Council crack down on 'English speaking' taxi stickers (From Daily Echo)

Unlimited* Service wrote:
Two points::-

1 - "It is also asking members of the public to report any such signs"

Council obviously not interested in us reporting drivers who can't speak English. Isn't that a requirement of their licence?

Typical desk jockeys in the Council.

2 - the Echo have censored a bunch of messages posted earlier. The Daily Mail has this story today and the comments forum is a much better read.

southy wrote:
the council not asking to take down english speaking signs just the st george flag. on face book there is a page to boycott such taxi.

Dan Kerins wrote:

Unlimited* Service wrote: Two points::- 1 - "It is also asking members of the public to report any such signs" Council obviously not interested in us reporting drivers who can't speak English. Isn't that a requirement of their licence? Typical desk jockeys in the Council. 2 - the Echo have censored a bunch of messages posted earlier. The Daily Mail has this story today and the comments forum is a much better read.

This is a new story. The previous comments are all on the older story, which this one links to.

Unlimited* Service wrote:

southy wrote:
the council not asking to take down english speaking signs just the st george flag. on face book there is a page to boycott such taxi.

You should really get out a bit - where I live in Spain the supermarkets have little signs above checkouts showing the flags of Countries like England, Germany and the Netherlands with messages like "I speak English". It is implied the staff speak Spanish. A similar system could operate with the taxis in Southampton but doesn't - afterall there must be a large number of languages spoken by drivers.

The assumption that taxi drivers in Southampton speak English can't be made (through experience) - but isn't it a condition of their licence they speak English?

Common wrote:
Some Soton taxi drivers might be a bit racist?! Well blow me down and call me Ethel.

My View from the Hill wrote:
Friends of mine (group of 4 people) and myself (in another group of 4 people) both got picked up in Bitterne and dropped off in Bedford Place, this was at the same time, same taxi company, taking the same route, my groups fare was £3.00 more expensive than my friends, my driver was not English, my friends driver was, I contested this with my driver and went on in language I didn't understand, but he understood me and trust £3.00 back into my hand. I've heard this is happening quite alot, I think if customers are getting ripped off by foreign drivers, customers have a choice which taxi they enter, and those customers who wish to have an English speaking driver should be allowed too. It's not racist, it's consumer choice, look at the Shirley High Street many shop sign say Polish Shop, you would assume the owner is a Polish speaker, I don't the council cracking down on that and I don't see anyone calling that racist or anything else for that matter.

jono1974 wrote:
WE NEED A BNP COUNCIL NOW.

Redback wrote:
The stickers are dog-whistle racism, plain and simple. They shouldn't be banned, but they should be condemned. If you don't know what dog-whistle racism is, please google it before ranting. Thank you.

jono1974 wrote:
WE NEED A BNP COUNCIL NOW.

Red&White Power wrote:

Redback wrote:
The stickers are dog-whistle racism, plain and simple. They shouldn't be banned, but they should be condemned. If you don't know what dog-whistle racism is, please google it before ranting. Thank you.

Sounds like some sad left wing term

Redback wrote:

Red&White Power wrote:

Redback wrote:
The stickers are dog-whistle racism, plain and simple. They shouldn't be banned, but they should be condemned. If you don't know what dog-whistle racism is, please google it before ranting. Thank you.

Sounds like some sad left wing term

What? How can a description of an aspect of political linguistics have an opinion?

southy wrote:

Redback wrote:

Red&White Power wrote:

Redback wrote: The stickers are dog-whistle racism, plain and simple. They shouldn't be banned, but they should be condemned. If you don't know what dog-whistle racism is, please google it before ranting. Thank you.

Sounds like some sad left wing term

What? How can a description of an aspect of political linguistics have an opinion?

redback spot on it is dog-whistle politics/racism

southy wrote:

Redback wrote:

Red&White Power wrote:

Redback wrote:
The stickers are dog-whistle racism, plain and simple. They shouldn't be banned, but they should be condemned. If you don't know what dog-whistle racism is, please google it before ranting. Thank you.

Sounds like some sad left wing term

What? How can a description of an aspect of political linguistics have an opinion?

redback spot on it is dog-whistle politics/racism

freemantlegirl2 wrote:

southy wrote:

Redback wrote:

Red&White Power wrote:

Redback wrote:
The stickers are dog-whistle racism, plain and simple. They shouldn't be banned, but they should be condemned. If you don't know what dog-whistle racism is, please google it before ranting. Thank you.

