I fail to see the racism.

[Sean]

Good call on the first six seasons Kristina. If you haven't seen seasons 7, 8 and Back to Earth (ESPECIALLY Back to Earth) I really wouldn't bother. It was all downhill after season 6... Rob Grant left the show and so did most of the laughs.

The next (and likely last) season starts shooting next month. Let's hope they can get back on track.

[Crackpot]

I thought the US was the only country that aired shows that should have been cancelled years ago

[Sean]

It never should have been cancelled CP. They changed the format, took away the studio audience and tried to turn it into a comedy drama. They should have left it alone.

Doug Naylor has stated that the next season will be back to the original format so I remain hopeful.

[Crackpot]

So in other words it Jumped the shark

[Sean]

Maybe... I don't think it is irretrievably lost though.

I'll let you know when I see the new season next year.

[Gob]

Red Dwarf jumped the shark in series 5.

[The Hen]

I agree 100%

When Rimmer went and was replaced by Kochanski it was the end.

[Gob]

Back to the OP;

HE STEPFATHER of a mixed-race teenager who was called a "dirty little Arab" by a bus driver is demanding a written apology – after it was claimed to be an "old Cornish saying".

Alex Ruffon, 13, from Goonhavern, was travelling on the bus from Newquay Tretherras School on November 8 when the driver made the offensive remark in front of other pupils.

The youngster's stepfather, Matthew Walsh, complained to bus operator Hopley's and said: "They told me that Alex had been badly behaved on the bus, spitting on the floor and picking his nose. She remarked that the driver's comment was not racist but an old Cornish saying, but there's nothing Cornish about it.

"I was very angry that someone acting as a spokesman for a company could be condoning racism."

Outraged at the firm's handling of his complaint Mr Walsh contacted Cornwall Council and has lodged a complaint with the police.

A Hopley's spokesman said the driver made the comment but that no racism had been intended.

The driver, in his sixties, resigned after the incident but was reinstated and is back driving the same route, she added.

Following an investigation, Cornwall Council wrote to Mr Walsh saying the driver had admitted using the phrase "dirty little Arab".

The letter said reports showed the driver had used it in the past to others, regardless of ethnicity, and was apparently ignorant of its racist connotations.

In a statement to the West Briton Cornwall Council added: "It was entirely inappropriate for the driver to use such language, both the driver and operator have received a formal warning and been instructed that use of such language will not be tolerated in the future."

Mr Walsh said the allegation that his son spat on the bus was unfounded and he would have expected the company to have contacted him over such "appalling" behaviour. He said his son admitted picking his nose.

His son was ticked-off for throwing paper on the bus 18 months earlier, he added.

"All I wanted was an apology from the driver. I will pursue this through the courts if he does not say sorry. Language like this is not appropriate."

The driver could be prosecuted for an alleged racially aggravated public order offence.

Dean Harvey, a member of the Cornwall Racial Equality Council said the bus company had been naive in its handling of the complaint.

"There needs to be a zero-tolerance to this sort of language. When working with the public you need to be aware, ignorance is no defence. An apology is warranted."

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Driver- ... story.html

Spitting is a public health hazard, being called a member of another race is not.

These parents should get their own house in order before complaining

[BoSoxGal]

These parents should get their own house in order before complaining.

That kind of thinking is just shocking!