At the beginning of February Carol Thatcher was sacked from her position as a roving reporter on the BBC program The One Show. The decision was made because of a comment that she made during a private conversation in the green room. Apparently she referred to a black athlete as a “golliwog” in front of several of the show’s staff members and guests. The comedian Jo Brand found what she said so offensive that she actually left the room.
In all honesty I think there are a lot of instances where words people use can be taken out of context and found offensive. It’s very important to look at the intent behind the words too. If someone is of a generation or a culture where it is acceptable to use a term, then there is nothing to be gained from getting annoyed at them for something they don’t even realise. Most people, once you’ve explained what it is about a term that is offensive won’t continue to use it, or at least not around you anyway.
The thing that irritated me about the Thatcher incident though, was her refusal to issue an apology in spite of the fact that she knew many people across the country would find the term offensive. If she was in a place of work, where presumably there are people of all different colours and creeds, and so as not to make anyone around her uncomfortable I think she should have apologised. Maybe not so much for her intentions, but at least for using a word that was quite simply inappropriate.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7868401.stm
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