Sounds like some sad left wing term

What? How can a description of an aspect of political linguistics have an opinion?

redback spot on it is dog-whistle politics/racism

I hadn't thought about it like that - good point.

However, I believe this is down to the Council. It should be demanded that drivers have a good grasp of the English language, and let's face it it's not the easiest language to learn, and have a decent knowledge of the city before they are considered for a licence, private cab or taxi. Firms who run companies in the city should have Standards that they have to adhere to. If this is done it removes the need for 'stickers' of any kind because the public will know that they will be provided with a certain standard. I have to say on more than one occasion I've ordered a cab/got in a taxi where the driver 's English was so bad I couldn't understand him. This is one job where people should be able to make themselves understood and understand what is being asked of them. You would not get a job in another European country as a taxi driver if you didn't speak the lingo! that isn't racism it's fact.

kaysnan wrote:
I disagree with the councill. It is not being racist by displaying these stickers, it is mearly saying that your driver can converse with you if so required and you do not have to try and explain where you need to go to reach your destination. Have experienced not being able to communicate with a driver and was taken the very long way home, with only a grunt if i commented. I really don't see how the stickers can be called racist, they are just making a statement, and i for one am thankful for that.

peasant wrote:
Think yourselves lucky. Not only do we have the language barrier with some cabbies, there's a few round here who can't drive a car to save their lives. Terrifying some of them are!!!

I've seen more competent joyriders!!!!!

Miles Way wrote:
Southy suggests a connection between displaying the St George flag and BNP/EDL yet the Welsh commonly display their flag and the Scots theirs, neither use the Union flag, yet to be English and displaying our national flag is somehow racist??
Personally I expect a UK taxi driver to have firm grasp of the English language and know his/her way around (the last Southampton one I used was utterly useless and impossible to communicate with)

Redback wrote:
St George was Turkish by the way.

Just thought some of you may find that a fun fact. :-)

Nightime wrote:

kaysnan wrote:
I disagree with the councill. It is not being racist by displaying these stickers, it is mearly saying that your driver can converse with you if so required and you do not have to try and explain where you need to go to reach your destination. Have experienced not being able to communicate with a driver and was taken the very long way home, with only a grunt if i commented. I really don't see how the stickers can be called racist, they are just making a statement, and i for one am thankful for that.

So if I refuse to take my information sign down, the council are saying that they will suspend me from driving my Taxi, I then will not be able to make a living. Then when I take legal proceedings to sue the council for an unlawful suspension, stopping me from making a living. On what grounds will their defence be? I think my case would be very strong, and a good way to obtain some compensation from Southampton City Council. My sign is going to stay up. If you suspend me, then I will sue you…….

southy wrote:

Miles Way wrote:
Southy suggests a connection between displaying the St George flag and BNP/EDL yet the Welsh commonly display their flag and the Scots theirs, neither use the Union flag, yet to be English and displaying our national flag is somehow racist??
Personally I expect a UK taxi driver to have firm grasp of the English language and know his/her way around (the last Southampton one I used was utterly useless and impossible to communicate with)

the trouble with what you calling our national flag, the st george cross is a coat of arms of a past king. richard the loin heart. our national flag is the union flag. and the george cross is only patron st. and not the national flag. england is spilt up in regions with its own flags like down here its the yellow dragon on a red field the flag of wessex.
and if you like to look at scottish and welsh drivers they dont put down like welsh speaking drivers, or scottish speaking drivers.

southy wrote:

Miles Way wrote:
Southy suggests a connection between displaying the St George flag and BNP/EDL yet the Welsh commonly display their flag and the Scots theirs, neither use the Union flag, yet to be English and displaying our national flag is somehow racist??
Personally I expect a UK taxi driver to have firm grasp of the English language and know his/her way around (the last Southampton one I used was utterly useless and impossible to communicate with)

the trouble with what you calling our national flag, the st george cross is a coat of arms of a past king. richard the loin heart. our national flag is the union flag. and the george cross is only patron st. and not the national flag. england is spilt up in regions with its own flags like down here its the yellow dragon on a red field the flag of wessex.
and if you like to look at scottish and welsh drivers they dont put down like welsh speaking drivers, or scottish speaking drivers.

southy wrote:

Miles Way wrote:
Southy suggests a connection between displaying the St George flag and BNP/EDL yet the Welsh commonly display their flag and the Scots theirs, neither use the Union flag, yet to be English and displaying our national flag is somehow racist??
Personally I expect a UK taxi driver to have firm grasp of the English language and know his/her way around (the last Southampton one I used was utterly useless and impossible to communicate with)

the trouble with what you calling our national flag, the st george cross is a coat of arms of a past king. richard the loin heart. our national flag is the union flag. and the george cross is only patron st. and not the national flag. england is spilt up in regions with its own flags like down here its the yellow dragon on a red field the flag of wessex.
and if you like to look at scottish and welsh drivers they dont put down like welsh speaking drivers, or scottish speaking drivers.

