Briarroot wrote in message ...
Mark Houlsby wrote:
...
No doubt you consider his having insulted every Chinese person in the
world equally hilarious...

I doubt if *any* Chinese person actually felt insulted. It's you pathetic
nanny types who are fussing and fuming as if your skirts are on fire.

Here's the context of the dialogue above: Both Mark Houlsby and Briarroot were
referring to this comment in the thread, 'Zhang Zhong revisited' (2 June 2003)
by Tim Hanke, who wrote: "Bugger the Chinese..."

Hence, Briarroot "doubts" that "*any* (his emphasis) Chinese person" could
"feel insulted" by being told, "Bugger the Chinese" (Tim Hanke's comment).

For the record, many Chinese do understand what "bugger" means in English.

Previously, in the thread, 'Zhang Zhong revisited', Briarroot apparently
suggested that this "little school yard ditty" (his phrase) among Americans
seems "deliciously humorous" to him, a white American:

"Ching Chong Chinaman went to milk a cow
Ching Chong Chinaman didn't know how
Ching Chong Chinaman pulled the wrong tit
Ching Chong Chinaman covered in ****."

'People of poor capacities are apt to be deluded by vulgar prejudices.'
--William Donaldson (The Life & Adventures of Sir Bartholomew Sapskull)

When Briarroot writes that he "doubts" that "*any* Chinese person" could "feel
insulted" by being told, "Bugger the Chinese", as usual for him, Briarroot
(who loves to run around here exclaiming "Observe the obvious!") seems very
sure of himself.

Hence, I propose an experiment to test Briarroot's confident hypothesis.
Briarroot should join a full-contact practice of English-speaking Chinese
martial arts experts. There Briarroot could strut in, quite confident in his
belief that not "*any* Chinese*" (his words) could "feel insulted" by being
told: "Bugger the Chinese." Then Briarroot should feel free to shout, over
and over, "Bugger the Chinese! Bugger the Chinese!", while inviting all the
Chinese to join in his laughter. "Isn't that deliciously humorous?", he might
tell them.

Briarroot has written that he prides himself on always being "thick-skinned"
and "broad-minded". How long would the "thick-skinned" Briarroot be able to
laugh? Afterward, would the "broad-minded" Briarroot be able to complain
that the Chinese responses to him were "oversensitive" without appearing
"oversensitive" himself about the Chinese responses?

Of course, given his consistent past refusals to do so here, Briarroot should
not be expected to admit that he could be wrong. In that case, I would agree
that his experiment should have little scientific validity until many trials
have corroborated its initial outcome. Hence, in the interests of scientific
research, Briarroot should visit as many Chinese martial arts practices as
possible in order to test whether his initial experience there after shouting,
"Bugger the Chinese! Bugger the Chinese!", would be replicated elsewhere.
Eventually, Briarroot might be able to say that the outcomes have become
conclusive, or perhaps Briarroot--conclusively--might not be able to say
anything more at all.

So I urge Briarroot to consider volunteering for this experiment. Some of
my Chinese friends might even offer a modest contribution on behalf of his
travel expenses to Chinese martial arts events, though not on behalf of his
potential medical bills. I shall await Briarroot's final report (or the
final report on Briarroot) with keen interest.

Of course, like most other racist bullies, Briarroot seems to be a coward,
who would hardly risk facing the personal consequences of his vile racism.

'The man who is a bigot and yet disclaims infallibility is a contradiction
to himself.'
--Mary Collyer (Felicia to Charlotte)

--Nick