ESPN Fires Employee For Jeremy Lin Racist Headline

14 years ago

Chink in the armor is now considered RACIST!?!?!?!?

I have used this a few times myself, and *****NEVER***** to refer to a chinese person:

a chink in armor - definition of a chink in armor by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

That dictionary created a great injustice. They incorrectly listed ANOTHER definition earlier. Frankly, it has been rare that I have heard that, and NEVER in day to day life! OK, let's look at the NEXT entry:

chink 1 (chngk)
n.
A narrow opening, such as a crack or fissure.
tr.v. chinked, chink·ing, chinks
1. To make narrow openings in.
2. To fill narrow openings in.

You will notice that about half the definitions relate to this, and half speak about a sound. Only one is the chinese reference.

I ADMIT that I don't know the context of the article, but a loss COULD be considered a chink in the armor. And that would be true even if NO chinese characteristics were present!

So what should they do about this? Should they:

1. Research the history and relationship of ALL words and avoid any that anyone can ever connect in this way? Do you have ********ANY********* idea how complicated that would be?

2. NEVER hire people with characteristics or heritage of anyone else in the group, industry, media, or network, and make sure that only like people comment? MAN, IMAGINE THE RESEARCH NEEDED! And WHERE do you stop? I mean EVEN monozygotic twins may have differences that may be pointed out!

Steve

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LarryC

14 years ago

<< I ADMIT that I don't know the context of the article, but a loss COULD be considered a chink in the armor. And that would be true even if NO chinese characteristics were present! >>

Are you serious? You do know the context of the article. Everyone knows the familiar expression, "chink in the armor," but most people also know it's a racial slur. They were making a pun, so obviously they knew both meanings.

They can't claim ignorance, at least not in the literal sense. I'm just surprised adults in a professional position, even sports, wouldn't realize that there would be repercussions for something like this nowadays. If people want to make jokes that offend others, they should at least do it privately and not in public broadcasts!

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by LarryC

<< I ADMIT that I don't know the context of the article, but a loss COULD be considered a chink in the armor. And that would be true even if NO chinese characteristics were present! >>

Are you serious? You do know the context of the article. Everyone knows the familiar expression, "chink in the armor," but most people also know it's a racial slur. They were making a pun, so obviously they knew both meanings.

They can't claim ignorance, at least not in the literal sense. I'm just surprised adults in a professional position, even sports, wouldn't realize that there would be repercussions for something like this nowadays. If people want to make jokes that offend others, they should at least do it privately and not in public broadcasts!

I didn't look at the article, merely at a statement that said it was about a loss, and lin was obiously on the team. The n word, and some other words, to lesser degrees, like chink, may SEEM obvious to some. Of course, in the context of "chink in the armor", that SHOULD be less distinct. But there are TONS of things that may or may not be slurs, etc... I didn't know that gypped was a "racial" slur! At least NOW, they say it is a reference to gypsies ripping people off.

AND, the SAME people that are so FOR diversity don't realize language differences and the like. I ALREADY said how MANY languages would indicate that the N word simply meant black. Heck, don't go publishing an article in Denmark or Norway about "sorting things out"! SORT means BLACK! GRANTED it just refers to color, as those words I mentioned in latin based languages, but what is to stop THEM from saying you have some racial intent?

If the author wanted to talk about a "chink in the armor", what should he have said? Achilles heel? That implies they are totally impervious, and that they have ONE week spot, but is THAT a racial slur? Should they have said "The small fissure in the armor"? They like short catchy titles. So a saying is off limits because it may be misconstrued as related to something in the article in a non flattering way?

There isn't anyone on the planet that knows all the racial slurs. Heck, they seem to be finding more and more that happened like hundreds of years ago. And some may come from other languages! THUG is a racial slur! Did YOU know that? It's TRUE! It is a sanscrit word referring to a lower caste of people. It was adopted into English as a word meaning some kind of low class bully. But how do you think THEY feel?

Steve

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thunderbird

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

<snip> I ALREADY said how MANY languages would indicate that the N word simply meant black. <snip>

"Negro" simply means black in some languages, but is not widely used in English any more. I never came across the derogatory "n" term simply meaning black -- what language would that be?

