Google meme of the day: funny or racist? - Page 2

I suspected as much. Are there any food related slurs used where either of you live, or is this practice just an exclusive wrinkle of racism from the most obese of nations?

No food related slurs that I can think of with the exception of the very famous Jade Goody "Shilpa Popadom" incident from Celebrity Big Brother a few years back.

And most of the racism in this country is directed to people of Middle Eastern origin rather than anything else.

Unfunny, possibly homophobic and racist. It's the Larry the Cable Guy of YTMNDs!

Nope. No food related slurs that I know of.

Louis CK has a great bit about this.

And I'm not trying to call you out or anything. But I do sometimes think that going to PC extremes can be, albeit unintentionally, condescending.

I get where you're coming from though. And I'm remembering a discussion I once had in an English Lit course. We were reading Native Son. And one of my classmates, a Caucasian, was trying to make a point about the fact that Richard Wright named the character Bigger Thomas and that there was a connotation in the word "bigger". And what she said went something like this:

"Well... I think that another thing is that Wright is trying to make a connection with this, um... this awful term.... this word that I can't even say it, so please excuse me for saying this but... um... I think he's trying to make a connection with the word... um.... with ... um... with... nigger."

When things like that happen it makes me wonder why the person is so uncomfortable. I don't think anyone in that classroom would have accused her of being a racist if she had just said the word. I could be wrong, of course.

......

Here in Bolivia there is actually a lot of racism (especially anti-semitism) and the basic problem is that, 9 times out of 10, people don't even admit it because they don't realize that their attitude is racist. People in my own family and circle of friends are guilty of this. But it gets so I don't even want to bother arguing anymore.

Despite the stupid thing I wrote on Facebook, my personal problems with President Evo Morales have nothing to do with the fact that he is of an indigenous background. I don't like him because he's an ignorant, manipulative hypocrite. But the essential hatred that the middle and upper class around here have for him does stem from the fact that he's indigenous. And this sort of racism/classism has become so culturally ingrained that people just don't know the difference. It's sad.

Maybe it's just because I've grown up on such a healthy diet of American culture, but I kinda figured that even without growing up with the direct social context yourself, people outside of America still got that referencing foodstuffs like fried chicken, watermelon, black eyed peas, chitlins and grits in regard to African American culture was at best stereotyping and at worst, racist.

...and thanks for that read Phil, that was incredibly illuminating. It also made me realise there's probably very little chance ole Daves ever going to come out to this country to do stand up as I'd always hoped.

I love the idea of a country having a history and tradition of rascism. It kind of makes me imagine Evi just not getting the latest rascism memos.

"Wait, you're South African...and you don't know everything there is know about rascism?"

"Man, I must have been ill that day or something"

From the Salon article:
It's subversive! This chicken isn't fried at all!!!

What a twist!

KFC Spot #397 - Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

You have heard of Apartheid, right, Spike?

Guess if I was from South Africa I wouldn't be so nonchalant and flippant about even the smallest of such things. If he made a little more effort to educate himself, he would understand why it wasn't funny. (And wouldn't post it on his FB)

It's like if a person is from Germany, you would hope they would feel it important to have an understanding of anti-semitism.

There's really no excuse to be ignorant on this subject except pure tee laziness.

Huh?

So someone in South Africa is supposed to be aware of all the different racist terms and stereotypes that we have in America?

IF YOU OFFER A BLACK PERSON GRAPE SODA YOU MUST UNDERSTAND WHY ITS RACIST

The fried chicken thing is distinctly American - it's a stereotype that originated in connection with African-American culture (specifically southern African-American culture and, even more specifically, with African-American culture in the era of slavery), not with all black people. There's no reason why someone from South Africa would intuit the American cultural connotation of a black guy eating fried chicken.

I would like to add that I think it's hilarious that eating a particular food falls under the penumbra of a racial stereotype. I mean, I understand why it is that way, but still find it bizarre... like how we eat birds.

Would it be bigotry if the video was a British-looking chap was bopping around with a cup of tea in one hand and a packet of crisps in the other?

Again, just think it's weirdly funny.

This shit is not rocket science. It's one book away.

I know you guys think this is just an American thing, but it should be a world thing. We aren't beyond racism.

