Although sympathetic to what appears to be the motive I must disagree with Roy on various grounds.
Firstly, the context makes it blindingly obvious which sort of technology the 'stone-age' applies to.
Secondly, this is such a remote technology that it really is stretching to suggest a racist or classist reference.
Thirdly, although the same term was used about Afghanistan, it is patently inappropriate in terms of means of production/cultural level/communications/etc as even the most superficial TV documentary reveals.
Fourthly, the further rationale by analogy below simply does not work - there is no contemporary or near-contemporary resonance to using "stone-age" as there is to the use of the phrase cited (the implicit condemnation of which I agree with).
I am sure there is much a RadStats group can do with the data that is slowly and confusingly emerging from the Afghanistan situation )death rates/collateral damage/bomb tonnage.....) but nit-picking about this particular terminology seems to me to be a waste of time.
John
> -----Original Message-----
> From: irss23 [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 11:41 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Length of messages - message from 'listowner'
>
> I'm afraid that - whatever the context - I still find such conments
> insulting to the poor; it's an echo of the argument that it doesn't
> matter using phrases like 'nigger in the woodpile' ... so long as you
> are referring to a white person.
>
> Roy
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