Here is one that slightly annoyed me: well actually it has annoyed me so much it is tonight’s post.

I ask you reader, is the word ‘ Chinky ‘ as used for calling a Chinese take away an affectionate Glasgow slang term? Or is it institutionally racist?

I suspect the latter.

Ive been posting on a forum that promotes Glasgow. A lot of my posts on there have been light-hearted and I confess to indulging in a little crude humour laced with colourful metaphors. Anyway, a poster used the word ‘ chinky ‘ when describing buying a take away. After reading his post, I asked if maybe he should reconsider his choice of wording.

He did not wish to change it, nor did the moderator of the forum seem to agree that it is actually offensive. The poster, bless him posts a rant as to how angry I made him because he has Asian friends. Good for him.

My posts in reply to how I believed it was racist were deleted, his original post remained for a day or two. What is worse is that the moderator was on my personal MSN Messenger list, and for reasons she wont explain, has now blocked me and put me on ignore. (I did ask her what the problem was, but I never got a reply ) I dont get it, I dont get people sometimes.

The fact of the matter is that ‘ chinky ‘ is not Glasgow slang, nor is it quaint Stanley Baxter Parliamo Glasgow-speak. Its an example of institutionalised racism. That is the way it is perceived these days.

A forum that wishes to promote Glasgow and allow postings using those terms without being (in my and many other’s view ) properly moderated should remain hidden. I’m no big lover of Glasgow these days, but its not good promotion is it?