"Oh my god, you're SO white."

[ChristineES]

Some people will be offended no matter what but if a statement is made and is playful and the person it is directed at laughs and thinks it is funny then it isn't really offensive.
I don't like it when people call each other derogatory terms, either. I don't see how it can be right calling someone a name that would be offensive by someone else. That is, unless it is said in private and not in front of others.

 

[DallasApple]

If you think about it..there is so much out there put out to be "funny".Everyone gets included.I think each person has a certain level of tolerance.And its probably based on your sense of humor.

Think about it..blond jokes..red neck jokes..racial jokes..gender jokes..children getting poked at jokingly and with lables and references..gays and lesbiens..

I think you have to be able to laugh at yourself sometimes.But everyone has a personal "limit" to what they find humorous.

And think it can also depend on who it is and what they mean by it.I have a really close friend that nicked named me hooker for a while..before that she nick named meat loaf girl.Believe it or not they were terms of endearment.Sort of an inside "joke".If a stranger had referred to me as a "hooker' I probably would have have felt insulted.

Love

Dallas

 

[Comicaze247]

Some people will be offended no matter what but if a statement is made and is playful and the person it is directed at laughs and thinks it is funny then it isn't really offensive.
I don't like it when people call each other derogatory terms, either. I don't see how it can be right calling someone a name that would be offensive by someone else. That is, unless it is said in private and not in front of others.

Well, a lot of times it's an inside joke kind of thing, from what I can tell.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I tend to get so pale at times, some guy I knew (a rather poor student of the Occult) thought I was getting too involved with invoking and evoking demons.

Even on the news tonight, the newsguy was like "...is the WHITEST sport *chuckle*." ?!?! And if someone dared to say on air, "...is the blackest sport *chuckle*.." what would happen to him?

That has always sort of been a pet peeve of mine. Black people can call each other the "n" word, and call white people "crackers," but it sets off explosions when a white person even thinks of uttering the "n" word. I'll think I'll just stop here before I say something that gets me in trouble.

 

[Comicaze247]

That has always sort of been a pet peeve of mine. Black people can call each other the "n" word, and call white people "crackers," but it sets off explosions when a white person even thinks of uttering the "n" word.

I also think it tends to differ from person to person. I know some black people that don't get offended when white people say the "n" word while it's in a song, or when their white friends call them that in a "dude" sort of context. I think context is everything, in that way.

Another example I can think of is in the movie White Chicks, where two of the Wayans brothers (I forget their names) go undercover as two white girls. They're in the car with three other white girls and they start singing a song with the "n" word in it. The girls (who are actually white) stop the song and say "Don't say that! We can't say that word!" or something to that effect. The Wayans brothers' characters say ". . . well nobody's around . . ." So it seems to me that the writer of the script had no problem with it (I'm not sure if he's black or not), but the Wayans brothers didn't seem to have a problem with it either.

 

[DallasApple]

I tend to get so pale at times, some guy I knew (a rather poor student of the Occult) thought I was getting too involved with invoking and evoking demons.


That has always sort of been a pet peeve of mine. Black people can call each other the "n" word, and call white people "crackers," but it sets off explosions when a white person even thinks of uttering the "n" word. I'll think I'll just stop here before I say something that gets me in trouble.

I guess because the N word was used for so many years for nothing but the purpose of demonstarting racial hatred or racial descrimination or to identify someone as "not white".


I dont think people realize they still even do it sometimes..Lets just say you are talking about an interaction you have with someone..lets just say a car wreck.If you are white guy..and another white person hits you..Whether its a male or female you dont say "this white woman/guy" hit me today.You simply say woman or man.But many are likely to add in if they are black or another race..ie.."this black guy/woman hit me today.You may not have a racist bone in your body either.

Anyway ..with the N word.I think it just conjurs up to many negative and hurtful memories.What that word "stood for" was nothing funny or good.

I dont understand why they call each other that.And what about the music?If a song contains that word..as a white person..is it offensive for me to sing along to it?

Love

Dallas

 

[DallasApple]

I know some black people that don't get offended when white people say the "n" word while it's in a song,

You answered my question while I was asking it.

Love

Dallas

 

[DallasApple]

I was just taught growing up not to say that word.My parents never said it . Adn I rarely heard it.In fact I cant remember ever hearing it.And I grew up in the south.(Alabama and Florida).

It wasnt all over the T.V and radio back then.