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by thunderbird

"Negro" simply means black in some languages, but is not widely used in English any more. I never came across the derogatory "n" term simply meaning black -- what language would that be?

English! Blacks say it a lot, but nobody else can, so I certainly won't.

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TLTheLiberator 14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

English! Blacks say it a lot, but nobody else can, so I certainly won't.

Most groups have a term or two that can be used by members on members of the group but don't want anyone else using it.

It's like a couple of siblings can say something bad about their parents but not someone outside of the family.

TL
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thunderbird

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

Chink in the armor is now considered RACIST!?!?!?!?<snip>

Not normally. However, in this context, it is an obvious pun. I doubt that a professional writer would miss that. Definitely not a wise move on the writer's part, as evidenced by his getting fired. Maybe firing him was harsh, but he did place himself in front of the firing squad. Very stupid, sorry.

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J Bold

14 years ago

Originally Posted by thunderbird

Not normally. However, in this context, it is an obvious pun. I doubt that a professional writer would miss that. Definitely not a wise move on the writer's part, as evidenced by his getting fired. Maybe firing him was harsh, but he did place himself in front of the firing squad. Very stupid, sorry.

I think it's stupid how these things are always guilty until proven innocent.

The writer said he didn't mean it to have a double meaning. If he did, he should be fired, sure, but even Jeremy Lin isn't making a big deal out of it. It seems ESPN assumed he did it on purpose, but he says he didn't. I think ESPN is just showing how afraid they are of being seen as racist when media just loves to seize on any politically correct-charged controversy, even if there's the slightest chance of guilt on ESPN's part, so they are covering their bases.

But it's only an inappropriate usage of the word if you intended it to have a double meaning.

The world has become overly sensitive to a point of over-reaction about this kind of thing. They also suspended Max Bretos who was the one to make the comment in the first place, and I don't think he meant it as a slur or a double meaning, either. He said his wife's Asian, too! It's a very very common phrase used in sports, so why do we have to automatically assume that they're using that term to be racist? For goodness sakes...

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TLTheLiberator

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

Chink in the armor is now considered RACIST!?!?!?!?

I have used this a few times myself, and *****NEVER***** to refer to a chinese person:

a chink in armor - definition of a chink in armor by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

That dictionary created a great injustice. They incorrectly listed ANOTHER definition earlier. Frankly, it has been rare that I have heard that, and NEVER in day to day life! OK, let's look at the NEXT entry:

You will notice that about half the definitions relate to this, and half speak about a sound. Only one is the chinese reference.

I ADMIT that I don't know the context of the article, but a loss COULD be considered a chink in the armor. And that would be true even if NO chinese characteristics were present!

So what should they do about this? Should they:

1. Research the history and relationship of ALL words and avoid any that anyone can ever connect in this way? Do you have ********ANY********* idea how complicated that would be?

2. NEVER hire people with characteristics or heritage of anyone else in the group, industry, media, or network, and make sure that only like people comment? MAN, IMAGINE THE RESEARCH NEEDED! And WHERE do you stop? I mean EVEN monozygotic twins may have differences that may be pointed out!

Steve

Steve said...

Chink in the armor is now considered RACIST!?!?!?!?

I say...

If it is used in reference with a person of Chinese background - yes it is.

If it is used for any other group or situation then it's no problem.

Asians don't want to hear stuff like that any more than other groups want to hear the slurs related to them banded about in public.

I think you said you have a lot of German in your background.

If so...

How would you like it if newspapers all across the country started weaving in anti -German slurs often when they wrote or mentioned a person with a German background?

I'm not going to bother responding to the rest of your seminar.

I predicted to my wife that racial slurs would be forthcoming when this guy hit the limelight and I was right.

All The Best!!

TL

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seasoned

14 years ago

BWT since Lin is chinese, and insanity is usually considered bad, is the term linsanity a racial slur ALSO!?!?

Steve

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TLTheLiberator

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

BWT since Lin is chinese, and insanity is usually considered bad, is the term linsanity a racial slur ALSO!?!?

Steve

The answer is no.

You obviously don't follow American sports.

The insanity angle has already been used on another pro basketball player named Vince Carter.

It was called vinsanity.

Anything that rhymes with "lin" can be used.

All The Best!!

