Kerri

Thanks for sticking up for me Loz, Keef and Asset. I don't think it was relevant to bring up a spelling mistake, agreed with Keef that it just seems 'smug'; it wasn't relevant, as I wasn't bragging about being top of the class, I was stating that I was back in those days, which was relevant, because I was allowed a TV etc and it didn't affect my school work.

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Tentatively putting my confused head above the > parapet here. > > About 15 years' ago I got into pretty hot water > when I suggested to a mixed-race colleague that > she was completely denying her white, middle-class > heritage. She insisted that she was black and had > even traced her father's ancestors to his Masai > tribe, had changed her name to an African one, > that I knew nothing and was racist. She was backed > up by our all black colleagues and I felt pretty > stupid in the face of such militant propaganda. > > Since then, I have assiduously called all > mixed-race people black, taught my daughter that > this is the correct term, etc, etc. > > So what's the correct form now in light of the > above posts? Almost exactly the same thing has happened to me on a few occasions. There seems to be a lot of mixed race people who just regard themselves as black, from what a few mixed race friends have told me, I think this may be due to a fear of being told they're denying their 'roots' if they don't, by other black people, even though half of their roots is white; there seems to be a lot of black people who would rather acknowledge a mixed race person as just black rather than half white and black, which is why probably some white people label a mixed race person as black, as they don't want to be told they're racist and end up in arguements, as I have been in a few arguements. Chav: An old friend of mine was trying to become legal guardian her grandchildren (her daughter was a drug addict and the kids were in care), who were of mixed race, white/black; there was a long drama as she was white and social services thought it more fitting to put the children with a black family, to be in the right culture??? The woman was their grandmother and the children were half white??? The social workers working on this case were mainly black. Eventually she got the kids, but I do think it is very odd!!! As for these guys saying 'she's pretty for a black girl' what absolute pricks and I know the anger you felt. I was stuck in traffic at a round-about in Brockley the other week and a car opposite me wound down their window and the guy was trying to get my attention shouting 'oi white girl, oi sexy white girl', I felt enraged, but was also amused that he thought that this kind of pick up line would actually work! I was also walking down Rye lane minding my own business shopping, when a group of girls started following me discussing my appearance with comments like "she looks like one of them really fake white girls with blonde hair" Considering there is nothing fake about me and I was on a local shopping trip so hardly had much make up on etc, I found it quite amusing, as although I was femininly dressed and they were tracksuited up, they were plastered in makeup with hair extensions to boot etc, so I don't know who they were calling fake. Peoples ignorance can be very annoying.

I had a TV in my room from the age of 9. I'm 21 now and always was top of the class etc. Being over restrictive as a parent is worse. I had a very liberal mum, I did pretty much what i wanted, was very independant, and mature above my age. My friends with strict restrictive parents were rebellious and immature and did stupid things, that I would never consider doing.

I do mine myself, wouldn't want to pay anyone for that :)

Tilt Estates have been taken over by Grainger. Only problem all Tilt properties have yucky blue carpets and blinds, I'm still figuring out whether it's worth laying a carpet over the existing one and removing it before I leave :)

.

This is some of the dispatches film Dispatches It is quite graphic, but it's what happens, this is pro-choice, you cannot sanitise it so much. Oh and I am now more verging on a pro-life side, as I feel there are very few situations where abortion should be allowed, always for rape, but this accounts for few abortions, usually rape victims are given Levonelle (the morning after pill) to prevent pregnancy, but a small percentage of times it does not work and some rape victims don't come forward for help in time etc, most definately not for those who just couldn't be bothered with contraception and are more concerned with living their life as they have been without the inconvenience of a child, I'm pretty sure from personal experience from friends etc that this accounts for a great deal or abortions (There are many effective contraception methods that two people should consider using before taking part in something that can form a new life and I can only think that the seriousness of the abortion proceedure is not stressed enough and it is sanitised to an extent, where people just don't bother with contraception without a thought for the consequences) and some situations where the mental and physical health of mother or baby would be severly damaged, but this would be a very cloudy area to judge. I feel that the dehumanisation of it is very wrong. This lack of respect for life on many levels, not just abortion, is the root cause of many problems in society.