Redback wrote:
St George was Turkish by the way.

Just thought some of you may find that a fun fact. :-)

clausentum wrote:

Common wrote:
Some Soton taxi drivers might be a bit racist?! Well blow me down and call me Ethel.

Dear Ethel,

This is copy of a posting from the day's earlier thread on this article:

King Mush wrote:

“Just look across the Big Pond to see the most amazing New World built on mass immigration over the last 500 years.

They fly their flags all over the place with pride, despite the downsides of inherently racist attitudes. The Stars and Stripes are paraded by all races, creeds and colours and are flown outside many of their homes.

How come this little island has so many 'problems' when it comes to displaying our own symbol that has been around since 1707. Nothing wrong with others displaying their own flags where relevant and we should be able to share in a multicultural society, despite the problems caused by certain sections of our community”


Clausentum wrote, in reply:

“A few months ago I found myself driving on a USA freeway behind a bright red Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck. The entire back of the pickup truck was covered by a giant Stars & Stripes Flag decal. Below that, on the shiny chrome bumper, was the following bumper sticker in bold black lettering:

Don't like my Country?
Dial 1-800-Go-Home

Hilarious.

The pickup truck driver was expressing his freedom of speech.”

Red&White Power wrote:
84% LOL eat that southy

southy wrote:
miles may i point out to you, the flag of st david is not used by the welsh very often, why because its a flag to a patron st, has is the flag of st andrew, st patrick, st george they are not national flags, 3 of those 4 countrys has there own flag, england is different it has regional flags, why because england is made up by a number of kingdoms, ireland dont use the st patrick flag they use a tri-colour flag. even scotland has another flag.

Southampton Heart wrote:
What is happening to our Country?...have we been taken over already?.

Condor Man wrote:
The taxi drivers who park up near my office offer such a base level of English- excessive use of the f and c words, that perhaps it would be nicer on the ears to have drivers swearing in something foreign

Miles Way wrote:

southy wrote:
miles may i point out to you, the flag of st david is not used by the welsh very often, why because its a flag to a patron st, has is the flag of st andrew, st patrick, st george they are not national flags, 3 of those 4 countrys has there own flag, england is different it has regional flags, why because england is made up by a number of kingdoms, ireland dont use the st patrick flag they use a tri-colour flag. even scotland has another flag.

PMSL Southy, ignoring the irrelevant history lesson please open your eyes; for a true nationalisitic "flag-fest" watch the 6 nations rugby games over the coming weeks - I doubt you'll see a single Union flag amongst the fans.
My point stands, this is the English national flag being used as prudent advertising; good news for those of us who would like to know that the person we trust to drive us home is at least able to speak and understand the language of the country in which he/she is working. Those seeking to dress it as a racist issue need a jolly good slap!

southy wrote:

Miles Way wrote:

southy wrote:
miles may i point out to you, the flag of st david is not used by the welsh very often, why because its a flag to a patron st, has is the flag of st andrew, st patrick, st george they are not national flags, 3 of those 4 countrys has there own flag, england is different it has regional flags, why because england is made up by a number of kingdoms, ireland dont use the st patrick flag they use a tri-colour flag. even scotland has another flag.

PMSL Southy, ignoring the irrelevant history lesson please open your eyes; for a true nationalisitic "flag-fest" watch the 6 nations rugby games over the coming weeks - I doubt you'll see a single Union flag amongst the fans.
My point stands, this is the English national flag being used as prudent advertising; good news for those of us who would like to know that the person we trust to drive us home is at least able to speak and understand the language of the country in which he/she is working. Those seeking to dress it as a racist issue need a jolly good slap!

miles first thing first, all taxi drivers have taken a test, a test that is in english, some times accents can be a bit of a problem, that i will agree on. there is a lot of bs on here mainly by the multi name posters.
secondly the union flag would be more apt to use, has they speak english in wales scotland ireland and a number of other commonwealth countrys ie canada plus the usa. all you need to see is the union logo with out the writing. you go to other countrys like some supermarkets you dont see the st george flag you see the union flag this tells every one thats from an english speaking country. that english can be spoken at this counter.
and yes you do see the union flag at the 6 nations rugby you also see it at the world union rugby. and normally you see england writen across the middle.
the st george flag is not the english national flag, its a patron saint flag, england dont have a single flag, because england is made up from loads of old kingdoms ie white dragon on a black field cornwall, theres 2 kingdoms i name for you. cornwall also have another flag that it use most of the time. a white cross on a black field.

