Off Topic Political Correctness

[nfreeman]

 

My sense is that 9 out of 10 people (maybe more) who have them don't know what they are or what they might signify -- just that they're a piece of memorabilia that has been in the family (or part of the property) for generations.

 

Indeed.  Politically incorrect, and inadvertently offensive to some -- but not an intentional statement meant to flaunt bigotry.

[That Aud Smell]

My grandfather has one outside his house. I'm not going to tell him to take it down because he's like...93, so why bother. Is my grandfather a racist? I have no idea. I've never heard him say anything about black people, good or bad. I assumed he's not. But I can't really confirm that either. If he is, he's not actively so. Which I guess is the best way to be racist? 

 

My grandmother was probably born the same year as your grandfather, or close to it. She was as kind, gentle, and generous a person as you could have hoped to meet. But the number of ways in which she was casually racist was pretty astonishing. Simplest of examples: She referred to brazil nuts (which she adored) as "n-word toes." We'd kindly admonish her when she dropped stuff like that, and she'd get all flustered and apologize, but the stuff persisted. Like all of us, she was very much a product of the age and location in which she was raised.

 

Indeed.  Politically incorrect, and inadvertently offensive to some -- but not an intentional statement meant to flaunt bigotry.

 

And quite possibly a wholly justifiable target for vandalism and/or property destruction by tipsy college-aged kids. I say that because I am pretty sure the statute's long since expired.

[Claude_Verret]

My grandfather has one outside his house. I'm not going to tell him to take it down because he's like...93, so why bother. Is my grandfather a racist? I have no idea. I've never heard him say anything about black people, good or bad. I assumed he's not. But I can't really confirm that either. If he is, he's not actively so. Which I guess is the best way to be racist? 

 

I wouldn't put one in front of my house, that's for sure. 

 

 

If he's voting for Trump you can go from having no idea to assuming with 50% certainty that your grandfather is a racist.   :P

[darksabre]

If he's voting for Trump you can go from having no idea to assuming with 50% certainty that your grandfather is a racist. :P

:lol:

 

Mmmm I think if he even bothered to vote it would be for Clinton. But if I was 93 I don't think I'd give a sh*t anymore.

[PASabreFan]

My grandmother was probably born the same year as your grandfather, or close to it. She was as kind, gentle, and generous a person as you could have hoped to meet. But the number of ways in which she was casually racist was pretty astonishing. Simplest of examples: She referred to brazil nuts (which she adored) as "n-word toes." We'd kindly admonish her when she dropped stuff like that, and she'd get all flustered and apologize, but the stuff persisted. Like all of us, she was very much a product of the age and location in which she was raised.

Oh jeez. I thought that was something only my mum said. I actually feel a little better.

[spndnchz]

My grandmother was probably born the same year as your grandfather, or close to it. She was as kind, gentle, and generous a person as you could have hoped to meet. But the number of ways in which she was casually racist was pretty astonishing. Simplest of examples: She referred to brazil nuts (which she adored) as "n-word toes." We'd kindly admonish her when she dropped stuff like that, and she'd get all flustered and apologize, but the stuff persisted. Like all of us, she was very much a product of the age and location in which she was raised.

 

If you wore a baseball cap at the dinner table my grandmother would say "What are you a k i k e?" growing up I thought she said "kite" but later learned the difference.

[JJFIVEOH]

If you wore a baseball cap at the dinner table my grandmother would say "What are you a k i k e?" growing up I thought she said "kite" but later learned the difference.

 

Now if you had a string attached to it........................

[ubkev]

Racist grandparents: Totally not safe for work! Starts at about the 1:15 mark of the video. This pretty much mirrors my experiences with the elderly.

 

[PASabreFan]

Racist grandparents: Totally not safe for work! Starts at about the 1:15 mark of the video. This pretty much mirrors my experiences with the elderly.

 

I'm laughing hysterically just at the screen shot and title. Maybe I shouldn't even watch.

[Marvelo]

If you wore a baseball cap at the dinner table my grandmother would say "What are you a k i k e?" growing up I thought she said "kite" but later learned the difference.

not appreciating that story even with the kite reference.

[That Aud Smell]

not appreciating that story even with the kite reference.

As in not getting it?

 

Covered heads.

[Eleven]

not appreciating that story even with the kite reference.

 

The word that chz used is an epithet for Jewish people, some of whom cover their heads at the dinner table.

