Randall;
If you don't see anything racially offensive with your use of what you see
to be Black dialect, maybe it's because you're not Black, and unable to
empathize with a group that's targeted by racists. Tell you what..come to
Baltimore. I'll show you a good time. We'll go down to the Inner Harbor, eat
some steamed crabs, watch Cal hit a few at Camden Yards, and have you use
that dialect in the crowd. I'll bet you my Triumph against yours that
somebody other than yours truly has something to say to you (at least).
Be well;
ken
----- Original Message -----
From: Randall <randallyoung@earthlink.net>
Cc: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2000 3:15 PM
Subject: Racism and trolls (no LBC) (was upholstery shops)
>
> Ken wrote:
> >
> > We tend not to be as sensitive to slurs made against some groups as to
those
> > made against others. Since we're more attuned to the racism directed at
> > Af.rican Americans, consider Fred's remarks as if they were made in the
> > dialect of what a racist would use for Black dialect. Maybe now you see
it?
>
> Ok, Ken. I tried changing Fred's punchline to : "Sho 'nuff Massa, jes'
> cain't do thet. But I'se sho' sorry 'bout not unnerstandn yo'all."
>
> I still don't see anything racist about it.
>
> Racism implies judging someone on the basis of their race. Fred was
> judging the shopkeeper on the basis of his ruining Fred's carpet and
> trans tunnel. There's an important distinction there, IMO one that is
> frequently missed.
>
> Further IMO Fred's attempt to reproduce what he heard the shopkeeper say
> was not "the dialect of what a racist would use for <fill in the blank>
> dialect" and it was both underhanded and highly inflammatory of you to
> imply that it was.
>
> I'll also offer some advice to the list (which I shall endeavor to take
> myself <g>) : Just ignore Ken's attempts to start fights. He's
> obviously turning into a classic USENET 'troll', the only known cure is
> to ignore him. Trolls _want_ you to flame them, they enjoy it. Like a
> dog that makes messes on the carpet to get the attention. See
> http://www.netmeg.net/jargon/terms/t/troll.html
>
> Last, to all those people to whom I've defended Ken : I was wrong.
>
> Randall
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