OLBERMANN AND GARAFOLO: Playing the Racist Game

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Afx: Not to sound completely daft, but aren’t Oriental people, well, Oriental? I know Asian might be a preferred term, but people from Asia are Oriental, just like people from the West are Occidental. It might be a dated usage, but it is technically correct.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]I’m not trying to pick on you. I’m really trying to understand this complex issue of race relations.[/quote]

I’m enjoying the picking. I think that it is an important discussion and I’m happy that we can have it in a civilized manner.

[quote=flu]But back to your first point. Why should your friends have to cirmcuvent the word to begin with?[/quote]

That is a good question. We certainly don’t have to. It’s probably because of the fact that we are a sarcastic and ironic bunch, and calling each other ‘ninjas’ is much cooler than calling each other ‘dudes’ or ‘bros.’

Taking race out of the equation (building on davej’s culturalist argument): I used to have a group of gay friends who would always say “that’s sooooooo gay” about things they disliked or disagreed with. I too could say it as a heterosexual and they got a kick out of it.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]I’m not trying to pick on you. I’m really trying to understand this complex issue of race relations.[/quote]

I’m enjoying the picking. I think that it is an important discussion and I’m happy that we can have it in a civilized manner.

[quote=flu]But back to your first point. Why should your friends have to cirmcuvent the word to begin with?[/quote]

That is a good question. We certainly don’t have to. It’s probably because of the fact that we are a sarcastic and ironic bunch, and calling each other ‘ninjas’ is much cooler than calling each other ‘dudes’ or ‘bros.’

Taking race out of the equation (building on davej’s culturalist argument): I used to have a group of gay friends who would always say “that’s sooooooo gay” about things they disliked or disagreed with. I too could say it as a heterosexual and they got a kick out of it.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]I’m not trying to pick on you. I’m really trying to understand this complex issue of race relations.[/quote]

I’m enjoying the picking. I think that it is an important discussion and I’m happy that we can have it in a civilized manner.

[quote=flu]But back to your first point. Why should your friends have to cirmcuvent the word to begin with?[/quote]

That is a good question. We certainly don’t have to. It’s probably because of the fact that we are a sarcastic and ironic bunch, and calling each other ‘ninjas’ is much cooler than calling each other ‘dudes’ or ‘bros.’

Taking race out of the equation (building on davej’s culturalist argument): I used to have a group of gay friends who would always say “that’s sooooooo gay” about things they disliked or disagreed with. I too could say it as a heterosexual and they got a kick out of it.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]I’m not trying to pick on you. I’m really trying to understand this complex issue of race relations.[/quote]

I’m enjoying the picking. I think that it is an important discussion and I’m happy that we can have it in a civilized manner.

[quote=flu]But back to your first point. Why should your friends have to cirmcuvent the word to begin with?[/quote]

That is a good question. We certainly don’t have to. It’s probably because of the fact that we are a sarcastic and ironic bunch, and calling each other ‘ninjas’ is much cooler than calling each other ‘dudes’ or ‘bros.’

Taking race out of the equation (building on davej’s culturalist argument): I used to have a group of gay friends who would always say “that’s sooooooo gay” about things they disliked or disagreed with. I too could say it as a heterosexual and they got a kick out of it.

[afx114]

[quote=flu]I’m not trying to pick on you. I’m really trying to understand this complex issue of race relations.[/quote]

I’m enjoying the picking. I think that it is an important discussion and I’m happy that we can have it in a civilized manner.

[quote=flu]But back to your first point. Why should your friends have to cirmcuvent the word to begin with?[/quote]

That is a good question. We certainly don’t have to. It’s probably because of the fact that we are a sarcastic and ironic bunch, and calling each other ‘ninjas’ is much cooler than calling each other ‘dudes’ or ‘bros.’

Taking race out of the equation (building on davej’s culturalist argument): I used to have a group of gay friends who would always say “that’s sooooooo gay” about things they disliked or disagreed with. I too could say it as a heterosexual and they got a kick out of it.

[Coronita]

[quote=afx114][quote=flu]For example, how is a white person suppose to know calling someone “oriental” is racist? If it happens, is that considered “threatening”?[/quote]

I suppose you can argue “but I didn’t know that calling blacks monkeys was offensive.” Well now you do. Are you still going to use it?[/quote]

Possibly by accident if I’m at the San Diego Zoo and with my daughter and see a black monkey. “Hey kiddo, there’s that black monkey”.

If that happens accidentally, I really hope that there aren’t any African Americans standing near me that think I’m referring to them.

To be safe, I’ll start learning the actual species names and just call the animal by the actual species name….like…”Hey, kiddo, that’s a black Rhinopithecus Bieti”.

Clearly it’s no laughing matter. Wierder things have happened.

[Coronita]

[quote=afx114][quote=flu]For example, how is a white person suppose to know calling someone “oriental” is racist? If it happens, is that considered “threatening”?[/quote]

I suppose you can argue “but I didn’t know that calling blacks monkeys was offensive.” Well now you do. Are you still going to use it?[/quote]

Possibly by accident if I’m at the San Diego Zoo and with my daughter and see a black monkey. “Hey kiddo, there’s that black monkey”.

