Thread: Racist, or just a joke?

Originally Posted by Cephus

People are way too sensitive. Everything isn't racist, in fact, very few things actually are. I'd like to smack people who scream racism at every turn with a shovel.

Probably all right to smack them with a shovel, but probably not all right to hit them with a spade, which is what a shovel was called when I was growing up.

A chink has described a small tear or hole in something for hundreds of years. A chink in the armor was a weak spot that would be penetrated by a sword.
The holes between logs in a log house were chinks, and filling those holes with mud was chinking.

I saw the headline and didn't think anything of it. I doubt if the writer did either. But then I don't get up each morning and hunt for a reason to be offended. Time to lighten up.

Originally Posted by taxigirl

You say "the reality that people who are aware of the word's racially charged connotation are not necessarily sensitive" why should the rest of the world have to censor themselves because some people take things out of context or are "sensitive" to words. If someone uses a word maliciously that is probably wrong, but what about when it is not, as is the case with your signature.

When did I say people have to censor themselves? I said, "the reality [is] that people who are aware of the word's racially charged connotation are not necessarily sensitive." That's my only point. I'm not talking about others having to censor themselves. Have you got this in your head yet? Why are you putting words in my mouth? Is it that difficult to address ONLY what was said and not project whatever baggage you brought into this thread all over my post?

As for the Linderella issue, I was merely pointing out that people were not aware or "sensitive" to how offensive some people consider the story of Cinderella. My point was proven because you had no idea that some people thought it was offensive.

Who ****ing cares about Cinderella?

Originally Posted by Your Star

Or they could have just used the expression and not think about the racial implications. It's easy to miss stuff like this if your not thinking about race IMO.

Totally agree. Some people are bent on finding racism where none exists.

Originally Posted by Cardinal

It was a dumb, racist, forced joke, but was it necessary to fire the guy? I dunno. I tend to think that the power of a racist epithet is directly tied to how oppressed the race was in question. The N word? Highly significant because black people were just about as oppressed as it gets (but they're only in second place since they weren't the target of actual, bona fide mother****ing genocide), but Asians? Aside from a few unfortunate missteps in our nation's history I'm not sure Asians are a terribly maligned race.* I'm not Asian and obviously can't speak for everyone.

*Disclaimer: Asian country that is currently kicking our asses economically will be looked upon in the national media with disgruntlement.

At least Lin's ancestral homeland generally trades fairly with the United States, unlike some...

Originally Posted by ecofarm

You do know that they value their own currency and observe no human, labor or environmental rights, don't ya? How many people are dying per year of malnutrition and starvation in China? Healthcare? Haha. Justice? Haha. They got equal rights... no one gets any. It's like comparing apples and yellows.

Lin is Taiwanese-American...

Originally Posted by jimbo

Probably all right to smack them with a shovel, but probably not all right to hit them with a spade, which is what a shovel was called when I was growing up.

A chink has described a small tear or hole in something for hundreds of years. A chink in the armor was a weak spot that would be penetrated by a sword.
The holes between logs in a log house were chinks, and filling those holes with mud was chinking.

I saw the headline and didn't think anything of it. I doubt if the writer did either. But then I don't get up each morning and hunt for a reason to be offended. Time to lighten up.

1. I didn't know chink came from the eyes. I thought it was a variation on 'Chinese'.
2. What kind of a braindead asswipe would choose that title and not notice something funny.

An over-reaction to a remark. The writer should be given the benefit of the doubt. Crap rolls downhill and rests on the shoulders at the bottom. In this case, the writer. His bosses should be fired for not supporting him.

Originally Posted by DaveFagan

An over-reaction to a remark. The writer should be given the benefit of the doubt. Crap rolls downhill and rests on the shoulders at the bottom. In this case, the writer. His bosses should be fired for not supporting him.

Fagan and I agree on something? Stop the presses... I am about to have a heart attack...

Lets not be so-hyper sensitive, man is far, far from being perfect, and he may never become this way.
Yes! The writer was not fully sensitive , he is a man, not a machine.
IMO, we all need to be more tolerant.

That's it. People arguing that the writer didn't know damn well he was making a joke is too much.