TL

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator

The answer is no.

You obviously don't follow American sports.

The insanity angle has already been used on another pro basketball player named Vince Carter.

It was called vinsanity.

Anything that rhymes with "lin" can be used.

All The Best!!

TL

It was kind of tounge in cheek, to show how silly some things can get.

Steve

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MoneyMagnetMagnate

14 years ago

Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator

The answer is no.

You obviously don't follow American sports.

The insanity angle has already been used on another pro basketball player named Vince Carter.

It was called vinsanity.

Anything that rhymes with "lin" can be used.

All The Best!!

TL

Well, unfortunately it was a badly chosen double entendre' at best...a case of the pot calling the kettle black, so to speak? There are a few words in the English language which sound close to slur words...one which is a synonym for miserly, or parsimonious comes to mind...
Some Americans do not have a grasp of their own language enough to realize it.

Why, I saw an old man trying to perambulate a small child in the park the other day...in plain view of everyone!
He was later seen masticating at a nearby picnic table with the child, and they then went to the nearby lake to attempt a piscatorial act - again in plain site!

This has happened before - the man is known to be very pedantic, and has been seen before trying to interest children in philately...

(see what I mean?)

He should have been admonished for a bad choice of words, but fired? That may be going too far if there was no malice in what he intended...

The Irish in America have quietly taken what used to be slurs at them, and simply let them pass...remember that next time you get thrown in a "paddywagon"

In fact, referring to this...I remember I was once at a Stanford/Notre Dame football game at Stanford, and during the halftime, the Stanford band did a "satirical" poke at Notre Dame, by poking fun at the Irish Potato Famine, which frankly, I found to be in quite poor taste, considering a million or more people died of starvation...I expected an apology, retraction, or similar outrage expressed in the next school paper. There was none - I was amazed that I could have been the only one offended by that misplaced joke at an Irish tragedy..."So it goes."

I think it ultimately boils down to one thing for them TL...

"Winsanity"

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ThomM

14 years ago

From the article.

"I don't think it was on purpose or whatever, but (at) the same time they have apologized. And so from my end I don't care anymore," Lin said after leading the Knicks to a 104-97 win over Dallas on Sunday. "Have to learn to forgive, and I don't even think that was intentional. Or hopefully not."

I don't follow basketball or know much about Lin.
But I think that statement there speaks volumes about the man and his character.
I think the people making a big deal out of this and think it's worthy of discussion could learn something from Mr. Lin.

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TLTheLiberator

14 years ago

Originally Posted by ThomM

From the article.
I don't follow basketball or know much about Lin.
But I think that statement there speaks volumes about the man and his character.
I think the people making a big deal out of this and think it's worthy of discussion could learn something from Mr. Lin.

Yea one thing I learned is that Mr. Lin is saying all the right things and is very smart to do so.

Why ruin his run by being perceived ( correctly or incorrectly ) as a racial trouble-making crybaby?

There's lots of money to be made and why ruin it by getting into a big racially charged fight with anyone - especially ESPN?

Lin applies for trademark for Linsanity...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...l?ref=business

All The Best!!

TL

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ThomM

14 years ago

Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator

Yea one thing I learned is that Mr. Lin is saying all the right things and is very smart to do so.

Why ruin his run by being perceived ( correctly or incorrectly ) as a racial trouble-making crybaby?

There's lots of money to be made and why ruin it by getting into a big racially charged fight with anyone - especially ESPN?

Lin applies for trademark for Linsanity...

Jeremy Lin Applies For Trademark On Linsanity

All The Best!!

TL

Right after I posted that I saw an interview on TV with Lin.
Now I'm liking the guy even more.
The man really does seem to have his head on right

He really strikes me as someone you could meet, have a conversation with, and walk away feeling like you're a little better because of it.

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DGFletcher

14 years ago

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

Why, I saw an old man trying to perambulate a small child in the park the other day...in plain view of everyone!
He was later seen masticating at a nearby picnic table with the child, and they then went to the nearby lake to attempt a piscatorial act - again in plain site!

This has happened before - the man is known to be very pedantic, and has been seen before trying to interest children in philately...

(see what I mean?)