Evi is a generation removed from the end of apartheid. My parents are from the South, one generation removed from segregation. They felt it important to instill as much knowledge as possible so that corner could truly be turned and what had occurred would never happen again.

I'm not PC, and I don't mean to over-react, but it shouldn't be too much to ask to look beyond yourself and your little circle. Instead of asking strangers on a MB if something is a real thing, take a minute to look into it.

So Elvis, your parents versed you in the racist stereotypes of countries you've never been to? I love ya man, but this is a weird line in the sand that I'm having trouble understanding. I don't get calling out Evi for him not being aware of a racist stereotype. Could it be that a corner was turned?

Yeah this basically sounds like an instruction manual called HOW TO HANG OUT WITH BLACK PEOPLE WITHOUT BEING RACIST.

That's fine, but one could also see that as Evi asking this already gathered, mostly learned group with whom he has an affinity, and who were already discussing the topic. For the alternative, type "why do black" into the google search window.

And this is a pretty left-field stereotype that would probably seem innocuous (if not outright absurd) to anyone who doesn't get the cultural context.

I mean, on the face of it, it's pretty stupid anyway, because, assuming you eat poultry, you probably love fried chicken. Loving it isn't even as culturally specific as loving (the similarly delicious) pastrami.

How weird. I just realized this thread was here. It's kinda fascinating to read how other countries didn't know about this sterotype, and that many of them don't have some type of racist thing that goes with food.

It is kind of weird. Would it be racist to show a British person eating fish and chips because hahahaha they all like eating that? Like, a picture of a breaded cod in a newspaper with the caption "Oh you KNOW that British dude is gonna eat the FUCK outta that fucking fried fish!!" Or is it racist because we're talking about a culture that has been so oppressed for so many years?

*edit* I type tooooo slow, and Mattioli already made my point.

Can we just devolve into calling each other racists already?

Don't know why this is so weird. lol I'm not trying to call anyone out, or draw a line in the sand.

I did grow up in the South with a good amount of understanding of other traditions. My family was involved, when there was still things to change. Lots of multi-cultural friendships. So you pick things up. I mean, my parents did their best, and laid a foundation, but I sought out a lot on my own. Since we're all geeks/nerds, I asumed that instinct was natural.

So Elvis, I take it you know all the South African stereotypes then?

When I was told it's racist, I asked the Americans I know: you guys. Was I meant to wikipedia it or something?

hahahaha.

Racism is showing disdain, ridicule or contempt for a person based on their race. British is not a race, it's a nationality. And the UK is a melting pot of races, just like the states. So it wouldn't be racist. It would be not unlike a caricature that portrays an American as a pot bellied guy dressed in overalls and a dirty trucker's cap sitting in his dark living room watching the NFL finals while drinking a can of Budweiser. Not necessarily racist. (Though I suppose you could make the case for racism if said caricature were made by an Asian, Black or Latino as a direct criticism of American whites.) In any case, all generalizations, if taken to extremes, could be seen as culturally offensive. Depending on the presentation.

God, I hope we're not supposed to know all other country's prejudices. I had a Puerto Rican girlfriend once who was trying to explain which parts of South America hate which other parts of South America, and it sounded like the most complicated thing ever. I've never been more glad to be part of a continent that has only three countries.

Never heard grits as a reference before. I'm originally from south GA and I've only known of them as being a southern thing more than anything else.

Definitely would like to thank Phil for the Chappelle article, I never knew the full story.

Tangentially-related to the whole larger racism thing, but certainly not to this weird KFC video:

I just caught Chris Rock's "Kill The Messenger" for the first time on TV the other weekend. Watching Rock do a stand-up bit on how its not okay for white people to call black people the n-word while somehow it IS okay for black people to call gay people fag**ts made me surprisingly angry.

Yeah, but being gay is a choice, your skin color isn't!


*runs far, far away and ducks under a rock*




And just so we're absolutely clear, that's a joke up above, not my actual hardline opinion or anything.

I have no idea what you're talking about...



I probably multi-quoted and then half-assedly edited out Phil's but fucked everything up royally in the process. In fact, there's no "probably" about it. It's what I did. Apologies.

