tim: I'd like to kick this one off by saying that justin is wrong... before he's even said anything

Marcus: Political correctness gone mad, you couldn't make it up, etc.

Marcus: Although he's a councillor not an MP.

Marcus: Half of me suspects that he's a racist moron and probably pranced around the place gleefully giggling to his racist mates, "look at me! I'm a darkie! How wonderfully absurd!".

Marcus: The other half agrees with the article commentors who point out that by the same logic a white person dressing up as Michael Jackson (or Rory Bremner as Trevor McDonald) is similarly racist. It's all down to perceived intentions really, isn't it?

Dave: I once dressed up as Papa Lazarou from The League of Gentlemen. There was nothing racially motivated about it, it was a villains party. However, some of the looks I got walking down the road were pretty special. Then at the party, I found myself standing next to a black guy at the bar who gave me a look I have never seen before, then I realised why. He said "Let me guess... you a jazz singer" I (obviously) said "no no no, I'm the guy from League of Gentleman". He hadn't seen it. I was slightly embarrassed. He wouldn't let me buy him a drink.

justin: I think I will answer this question with a question: is this man being racist?

zanna: How about these kids dressed up for Halloween. Isn't the second comment referring to 'you white people' more racist?

Marcus: No, I'm pretty sure the moron teenagers prancing around going "tee hee hee look I'm a black gang member! And black people looted New Orleans!" is more racist.