MoneyMagnetMagnate, that is the coolest thing I've ever seen. It was AWESOME!! Absolutely awesome. Masticating!! Best one ever! The only one I had to look up was Piscatorial. Awesome awesome awesome.

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seasoned

14 years ago

HECK! There is a sign that apparently dates back thousands of years! I wish I remembered the name. It started with 3 parts, and now often has 4. They are sometimes VERY distinct, but sometimes not. They were used as parts of logos for anything from a little enterprise to families, countries, or even EMPIRES. Oh well, a guy once saw one and, as I recall, he reversed it.

Flash forward about 30 years, and I hear about a place that WAS going to be setup as a place to hold an event, but they decided against it because it was RACIST! They had this sign.

Flash forward about another 30 years, and my JEWISH step mother, and a JEWISH friend of hers were going to buy this shirt from a place that is kind of still back in the 60s(they sell a lot of hippie like stuff). They decided against it because they were ANTISEMETIC!

NOW for the clincher! WERE they antisemetic or racist? NOPE! I remarked to my father about how I was surprised they were looking at these shirts because, at an ANGLE they may be mistaken for what they WERE mistaken for, but I guess I was too subtle, and he didn't listen!

So WHY did THEY think they were? Because the older place had a then popular type of indian symbol. It was copied unto the shirts. Reversed, and cocked, it was clearly a SWASTIKA! But that was NOT the intent!

Steve

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seasoned

14 years ago

TL,

If you look for racial slurs, I think I have demonstrated how they can happen. We may use them all day without knowing it, or even talking about anyone that the slur might be for. I think chink meaning fissure predates its use as chinese. As for the german slurs, like kraut or gerry, I found that kind of interesting. But I have heard a lot of people claiming all germans are nazis. That is not true, and it is amazing how ideas like that can even persist.

Yeah, there are probably more, who knows. But if I see an article about a german delikatessen serving sour kraut, or a german politician gerrymandering, or a german historian doing a film on nazis, my first thought won't be racism.

Steve

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MoneyMagnetMagnate

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

TL,

If you look for racial slurs, I think I have demonstrated how they can happen. We may use them all day without knowing it, or even talking about anyone that the slur might be for. I think chink meaning fissure predates its use as chinese. As for the german slurs, like kraut or gerry, I found that kind of interesting. But I have heard a lot of people claiming all germans are nazis. That is not true, and it is amazing how ideas like that can even persist.

Yeah, there are probably more, who knows. But if I see an article about a german delikatessen serving sour kraut, or a german politician gerrymandering, or a german historian doing a film on nazis, my first thought won't be racism.

Steve

No Soup For You!
"The Soup Nazi"

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

No Soup For You!
"The Soup Nazi"

Yeah, maybe nazi was a bad example. REALLY, it is more about what the nazis DID, rather than any germans. the "soup nazi" DID run his shop a bit like the nazis ran things.

Steve

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kindsvater 14 years ago

It's all in the eye of whoever wants to be offended.

There was a movie with plenty of famous actors: White Men Can't Jump

Just change "white" for the comparable word of your choice and think of the reaction.

.
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MoneyMagnetMagnate

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

Yeah, maybe nazi was a bad example. REALLY, it is more about what the nazis DID, rather than any germans. the "soup nazi" DID run his shop a bit like the nazis ran things.

Steve

Yup - damn those guys...and they really kind of ruined the swastika for everyone too - Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck.

Btw: little piece of trivia...do you know who made the uniforms for the SS? Hugo Boss. Try to forget that the next time you don your nice black HB suit for a night on the town...(leave the armband at home)

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Mark Singletary

14 years ago

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

Yup - damn those guys...and they really kind of ruined the swastika for everyone too - Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck.

It still is. It's associated with Buddhism and today is used widely in Asian countries.

Interesting story about supposed anti-Semitism being displayed in a New York store. The government said the earrings (in the shape of a swastika) were offensive and demanded the shop owner stop selling them. The owner said they were Buddhist symbols. Swastika Earrings Reportedly No Longer For Sale At Brooklyn Jewelry Store | Fox News

Mark

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MoneyMagnetMagnate

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

It still is. It's associated with Buddhism and today is used widely in Asian countries.

