potato??

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indigowaters Second, like I said there are certain things that are said that won't affect you like it does us because YOU'RE NOT US!

Your right, getting called an oreo prolly wont affect me like it does you, because i've never been called an oreo, i get called other things. But thats unfair to say that I dont know how racism feels because I'm a cracker. I think it's fair to say that since I've expierenced being a minority, and i've been spoken too with direct dislike from different skin colors, that I have a pretty good expierence for how it feels when someone is being racist. And nothing in the dialogue between her and her friend was racist.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indigowaters You obviously didn't read what I said. It's a term used in the black community to PUT SOMEONE DOWN and no it's not cool regardless of who uses it. <----Like I said before ^.

People use nagative terms in a positive way all the time though.

 

[Indigowaters]

I don't like it when people put words in my mouth or for this post's sake, paragraph. I didn't call you a cracker and I didn't say what her friend said was racist. I said it was up to her to let her friend know it wasn't cool.

 

[Raerae]

This is for everyone:

Oh FYI, due to the sensitivity of the subject (especially considering our differing opinions (and skin colors lol since somehow that always ends up being a reason in conversations that involve this topic), i just wanna be clear that i hope the overall feelings behind these posts are positive. You've prolly noticed that I have a very debative (is that even a word lol) personality, mainly because I'm curious about understanding the real truths behind people's opinions. Instead of the, "because" response that so many people rely on. And your opinion's (already posted and possible future) are valued regardless if we agree or not

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indigowaters I don't like it when people put words in my mouth or for this post's sake, paragraph. I didn't call you a cracker and I didn't say what her friend said was racist. I said it was up to her to let her friend know it wasn't cool.

I didn't say you said I was a cracker. I just used that word to draw analogy to a similar snackfood that I've been called in the past

 

[Indigowaters]

Ok, like I said back to the subject...potato??

 

[Lady_MAC]

I see now that regardless of what I say you will not understand, and it's not because you can't fathom my point- I'm sure you simply do not want to. Don't worry, your resistance is rather prevalent.

Yes, I do deconstruct nearly everything I read- that is how my family and I are. It is rather automatic, and I do it without trying. I do not hunt for racist, homophobic, sexist, etc. sentiments, I just see them and sometimes call the person out. I can't believe you basically told me to 'talk without thinking', sorry- it's not going to happen.

You know, I rather address what I'm really thinking about this via PM later, because I feel like I'm stinking up Specktra's sweet atmosphere.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indigowaters I didn't say what her friend said was racist.

I'm sure the topic got mixed up throughout the posts at some point, sorry!

Quote:

I said it was up to her to let her friend know it wasn't cool.

This is the part i'm having trouble understanding.

The way I see it as an impartial observer, is Friend A who said , "like omigod, your so white!" which while having racial undertones (and only because she said "white" instead of, "geek, or nerd, or dork, or anything else"), doesn't come across as she really believes that all blacks have a 5th grade education. And in saying so, purposly meant to discriminate.

It just seemed like Lady_Mac was looking for a reason to play the race card. Instead of looking at it for what it was really worth, a friend joking with another friend. Thats all I'm saying.

I mean, i could take that same phrase, "Like omigod, your so white" and say it racist against white people.

Great - So all white people are these braniac geeks who use words no one else uses like, "Indubitably!" (and start all their sentences with like omigod) I mean seriously, when is that last time you have heard anyone use that word (I think thats the first time I've EVER heard that word used, and I grew up around white people, i had to look it up).

It just comes across to me that people look WAY to hard to find racism in places where it doesn't exist.

 

[Wattage]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady_MAC No..it is negative. It just perpetuates the belief that you can act a race. I am endlessly called an oreo because I do not use slang and like Rock music. If that is "acting white" what is acting Black? Hmm? Is being culturally Canadian exclusively white? I think not. That is f'd up and flawed thinking.....IMO, of course.

No, being Canadian is not exclusively white (caucasian, tyvm). Futhermore, there are certainly can be "ways" of being when you belong to a particular race, ethnic background or whatever term you need to use for overly sensitive people. These are often the source of jokes, stereotyping and unfortunately racism. Also, I don't know where people get off thinking these don't apply to the caucasian community.

