[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

OK, WAYYYY off topic for some reason due to a completely logical and innocent comment which has been jumped on and blown out of proportion.

Lets try to not become too politically correct and find ourselves not be able to state an opinion without being labelled or even "insinuated" to be a racist.

What was said has NOTHING derogatory or insulting in it. It was simply a statement saying that it is preferred that the results of something medical in Australia, should not be sent elsewhere. This is an opinion that Peter is entitled to express.

The fact that a foreign country was mentioned and all of a sudden, it's deemed racist, or POSSIBLY racist, OR, "watch out what you say, this is a public forum". YES it's a public forum, YES, people from ALL over the world read what is posted here. BUT, the statement WAS in no way insulting or demeaning to anyone. There was NO comparison to anyone else, there was no implication of anyone not being able to do their job properly. It was simply a statement of preference. Anyone who reads anything untoward or insulting in that statement needs to take their PC hat off and take a good look at themselves. Seriously! Because you have encountered racism toward yourself or someone you love, doesnt give you the right to insult or accuse someone else of doing the same thing.

Let's test the statement this way, perhaps I said, ""Better health services (a radiologist reporting on my X-rays from the UK doesn't fit this model)"

Now, take ANOTHER read of that line.......hmmm? Sound racist now?

No, of course not. AND, I might point out, it didnt sound RACIST the FIRST time. It is quite common for this practice to take place, just like it is quite common for me in my job to call Telstra and be put through to a Phillipine call centre. This is a location and a nationality. Nothing wrong with either statement. To be "called out" for simply mentioning a nationality is insulting in itself.

Peter was not putting anyone down, or even casting aspersions on professionalism or expertise. The ONLY one doing anything insulting was Matt who has called Peter a "nasty fool" and for that, I say that Matt should apologise for the insult to Peter.

There, I have said my bit.

Chris