View Full Version : Historically innocent words/names that have a far less innocent meaning today
This morning I posted on the main Coronavirus/COVID-19 thread about old fizzy pop whose brand name was Corona, that I'm sure many of a certain age will fondly remember from their younger years, and implied the name has very different and less innocent connotations right now.
I can think of many other words/names/brands that are now potentially controversial in these more enlightened times, Mr. Brains' 'Faggots' to name but one.
Can anyone think of any others?
A couple of years back I recall seeing an apartment block called Isis Court, and is in quite a well-to-do area.
Also the female name Karen is now (dare I say it) starting to have negative connotations.
How about childhood sweets like 'Gob Stoppers' and the little black liquorice wrapped sweets called Blackjacks (possible only in the West Midlands as I don't remember seeing them anywhere else).Even the name 'Black Country' where I grew up seems to cause offence nowadays ... although the term originated in the old coal mining industry...
How about childhood sweets like 'Gob Stoppers' and the little black liquorice wrapped sweets called Blackjacks (possible only in the West Midlands as I don't remember seeing them anywhere else).Even the name 'Black Country' where I grew up seems to cause offence nowadays ... although the term originated in the old coal mining industry...
I have always loved Black Jacks and their 'sister' Fruit Salad chewy sweets, and I'm sure they're still available now, and also outside of the West Midlands conurbation.
I can kind of identify with the name 'Black Country' causing some offence as much of it has above average BAME populations (cue the inevitable racist overtones) but said populations have resided in much of the Black Country area (and Birmingham) for several decades before now with barely a hint of indignation at the name.
And I was born in West Brom BTW.
I have always loved Black Jacks and their 'sister' Fruit Salad chewy sweets, and I'm sure they're still available now, and also outside of the West Midlands conurbation.I can kind of identify with the name 'Black Country' causing some offence as much of it has above average BAME populations (cue the inevitable racist overtones) but said populations have resided in much of the Black Country area (and Birmingham) for several decades before now with barely a hint of indignation at the name.And I was born in West Brom BTW.Small world Lencoboy - I was born there too. Also remember the fruit salad sweets - used to get them from the local newsagent on a Saturday morning - you could get I think ten individual wrapped sweets for 5p in a paper bag (remember little white paper bags?) Also remember flying saucers (sherbert in a rice-paper dome), sherbert fountains with the liquorice stick, and red shoelaces...... but I digress.You are quite right though about the local populace not having a problem with the 'black country' - only outsider PC brigade and some local councillors feel they have to take offence at it. A local school in Guns Village also tried to change the name of the school (Guns Village Primary) because the reference to guns promoted violence.... makes you want to weep!
MyNameIsTerry
21-08-20, 23:37
I remember Black jacks. You can get them now as those retro sweet companies do them online.
It used to be PC brigade but they've been usurped by later millenials and more recently 'the woke'. :biggrin: Didn't we used to call them busy bodies? Mary Whitehouse was more risqué.
They get all indignant about guns yet there is a place in Scotland called Tw@tt :roflmao:
It's the problem with this whitewashing we are seeing where the more batshit crazy want to make everything neutral or to their leanings. The Black Country is fine even if some marchers in London don't like it. Can I buy a box of Black Magic or am I appropriating someone's culture? :doh:
One old name was for the colour brown or black often seen in shoe polish.
MyNameIsTerry
22-08-20, 04:52
You could easily misread this one...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81BLAxFw-bL._SL1500_.jpg
I'm surprised no one as yet has demanded the brand name 'Black & Decker' to be banned.
Ditto R. White's lemonade.
Even the word 'lemonade' itself has developed dubious connotations over the years!!
They get all indignant about guns yet there is a place in Scotland called Tw@tt
There's a Nob End not far from us. :yesyes:
There's a Nob End not far from us. :yesyes:
That's just reminded me, what about McVities 'Hob Nob' biscuits?
How about a nice old northern phrase .... 'nowt as queer as folk' .... someone is bound to take offence at this and accuse it of appropriation of culture.
I remember Black jacks. You can get them now as those retro sweet companies do them online.
It used to be PC brigade but they've been usurped by later millenials and more recently 'the woke'. :biggrin: Didn't we used to call them busy bodies? Mary Whitehouse was more risqué.
They get all indignant about guns yet there is a place in Scotland called Tw@tt :roflmao:
It's the problem with this whitewashing we are seeing where the more batshit crazy want to make everything neutral or to their leanings. The Black Country is fine even if some marchers in London don't like it. Can I buy a box of Black Magic or am I appropriating someone's culture? :doh:
One old name was for the colour brown or black often seen in shoe polish.
I can sort of understand the term 'Black Country' having evolved into a kind of pejorative term due to much of the area having above average BAME populations, which is purely coincidental, but the name/term historically refers to the area's heavy industrial heritage, and like I already stated upthread, BAME populations have resided in the area for decades now and never previously seemed to bat an eyelid.
For the record, there is also an area in Greater London called 'White City', the name virtually being the complete polar opposite to the 'Black Country', and I haven't as yet heard of any mass outrage from their local BAME populace.
Just cop this next one, in Austria there is a town called 'F**king', which as you all know full well is a well-known swear word in the English language (and very likely to be highly problematic for prudish tourists from countries where English is the primary language), but totally different for the locals, especially in a historical context.
And I'm serious, I'm not making it up about the latter place.
WiredIncorrectly
08-09-20, 22:55
The Black Country is a predominately racist area. I live in it. Folk don't speak about black or Indian ethnicities too kindly around here and there isn't many black or Indian people in the area I live. There's small pockets of Indian areas around the black country, but they're tiny compared to other areas. That's my experience of the area at least. I don't know 1 person that isn't racist in some form around here. It's depressing.