Love

Dallas

 

[Elessar]

If anything, this just reinforces my opinion that no one should be calling each other anything derogatory, not even people within their own race/culture/group. A couple pages back I mentioned this whole *****, ****, whore trend that girls have going these days...calling each other by those names as a term of endearance. I don't like it even though I do it now. And I don't know why I do it, so I said I was going to stop. It just doesn't make sense for anyone to call anyone else anything negative. Even when it's an affectionate thing, it's still distasteful.

Actually, I have experienced this, too. Certain terms simply become non-derogatory when you use them within your group. I mean, for example, if I talk to a group of my friends from synagogue, it is not especially uncommon for me to call them a "bunch of Yids", but it is because we are all Jewish, and we are all friends of one another. I would never, ever call anyone but a Jewish friend a "Yid" or any other term. I would never use the term in a fashion meant to deride someone, and I would find it offensive if a non-Jew or a non-friend referred to me as a "Yid".

Then again, with us, "You're so Jewish" is not uncommon, in the same vibe as "You're so white" or "You're so black." To us, it means someone who meets many different Jewish stereotypes at a particular time, which I suppose is the same usage for the other terms. Then again, with us, "Jew" itself can be a derogatory term if used in a particular tone, in addition to, in a neutral tone, being an accurate description.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I tend to get so pale at times, some guy I knew (a rather poor student of the Occult) thought I was getting too involved with invoking and evoking demons.

Do you keep them in the circle while you are in the triangle?

 

[Smoke]

And what Greek-American, Italian-American, German-American, etc awards are you talking about? I haven't seen anything like, "Welcome to the 40th annual Greek-American Grammys..." or anything like that?

I didn't say Grammys. Actually, the Grammy award is the one major American arts award that has always included black nominees and winners, anyway. However, there are such things as

The Irish American Cultural Institute Annual Irish Awards

The Irish American Arts Awards

The Perillo Prize for Italian American Writing

The Bordighera Poetry Prize (for poetry in English an American of Italian descent)

The Distinguished German-American of the Year Award

The Danish American Society's Person of the Year

Miss Italia USA

and countless other ethnic awards.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I didn't say Grammys. Actually, the Grammy award is the one major American arts award that has always included black nominees and winners, anyway. However, there are such things as

The Irish American Cultural Institute Annual Irish Awards

The Irish American Arts Awards

The Perillo Prize for Italian American Writing

The Bordighera Poetry Prize (for poetry in English an American of Italian descent)

The Distinguished German-American of the Year Award

The Danish American Society's Person of the Year

Miss Italia USA

and countless other ethnic awards.

Yea I know you didn't say Grammys...I was using it as an example. And ahhh ok I didn't know there were all those awards.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

Actually, I have experienced this, too. Certain terms simply become non-derogatory when you use them within your group. I mean, for example, if I talk to a group of my friends from synagogue, it is not especially uncommon for me to call them a "bunch of Yids", but it is because we are all Jewish, and we are all friends of one another. I would never, ever call anyone but a Jewish friend a "Yid" or any other term. I would never use the term in a fashion meant to deride someone, and I would find it offensive if a non-Jew or a non-friend referred to me as a "Yid".

Then again, with us, "You're so Jewish" is not uncommon, in the same vibe as "You're so white" or "You're so black." To us, it means someone who meets many different Jewish stereotypes at a particular time, which I suppose is the same usage for the other terms. Then again, with us, "Jew" itself can be a derogatory term if used in a particular tone, in addition to, in a neutral tone, being an accurate description.

I totally understand the 1st paragraph. So, maybe even if the words are derogatory and it's still distasteful, I could be ok with that happening inside certain circles.

But what I'm trying to get at here is...if one group (like whites) can be made fun of by the "you're so white" thing, I need to be able to call a black/hispanic/asian person out when they're being particularly stereotypical. Agree or no? In the op, I was trying to ask how and why it's ok that whites get harassed all the time for being "stereotypical" yet when anyone tries to throw out a "WOW, you're so asian/black..." the whole country gets its panties in a twist.

 

[constantine]

lts ashame we fear truth and think being P.C. is more acceptable than giving each race its credit for excelling in the ways they do.l think the dreaded N word has come to surpass a single race and is being used to describe anyone who works harder/takes orders for low pay...Every race has an innate knowledge of survival and to keep their race alive they must put their race above all other races. Theres nothing wrong with racism really, its like mass profiling.All races have their good and bad qualities and we all know it..l think most people see a race entirely differently then a single face.lf we all had to carry the shame of our race we could never be individuals as diverse as we have become today...The people who do are killing each other. Obama is a symbol of hope,the people have spoken.A single race that can learn from each other...