Interesting story about supposed anti-Semitism being displayed in a New York store. The government said the earrings (in the shape of a swastika) were offensive and demanded the shop owner stop selling them. The owner said they were Buddhist symbols. Swastika Earrings Reportedly No Longer For Sale At Brooklyn Jewelry Store | Fox News

Mark

Good example - that was taken completely out of context by not fully understanding what means it to other cultures, and only how it refers to theirs.
It is a paradox: Who is being insensitive?

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TLTheLiberator

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

TL,

If you look for racial slurs, I think I have demonstrated how they can happen. We may use them all day without knowing it, or even talking about anyone that the slur might be for. I think chink meaning fissure predates its use as chinese. As for the german slurs, like kraut or gerry, I found that kind of interesting. But I have heard a lot of people claiming all germans are nazis. That is not true, and it is amazing how ideas like that can even persist.

Yeah, there are probably more, who knows. But if I see an article about a german delikatessen serving sour kraut, or a german politician gerrymandering, or a german historian doing a film on nazis, my first thought won't be racism.

Steve

Looks like these guys were looking for racial slurs...

KNBR 1050 Promotes Racist Jokes Against Jeremy Lin - US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum

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thunderbird

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

<snip>
But if I see an article about a german delikatessen serving sour kraut, or a german politician gerrymandering, or a german historian doing a film on nazis, my first thought won't be racism.

Steve

I usually like reading your posts. You put a lot of thought, knowledge, and interesting reasoning into them. Sometimes, though, your cerebral gymnastics get too contorted for the Olympics®, so to speak.

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MoneyMagnetMagnate

14 years ago

Lin applies for trademark for Linsanity...

I wonder if he'll get a lot of flax from the Linseed or Linoleum Lobbyists - :rolleyes:

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Dennis Gaskill

14 years ago

I'm really tired of all the hypersensitivity. Half the time when you see it, it's just the lousy media trying to draw attention to themselves for a breaking story. The people involved, like Lin, are adult enough not to get bent out of shape. Too bad the people in the media weren't as sensible.

And ESPN sucks, and have for a long time. They are the exact opposite of the mentally tough athletes they cover ... it's full of weak-minded sissies who will throw anyone under bus at any time if it thinks it makes them look better.

Bah.

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J Bold

14 years ago

I think he'd have a good case for wrongful termination. I don't know what went on behind the scenes, but I've read his quotes. He says it was an honest mistake. How can you fire someone for that? Why assume guilt when it could have been completely unintentional? It's completely mental.

Again, I don't know if in private conversation, he made it obvious it was supposed to be a pun and they fired him, but it seems to be that they assume guilt first, find out the truth later, just to be seen as politically correct.

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TLTheLiberator

14 years ago

Call it hyper-sensitivity if you like.

But For Everyone's Information...

The word is highly offensive to the vast majority of people of the Chinese persuasion - period.

The Chinese-American guy from MSNBC said it is the most offensive word that can be used for his group.

I was at a party Saturday night and a couple of Chinese-Americans said the same thing - and it was not appreciated.

Done with thread.

All The Best!!

TL

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thunderbird

14 years ago

Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator

Call it hyper-sensitivity if you like.

But For Everyone's Information...

The word is highly offensive to the vast majority of people of the Chinese persuasion - period.

The Chinese-American guy from MSNBC said it is the most offensive word that can be used for his group.

I was at a party Saturday night and a couple of Chinese-Americans said the same thing - and it was not appreciated.

Done with thread.

All The Best!!

TL

It is an ugly term with a lot of cultural baggage. It is most offensive to long-time Chinese inhabitants of Western countries (that is going back generations), ie http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act. It doesn't seem to mean so much to mainland Chinese people I know.

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Dennis Gaskill

14 years ago

Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator

Call it hyper-sensitivity if you like.

But For Everyone's Information...

The word is highly offensive to the vast majority of people of the Chinese persuasion - period.

The Chinese-American guy from MSNBC said it is the most offensive word that can be used for his group.

I was at a party Saturday night and a couple of Chinese-Americans said the same thing - and it was not appreciated.

Done with thread.

All The Best!!

TL

Just to be clear, TL, I'm not for offensive terminology ... my mini-diatribe was about overreaction to it. Everyone is a victim of something.