The Black Country is a predominately racist area. I live in it. Folk don't speak about black or Indian ethnicities too kindly around here and there isn't many black or Indian people in the area I live. There's small pockets of Indian areas around the black country, but they're tiny compared to other areas. That's my experience of the area at least. I don't know 1 person that isn't racist in some form around here. It's depressing.
It is. You need to come to Cov more often. It has its faults, but I've never lived in any city as accepting and celebrating of other cultures, nor as generally friendly. I love the place.
WiredIncorrectly
09-09-20, 10:01
I used to live not far from Coventry (Coleshill). I haven't been to Cov in almost 10 years, but it was a nice area back then. You a cov. football supporter btw?
Not especially, but I know loads who are.
MRS STRESS ED
09-09-20, 10:26
The one that worried me was uncle Joe's mint balls 🤣 the reason it worried me l had an uncle Joe xx
WiredIncorrectly
09-09-20, 15:03
The one that worried me was uncle Joe's mint balls 🤣 the reason it worried me l had an uncle Joe xx LOL!
The Black Country is a predominately racist area. I live in it. Folk don't speak about black or Indian ethnicities too kindly around here and there isn't many black or Indian people in the area I live. There's small pockets of Indian areas around the black country, but they're tiny compared to other areas. That's my experience of the area at least. I don't know 1 person that isn't racist in some form around here. It's depressing.I grew up in the Black Country - before the passing of the Race Relations Act - and can only say that racism you refer to is mainly passive words rather than aggressive. The other thing I would say is the racism runs both ways - between indigenous white, black Asian, Afro-Carribbean and the various Eastern European communities that have arrived in the last twenty years. Just what happens when you have large mixed and often culturally incompatible communities living side by side. But when we were children, both sides called each other everything in the playground and we just laughed it off ... not taken so lightly these days. My own parents in their 80s have been verbally abused and on one occasion physically threatened just for being elderly, white and minding their own business on the street by asian and afro-caribbean youths. Damn right it's depressing....
WiredIncorrectly
09-09-20, 23:13
You're right it is mostly verbal and I've noticed if an Indian or black person was around (like my brother) the people change their tune. I have racist neighbors, they don't say anything bad to him and are polite towards him but when he's gone they're back to saying racist remarks. You're right about racism being on both sides too. It does exist and is less spoken about even though it happens a lot more than we like to imagine. I have family members who are racist. My own Nan has opinionated views but everybody laughs it off and she's mostly always joking. Many of her grandkids and great grandkids are mixed raced. She loves them all the same.
Whilst still on the subject of racism, I heard/read that some early episodes of EastEnders featured the N-word as part of the dialogue (and pre-watershed too), which would most certainly have been unthinkable some 35 years later.
Just imagine all the hysteria from the so-called 'flakes and wokes and OFCOM being flooded with calls and emails, yet for better or worse, hardly anyone seemed to make a big deal out of it back in 85. Most ironic considering some of the worst race riots occured in various major cities across England during the September-October period of that year.
Whilst still on the subject of racism, I heard/read that some early episodes of EastEnders featured the N-word as part of the dialogue (and pre-watershed too), which would most certainly have been unthinkable some 35 years later.
Just imagine all the hysteria from the so-called 'flakes and wokes and OFCOM being flooded with calls and emails, yet for better or worse, hardly anyone seemed to make a big deal out of it back in 85. Most ironic considering some of the worst race riots occured in various major cities across England during the September-October period of that year.
Likewise, many early Brookside episodes (especially before 85) had lines with milder swear words, again,
pre-watershed. Some of Bobby Grant's heavy militant antics I often found rather cringeworthy, especially punch-ups with his fellow colleagues on the shop floor of the then-doomed factory he worked at, and the strikes and picketing he often organised. He even arranged and attended an emergency trade union meeting on Christmas Day in December 1982, which Sheila was mega cheesed off about.
Bobby also had the nerve to give Damon a good hiding in front of all the neighbours in the Close on a couple of occasions, which I most certainly wouldn't want to witness in our street, no matter how justified the parents concerned felt.
Whilst still on the subject of racism, I heard/read that some early episodes of EastEnders featured the N-word as part of the dialogue (and pre-watershed too), which would most certainly have been unthinkable some 35 years later.
Just imagine all the hysteria from the so-called 'flakes and wokes and OFCOM being flooded with calls and emails, yet for better or worse, hardly anyone seemed to make a big deal out of it back in 85. Most ironic considering some of the worst race riots occured in various major cities across England during the September-October period of that year.
I just finished watching the old civil war tv mini series from the mid eighties with Patrick Swayze. The N word was used freely in context. I got zero issue with that. I don't think today they could make an honest piece like that because of all the PC BS.
Political correctness does not equal correctness.
MyNameIsTerry
08-10-20, 01:06
I agree. Censoring comedy is one thing but drama is expected to depict life. How can harsh conditions be depicted if everyone is nice & respectful? Where next? Will we remove violence? Will it cross causes so domestic violence and homophobia are no longer depicted for their vileness?
I agree. Censoring comedy is one thing but drama is expected to depict life. How can harsh conditions be depicted if everyone is nice & respectful? Where next? Will we remove violence? Will it cross causes so domestic violence and homophobia are no longer depicted for their vileness?
Same goes for (non-sexual) child abuse, which I think is greatly overlooked by the news alone these days, unlike back in the 80s and early 90s it seemed to be a big thing.
We may rarely see kids being beaten black and blue by their parents whilst shopping in town or in the supermarket these days, which was still a fairly common sight when I was younger, but God knows what parents still might be doing to them at home behind closed doors.
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