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out from the kitchen to the bedroom to the hallway
by mg at 06:44 PM on December 14, 2002
There has never been a lot of racism on this site, even considering the sort of visits we attract from Googlers (the regulars here are wonderful people, I'm not saying anything bad about you). It's all been contained to comments on the naked Osama posts, where it is a point/counterpoint of stupidity, so I let it slide.
But someone was running through the comments last night and really annoyed the hell out of me for some reason. It is one thing to have a violent and emotional reaction to something violent and emotional like terrorism, but his words came out of the blue, on a post that had nothing to do with anything. (Well, actually it was about Volkswagen, so maybe that German connection had something to do with it?)
If you go through your daily life not hearing this sort of thing, you can sometimes forget that people are still prejudiced. Especially in a city like New York; with all the different races and religions here, there is surprisingly little strife between us all. But then something happens or someone says something (hello Senator Lott), and you realize that just because people aren't burning crosses one each other's lawn, that doesn't mean they aren't wishing they could.
This sort of polite racism is sure better than running around hanging people or dragging them behind your truck, but it is also so much worse because it is insidious. If you have these stupid views, and never reveal them, no one will ever confront you with the reality that, no matter what day you pray, what color your skin, or what gender you like to screw, everyone is pretty much the same.
You know, it's like when a friend tells a racist joke (and means it). Do you say something about it, or let it slide? I did delete a couple of the comments, because they were just stupid, but I left the majority of them up (on this and this post). I was going to let things slide, leave the comments up, and not really make a big deal about it.
But I really want to make the point that this isn't what the site is about. We may talk about sex, and race, and religion, but, even if I’m making light of it, it isn’t in a derogatory manner. Perhaps a bit of political correctness is lodged itself in my consciousness, but I can still say these things without it being racist, right? I’m not a hypocrite here, am I?
comments (12)
Hey Mike, I apologize and will tone down, if it's actually me, that you are referring too. Now,
there's a point where conservative right becomes so extreme that it becomes leftist; in a sense that it's all a simple circle that goes round and round, in all spheres(race/creed/sexuality.etc) That is the standard definition of a 'revolution'. There will be a time soon, when the super-conservative dress shirt state-school all american athlete, who tucks his shirt in, kisses his mom goodnight, etc... becomes the symbol of Anarchy, simply because of the Normal Bell Curve, where the extreme tails(the Village type, the type that have the LUXURY of being IDEALIST, those who have trust funds) will be pushed more in the middle, becoming the majority, and hence bring the 'Eccentric Left' into a mere Average. And then, it's just not Cool anymore to be so damn liberal. Which brings me to Political Correctness: The penultimate mission of PC was financially based. To open up your audience, so your prospect base could generate more avenues of cash flow. That is severely the case with Politicians. So although it seemed the compassioned concept of the 21century, its motives were the same motives as any mass movement mentality that only benefits the powerful elite. When someone calls me a Chink, it does not bother me, because I'm too busy being Unattractive with a small dick. So yes, you are being a hypocrite, and yes that is my real email, if you want to private chat or just come over and drink a beer, we'll rent the BELIVER, or BELIEVERS with Martin Sheen. 917-568-8419 yes, that's my phone number, call me if you really want to debate, I have much to offer. Thanks, and I once again apologize for the slang terms I used, although this site because of it's multiple archives can attract anybody who searches for anything on the web.
by LOCKHEED at December 14, 2002 7:38 PM
Say what? I been to college, earned me a degree and everything. But I am so not following the comment above. All I do know is that being inflammatory for its own sake is ultimately pointless. Just cool out. Actually the beer sounds pretty good right now.
by anna at December 14, 2002 7:45 PM
Dear Anna, I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I just thought the website was more free for all, blow some steam, regardless of how inane my comments were, I mean anytime you type in something 'controversial' in a search engine, this site pops up, hence, I thought it was super-edgy, but I guess it's more like the ONION, where there seems to be a Higher motive behind it, ie) pleasing some form of public funding or something, because its the Masses that pay the most money. I don't know. I'm probably wrong, but most of all, I didn't want to offend you, Anna, because I was touched by the Snowman story. I might leave the site now. Good luck to you all in your careers, if I don't come back. -Alex
by LOCKHEED at December 14, 2002 8:00 PM
mg, i think you should *definitely* call lockheed. i think you two should *definitely* have a good chat about politics or whatever. i think you should *definitely* go over to lockheed's place. a drink or two? *definitely*. rent a movie? *definitely*. more more to drink? (nods). you like it? you like it? (nods).