Hi, I don't know if anyone saw the dispatches program on abortion and showed exatly what happens during an early, mid term and late abortion, but I'm so glad it was shown, it really affected me. Let me first say I have always thought I was pro-choice; that a woman should be able to have an abortion if suits her. My views have somewhat changed for a few reasons; I'm not here to cause arguements or hurt anyone, just express my views. The reporter asked one of the pro-choice ladies/someone from Marie Stopes if she though women were being kept in the dark, as to what really happens during these later abortions; to which she was told that it is wrong to think that as it implies women are ignorant, when they are infact educated about what happens. This is not true, I am an educated woman I have read up lots on the stages of foetal development and different abortions, but it is very different when you see everything on film. I am shocked, there is so much I did not realise. I think the American videos of abortion should be shown in the UK in schools to all women and men to show the facts. The 3 abortions shown; the 1st early stage, the second later stage where I could see hands, feet, spine and skull, all cut up and the 24 wk stage, where birth was induced and it was a small baby (which could survive), was wrapped in paper, really affected me and I am so glad it was shown. If this was shown in schools I think girls and boys would be alot more careful using protection, as they would realise how serious abortion really is. Now before people complain that women make a very serious choice and know this is serious before the abortion, I really think alot of woman do not really realise how serious it is before they actually undergo the proceedure (Obviously there are exceptions everyone is different). I also think within the young community, especially where I am from it is taken quite lightly in fact. Many young people do not use contraception. Roughly 50% of my friends have had abortions and I have heard comments of; 'oh never mind if I get pregnant I will just have an abortion', lots of times; I am 21, I too have even thought this after having accidents, which I am now disgusted with myself, all because of an accident where I was too lazy. Out of these friends who thought abortion was a simple and easy solution, all of them are upset by what they went through and are emotionally scarred in some way from it, because it wasn't simple and is not shown to be as serious as it is. Those who don't feel any emotion regarding the proceedure, that is really worrying. It's not simply clean it out and get on with your life, it is the most precious thing in the world, it is the start of a life and it really isn't taken seriously enough. Pro-choice campaigners say its a womans choice what happens with her body and her choice to terminate a pregnancy, which I always agreed with, but I'm now really thinking why isn't more empathesis put on the woman and the man to make the right choices before sex if they do not want a baby, to prevent this life from forming in the first place. These stats may not be exact but I'm sure I'm near: Using condoms alone correctly there is less than a 3% chance of pregnancy Using the pill correctly there is a 1% chance of becoming pregnant, the condom combined with the pill are even better A womans fertile period roughly lasts one week out of a whole month, so a girl should know this and be extra careful in this stage Failing these methods, if a girl and a guy have unprotected sex or the above methods failed there is the morning after pill which is 95% effective within 24 hours of unprotected sex, 85% between 25 - 48 hours and 58% if taken between 49 - 72 hours And the IUD (intrauterine device) is almost 100% effective as a method of emergency contraception and is therefore the most effective way of preventing an unplanned pregnancy. Now I am thinking why there are so many unwanted pregnancies when there are lots of effective methods of contraception listed above, that really should be enough to prevent the majority of unwanted pregnancies. After watching this program I believe it is because abortion is not taken seriously enough, as it is not really shown in this country what exactly happens. Afterall, if everyone took abortions seriously and did everything they could to prevent having one by using contraception correctly, there would only be the pregnancies left where everything was done to avoid the pregnancy, but the methods of contraception failed and this wouldn't be anyone's fault, or rapes, or where the baby could have severe health problems or where the mother could be severely damaged physically or mentally by pregnancy; abortion should be availble here, but not just easily available for the 'accidents' where the girl and guy involved just couldn't be bothered to use contraception. Speaking from a personal view, I never took it as seriously until I watched this program. I have had a few mistakes, thankfully I never fell pregnant and never needed an abortion. Those mistakes were purely because myself and the guy involved were being too lazy and dismissive of the seriousness of abortion, to use the above methods of contraception and I am now really disgusted with myself. I am so pleased this program was shown, as I now take this much more seriously and don't ever wish to be in this situation. Mainly because of the footage of the 3 abortions and this is why I think it should be shown to girls and guys in school. Abortion would be taken more seriously, it would help to lower teenage pregnancies and help in lowering the transmission of STIs, as people would be more serious about contraceptives. I do not think abortion should be fully illegal, as in some situations where having a baby would be severly damaging to the woman's mental or physical health or the baby itself will have severe health problems; it is not fair for the woman or baby. However, the problem is that, for abortions to be performed now anyway the doctor has to agree that having the baby will effect the mental or physical health of the woman, however, most of the women want an abortion, want one as having a baby will simply disturb their lifestyle (this is not a presumption this is the reason all my friends had abortions), and the doctors allow it, which I just think is a petty excuse for the waste of a life, demeaning the seriousness of what an abortion should really be used for and allows people to run away from responsibilities; this life could have been prevented by many of the simple methods mentioned above, if a little thought was put into the seriousness of what two people were taking part in. I do strongly agree that the age limit needs to be lowered, as it is totally wrong that a foetus can be aborted at a stage where it is possible to survive. Also, as you can tell, I think the seriousness of abortion needs to be emphasised, as it really is not taken seriously enough.

