A regional daily newspaper is taking on social media giant Facebook over its decision to ban the use of the word ‘faggot.’
Two Facebook users recently had their accounts temporarily suspended after they wrote about the classic food dish which originated in Bristol.
Now the Bristol Post has launched a bid to protect the traditional meaning of the word which is also used in the US and elsewhere as a term of abuse for homosexuals.
Editor Mike Norton penned a leader comment this week that there was no reason for Facebook to ban the term.
Wrote Mike: “There are, of course, more serious issues in the world. But we need to make a stand and protect the name faggots.
“For generations of Bristolians it has meant a familiar West Country dish. And there is no reason for Facebook to ban it.
“There are many words that have different literal and slang meanings but are not outlawed so why pick on the word faggots?
“Simply because it is a derogatory term for homosexuals is not a good reason. And in any case it is a term generally used in America and not here.”
A company that makes the delicacy has also been banned from posting adverts about it on the social networking site.
Mr Brain’s, which started making the savoury snack in Bristol in 1935, has launched a campaign urging Facebook to stop banning people from using their product’s name
A spokeswoman told the Post that whenever the firm tries to post an advert on the social networking site, the word faggots is always blocked.
She said: “We’re really sympathetic to Facebook’s need to monitor offensive words, but in the UK faggots are a favourite meal amongst lots of families. Surely there must be a way that Facebook can allow us to talk about a traditional British dish?”
The recent furore arose after two FB users attempted to use the word on their profiles.
Robert Wilkes, 54, was unable to use the site for 12 hours after he confessed he ‘liked faggots’, while 68-year-old Eileen Perrins also had her accuont temporarily blocked after posting a picture of the food, which is made from offal and off-cuts of meat.
“It may have a different meaning in America but I used it in a food context,” Mr Wilkes told a national newspaper.
Facebook has since admitted the two cases were a “transatlantic misunderstanding”, although Mr Brain’s claims the word is still banned in advertising on its site.
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Click through to the leader, then revel in the irony that the ‘F’ word is banned for commenters on Local World sites. Lolz.
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Oh Denzil, that is brilliant! Brightened up my morning.
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@Denzil
That’s brilliant!
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Unbelievable…egg on face, own goal etc etc. So Mike, seems you need to get your own house in order before jumping on Facebook.
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I do hope the Post can work in something not to far from Dick Emery’s famous phrase in the great faggot debate…
You are Offal but we like you!
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We’ve lost the delightful word ‘gay’ in its traditional form. ‘Cottage’ now has unfortunate connotations. The word ‘rainbow’ has been hijacked.
Now faggot – which has for generations meant either firewood or a tasty processed meat dish – is being denied us.
How much more of our language are we prepared to sacrifice to the militant homosexual lobby?
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Would that be the same Facebook that allows decapitation videos?
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I’m not all that well up on subcultural argot but I’d be fascinated to know how you rainbow somebody. Do tell.
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