by Eviltom at December 14, 2002 9:34 PM
The Snowman story was lame. Lwt'a get on w/ it.
by anna at December 14, 2002 11:38 PM
I've also noticed that this site has been getting comments that are different than usual. This place used to have a light hearted, comical feel to it and now it’s starting to get a mean spirited sort of seriousness. The type of topics posted have changed and maybe that has something to do with it, but I think MG is right about it being a few rotten apples fucking up the program.
by MrBlank at December 15, 2002 3:12 AM
I think Lockheed is out of his/her mind putting his/her real phone number on a site of this nature. Dude/dudess, [have we gotten to the point where we have to allow for 'dudess?'] you are encouraging disaster.
by douchenation at December 15, 2002 3:29 AM
Douchenation, it's 'dudette', not dudess.
MG, in regard to whether you are being a hypocrite or not, I have always thought that a little humor goes a long way in reconciling differences between people. It is when we learn to laugh at the things that make us different, rather than point them out in a malicious manner, that we become free to accept them (in ourselves as well as in others)
Anna, the Snowman story was nice. I'd also like to thank you for replying the survey I sent.
by Lucy at December 15, 2002 4:59 AM
Well, I am all for a return to the lighthearted comical feel Mr.Blank alluded to. Will be gone a little while but when I return it will be in a lighthearted vein.
by anna at December 15, 2002 12:57 PM
I have one point of contention with this article...
"...with all the different races and religions here [NYC], there is surprisingly little strife between us at all."
It is not necessarily the idea I disagree with, but I would have to say that diversity is PRECISELY the reason NYC is (predominantly) harmonious. What has always confused me is the venemous hatred of other groups in cities and towns that are largely homogenous; how can people make assertions about groups they have no social contact with? I guess what I'm saying is: the intermingling of races makes it anything but surprising (to me) that people here get along--it encourages a sort of unconscious, daily education in cultural studies. Sorry, MG--I'm not trying to needlessly bust your balls, it's just that you write provocative material, and you seem like the type that would welcome discussion. (And don't be so self-conscious about racism--you're in the clear).
by douchenation at December 16, 2002 11:24 PM
Haved you ever lived in one of those homogenous areas? There may be racism there, but no racial violence. It's hard to lynch black people when there aren't any black people around, you know what I'm saying?
But, the racism is there, and the racism is there for the same reason racism exists everywhere - people often fear, and therefore hate, that which is different from them. Not having the knowledge is precisely what causes someone to prejudge those different from them.
Now, just because you are in New York City, where people are exposed to every other flavor of people on a daily basis, you may not have silly racist stereotypes running around in your head, but that doesn't mean you still don't fear/hate different races. Think about the violence toward those who looked even vaguely Muslim directly after 9/11. Crown Heights. Diallo.
Even as liberal as New York is, cramming this many people, of this many different flavors, on just a couple of tiny little islands, I'd excpect that kind of violence to flare up much more frequently. I really am surprised there is such harmony here.
by mg at December 17, 2002 1:10 AM
I was reared in a small homogenous town, yes; and the only "racial" violence involved WASPs by default.
The reason I hath no silly stereotypes in my head (or at least ones I take seriously) stems from parents who were intolerant of such shit, a triple-digit IQ I take for granted, and the fact that I deal with people strictly as INDIVIDUALS (what a novel concept, huh?). Oh, and I hate/fear/distrust everyone equally--having been fucked over by a veritable rainbow of skin colors and creeds, I haven't the time to classify people according to national origin. To me, the human race in general has demonstrated its capacity for magnificent evil--as an external observer, I am hardly discriminatory.
Reading your reply to my repsonse to your original piece, I can kind of understand your position now. I'm so used to feeling unwelcome everywhere that, despite my ostensible misanthropy, I must have developed a slight case of idealism. I guess if you (MG) participate in society even to a very small degree, you are infinitely more qualified to asses racial harmony than I. Thank you for your response.
by douchenation at December 17, 2002 1:50 AM