sweep ridicules dogs.

sids
30-Jul-15, 06:39
In what way are they a "piss take".

In that they are depictions of black people, exaggerated for comic effect. Am I being too obvious.


Gollywogs were characters from childrens books a couple of hundred years ago. I've seen no evidence that they were ever intended to ridicule black people

Attitudes to black people a couple of hundred years ago were not ideal!


I don't care about these people dressing up . I watched the parade and didn't even see them. I'm not surprised there were complaints though. There have been complaints at other towns' galas for the same reason.

BetterTogether
30-Jul-15, 08:15
I notice how it's all white people trying to defend this. I guess wick must be the most racially insensitive town in the UK. For a starter it's is considered racially offensive not by white people but by people of African Descent so those who can't understand maybe you're of the wrong racial background. The term is now Golli the perjorative term on the end will get you charged just about anywhere in the UK apart from Wick it seems. If you want to feel so justified go down to Tower Hamlets London or St Paul's Bristol don your silly wee costume and wait to see how long it is before a large crowd gathers around you and you either end up in custody or in intensive care.

theone
30-Jul-15, 08:20
In that they are depictions of black people, exaggerated for comic effect. Am I being too obvious.


Gollywogs are not depictions of black people, a gollywog was a fictional creature in it's own right.

Would it have made the national press if someone had dressed up as a Leprechaun?

BetterTogether
30-Jul-15, 08:49
Gollywogs are not depictions of black people, a gollywog was a fictional creature in it's own right. Would it have made the national press if someone had dressed up as a Leprechaun?Maybe you should read this article from all the way back in 2012.http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/21/golliwogs-vile-throwback-tory-mps

davth
30-Jul-15, 08:52
Put it to the test then.
Take one person dressed as a leprechaun and one blacked up as per the pics.
Stick them in any major multicultural city and see who gets lynched first.
I know which one it would be.
Would it have been equally as "amusing" if they had dressed as jihadi's?

sids
30-Jul-15, 12:19
Gollywogs are not depictions of black people


Says who?

........

theone
30-Jul-15, 23:18
Put it to the test then.
Take one person dressed as a leprechaun and one blacked up as per the pics.
Stick them in any major multicultural city and see who gets lynched first.
I know which one it would be.
Would it have been equally as "amusing" if they had dressed as jihadi's?

So lynching is acceptable but dressing up is not? There has to be an irony there. Those who preach tolerance are often those least willing to practice it.

In answer to your question, how amusing a jihadi costume would be would depend on how well it was done but yes, that is the kind of thing I would expect to see on a gala float, something topical and something currently in the news and in public mind.

theone
30-Jul-15, 23:21
Says who?

........

A gollywog is a character, I think the original term for them was a 'gnome'. In the same way a Leprechaun is a fairy.


If gollywog gnomes are a slur on black people then Leprechaun fairies are a slur on ginger people.

rogermellie
31-Jul-15, 00:05
i wasn't sure at first, but now i know you're trolling - nobody can be this stupid

theone
31-Jul-15, 00:25
That's your best response?

If you can't get your point across effectively pull the 'troll' card.

My point is valid and true.

Instead of insult, try answering me this question.

Why is a leprechaun doll acceptable but a gollywog not?

rogermellie
31-Jul-15, 00:37
believe me i wasn't playing the troll card, i genuinely thought you can't be so stupid

there is a long and well documented history of the golly online, but most modern day, modern thinking people realise the connection to it's racist past.

don't embarrass yourself by saying leprechauns insult the gingers or whatever daft line you're going down, throw away the spade, if you honestly believe your own drivel, then you are part the noisy minority who will either grow up and learn what goes on in the real world outside of the cosy caithness border or whither away and die

(if you google image the golly, the only pictures of people dressed up like them are the ones from Wick. What does this tell you ?)

theone
31-Jul-15, 01:07
there is a long and well documented history of the golly online, but most modern day, modern thinking people realise the connection to it's racist past.


Racism is a mindset or the act of discriminating against a person purely because of their genetics.

Do you genuinely believe the fundraisers involved wish harm or offence towards black people?