Nero I think you'll find if you leave the house tomorrow at 7am and you're out allday until 2am, you will be cold and would much rather take the car home than travelling on a bus and getting stalked home. If I go anywhere nearby like LL, I will be going straight to another job after, as I work right through the week, so no nice calm crisp winter walk then back home to warm up and relax, I'll be going rushing back out to work, so I get what I need jump back in the car drive to the job, so much easier than the running around I've been doing for the last 3 years, juggling uni and my self employed work with pays my rent and uni fees, and trying to fit everything in and wasting time on public transport.

Haha I like you Lady Lumps. I've passed my test and can finally drive woo! I've also bought my car and love her to bits, she has totally made my life easier! Public transport is rubbish, those who bang on about using it obviously aren't out from 7am until 2 am every day with uni and work, taking several trains all over London, which consistantly makes them late and then getting the night bus home and being followed to your door. (Has happened to me now lots of times, with one very close call!) I would rather drive slowly in traffic, I know how long it will take me and I am always on time now, I don't have to wait for buses and trains which are late or overcrowded so I can't get on them. Many a time I was so stressed and tired I'd come home in tears or feel like I was gonna have a heart attack, at 21 this is not good! I intend to drive everywhere, including LL, I live off the Rye in The Gardens, only because it is very cold now, in summer I love to walk to places that are nearby! I have no kids, except for my 18month old sister who I look after 2 days a week so mt mum can go to work :P

My post always comes between 12 and 2, for a few days it was arriving at 4 pm! It is always shoved in the letterbox upstairs to my neighbours, as the post man obviously cannot be bothered to walk the few steps downstarts to put it through my door! I have had 2 debit cards go missing and a parcel was apparently delievered and signed for on the 1st, but no sign of it, all the neighbours say the don't have it!

The emergency clinic was not good service and was awful in my experience. Last yr I moved into a shared house, with a girl, who I did not at first realise, was completely psychotic. She went completely nuts one week and it climaxed in a really bad night, thought people were watching her through the TV, the phone etc etc. Though all us housemates had a plan to murder her, was really scared, said she was gonna drive her car into a petrol pump. We managed to get her to the maudsley. They sent her home. She was standing there crying for them to help her and shouting, as she was scared and paranoid and the man said her felt threatened so he was not willing to help. Do they not deal with people who are psychotic, have training and know how to restrain or section if necessary, plus she is only a small 24 yr old girl? So he sent her home with us, 2 girls in a 20s with no training. She even asked to be sectioned, pleaded, told him she was gonna harm herself and he still did nothing. This happened twice. Another time we called the ambulance, but she thought they were 'fake' ambulance men, who we had planned to murder her and would not leave with them, they cannot force her unless she was sectioned, so then we called the police, but they could not section her unless she left the house, because she was in her on home. So the only times she could have got the help she needed were when we went to the maudsley and they didn't help us. I do not live there anymore, but when I was there after her experience she felt so let down and would never go back to the maudsley again and with the ambulance and police not able to help, where is she supposed to go when it happens again?