[Weave]

SJW's trying to shut down free speech.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/18/miami-dolphins-players-protest-police-union-nfl

[Hoss]

Why is every police union leader a vile piece of ?

[JJFIVEOH]

Why is every police union leader a vile piece of ######?

 

What do you mean?

[Hoss]

What do you mean?

They're all nuts.

[Eleven]

Why is every police union leader a vile piece of ######?

 

Because they went to school and were taught by union teachers.

[JJFIVEOH]

They're all nuts.

 

I don't think it's fair to lump them all into one group.Try being a cop, much less a union member.

[Marvelo]

If you wore a baseball cap at the dinner table my grandmother would say "What are you a k i k e?" growing up I thought she said "kite" but later learned the difference.

The above is a story, i'm sure meant to be humorous, that illustrates how ignorance and prejudice is brought home to family members around casual conversations at a dinner table. It's about an ignorant family member, a member of the older generation, who influences the younger family members with old prejudices. it is not about PC. The family unquestioningly accepted her prejudiced and hateful statements, probably more than once. Family is king and you never want to call out a family elder. it's just not done. This is the way that hatred for an entire minority is passed on. Casually, unquestioningly over family dinner.

 

I privately wrote chz about deleting this story because I am Jewish and the word "k i k e'  is extremely offensive to me and all other Jews (who don't hate themselves). It's very much like the N-word except there is no hip street cache using the expression. Jews don't go around casually calling each other this word. She did not delete the story or even answer me.

 

So now I feel I should tell people on this board that this is how the administrator of the board acts when it comes to hurting other peoples' feelings.  She doesn't care. It seems she learned this attitude from her grandmother.

Edited September 22, 2016 by Marvelo

[Sabel79]

I kind of feel like you missed the point of her post.

[Eleven]

The above is a story, i'm sure meant to be humorous, that illustrates how ignorance and prejudice is brought home to family members around casual conversations at a dinner table. It's about an ignorant family member, a member of the older generation, who influences the younger family members with old prejudices. it is not about PC. The family unquestioningly accepted her prejudiced and hateful statements, probably more than once. Family is king and you never want to call out a family elder. it's just not done. This is the way that hatred for an entire minority is passed on. Casually, unquestioningly over family dinner.

 

I privately wrote chz about deleting this story because I am Jewish and the word "k i k e'  is extremely offensive to me and all other Jews (who don't hate themselves). It's very much like the N-word except there is no hip street cache using the expression. Jews don't go around casually calling each other this word. She did not delete the story or even answer me.

 

So now I feel I should tell people on this board that this is how the administrator of the board acts when it comes to hurting other peoples' feelings.  She doesn't care. It seems she learned this attitude from her grandmother.

 

That is exactly the opposite of the post she was responding to.  And I think her point was that had she known what her grandmother was saying, she would have stood up and said something about it.

 

As for her use of the word in the story itself, we can't talk about words without using them.  (In the immortal words of Bart Simpson, "how the hell am I supposed to talk about hell if I can't say 'hell'?")

Edited September 22, 2016 by Eleven

[That Aud Smell]

I do think Marvelo misses the point of the post.

 

And I also think that if that word is as offensive as it apparently is, then maybe it should be typed here with profanity placeholders -- k*ke, and such.

[PASabreFan]

I do think Marvelo misses the point of the post.

 

And I also think that if that word is as offensive as it apparently is, then maybe it should be typed here with profanity placeholders -- k*ke, and such.

What purpose would that serve?

[Marvelo]

I didn't want to post anything public; I wanted to keep it private. But when she wouldn't discuss my concern privately, I felt i had to address her post directly. As a Jewish person, i feel strongly against the public use of ethnic slurs and that her story perpetuates their use.  These words should have died out long ago.

 

i routinely see words like this in comment boards, people using offensive language whether it's ordinary swearing, ethnic slurs or anti-female etc. words that would have never been tolerated in public even ten years ago. This is not improving or liberating our conversation, it's degrading us and keeping these hurtful words alive and active again, as people use them to inflame others and be hurtful. 

Edited September 22, 2016 by Marvelo

[nfreeman]

Marvelo -- I can't speak for Chz, but I will say that sometimes I too fail to respond to PMs or am late in doing so, and there is no malice intended.

 

As for the story in question, I agree that the word is a slur and is offensive.  However, as others have noted, I think the point of telling the story was to illustrate the bigotry of the person who used it -- not to endorse its usage.