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MoneyMagnetMagnate

14 years ago

I'm confused*- :confused:
Why don't honkies call each other honkie? Do honkies mind being called honkie?
I mean, other people can call honkies honkie, (and apparently, it's ok)
but honkies don't call each other honkie...why don't honkies call honkies honkie?

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Dennis Gaskill

14 years ago

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

I'm confused*- :confused:
Why don't honkies call each other honkie? Do honkies mind being called honkie?
I mean, other people can call honkies honkie, (and apparently, it's ok)
but honkies don't call each other honkie...why don't honkies call honkies honkie?

You can call me a honkie if you want. It would have no meaning in my life. Other people's opinions only have as much power as we give them. I've always thought racist comments say more about the person talking than the person being talked about.

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

I'm confused*- :confused:
Why don't honkies call each other honkie? Do honkies mind being called honkie?
I mean, other people can call honkies honkie, (and apparently, it's ok)
but honkies don't call each other honkie...why don't honkies call honkies honkie?

I have NO idea what you are trying to say. Honky is a term traditionally used by ONE group to refer to whites. So a white wouldn't refer to themselves, or other whites, in that way. It would be silly and out of place, and what is the point?

Steve

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MoneyMagnetMagnate

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

I have NO idea what you are trying to say. Honky is a term traditionally used by ONE group to refer to whites. So a white wouldn't refer to themselves, or other whites, in that way. It would be silly and out of place, and what is the point?

Steve

It's a facetiously gray question. Your last question is half way there. Juxtapose your second question by replacing one group word for another group word, and the point should appear less gray.
Let the shoe drop, then put it on the other foot -

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Kay King 14 years ago

It was a stupid headline- and Lin showed real class in not making a big deal of it.

I doubt very much if the writer didn't know what he was saying. I also doubt he meant it as a personal or racial slur - he probably thought he'd found a "snappy" headline that would get attention.

It did.
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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate

It's a facetiously gray question. Your last question is half way there. Juxtapose your second question by replacing one group word for another group word, and the point should appear less gray.
Let the shoe drop, then put it on the other foot -

Cheers

You seem to be implying that I am saying I would react as the other would if this were directed at me, though that is clearly not true, as I said. Of course, outside of honkytonk or some variant of the word, such as "Wal street disturb by honking cars", t doesn't even fit the "chink in the armor statement". You want something like THAT? How about "Black triumps over white in chess match"?

Who knows. Yesterday, my sump pump went bad. I actually EXPECTED this. Lately it seems like things are braking left and right, and it WAS one of the few things that hadn't broken! Anyway, towards the end, we spoke about money and how people may react. and he used a statement that, though I heard it a couple times before, I think it came AFTER the term for the group. I asked him WHY he said it, and he said it was simply a term he heard a lot. NO racial intent. He might feel differently in the future though. He got a kick out of so much ire from the statement HERE!

BTW the customer he referred to DID end up coming back asking for the service. He WAS full of hot air. He claimed culligan did much better on price. Apparently they lowball some things, and make it up elsewhere.

I guess if lin ends up beating a guy, and they say he cleaned the guys clock, THAT will be racist ALSO! I hope his parents DON'T have a cleaning establishment, or they will lose out on a lot of press.

Those ideas come from the site TL pointed to. I really don't spend all day coming up with racial insults, or getting slang words. About 90% of the stuff I know in that area comes from old films that may talk about it. About 10% from black nd mexican comedians. About 10% from news like THIS! I knew about chink from old films, but this is a hot one. WHO needs to look around when you have so many doing it for you!?

BTW the films covered everything, italians, jews, whites, blacks, germans, hispanics, etc.... So I excluded that stuff from the others. And the films DO go back about 90 years!

Steve

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davidtong

14 years ago

It seems like hypersensitivity if it's not your culture that's attacked, but racism and slur if it is... Besides, the media upholds a higher standard than most casual conversations, right?

Racism in the Media, A Double Standard?

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Kay King

14 years ago

I have lots of white friends

Sorry - but that cracked me up!

I agree that too often people go out of their way to find something to be insulted about.

That doesn't translate to using a well known slur as part of a headline about a popular person. That headline defies common sense to me.

