We could just punish people for insults based on race, colour, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin. You know, like the rules say?

What? So if I and some friends decide something is racist, whether it is or not, it becomes racist? Seriously...This is how it works now?

Ok, I've decided ''When the Saints Go Marching In'' is racist (and let's say homophobic for good measure!). Anyone care to join me then we can get it banned?

Damn! How did I forget to include religion!! Can we say it's politically incorrect to support Saints too?

Erm, no it isn't! YOU just think it is and therein lies the problem!

Why is him thinking it is a problem, but not you thinking it isnt?

Tarred with the same brush as an idiom stems from the idea that two people who has been daubed in tar using the same brush would be indistinguishable. I can see how some people may think that the idea of painting people black (like tar) and saying they look the same has some racist undertones.

There are a lot of words and sayings which are quite old from a time when bigotry wasnt bigotry, that may now have relatively innocent meanings but are, and stem from what we would see as quite obvious bigoted tones. There are also woords which previously had quite innocent meanings which picked up bigoted tones.

Indeed so - "tarring and feathering" as a punishment has nothing to do with racism, it dates back to the 12th century in fact.

erm im not sure you read it, if you did, you didnt understand.

But surely that, in a nutshell, IS the problem. Just because someone decides to find something racist, doesn't make it so. If someone mistakenly misinterprets something then correct them...don't pander to the mistake! The saying has no racist origins whatsoever. The tar being black is a complete irrelevance to the point being made. You can't arbitrarily decide that anything that mentions, touches on or even, as in this case, has a subject matter that is the colour(!) black is inherently racist! To be honest, I find the concept utterly bizarre. 'To tar with the same brush' is not, nor ever has been, a racist slur. You can't just decide that it is otherwise there is nothing that can be said or written in case someone finds it offensive. If something is said from a racist, homophobic etc. standpoint then by all means react accordingly but don't look for offence where none is intended. I have to say I strongly agree with the earlier poster who said that this sort of oversensitivity does more harm than good. In truth, I've little time for rhetoric over common sense.

Nothing to do with what I think about it. It just isn't. Any "undertones" you apply to it are of your own making.

No, it isnt the problem. The problem is people for no good reason whatsoever putting their right and for some unknown reason necessity to use archaic language ahead of offending other people. Why on earth people are so wedded to these phrases I have no idea.

People saying all blacks look the same is a common racist trope. A saying which derives from painting people black and saying they look the same has obvious and clear racist undertones. Especially when using a word like 'tar' (tar baby is sometimes used as a racist insult, tarring and feathering was the punishment of choice by the KKK for black people who had the temerity to vote in the US) in it.

Now you can use that saying without any racist intent. You can realistically say whatever you want and claim no racist intent. That is your right.
Other people might be offended by what you say. They may think you are a racist jackass. That is their right.
You can blame them for that, you can call them oversensitive, say they are playing the race card. That is your right.
They may still think you are a racist jackass. Again, that is their right.

If you dont want people thinking you are a racist jackass, put a bit of thought and effort in to the words and language you use. If you offend someone and didnt intend to, apologise and move on. Its not difficult and its not an imposition on you that you shouldnt use some words and phrases because others might be offended by it. You arent the victim here because people might judge you for using these words and phrases.

If you dont want to be thought of as a bigot, dont use words or phrases that could be construed as bigoted. If you do so unwittingly, apologise. If you do use words that can be construed as bigoted, dont want to apologise for it and blame the people being offended for it rather than yourself for using them. Then you make it very hard to differentiate between yourself and a bigot.

Oh well, now you have decided 'it just isnt' the person who you may have offended will obviously thank you for elucidating them on that and apologise for being offended when you have decided they shouldnt. Great Work, you have made a friend for life.

Sorry I've just been for a pint with Jeremy Clarkson. Have I missed much?