Further to this, what I said was not offensive IN MY CULTURE. It is used quite often IN MY CULTURE.

This is an international BB, so I have recognised that what I said was inappropriate, and have withdrawn the remark. But as for an apology, what I said was inoffensive IN MY CULTURE, I still regard it as inoffensive IN MY CULTURE, and henceforth, I see no reason to apologise for something I said which is inoffensive over here. I have recognised that others may be offended by withdrawing the comment.

If we have to go down the apology route everytime someone is offended, we will be at it non-stop. since something which is inoffensive to one group is offensive to thers, and vice-versa.

My attitude is that we have to live with the fact that this is an international BB, and we have to respect the fact that different cultures have diferent values and prejudices. If we transgress, then the comments need to be withdrawn. But an apology? I don't think so. An apology is warranted when you regret what you said, which I don't. I wished I had worded it differently, but I certainly don't regret saying it. In MY culture (you all want me to make allowances for YOUR cultures, how about making some allowances for mine????) it is an extremely mild form of insult, nothing to get too upset over.

I will NOT apologise for something which is in MY culture nothing more than a storm in a tea-cup.

Dave