Oh, jeez. "Racist" Walking Dead T-Shirt pulled due to complaints

[The Kilted Heathen]

Yes, they "chose" to, of course. The alternative - as we've seen before - being petitions of outcry, smears of racism (oh wait, that already happened), and an eventual damage to business.

You can say I need to "learn to read" all you like, but the fact of the matter is that with vigilante "justice" that we have seen all to commonly recently, the freedom of speech for many is being abridged. Whether by law or not, it is happening. The shirt was not "racially explicit", or a direct tie to race crimes. The good pastor can complain all he wants, but his rights end where another's begin. What of the rights of the people who wanted that shirt? Or the teachers who give examples from their own opinions? Or the people critical of certain religions? Or the people who's culture is tied to a certain regional flag? Or a flag representing a spirit of our early nation? Or people who have an affinity towards a certain culture, even if they aren't ethnically of that culture?

What of their rights? Or does the right to be offended take precedence over them all now?

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Yes, they "chose" to, of course. The alternative - as we've seen before - being petitions of outcry, smears of racism (oh wait, that already happened), and an eventual damage to business.

You can say I need to "learn to read" all you like, but the fact of the matter is that with vigilante "justice" that we have seen all to commonly recently, the freedom of speech for many is being abridged. Whether by law or not, it is happening. The shirt was not "racially explicit", or a direct tie to race crimes. The good pastor can complain all he wants, but his rights end where another's begin. What of the rights of the people who wanted that shirt? Or the teachers who give examples from their own opinions? Or the people critical of certain religions? Or the people who's culture is tied to a certain regional flag? Or a flag representing a spirit of our early nation? Or people who have an affinity towards a certain culture, even if they aren't ethnically of that culture?

What of their rights? Or does the right to be offended take precedence over them all now?

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Enough molehills make for a mountain.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

The hypocrisy in this thread is thick. I almost can't breath in here it is so thick.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Enough molehills make for a mountain.

As far as I am concerned, you are one of those molehills.

 

[columbus]

I wonder what Milo Yianapoulos is doing today.
Tom

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

The hypocrisy in this thread is thick. I almost can't breath in here it is so thick.

Please, do show us where anyone has said that they were not allowed to complain.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Oh, and speaking of hypocrisy, I asked:

...what gives them the right to pressure until the offending speech is removed from their delicate presence?

And your reply was, plainly;

The Constitution.

Care to elaborate on that?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

And no one actually forced Primark to pull the shirt that was their choice.

While that is true, more who are being pressured need to stand up and firmly declare "**** you." There is nothing Constitutional about not being offended (and for good reason), and this trend of social media getting things pulled needs people who don't cave, or it will only get worse.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

That is honestly the only version I was aware of. I've never heard the racist version. Anyway this is just ridiculous.

I've heard the "other" version, but it was so long ago I can't remember where exactly, but I do think it was a movie or tv show something. It makes me wonder if it was something that was more common over here a few generations ago?
If anything we need to ask the Pastor what's up with his line of thinking instead of getting shocked over something that nobody really cares about, nor should they. There are a billion things that explain the shirt; racism isn't one of them, not unless you're really making some leaps.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

While that is true, more who are being pressured need to stand up and firmly declare "**** you." There is nothing Constitutional about not being offended (and for good reason), and this trend of social media getting things pulled needs people who don't cave, or it will only get worse.

I am sure it was a marketing decision to pull the shirt.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Oh, and speaking of hypocrisy, I asked:

And your reply was, plainly;


Care to elaborate on that?

Sure:

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/media/pdf/books/governed.pdf

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

You must have misunderstood me.

I would like for you to explain how "The Constitution" allows others to suppress the expressive rights of others because "they're offended." Not a 40 page paper.

 

[dawny0826]

It seems that if some people took a Rorschach test, every inkblot would depict something racist.

Primark pull 'racist and offensive' 'Walking Dead' t-shirts from sale - NME

May they drown in a pool of their own tears.

Context is important. I noticed that The Walking Dead is printed on the front shirt pocket. I assume that that those who are offended haven't taken the time to watch the scene for which the rhyme was used.

If the shirt offends - don't buy it - don't wear it.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I am sure it was a marketing decision to pull the shirt.

Perhaps, but we see people in real life, time and time again, cave to the pressures people put on them in the digital world. At least demand they say actually to your face, rather than hiding behind a world of silicone.

 

[Quagmire]

I can understand where the people complaining are coming from. For most of it's history, "Eeeny, Meeny, . . ." actually was a racist rhyme. The "Catch a ****** by the toe" version is almost certainly the one under which the rhyme became popular, and substituting the word "tiger" seems like a pretty thin white-wash: Do tigers have toes? Do tigers holler? If tigers do have toes, would catching one thereby be a good idea and do you suppose hollering would be it's reaction?

See what I'm saying? It's like taking a well known ethnic joke and substituting an animal for the target demographic: "How many pol . . ar bears from an eastern European nation bordered by Germany on the west and the Baltic Sea to the north does it take to change a light bulb?"

It may be an over-reaction, but its not like it's completely unjustified.

 

[lovesong]

Haven't read through the thread so I don't know if this has already been said, but this actually confused me a bit. Growing up I learned the rhyme as "catch a tiger by the toe," my grandma would tell it to me. Is this really just a spin on an old racist rhyme or are they seriously overreacting, as I suspect?

 

[Thehoodedmonk]

What races? God only created one man.

 

[Quagmire]

What races? God only created one man.

Can you blame him?

 

[psychoslice]

I think its stupid, I might get one made myself.