posted 11-05-2001 06:48            

You forgot horny Polacks.

posted 11-05-2001 08:06            

quote:

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Originally posted by Bex:

You forgot horny Polacks.

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Wait a sec... I am part Polish as well.

posted 11-05-2001 21:36            

quote:

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Originally posted by Clme:
Fucking christians are always jumping down my throat for jumping down peoples throats....

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Now who's flinging slurs? Okay, first, I'm about as christian as Issac Luria, so let's not trade insults. Second, what Amazon said was not a slur, it was an unfair generalization. Not only is "Smelly Frenchman" not a slur, but when applied to someone of French origin who smells bad it is an accurate and descriptive statement, although it may also give the listener the feeling that the speaker considers all french smelly.

Suppose, for a moment, that whoever Amazon was talking about was Jewish, and stingy to the extent that they might metaphorically be said to worship the almighty dollar (although in normal Judaic circles, this would be condemned as idolatry). Then at worst, what Amazon did was contribute to one of the longest running stereotypical convictions in human history. (Consider that after the King of Spain expelled all Jews on pain of death in 1492, the Sultan of Turkey, where many displaced Jews took refuge, is reputed to have commented that the Spanish King had enriched Turkey by beggaring his own country. Amazon didn't exactly make this stuff up.) After all, it's not like she said "Those cheap kikes". THAT would be a slur.

So what am I saying, that Jews are cheap? No. Though many generalizations are based broadly on reality, I don't think this one is relevant now, if indeed it ever was (though Jews have historically been a rich group, that doesn't necessarily make them cheap).

Nor am I saying that Amazon's comment was clever, or appropriate, or something I might have said myself, or something that I'd be pleased to hear said by, say, my girlfriend or close friend. Personally, I don't say things like that, but I may just pay more attention to than she does. I also didn't grow up in the sort of surroundings where talk like that is common, though I have a feeling that she may have. But either way, she's been around this board a pretty long time, and any regular can take a guess at whether her comment implied real anti-semitic feelings or simple carelessness.

Third, pronouncing someone's credibility abolished is nothing more than trying to get people to live up to your ideals for how they should talk. Maybe this is moral relativism, but what makes you so right and her so wrong? Why not just state your thoughts, instead of pronouncing judgements?

Fourth, Don't close this thread, dammit!

Fifth, Long live Pie! Or was it cake? Whichever one you like, long live the other one, because I'm just here to pick a fight.

posted 11-05-2001 22:09            

By the way: I dont close threads where I'm getting flamed, its too much fun. Besides, dont you have rights to re-open it?

I have an announcement to make:

I've decided to renounce my pastry bigotry and worship both Pie and Cake equally, on one large serving plate.

I'm hoping to bring my vision of pastry-equality to everyone. My little group has opened up missions in third world countries to help convert the heathens to the way of the pastry.

It should be pretty easy to draw them in at first, since we will be offering food at every prayer meeting.

AAAAARRRRGH! NOOOO!

Oh dear... I tried! I really tried! I cannot live a lie! I do not like pie as much as I like cake! To hell with equality, some pastries are just better than others! THERE I SAID IT!! I am so sorry.

*whew*... it feels better to have that off of my chest.

Now go forth and multiply or something... only without the multiply part.

-Chris

posted 11-06-2001 06:43         

It's quite strange how there is such a w-i-d-e definition of what a racist remark is.
If one posts a potentially racist remark in a public forum you SHOULD expect to to offend someone. Could the same remark be made in a crowded public location without reprisal? probably not.

Remember Jimbo's "towelhead" post after Sept 11th? He was ridiculed by more than a few posters here, even within that period of anti-muslem sentiment. Bottom line is if the comment can potentially piss off a group it WILL. But should we CARE about that knowing we have the right to free speach?

posted 11-06-2001 12:13         

quote:

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Originally posted by LonMabonJovi:
Well Marcel, while that doesn't exactly make you a racist it does make you somewhat closeminded. I mean, what if you could learn something from the racist, but didn't because they had made a comment about Antarcticans? Wouldn't you be handicapping yourself a little?

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posted 11-06-2001 12:50            

It's really easy to get so stuck up with your nose in the air on a PC crusade that you don't realize YOU'RE stereotyping people as badly as the KKK does.

Is Amazon an anti-Semite? How the fuck should I know? How the fuck should you know? She made ONE comment about a group of people who were being tight with their money, and characterized them as tight with their money, identifying them with a racial stereotype. Okay. That racial stereotype - like most racial stereotypes - exists because A LOT OF PEOPLE FIT IT.

posted 11-07-2001 04:28         

quote:

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Originally posted by fenomas:

1.) Further, when did anyone who makes a racist statement become a bonehead?
2.) Hitler wasn't a bonehead.

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