clausentum wrote:

southy wrote:

Miles Way wrote:

southy wrote:
miles may i point out to you, the flag of st david is not used by the welsh very often, why because its a flag to a patron st, has is the flag of st andrew, st patrick, st george they are not national flags, 3 of those 4 countrys has there own flag, england is different it has regional flags, why because england is made up by a number of kingdoms, ireland dont use the st patrick flag they use a tri-colour flag. even scotland has another flag.

PMSL Southy, ignoring the irrelevant history lesson please open your eyes; for a true nationalisitic "flag-fest" watch the 6 nations rugby games over the coming weeks - I doubt you'll see a single Union flag amongst the fans.
My point stands, this is the English national flag being used as prudent advertising; good news for those of us who would like to know that the person we trust to drive us home is at least able to speak and understand the language of the country in which he/she is working. Those seeking to dress it as a racist issue need a jolly good slap!

miles first thing first, all taxi drivers have taken a test, a test that is in english, some times accents can be a bit of a problem, that i will agree on. there is a lot of bs on here mainly by the multi name posters.
secondly the union flag would be more apt to use, has they speak english in wales scotland ireland and a number of other commonwealth countrys ie canada plus the usa. all you need to see is the union logo with out the writing. you go to other countrys like some supermarkets you dont see the st george flag you see the union flag this tells every one thats from an english speaking country. that english can be spoken at this counter.
and yes you do see the union flag at the 6 nations rugby you also see it at the world union rugby. and normally you see england writen across the middle.
the st george flag is not the english national flag, its a patron saint flag, england dont have a single flag, because england is made up from loads of old kingdoms ie white dragon on a black field cornwall, theres 2 kingdoms i name for you. cornwall also have another flag that it use most of the time. a white cross on a black field.

Have you ever had a MRI scan??

sw = mind-okay

You cannot make up this stuff. ;-)

Miles Way wrote:

clausentum wrote:

southy wrote:

Miles Way wrote:

southy wrote:
miles may i point out to you, the flag of st david is not used by the welsh very often, why because its a flag to a patron st, has is the flag of st andrew, st patrick, st george they are not national flags, 3 of those 4 countrys has there own flag, england is different it has regional flags, why because england is made up by a number of kingdoms, ireland dont use the st patrick flag they use a tri-colour flag. even scotland has another flag.

PMSL Southy, ignoring the irrelevant history lesson please open your eyes; for a true nationalisitic "flag-fest" watch the 6 nations rugby games over the coming weeks - I doubt you'll see a single Union flag amongst the fans.
My point stands, this is the English national flag being used as prudent advertising; good news for those of us who would like to know that the person we trust to drive us home is at least able to speak and understand the language of the country in which he/she is working. Those seeking to dress it as a racist issue need a jolly good slap!

miles first thing first, all taxi drivers have taken a test, a test that is in english, some times accents can be a bit of a problem, that i will agree on. there is a lot of bs on here mainly by the multi name posters.
secondly the union flag would be more apt to use, has they speak english in wales scotland ireland and a number of other commonwealth countrys ie canada plus the usa. all you need to see is the union logo with out the writing. you go to other countrys like some supermarkets you dont see the st george flag you see the union flag this tells every one thats from an english speaking country. that english can be spoken at this counter.
and yes you do see the union flag at the 6 nations rugby you also see it at the world union rugby. and normally you see england writen across the middle.
the st george flag is not the english national flag, its a patron saint flag, england dont have a single flag, because england is made up from loads of old kingdoms ie white dragon on a black field cornwall, theres 2 kingdoms i name for you. cornwall also have another flag that it use most of the time. a white cross on a black field.

Have you ever had a MRI scan??

sw = mind-okay

You cannot make up this stuff. ;-)

Yes he can CLausentum, worse, he believes what he posts. Bless.

southy wrote:

Miles Way wrote:

clausentum wrote:

southy wrote:

Miles Way wrote:

southy wrote:
miles may i point out to you, the flag of st david is not used by the welsh very often, why because its a flag to a patron st, has is the flag of st andrew, st patrick, st george they are not national flags, 3 of those 4 countrys has there own flag, england is different it has regional flags, why because england is made up by a number of kingdoms, ireland dont use the st patrick flag they use a tri-colour flag. even scotland has another flag.

