Caution, Jews crossing road...

[Sue U]

Ah, I am a bigot because I am intolerant of mindless bigotry! Excellent work!

No, you are a bigot because you get really upset when someone has a view about their own country that differs with yours. People are allowed to express their own view about their own country.

I am simply pointing out the bigotry both inherent in the slant of the article and on diplay in the comments -- particularly those comments appended to the story, but also yours here. Regardless of your own subjective feelings about the subject, it's bigotry, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with where I live or whether people are allowed to express their own views about their own country; expressing a bigoted view about your own country is still bigotry.

I know how to slant a story. "The article presented both sides" is the easiest -- and weakest/laziest --defense. (What is "the other side" here, exactly, and where/how was it presented?)

So you don't realise that papers slant a story? How naive.

Did you just see me write "I know how to slant a story"? I wrote the slanted stories. I've been doing media crit -- both academic and within the industry (and now as a hobby) -- for more than 30 years. Here's a clue: All news stories are biased, it is unavoidable; the issues are spotting the bias and the agenda being pushed. The UK tabs bash their readers over the head with it; no subtlety at all.

And as for the "other side", since you ask, "The decision to include automatic crossings was taken after leaders at Finchley United Synagogue explained their predicament to staff at Transport for London", "A spokesman said: ‘We always consult with the community over major road projects. This idea was suggested by the synagogue, whose members asked if it could be done. We thought about it and came to the conclusion that it could.’", "But one of the congregation said: ‘This is a sensible idea that will make a real difference.’", in fact, the whole bloody article was the other side. Nothing there suggesting it would cause traffic chaos, extra expense or people should rise up against it. How pathetic to assume so.

And yet that is exactly the response it got. Why do you suppose that is? (Hint: You completely missed the "other side" that I was actually referring to and its presentation by the article.)

As for "gets none back," You just said it's a Christian state! The entire apparatus of the State promotes the Church of England! Get a grip!

Gets none back from other religious societies. That is the perception here.

Like what? What is it you're expecting? Your whole damn country and all its State organs celebrate the Christian holidays in explicitly religious terms. WTF?

If you think that any of the 6 comments in the highest rated represent "bile" then you really need to try a Friday night in a British pub. I am shocked you have got so angry over something so limp.

So the comments I quoted above (all from the first 20 or so out of more than a thousand) are not bigoted? Or is bigotry ok if it's not as bad as what you hear in your local pub?

[Joe Guy]

Q. Why didn't the Orthodox Jew cross the road?

A. Because there was no orthodox crosswalk.

[thestoat]

I am simply pointing out the bigotry both inherent in the slant of the article and on diplay in the comments -- particularly those comments appended to the story, but also yours here. Regardless of your own subjective feelings about the subject, it's bigotry, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with where I live or whether people are allowed to express their own views about their own country; expressing a bigoted view about your own country is still bigotry.

According to your definition, any view against any form of religion seems to be lumped as bigotry. So be it. I think it vey valid to point out that there are other ways to accomodate this without hounding the motorist again - who always gets the brunt of the changes, with petrol at record prices, sleeping policemen everywhere, taxes sky high and now this. And I personally don't believe it is bigoted to say that it is ridiculous thing to have to do.

Did you just see me write "I know how to slant a story"? I wrote the slanted stories.

So out of interest, how could they have written this without a perceived bias against the change?

And yet that is exactly the response it got. Why do you suppose that is?

No, not "exactly". You yourself pointed out other views were present. No need to exaggerate. I suppose the response was because people are really fed up with needless traffic restrictions set up to appease a minority. As stated, there are other ways it could be done.

Like what? What is it you're expecting? Your whole damn country and all its State organs celebrate the Christian holidays in explicitly religious terms. WTF?

So a Christian country celebrates Christmas. So what? But this Christian country also has loads of Mosques and even Sharia courts. I don't see many Christian churches being built in Muslim countries.

So the comments I quoted above (all from the first 20 or so out of more than a thousand) are not bigoted? Or is bigotry ok if it's not as bad as what you hear in your local pub?

As I say, if you believe a bigot is someone who disagrees with a religious point of view then everyone is bigoted. You yourself said "all the most insulting bigoted remarks get the most approval": if they were the "most insulting bigoted remarks" then you are complaining over nothing. "would it not have been a lot more simple to just put a zebra crossing there?" Ouch - how insulting and bigoted is that? And that had twice the "likes" of number 2.

[Sean]

The thing is Sue that these days many British people are made to feel like second class citizens in their own country. They see their government continually give handouts to refugees, asylum-seekers and other immigrant and minority groups while they struggle to keep their heads above water. This leads to a great sense of frustration and that frustration is sometimes released at whoever happens to be in the firing line at the time (often thanks to the Daily Mail). Unfortunately this time it is the Jewish people. To the British public it is just another example of another minority group being afforded another consideration which would never be offered to them. The anger of course should be directed at the Government but human nature being what it is...

You are quick to describe it as appalling bigotry but trust me when I say that you might see it differently if you lived it.

So the bigotry on display is somehow justified, because the Daily Mail? What utter bullshit.

You're right. It is utter bullshit as I did not say that at all.

Are these Jews not British subjects? Do they not have a right to suggest how their tax money might be spent? Do they not have a right to provide some input into public works projects in their own community? As to "another consideration which would never be offered to them," you must be joking. The whole of British society is organized to the primary benefit of white Christians. Isn't the Church of England the official and established church? Isn't it guaranteed seats in the House of Lords? Doesn't the government have a hand in securing the appointment of its bishops? Aren't Christmas and Easter national holidays celebrated by the State? Don't State offices close for Christian celebrations? Ethnic minorities live in low-income households at twice the rate of "white British," yet whites have both a far lower unemployment rate AND far outnumber minorities on the dole.

I suggest you take heed of Stoat's sig line before remounting that high horse. You admit that it is 35 years since you were in the UK. Why is it so hard for you to believe that you may not have the first hand knowledge of the current situation that Stoat and I have?

Like what? What is it you're expecting? Your whole damn country and all its State organs celebrate the Christian holidays in explicitly religious terms. WTF?

Case in point. Do a little research and you'll find out just how inaccurate that statement it. Try looking up Winterval as a starting point...