Doesn't offend me I have to say and I certainly wouldn't think the sponge on the floor comment was racist.

liberal, wet, see-bad-in-every-statement politically correct numpties who think any reference to colour, creed, nationality or whatever other method of trivially identifying any group, no matter how specific is a direct attack on someone.

Of which I am not one.

Just because people coloquially refer to them as 'Kosovan car washes' doesn't mean they're National Front members.

You're quite right and I agree that jokes based on national stereotypes can, in context, be funny and, as satire, help cross cultural understanding.

But it's a fine line and I think you crossed it. I'm sure you don't consider yourself "racist" but your comments were and remarks like these help to normalise perhaps more overt racist behaviour.

I'm not on some big mission but I think that it's important to challenge people when you think they're wrong.

In my 37 years, the people who are supposed to be offended by racism are ethnic minorities yet the people who always shout 'racist' first tend to be white, middle class liberals.

There are 5 hand car washes near me, and all 5 have been raided by the Immigration Office numerous times as reported in our local paper, and every time they have been closed down due to employing illegal Kosovan immigrants. Hence, in Leeds they are known as 'Kosovan car washes'. A stereotypical generalisation if you want to start an argument, but on the honest face of it, a light hearted collective noun based on proven history.

I hereby stand accused of being the leader of the BNP on the grounds that I alleged that a person of Kosovan origin is more likely to reuse a car washing sponge after dropping it on the ground. Sue me ! Lock me up and throw away the key ! But FFS, get a grip.

Last word, BOT.

Corradoboy, I'm with you dude. There's far more important things to worry about than all this guff! Like how to keep the swirls off my paintwork...