His rationale, as best as I can recall, is that only black people can be n-----s, while anybody can be a f-----. It was flat-out ridiculous/offensive, and smacked of shockingly casual bigotry. In essence: "Well, this word isn't okay because it offends ME, but that word is okay because it offends YOU."

I mean, it's not like gay people have had to endure violence, discrimination, social injustice and public humiliation in their quest to be treated as equals, right? Am I right?

*Crickets*

Rewatch it when you get the chance, if only to marvel at the unjustifiable tightrope walk he fails at spectacularly. He's absolutely endorsing that POV, much to my disappointed surprise. As far as I'm concerned, once you start down that road you're officially prohibited from bitching about what other people do or don't call you.

Speaking of...

have you watched an Eddie Murphy standup recently?

Man this thread chases it's own tail. I think most people here mean well enough, but the subject matter won't allow lucidity.

I'm reminded of a couple of lines from the Proposition.
Or hell let me quote Vigrinia Woolf why I'm at it.

She's talking about misogyny of course, but the idea to me is the same. Though there is an assumption that we are more intellectually or socially advanced, basic biased hates remain in people. The round about way people handle it now perhaps makes it more ugly than just dropping the "N" bomb or any epithet you prefer towards whatever group.

For the record, the video is racist in the same way many commericals, movies, and music videos can be. It is just made damn blatant with a little editing.

Glad you've made that decision. Can we now just bring everything to you in the future for your verdict?

Only if it feels right, Ryan.

Ahahahahahahahaha. See, I'd think that's the perfect time to pull out that term. It's almost a non-sequiter at that point.

The bit makes sense in that Rock has now become a comedian that can get away with having rote, nonsensical bits in his act and the audience will lap it up because of who he is. That whole bit about the difference between work and a job was either out of a Dilbert cartoon or someone's act at the Haha Hole in Rockford. Rock's still funny when he does appearances, but Kill the Messenger hurt his cred. I don't think were any Carlin specials that I truly hated, for example.

As for Eddie, I haven't watched Raw lately. Is it really that bad, or is it so ridiculous that you have to laugh at it due to the context, a la Jesse the Body's use of "faggot" in PREDATOR?

It doesn't. If a white guy called another white guy the n-word for not realizing the light had turned green, he'd be a racist/bigot in Rock's eyes. But if a black guy calls another black guy a f-g? Well, that's okay with Rock because it's "just a word."

WTF?

ETA: I haven't seen RAW in forever, but I remember the rampant homophobia. It bothered me, but blatant bigotry never bothers me the way that Rock's comments bother me for some reason, maybe because Murphy's comments aren't an attempt to defend his own bigotry. To openly talk about how one word is exclusive to one group because of its historically-negative connotations, then instantaneously turn around and defend that EXACT SAME BEHAVIOR with a different word isn't just hateful - it's idiocy.

I'd love to see Rock's reaction to a gay guy telling another gay guy that he's "acting like a n------." I suspect his opinion might change. Or maybe not, since he's adopted a Doublethink approach to the whole thing.

I rewatched it about a year ago and yeah, it was pretty staggering. I was dumbstruck with that feeling of "my, how things have changed. He could never get away with that shit now."

Ah. Yeah, that's totally different. I like Stanhope's take on that word (can't find the quote).

Louis CK did a lot of writing for Chris Rock. Basically, I think that bit was Rock's version of this CK bit. And Louie makes the same point but better.

All of these terms are just words. It's their irresponsible use that gives them the power to offend. Once you strip them of that power, they become something else or, better yet, meaningless.

The point about a white guy calling another white guy a nigger is murky though. Because what would be the context? CK's point is that the word "faggot" doesn't have to mean "gay." It can simply mean prissy, annoying or cowardly. But nigger is a much more loaded word. If a white guy were to call another white guy a nigger, the implication would still be "you're behaving like a black person" and that would be a racist thing to say. Even trying to use it in a positive way, like: you're my nigger as a term of endearment - it would still be wrong.

But a black friend I used to work with would call me "his nigger" all the time. Eventually, there was enough confidence in our relationship and I started calling him a cracker. And those were our nicknames for each other. And no one was offended. But in order for that to happen, you have to completely strip a word of its power and context.

Sorry, that makes no sense. Despite it's original meaning "faggot" is just as loaded and just as specific as "nigger".