jamieshears

What an interesting topic/question. I read it when you first posted it John and have been thinking about it on and off since...seem to just go around in circles and not coming up with any definite opinion on the subject, so I thought I'd offend you all with my rambling below... Not my opinion necessarily, and this might seem like a silly thing to say, but to what extent does the listener need to take responsibility for their own sensitivity to a subject that they know offends them? Should they take any responsibility? Or should everything just be bland, PC, vanilla flavoured Cliff Richard inspired type stuff in order to avoid offending everyone? Or is that offensive in itself? Or should we allow full freedom of expression even if it offends a minority or even the majority? Do we draw the line at anything? If so, why? Why is it ok to be offensive on one topic but others are almost universally too offensive? I remember hearing Metallica's cover of "So What"1when I was in my teens. I was shocked, speechless and most importantly thoroughly entertained! I wouldn't repeat most of the lines in the song, but I certainly wasn't offended. I also wouldn't have played it to my mum! Perhaps (and maybe this is the bit where I make some sense!) there should be a distinction between inadvertantly and deliberately writing offensive material. Or more to the point - deliberately writing something that is intended to offend someone or a group of people. I don't know. I think that because I am almost unoffendable (and I can create new words too) that I lean towards allowing completely free speech. I am not offended if I see/hear something that disgusts me. Is anyone else like that? Does it make sense? What was the question again? Sorry for rambling, just wanted to get something out there on this... 1. If you don't know the song, google it and have a listen. Probably best not to if you are an easily offended sheep, goat, or parent.

Steve, where in Bristol is this? It's driving me insane, I know that I know - it's like a word on the tip of your tongue, but it's just not coming!!! I want to say Park Row, but I just did a street view search and I think I'm wrong... sorry to ressurect such an old topic!