General Discussion
Name of Bowls Team
I went down to the lawn on Sunday and there was a charity bowls event.
One Dawlish Team was called Nig Nogs.I have written by email to complain to the Council as this expresion is used in a derogatory manner. I have also written a letter to the bowls club.
Why are people in Dawlish we have very few ethnic people Exeter is the 'Whitest' city in the country.
People voting for BNP?! Doesn't seem so bizarre when you realise a lot of people in Dawlish voted for Freemasons for the Town Council.
The reason we are racist (as you call it) is because a lot of us have come from cities where immigrants receive priority. I call that unfair.
Anyway the bowls day was very well attended, successful and raised a tremendous amount for local charities.
Why do some people who collect for charity, get all superior about it and think it excludes them from criticism?
This brings to mind the attitude of Roundtable and Rotary. The public give money and yet these pariahs take all the praise.
Just do it and keep quiet about it.
Hi
I wouldnt normally reply but
First of all i would like to say i was part of the team called Nig nogs but let me tell you how it arrived
My grandad worked in the mines from the age of 14 till he retired , and throughout is life he was never racist !!Any one that knew him would have told you that he would have helped anyone.
The event that took place on sunday was the Harry Bettridge Memorial Trohpy .My grandad loved bowling,he had been bowing for nearly 30 years, and unfortunatley died outside the bowing green ,a few years ago .
And because what he had done for the bowling club , the club decided to put on this one day event for all the people within Dawlish to come play , young and old ,even if they had never bowled before.
ok the term nig nog can mean very different things , My grandad used this name because it means in mining terms -"NOT VERY GOOD" he also got it from a tv show called "king of the nogs" . When he first moved to Dawlish he played skittles and the brunswick under the team name Nig nogs" meaning they were not very good at it .
In this day and age being politcal correct doesnt mean that everyone is racist and its correct to object to every little thing .
So i apologise if you mistakenly thought that it was racist , however next year close your eyes because it will be there again!!!!
It was a pleasure to be invited by the Bowls club and to see so much people have fun on that day .
Also a big thank you to all the attended,
Suggest you google the term "nig nog". You might then realise just how offensive it is.That your grandfather used it all those years ago and in that context is irrelevant. TODAY it is an offensive term.
"The reason we are racist (as you call it) is because a lot of us have come from cities where immigrants receive priority. I call that unfair." - see one of the postings above.
No mention of the term being used in connection with mining there. Totally to do with race according to that posting.
Its also a West Indian drink.
If the PC brigade don't like it, then tuff.
I too would like to vote BNP
But here, in THIS country, it is a derogative term and as was stated right at the beginning of this thread it seems to have been chosen BECAUSE of its racist & derogative connotations.
I would like to point out to all those racist posters. I am a Londoner moved here because I was mugged four times by WHITE youths, and as some of my family were here thought it a good idea.
I hope you racist don't use the Indian or Chinese take-aways.
It is safe to spout your rotten words through a computer if you did it in the real world you would get a smack in the mouth.
You disgust me
My, my. Just perusing the internet & came across your topic. While the term might be considered racist now. Weren't the team calling themselves Nig Nog?????? or have I missed the point. Was it actually aimed at someone specifically as an insult? Years ago in the 1930's as a matter of fact. There were a lot of Nig Nog football leagues & lots of other clubs with the same name. It was not an insult/racist phrase then.It referred to Youth. If you search for Bradford City's heroes of World War Two: Alfred Keeling, you will see that he played football for Carlton Street School & Sedburgh-members of the Senior Nignog league. It's only mans stupity in changing the meanings of certain words over the years.Lets face it heterosexual men didn't mind being called Gay then did they? Unfortunately words are being changed all the time even by the youth of today, have you noticed? God help us!!!. What will the world be like when they grow up? Nobody will be able to look at or speak to one another in case someone gets upset.How sad is that? Trouble is now you've just started a bit of hatred yourself by complaining in the first place. I can't believe some of the comments, you're all as bad, worse than toddlers. "Please Miss, Johnney just called me names". Grow up!!! Find something else to occupy your time give the bowls a miss if it upsets you so much. It's not worth it honestly it isn't. Do something for Help the Aged, The Homeless, your Neighbour even or raise money for people in the third world countries who are dying of starvation while you are busy with your arguments over stupid words.
This post is sent with love xx
Words aren't stupid. Words can hurt and inflame. Ever heard the expression "the pen is mightier than the sword"?
Language changes - all the time. If I wrote this in the English used in the 1300s I doubt if you would understand a word of it.
The meanings of words change also. (and by the way Gay = homosexual is not an insulting word - well....not at the moment).
Words like Wog and Nignog/ Nig Nog may not have been insulting some years back but they are now.
I sometimes wonder what century Devon lives in.
Hi of course words aren't stupid. Man has turned these phrases into being insulting/racist. I just can't believe you've let the name of a bowls team cause such aggression between people.Some of the comments on this forum are also insulting.Contempt breeds contempt. As for the word "GAY" I once saw someone get punched for asking someone if they were gay.We can all get insulted by something everyday. Just watch TV. The point is; by highlighting this subject, the team has been given publicity. You've heard the phrase " There is no such thing as Bad publicity" no doubt. Was it just one person insulted by the name or the whole of Dawlish? As I said just don't attend the next bowls match. If so many people objected they won't go either & it will be a disaster.Form your own bowls team. As for the pen being mightier than the sword I think you'll find that some of todays youth think that it is the knife that rules. Don't get me wrong, I hate racist remarks & thats not just Black & White. Sometimes you just have to bite your lip & rise above it.It's time to teach our children better values like tolerence & respect for other people. Mind you some adults need that too. Some people are so well balanced they have chips on both shoulders. "That is a joke by the way" :-) You could go on & on about this subject but personally I'm now off to look for the good things in life. Lots of lovely people out there you know. I was just passing by, might call back one day.I leave you with some lovely words. It was nice to exchange views with you. Love xxxx
DESIDERATA
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
--- Max Ehrmann, 1927