If you chose to take what I said and twist it to mean that I have flawed and "f'd" up thinking - totally fine with me. Also, if you chose to react when someone calls you an orea, that is totally up to you. Don't get pissy with someone else because they chose not to attach negative connotations to perfectly harmeless things - IMO, of course.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady_MAC I see now that regardless of what I say you will not understand, and it's not because you can't fathom my point- I'm sure you simply do not want to. Don't worry, your resistance is rather prevalent.

See the previous post, there is a specific point that Indigowaters better helped clarify (thanks btw) that I dont understand.

Quote:

Yes, I do deconstruct nearly everything I read- that is how my family and I are. It is rather automatic, and I do it without trying. I do not hunt for racist, homophobic, sexist, etc. sentiments, I just see them and sometimes call the person out. I can't believe you basically told me to 'talk without thinking', sorry- it's not going to happen.

but dont you think that by deconstructing everything you might come to conclusions that dont really exist?

Quote:

You know, I rather address what I'm really thinking about this via PM later, because I feel like I'm stinking up Specktra's sweet atmosphere.

You can answer this by PM if you want, if your not comfortable haveing a rational public discussion on this topic. But so far i haven't seen anything inapropriate posted by anyone.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wattage No, being Canadian.

Sorry Wattage, I had to stop reading right there! BLAME CANADA! *tease* J/k hehe

 

[mzcelaneous]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerae People use nagative terms in a positive way all the time though.

Out of curiosity, do you have any examples? I can't seem to think of any.

I'm pretty sure Lady_Mac's basic point was that no one can "act" a certain race. When someone labels you a certain race because of your actions, it is racist IMHO.

 

[Wattage]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerae Sorry Wattage, I had to stop reading right there! BLAME CANADA! *tease* J/k hehe

Haha, yeah, it's always Canada's fault... but at the end of the day we have all the water and the ganga.

 

[Indigowaters]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wattage No, being Canadian is not exclusively white (caucasian, tyvm). Futhermore, there are certainly can be "ways" of being when you belong to a particular race, ethnic background or whatever term you need to use for overly sensitive people. These are often the source of jokes, stereotyping and unfortunately racism. Also, I don't know where people get off thinking these don't apply to the caucasian community. If you chose to take what I said and twist it to mean that I have flawed and "f'd" up thinking - totally fine with me. Also, if you chose to react when someone calls you an orea, that is totally up to you. Don't get pissy with someone else because they chose not to attach negative connotations to perfectly harmeless things - IMO, of course.

I think there is ALOT of misunderstanding on this board. Lady_MAC did not say that being Canadian is exclusively white. I think if everyone took the time to read and re-read what the other person says rather than posting "I'm going to show her" posts, we can all come to an understanding. I'd hate for anyone else to come in on this post and think that we're all a bunch of racists (which I know we are not). But, pleeease take the time to read and try and understand what the other person is saying. It is very narrow-minded to say "I don't care if you think that's f'd up", because afterall, you want someone to understand you. So give the same courtesy in return and this can turn into a positive learning experience rather than a negative one.

 

[mzcelaneous]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wattage Haha, yeah, it's always Canada's fault... but at the end of the day we have all the water and the ganga.

LOL, I can't believe you said that!

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzcelaneous Out of curiosity, do you have any examples? I can't seem to think of any. I'm pretty sure Lady_Mac's basic point was that no one can "act" a certain race. When someone labels you a certain race because of your actions, is racist IMHO.

Well there is my example above about how with a group of girls we were basically the, "bitches."

If you want racial examples, we can use the obvious. A roomie I lived with, white guy from the east coast, moved out here with his best friend a black guy. They both called each other, "niggah's" all the time when they hung out in the living room smoking pot. They both came from the ghetto of Boston too. And as ghetto as they could both act, there both total sweethearts. One of em is married now, and i bet my ex roomie ends up with his current GF too.

At my work, one of the girls is hispanic, and she and a white guy that worked there would call each other back and fourth, "Poota" (i know thats spelled wrong, but it was some spanish bad word) and other spanish insults. But to them it was teasing and flirting.