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ThomM

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Young And Opulent

That's American for you nowadays. You can't even use words that have been around since way back because someone may take offense and call it a slur. Me being black, I hear it all the time. I'm constantly hearing people dig as deep as they can to find a reason to call someone racist. The particular phrase "chink in the armor" has been around for a long time. Just because the writer used it in reference to an Asian ballplayer, that doesn't make it racist. If gays and minorities had their way, America will become completely censored soon. Everyone will be walking on eggshells when they speak just because someone is ready to start a protest over words taken out of context. It's frustrating to me because I have lots of white friends, and they usually feel the need to watch what they say carefully out of concern that me being black, will accuse them of racism if something they say comes off wrong. It's to the point where I have to tell them, "I'm not with that bull****. Just talk to me straight up. I know you're not racist and I'm sure as hell not one of those types that are always on the patrol to find racism. Besides, those types are usually racist themselves."

It is getting ridiculous.
I grew up in the 50's and 60's when if a white guy called a black guy the n word he usually had a rope in his hand.
Yet my fathers best friend from work was a black man.
Did my father ever say this is my black friend from work? No, he was his friend from work. In 68 I dated a black girl. I never thought about her skin color, but about how good we got along and what a nut her brother was. Yet we would get harassed walking down the street by both whites and blacks.
One of my best friends for years (till he died 5 years ago) was black. Again never thought of him as a black person, just as a good friend. In fact he's the person that gave me one of my favorite sayings "not bad for a white guy". That started when I did something really stupid and as he was laughing at me that came out. For the rest of his life if either of us did something stupid or accomplished something really simple, that would be the response from the other person. In other words I said that to him almost as much as he said it to me. At no time did either of us think it was racist, just funny. I still say that when I do something simple, but have learned that some do take offence by it, for some reason mostly white people:rolleyes: Most blacks and Puerto Ricans I've worked with that have heard me say it think it's funny and end up using it themselves. Even when people with a different ethnic background say it I still think it's funny, not racist. Yet there are some people who think I'm a racist because of that.
What people need to realise is when a real racist says something derogatory, they do it to get a reaction. If I call you the n word and you don't react all it does is make me look ignorant. If you react it does what I want it to do, effect you. Unless you laugh at it. Then it makes me look stupid and you the better man.

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seasoned

14 years ago

Yeah, if the world really gets "color blind", colors won't even be mentioned. Do the asians even have a group to "protect" them? I have some relatives that happen to be japanese. I never mention it to be derogatory. I don't know if I have any black relatives. If I did, I wouldn't consider them any less for it.

I've heard people say bad things about the french, irish, and germans. Some is definitely unfounded, and some I don't like. I'm not about to get one fired for it, even if I could. and I then always go back to wozniak that was threatened with a suit for polish jokes. He's POLISH!

HECK, a lot of americans are scared of some chinese person in FAR OFF china making a few little decisions, and wiping the economy of the US out. And that is probably a more realistic threat than any perceived one from a derogatory comment about chinese people.

Apparently Lin has a lot of people that respect him, and if he slipped up in every game for the rest of the year, and got some major malady that forced him to leave, he would probably still have most of that intact!

Steve

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thunderbird

14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

<snip>

Apparently Lin has a lot of people that respect him, and if he slipped up in every game for the rest of the year, and got some major malady that forced him to leave, he would probably still have most of that intact!

Steve

I doubt it. I reckon he'd splash into obscurity as fast as he rocketed into fame, remembered only by geniuses competing in trivia games. The public is fickle. That said, I like Jeremy Lin and hope and expect good fortune for him in basketball. He's more than a statistical anomaly:
The Delivery Guy Who Saw Jeremy Lin Coming

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Kay King

14 years ago

I think there is so much untapped talent in the world - we'd be amazed. Often the highest paid people in any industry had talent combined with good timing, a bit of luck, knowing the right people, etc.

I expect for a every sports hero we know about - there are others who could be as good or better but never get the chance or break they need to showcase their skills. Same is true in business and probably every other endeavor you can think of.

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

I think there is so much untapped talent in the world - we'd be amazed. Often the highest paid people in any industry had talent combined with good timing, a bit of luck, knowing the right people, etc.

I expect for a every sports hero we know about - there are others who could be as good or better but never get the chance or break they need to showcase their skills. Same is true in business and probably every other endeavor you can think of.

