Tangentially? It is all about money/power. It is how their names became linked with class in the past. A king rewarded his bully buys with titles and land - power and money. They passed that onto their kids. The power and money is what create[d|s] class. BUT that is no longer done - the royals don't hand out favours from their conquests - so that type of class has to diminish doesn't it? It is now replaced by a class system built, not necessarily on patronage, but on wealth - earned or otherwise.
As for the people you quote - if the money stays in the families they will become upper class with time - the money means potentially a better education - access to others of a similar social standing. That's how it works/worked. Or else the upper class will just die out with age won't it as how else do you get into that class? Or do tyou think that the upper class is closed shop? Do you think a republic can have a class system - and what then defines the boundaries of those classes? What about real life communism?
As far as I am concerned, the whole exchange was clearly racist. Unfortunately being asked where you are from, as a black person, is associated with the next statement, which was usually why are you here, go home.
You got it in one @punkdoc . I fail to see how anyone else could see otherwise. Clearly the overtones of the conversation were pointing in one direction the naïve like to think otherwise for reasons only they can fathom.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
I had decided not to participate in this thread ... but here I am anyway.
Frankly, it beggars belief that, after 60 years in the role, the LiW has not got better at the social chit chat required on these occasions. She started by digging a hole, and then just kept digging. Surely the answers, and, perhaps, the body language, should have given her enough clues to back off. Has she learnt nowt?
Some people on here are suggesting that Ms Fulani should have taken the lead and changed the subject ... and used the opportunity to speak about her organisation. But I expect she was too gobsmacked getting the 3rd degree. She did try with her answers to politely but firmly suggest that the LiW change the subject.
Finally, to anyone who is suggesting she has engineered good publicity for her organisation, shame on you.
One final point, she should not be judged on what she was wearing. I thought she looked fabulous.
Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I'm surprised there are still people who think that if you're a foreigner in a country and a local person asks you where you're from, that's just the same situation as this lady was in. I've lived in other countries, worked with people from various other countries. We constantly asked each other where we were from because we were clearly all *foreigners* there.
On the other hand, if you were in an office in the UK, being introduced to a few new colleagues who all appear to be British, would you just turn to the non-white colleague and ask where he/she was from? If the person has an interesting name or dress, then most people would just ask about the name or dress. I don't agree that the implication of that question is "Go home" but to me, without any other context, it implies "You don't look British so where are you really from?". Which is annoying.
That you are confident, outgoing, warm and chatty.
I agree with B3, if you wear what I would describe as an ethnic ensemble to any do, formal or otherwise, you are making a highly visual statement and should anticipate being asked about it. If the charity worker had simply said, Oh, my family are from Nigeria or Kenya, or wherever, that might have lead to the LiW saying oh, I had a lovely time when I stayed there and the conversation would have moved on.
The LiW wouldn't have been socially inept, she's spent 60 years as a companion to the late Queen, although the gossip has it that she was regarded as 'terrifying'. Like a headmistress I knew.
The media have of course leapt on the incident as they love stirring things up and the charity has got a lot of publicity.
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When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
You got it in one @punkdoc . I fail to see how anyone else could see otherwise. Clearly the overtones of the conversation were pointing in one direction the naïve like to think otherwise for reasons only they can fathom.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
Frankly, it beggars belief that, after 60 years in the role, the LiW has not got better at the social chit chat required on these occasions. She started by digging a hole, and then just kept digging. Surely the answers, and, perhaps, the body language, should have given her enough clues to back off. Has she learnt nowt?
Some people on here are suggesting that Ms Fulani should have taken the lead and changed the subject ... and used the opportunity to speak about her organisation.
But I expect she was too gobsmacked getting the 3rd degree.
She did try with her answers to politely but firmly suggest that the LiW change the subject.
Finally, to anyone who is suggesting she has engineered good publicity for her organisation, shame on you.
One final point, she should not be judged on what she was wearing. I thought she looked fabulous.
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I've lived in other countries, worked with people from various other countries. We constantly asked each other where we were from because we were clearly all *foreigners* there.
On the other hand, if you were in an office in the UK, being introduced to a few new colleagues who all appear to be British, would you just turn to the non-white colleague and ask where he/she was from? If the person has an interesting name or dress, then most people would just ask about the name or dress.
I don't agree that the implication of that question is "Go home" but to me, without any other context, it implies "You don't look British so where are you really from?". Which is annoying.
I agree with B3, if you wear what I would describe as an ethnic ensemble to any do, formal or otherwise, you are making a highly visual statement and should anticipate being asked about it. If the charity worker had simply said, Oh, my family are from Nigeria or Kenya, or wherever, that might have lead to the LiW saying oh, I had a lovely time when I stayed there and the conversation would have moved on.
The LiW wouldn't have been socially inept, she's spent 60 years as a companion to the late Queen, although the gossip has it that she was regarded as 'terrifying'. Like a headmistress I knew.
The media have of course leapt on the incident as they love stirring things up and the charity has got a lot of publicity.
Hmmm 🤔
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.