If that happens accidentally, I really hope that there aren’t any African Americans standing near me that think I’m referring to them.

To be safe, I’ll start learning the actual species names and just call the animal by the actual species name….like…”Hey, kiddo, that’s a black Rhinopithecus Bieti”.

Clearly it’s no laughing matter. Wierder things have happened.

[Coronita]

[quote=afx114][quote=flu]For example, how is a white person suppose to know calling someone “oriental” is racist? If it happens, is that considered “threatening”?[/quote]

I suppose you can argue “but I didn’t know that calling blacks monkeys was offensive.” Well now you do. Are you still going to use it?[/quote]

Possibly by accident if I’m at the San Diego Zoo and with my daughter and see a black monkey. “Hey kiddo, there’s that black monkey”.

If that happens accidentally, I really hope that there aren’t any African Americans standing near me that think I’m referring to them.

To be safe, I’ll start learning the actual species names and just call the animal by the actual species name….like…”Hey, kiddo, that’s a black Rhinopithecus Bieti”.

Clearly it’s no laughing matter. Wierder things have happened.

[Coronita]

[quote=afx114][quote=flu]For example, how is a white person suppose to know calling someone “oriental” is racist? If it happens, is that considered “threatening”?[/quote]

I suppose you can argue “but I didn’t know that calling blacks monkeys was offensive.” Well now you do. Are you still going to use it?[/quote]

Possibly by accident if I’m at the San Diego Zoo and with my daughter and see a black monkey. “Hey kiddo, there’s that black monkey”.

If that happens accidentally, I really hope that there aren’t any African Americans standing near me that think I’m referring to them.

To be safe, I’ll start learning the actual species names and just call the animal by the actual species name….like…”Hey, kiddo, that’s a black Rhinopithecus Bieti”.

Clearly it’s no laughing matter. Wierder things have happened.

[Coronita]

[quote=afx114][quote=flu]For example, how is a white person suppose to know calling someone “oriental” is racist? If it happens, is that considered “threatening”?[/quote]

I suppose you can argue “but I didn’t know that calling blacks monkeys was offensive.” Well now you do. Are you still going to use it?[/quote]

Possibly by accident if I’m at the San Diego Zoo and with my daughter and see a black monkey. “Hey kiddo, there’s that black monkey”.

If that happens accidentally, I really hope that there aren’t any African Americans standing near me that think I’m referring to them.

To be safe, I’ll start learning the actual species names and just call the animal by the actual species name….like…”Hey, kiddo, that’s a black Rhinopithecus Bieti”.

Clearly it’s no laughing matter. Wierder things have happened.

[Coronita]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Afx: Not to sound completely daft, but aren’t Oriental people, well, Oriental? I know Asian might be a preferred term, but people from Asia are Oriental, just like people from the West are Occidental. It might be a dated usage, but it is technically correct.[/quote]

Allan,

I really don’t give a shit if someone calls me “oriental”…But supposedly, oriental refers to inanimate objects, and not people. Doing so *supposedly* is derrogatory, particularly to asian women…… Hence all the porn titles “Oriental Hottie”, Oriental XXX”, etc….

…not that I really care….nor do I know most asians that really care…I don’t know many porn stars.

[Coronita]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Afx: Not to sound completely daft, but aren’t Oriental people, well, Oriental? I know Asian might be a preferred term, but people from Asia are Oriental, just like people from the West are Occidental. It might be a dated usage, but it is technically correct.[/quote]

Allan,

I really don’t give a shit if someone calls me “oriental”…But supposedly, oriental refers to inanimate objects, and not people. Doing so *supposedly* is derrogatory, particularly to asian women…… Hence all the porn titles “Oriental Hottie”, Oriental XXX”, etc….

…not that I really care….nor do I know most asians that really care…I don’t know many porn stars.

[Coronita]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Afx: Not to sound completely daft, but aren’t Oriental people, well, Oriental? I know Asian might be a preferred term, but people from Asia are Oriental, just like people from the West are Occidental. It might be a dated usage, but it is technically correct.[/quote]

Allan,

I really don’t give a shit if someone calls me “oriental”…But supposedly, oriental refers to inanimate objects, and not people. Doing so *supposedly* is derrogatory, particularly to asian women…… Hence all the porn titles “Oriental Hottie”, Oriental XXX”, etc….

…not that I really care….nor do I know most asians that really care…I don’t know many porn stars.

[Coronita]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Afx: Not to sound completely daft, but aren’t Oriental people, well, Oriental? I know Asian might be a preferred term, but people from Asia are Oriental, just like people from the West are Occidental. It might be a dated usage, but it is technically correct.[/quote]

Allan,

I really don’t give a shit if someone calls me “oriental”…But supposedly, oriental refers to inanimate objects, and not people. Doing so *supposedly* is derrogatory, particularly to asian women…… Hence all the porn titles “Oriental Hottie”, Oriental XXX”, etc….

…not that I really care….nor do I know most asians that really care…I don’t know many porn stars.

[Author]

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