PMSL Southy, ignoring the irrelevant history lesson please open your eyes; for a true nationalisitic "flag-fest" watch the 6 nations rugby games over the coming weeks - I doubt you'll see a single Union flag amongst the fans.
My point stands, this is the English national flag being used as prudent advertising; good news for those of us who would like to know that the person we trust to drive us home is at least able to speak and understand the language of the country in which he/she is working. Those seeking to dress it as a racist issue need a jolly good slap!

miles first thing first, all taxi drivers have taken a test, a test that is in english, some times accents can be a bit of a problem, that i will agree on. there is a lot of bs on here mainly by the multi name posters.
secondly the union flag would be more apt to use, has they speak english in wales scotland ireland and a number of other commonwealth countrys ie canada plus the usa. all you need to see is the union logo with out the writing. you go to other countrys like some supermarkets you dont see the st george flag you see the union flag this tells every one thats from an english speaking country. that english can be spoken at this counter.
and yes you do see the union flag at the 6 nations rugby you also see it at the world union rugby. and normally you see england writen across the middle.
the st george flag is not the english national flag, its a patron saint flag, england dont have a single flag, because england is made up from loads of old kingdoms ie white dragon on a black field cornwall, theres 2 kingdoms i name for you. cornwall also have another flag that it use most of the time. a white cross on a black field.

Have you ever had a MRI scan??

sw = mind-okay

You cannot make up this stuff. ;-)

Yes he can CLausentum, worse, he believes what he posts. Bless.

miles and clausentum, if you go down to cornwall, what is the mostly likely or more often flag you see there, i can tell you now its not the union flag nor is it st george flag, the most popular flag is there own a white cross on a black field.
google it before you put both feet in it.

southy wrote:
the george cross is not national flag, it is the patron saint flag of england and is used in the national flag the union flag. the st george cross has more in common in a region of france and other places, than it do here, wales has the st david cross whitch it to is used in the national flag, but they have there own country flag flag to, a red dragon on a upper white and lower green field, scotland is the same they have there own flag too rarely seen, but there is a red lion, on a yellow field, ireland is a harp with arrows on a grren field, there is no true english flag, because england is made up from loads of kingdoms.

Miles Way wrote:

Southampton Heart wrote:
What is happening to our Country?...have we been taken over already?.

No, but with an increasing number of idiots in positions of power it's only a matter of time...

southy wrote:
your the one showing lack of knowledge miles. and the one that really needs to do some real deep research, england is not the only country that has st george has a patron st. go to the library for the info, and not the web on this one, has like all ways web pages are a copy from other web pages and errors are made but never corrected. look up he herity banners flags and banners that be a good start for you. happy reading

southy wrote:
miles you can get away with it by having a cross spar.

it not a provincial flag like cornwall, but old kingdoms that made up england.
st george was a muslim about 600ad who stop the flow of the pagan gods spreading to far east wards.
richard was not a an true english king but a french one, who brought back the st george cross, when john became king the st george cross disapared and it was henry the viii who reinterduce it again it stay till just after queen beth i then it went again and never show up again till the first union flag 1700's and later the st david cross was added that gives us the union flag of today.

old bill
king alfred never used the red cross on a white field, alfred went under the wessex flag the yellow dragon on a red field, even lo alfred was born out side wessex, it was wessex that made him king of the saxons and untied the saxon kingdoms for the first time and later the danes kingdoms.
pope urban another frenchman used the cross is right but the top part had the letter p and the field colour well it was any colour a lot did not have any colour at all or they used the sign of fish.
the lions are french to another french king richard father henry, you need to remember at this era of time the saxons was being suppress by the southern french kings.

southy wrote:
the wyvern dont belong to wessex it belongs to another king who was born out side of wessex king althelstan of mercia. the first true king of all of england, who later was made a saint. because he turn this country from pagan and orthodox to roman catholic.
this era is very complex history.
at the time of 1066 there was another king of england edar who was the last male in line in the house of wessex. who the normans made an outlaw. and became known has edar the outlaw 1066 to 1126.
norman kings william i and william ii (rufus) spent there time here in england, after this henry i spend his time in the southern france kingdoms, king steven in england. then richard i spent his time in s/france, king john in england, then from henry ii to richard ii (5 kings in a row) all spent most of there time in southern france. now you can see why the red cross disapeared from england and would only be used if the kings made a visit. like when edward i ( longshanks ) came here to put down the scotish rebellion, they was not interest in england apart from getting more troops and tax money.