 

[PureX]

... what I'm trying to get at here is...if one group (like whites) can be made fun of by the "you're so white" thing, I need to be able to call a black/hispanic/asian person out when they're being particularly stereotypical. Agree or no?

I disagree, because you are in the overwhelming cultural majority. It's an issue of speaking 'truth to power'. The flaws of a minority are a minor issue because they are in the minority. The flaws (misconceptions, biases, etc.) of the majority are more important, and more troublesome, because they are the majority. When a minority calls out the majority on such a flaw, it's called 'speaking truth to power'. But when the majority calls out the flaws of a minority, it's basically just being petty.

 

[gnomon]

I disagree, because you are in the overwhelming cultural majority. It's an issue of speaking 'truth to power'. The flaws of a minority are a minor issue because they are in the minority. The flaws (misconceptions, biases, etc.) of the majority are more important, and more troublesome, because they are the majority. When a minority calls out the majority on such a flaw, it's called 'speaking truth to power'. But when the majority calls out the flaws of a minority, it's basically just being petty.

Truth to power is an empty phrase. It allows nothing more for people to exercise bigotry or hateful remarks and is usually nothing more than a cop out.

Because I have white skin assuming I am in the overwhelming cultural majority is prejudicial. That's all it is. It disavows my entire personal history.

The usual counterargument is institutional racism. Which is moving the goal posts. That the government or major businesses may engage in discriminatory tactics, notably in the state power in exercising the drug war which is as class based as it is race based, is truly irrelevant to the personal experience and history of every individual regardless of their ethnicity.

The phrase "truth to power" is so cliched and corny that it bears no resemblance to it's recent Quaker origins. In fact, when one uses against the idea that a member of a "cultural majority" should not feel offended against racial epithets is sounds even more absurd. Calling people out with phrases "You're so white....", "acting white" or any "the man" phrase is more likely symptomatic of a fool by the one using.

I see no justification in rationalizing and justifying any form of prejudice.

 

[Wandered Off]

I disagree, because you are in the overwhelming cultural majority. It's an issue of speaking 'truth to power'. The flaws of a minority are a minor issue because they are in the minority. The flaws (misconceptions, biases, etc.) of the majority are more important, and more troublesome, because they are the majority.

I'll agree with gnomon here. "Flaws" are individual. Speaking of some kind of "group flaw" as if there is such a thing looks more like an excuse to lob insults.

 

[Falvlun]

I disagree, because you are in the overwhelming cultural majority. It's an issue of speaking 'truth to power'. The flaws of a minority are a minor issue because they are in the minority. The flaws (misconceptions, biases, etc.) of the majority are more important, and more troublesome, because they are the majority. When a minority calls out the majority on such a flaw, it's called 'speaking truth to power'. But when the majority calls out the flaws of a minority, it's basically just being petty.

But what flaws are being pointed to when the phrase "you're so white" is being thrown out? More often than not, it is pointing to a flaw in athletic or dancing prowess, to a flaw in speaking with proper grammar or intelligently about some subject, etc. Are these things that really need to held in such disdain? Are these things that need to be changed?

Your point would make sense if the phrase was thrown out there in order to draw attention to something that actually mattered. But as it stands, the phrase is just used as another way to make fun of another race.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I disagree, because you are in the overwhelming cultural majority. It's an issue of speaking 'truth to power'. The flaws of a minority are a minor issue because they are in the minority. The flaws (misconceptions, biases, etc.) of the majority are more important, and more troublesome, because they are the majority. When a minority calls out the majority on such a flaw, it's called 'speaking truth to power'. But when the majority calls out the flaws of a minority, it's basically just being petty.

Wow, I couldn't disagree more!!! Oh well.....

 

[stacey bo bacey]

But what flaws are being pointed to when the phrase "you're so white" is being thrown out? More often than not, it is pointing to a flaw in athletic or dancing prowess, to a flaw in speaking with proper grammar or intelligently about some subject, etc. Are these things that really need to held in such disdain? Are these things that need to be changed?

Your point would make sense if the phrase was thrown out there in order to draw attention to something that actually mattered. But as it stands, the phrase is just used as another way to make fun of another race.

:yes: I'm still half asleep so.,.,what she said!