If they did, that is racism. If they did not, it is not.



don't embarrass yourself by saying leprechauns insult the gingers or whatever daft line you're going down, throw away the spade, if you honestly believe your own drivel, then you are part the noisy minority who will either grow up and learn what goes on in the real world outside of the cosy caithness border or whither away and die


I'm not embarrassed, but thanks anyway.

Why not answer the question? Why is it okay to parody a little ginger bearded character but not a little black one?



you are part the noisy minority who will either grow up and learn what goes on in the real world outside of the cosy caithness border or whither away and die


Unfortunately I am currently many miles away from the cosy Caithness border, working in Asia with a Thai on my left hand side and an Indian on my right. Both good friends who I will be buying a drink for this evening. Because I don't discriminate on genetics.

rogermellie
31-Jul-15, 01:46
'Racism is a mindset', aye, try telling that to some of the folk who's mindset actually has to put up with it

next time you get a shot at working in Nigeria, leave your secure compound and go into the nearest town dressed as a golly singing 'Hallo Mammy' and then get back to me

were all agreed that the silly wee dafties didn't mean any harm by what they did, regardless of whether they meant it or not, they've offended people

i can't answer your question about taking the piss out of gingers, because... yawn ... gingers aren't a race of people

theone
31-Jul-15, 02:02
'Racism is a mindset', aye, try telling that to some of the folk who's mindset actually has to put up with it

Read again. I said it was a mindset OR an act.



next time you get a shot at working in Nigeria, leave your secure compound and go into the nearest town dressed as a golly singing 'Hallo Mammy' and then get back to me


I wouldn't be doing that. Why would I? They don't have galas where it's tradition to dress up in costumes of other people or characters.




i can't answer your question about taking the piss out of gingers, because... yawn ... gingers aren't a race of people

Ah, so you can take the piss out of people due to one aspect of their genetic makeup, but not another?

Have a listen to yourself man, you're a bigot.

davth
31-Jul-15, 09:49
So lynching is acceptable but dressing up is not? There has to be an irony there. Those who preach tolerance are often those least willing to practice it.In answer to your question, how amusing a jihadi costume would be would depend on how well it was done but yes, that is the kind of thing I would expect to see on a gala float, something topical and something currently in the news and in public mind.Where did I say that lynching was acceptable? You do have a weird sense of humour if you would expect to see a jihadi gala float, perhaps with a decapitated effigy by his side, hahaha what fun. I wonder why Robinsons dropped the logo so many years ago?

Mr Z
31-Jul-15, 10:26
Next time your working in Nigeria leave your secure compound dressed as you are walk into town etc. oh and good luck if you return in one piece!!

BetterTogether
31-Jul-15, 10:40
Racism is a mindset or the act of discriminating against a person purely because of their genetics.Do you genuinely believe the fundraisers involved wish harm or offence towards black people?If they did, that is racism. If they did not, it is not.I'm not embarrassed, but thanks anyway.Why not answer the question? Why is it okay to parody a little ginger bearded character but not a little black one? Unfortunately I am currently many miles away from the cosy Caithness border, working in Asia with a Thai on my left hand side and an Indian on my right. Both good friends who I will be buying a drink for this evening. Because I don't discriminate on genetics.Have you tried tanning your skin and putting on a turban or taping back your eyes and donning a long moustache when you go for a drink with them to show how racially sympathetic you are ? I very much doubt you have nor would you dare try for fear of causing offence !

rob murray
31-Jul-15, 13:19
Next time your working in Nigeria leave your secure compound dressed as you are walk into town etc. oh and good luck if you return in one piece!!

Your an oil worker ? Dead right mate...

theone
31-Jul-15, 23:42
Next time your working in Nigeria leave your secure compound dressed as you are walk into town etc. oh and good luck if you return in one piece!!



Have you tried tanning your skin and putting on a turban or taping back your eyes and donning a long moustache when you go for a drink with them to show how racially sympathetic you are ? I very much doubt you have nor would you dare try for fear of causing offence !


No, I wouldn't do either of these things. Why would I?

And yes, one reason I wouldn't would be to avoid causing offence.

But walking through a street in a foreign country dressed to provoke locals and attending a long established, fancy dress parade at home to raise money for charity are two completely different things.