That IS one of my pet peeves. People say the best this and that, the worst, the first, the last. It is almost CERTAIN to NOT be true, since they don't have ALL the details. Do ALL pretty women enter beauty contests? NOPE! So even if beauty were quantifiable beyond all doubt, you could NEVER say a winner was the prettiest. That is a lousy example, but it illustrates my point very well.

Steve

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TLTheLiberator

14 years ago

Asian Civil Rights Organization Demands More Than Apology:

story here...

ESPN Jeremy Lin Headline: Civil Rights Organization Demands More Than Apology (UPDATED)

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ThomM

14 years ago

Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator

Asian Civil Rights Organization Demands More Than Apology:

story here...

ESPN Jeremy Lin Headline: Civil Rights Organization Demands More Than Apology (UPDATED)

It this point I'd break out my B.M.S.M.A. reply.

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thunderbird

14 years ago

Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator

Asian Civil Rights Organization Demands More Than Apology:

story here...

ESPN Jeremy Lin Headline: Civil Rights Organization Demands More Than Apology (UPDATED)

There must be a lot of pent up anger exploding here. I'm sure there must be ssues that more directly affect the lives of Asians than a silly writer making a bad pun with an ugly double meaning. Is he guilty or innocent? I suspect guilty, but American society is supposed to be founded on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. He got fired already and personally I find that to be an extreme reaction.

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by thunderbird

There must be a lot of pent up anger exploding here. I'm sure there must be ssues that more directly affect the lives of Asians than a silly writer making a bad pun with an ugly double meaning. Is he guilty or innocent? I suspect guilty, but American society is supposed to be founded on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. He got fired already and personally I find that to be an extreme reaction.

According to a conservative broadcaster, the author has said that he has RESPECT for LIN! The anchor is married to an asian! It may really have been overlooked, or simply a little joke that they didn't feel would be seen in this way.

Steve

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thunderbird 14 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

<snip> or simply a little joke that they didn't feel would be seen in this way.

Steve

That's my take on it. I suspect that it was a stupid miscalculation, not committed with malicious intent.
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derekwong28

14 years ago

Many Asian Americans ditched their culture completely when they settle in America, to the extent that they do not know their language at all. This is especially true for multi-generation Asian Americans who identify themselves closely with the white population. Back in their originating countries, these Asian Americans or "ABC (American Born Chinese) are despised as "bananas" (yellow skin on the outside, white person mentality inside). Not only that, the majority of American Chinese are thought to support the Republican Party and that is bashing China everyday in their primaries. No wonder they have big issues here.

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by derekwong28

Many Asian Americans ditched their culture completely when they settle in America, to the extent that they do not know their language at all. This is especially true for multi-generation Asian Americans who identify themselves closely with the white population. Back in their originating countries, these Asian Americans or "ABC (American Born Chinese) are despised as "bananas" (yellow skin on the outside, white person mentality inside). Not only that, the majority of American Chinese are thought to support the Republican Party and that is bashing China everyday in their primaries. No wonder they have big issues here.

Yeah, a lot of people here don't seem to realize that! I have heard about asian cultures that really DON'T like foreigners, and that INCLUDES people that, though they may speak the language and have other ties, have foreign blood or ideas. MASH tried to hold to reality in their shows, and at least one show spoke of one american that got a korean girl pregnant. They said that the child would NEVER be accepted in korean culture.

Asians often do well here, in the US. They learn the language, generally get good jobs and do well in schools. They probably do end up being conservative. And conservatves DO bash the chinese government. For the record, they bash the soviet russan government in the SAME way for the SAME reason, so it is NOT racially motivated.

I will say that, at least the ones that came here, often DO keep the culture. Of course their kids and THEIR kids may accept it less and less. My Japanese aunt practically brought JAPAN here! She had two daughters, and they probably don't even know japanese anymore. I know that the older daughter, her name is kim, at least DID know Japanese. I'm not quite as sure about the younger one, called kathy. But their home, the food they had, nicknames, etc... JAPANESE! They even lived in an area with lots of japanese people. For some reason, MANY military men marry asian women. My aunt, kaeko, is FAR from docile, so he didn't marry her for THAT reason.

Steve

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