Homophobia 'still funny' but racism not, says BBC writer

[BBCRacismWatch]

well here we go, the cause of the problems = the BBC staff!!

get rid of this trash, they are dangerous and affecting the psychologies of the nation.

[popazz1]

Maybe now that political correctness has become 'the norm',the issue is what are we going to be able to 'make fun' off without running the risk of being prosecuted? It's actually quite telling that there seems to be a hierarchy where gender/sexuality/race is concerned! I don't think it's necessarily indicative of just the BBC though.I imagine comics are sweating like a fat man in a cake shop! Oops,will I now be prosecuted for that last comment?!

[RM6721]

what do you call a muslim with ham on is head? Hamed? What do you call a muslim with more ham on his head? Mohammed! Sorry, i couldn't resist typing that

[weavehole]

Andrew Collings is a fucking idiot...

[carjetadore]

what a prick

[XxSallyXxJxX]

i think genes homophobia is funny, i would still do him

[spoonface]

I think you misunderstand what he's saying.

[doubledeckers]

I don't think so. It's pretty clear. He is explaining why they didn't have any casual racism in Life On Mars even though it was set in the 1970's when there was loads of everyday racism. It is because it made you 'not like' the character who was racist, he says. Then he goes on to contrast that with homophobia and sexism which he states are 'still quite funny' and one of his fellow writers can be heard agreeing in the background.

[doubledeckers]

By using the phrase 'even sexism' he clearly thinks there is a hierarchy of what is acceptable: racism at the top which is so bad that they couldn't include it in the series, then sexism which is 'still quite funny' but still pretty bad and then homophobia which is 'still quite funny' but not as bad as sexism.

The message is clear: be a sexist or homophobic bigot and you will still be likeable. So, you begin to see why the BBC is so reluctant to discipline staff who are homophobic.

[beforenightfell]

Laughable hypocrisy.

[beforenightfell]

The BBC is a representation of England, of the United Kingdom, so what he speaks, regardless of me liking it or not, is representative, and that is what the BBC is about-representing perspective.

And those who are not represented-go elsewhere. It is the market world that we live in.

Hooray for Capitalism, another victory to ward off growth and vilify human beings, go on and laugh til your bowels bleed.

[beforenightfell]

I think he speaks a certain reality. It is unfortunate but it is the reality.

We are still placed as caricature of masculinity. If we think about masculinity and realise that it is closed to new ideas, then it is easy to understand why a laugh at queer perspectives is still rampant.