It happens all the time, negative words used in good spirits.

 

[Indigowaters]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerae Well there is my example above about how with a group of girls we were basically the, "bitches." If you want racial examples, we can use the obvious. A roomie I lived with, white guy from the east coast, moved out here with his best friend a black guy. They both called each other, "niggah's" all the time when they hung out in the living room smoking pot. They both came from the ghetto of Boston too. And as ghetto as they could both act, there both total sweethearts. One of em is married now, and i bet my ex roomie ends up with his current GF too. At my work, one of the girls is hispanic, and she and a white guy that worked there would call each other back and fourth, "Poota" (i know thats spelled wrong, but it was some spanish bad word) and other spanish insults. But to them it was teasing and flirting. It happens all the time, negative words used in good spirits.

I understand your examples and that's all good, but I wouldn't like either of those terms being used in my presence because of how I would feel and also because of how others would feel. I think alot of jokes can be told without trying to "make" a negative term seem positive. There's still sensitivity to those words because sometimes people have been called that in a not so joking way. So we can't say, "Oh they're just being overly sensitive" and blow people off, because we don't know what they've been through. If you tell someone to stop doing something that you don't like (regardless of what it is), that person should have enough respect to stop, even if they were joking.

 

[Wattage]

Thank you for the example, Raerae ^.

It's like when my friends and I call each other white trash. It's certainly something I would never say to someone in a derogatory fashion, it's something I say as a joke. Or when I make fun of my best friend (who is Chinese) for being cheap, it's all in good fun. She calls me a white trash cracker, I tell her she stinks like moth balls and pinches pennies like there's no tomorrow.

I think in my circle of friends and in general my age group, this type of behaviour is seen as lightening the mood. It takes what could be very upsetting and hurtful terms and uses them in a light way. If anything, I think this type of joking helps people see how ridiculous it is to label someone - so ridiculous that our generation makes a mockery of it.

 

[Wattage]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indigowaters I understand your examples and that's all good, but I wouldn't like either of those terms being used in my presence because of how I would feel and also because of how others would feel. I think alot of jokes can be told without trying to "make" a negative term seem positive. There's still sensitivity to those words because sometimes people have been called that in a not so joking way. So we can't say, "Oh they're just being overly sensitive" and blow people off, because we don't know what they've been through. If you tell someone to stop doing something that you don't like (regardless of what it is), that person should have enough respect to stop, even if they were joking.

While I completely understand, I have to say that I disagree, politely. I (in my opinion), don't think this is the answer to the problem. However, you feel that way and that's OK - I can respect that

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indigowaters I think there is ALOT of misunderstanding on this board. Lady_MAC did not say that being Canadian is exclusively white.

Just so we know what were deconstructing. *tease*

Quote:

Originally Posted by wattage I don't see why this has to be thought of as negative. A lot of people call my bf a banana (white on the inside, yellow on the outside) and it's not negative. It's just a way of joking that he is culturally very Canadian, but physically he is Vietnamese.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady_MAC No..it is negative. It just perpetuates the belief that you can act a race. I am endlessly called an oreo because I do not use slang and like Rock music. If that is "acting white" what is acting Black? Hmm? Is being culturally Canadian exclusively white? I think not. That is f'd up and flawed thinking.....IMO, of course.

I agree that she didn't say that being Canadian was exclusivly white. But the steriotypical canadian is going to be some fair skinned person who rides a Elk or a Moose to work (they dont have cars in Canada, everyone knows that).

Your original Canadian settlers from Europe were the French if I remember right. Thus going back to who the original Canadians were (excluding the indians as they dont relate to this subject), it's only logical that people are going to consider the Canadian culture a "white thing."

Color is only used because it part of a very VISIBLE difference that humans have. And as a result it's only natural that we would use it when defining a generalization of a culture.

I'm sure if we all took the time to discuss it, we could pool the diverse racials base specktra has to offer, and come up with a profile for what, "acting black" is.

It's just a natural part of being human to organise things based on the things that make them different.