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A proud day for Australia... (another race thread)

#21
I know I was REEEEEEALLY pissed off when Eddie Murphy put on make up and made fun of white people in "Trading Places", so I completely understand. How could anyone be so insensitive?
 
#22
Horny Toad said:
OK, that single photo, without explanation and out of context, yes I'll agree. It would certainly turn my head.
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Take the most offensive image imaginable to you. Imagine a company plastered that image on their website. Accompanied by some explanation that makes it OK. Now imagine it's not just you, but a very large faction of the population that finds that image offensive. I don't know, like the mutilation of a kitteh. Whatever floats your boat. Would you not think it was in bad taste for the company to select a large version of that image as the first thing you see?

For some things, the explanation and backstory aren't enough to quell the reaction they garner.
 
#24
macaroni tony said:
Take the most offensive image imaginable to you. Imagine a company plastered that image on their website. Accompanied by some explanation that makes it OK. Now imagine it's not just you, but a very large faction of the population that finds that image offensive. I don't know, like the mutilation of a kitteh. Whatever floats your boat. Would you not think it was in bad taste for the company to select a large version of that image as the first thing you see?

For some things, the explanation and backstory aren't enough to quell the reaction they garner.
Click to expand...

I guess context and an explanation aren't good enough for you. OK.
 
#26
MJ5150 said:
It was an SNL skit titled "White Like Me". A classic.

-Mike
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He did it in "Trading Places" too. Check out the barbershop scene. I believe he was actually playing a Jewish guy with a Yiddish accent in that one. Extra points for offending multiple ethnic groups with one comedy skit! LOL!!!
 
#27
fenderhutz said:
Painting up your face to make fun of black people. Not cool. I agree.

Acting in a play or ballet which the scene calls for a darker skin tone isn't offensive. It's art.

Like saying you can't ever show a black man in a cotton field again or it's offensive. You have to look at context.

I think too many people get their panties in a wad over these things and jump to conclusions. You HAVE to look at intention.
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I agree. I dont really think the two guys who dressed up to win the contest have any malicious intent.

Horny Toad said:
I'm well aware of the history of blackface. I don't think this is the same at all. They weren't perpetuating a stereotype. They were dressing up to look like their favorite rugby player.
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This is how I seee it as well.
 
#28
MJ5150 said:
It was an SNL skit titled "White Like Me". A classic.

-Mike
Click to expand...

He did it in "Trading Places" too. Check out the barbershop scene. I believe he was actually playing a Jewish guy with a Yiddish accent in that one. Extra points for offending multiple ethnic groups with one comedy skit! LOL!!!

macaroni tony said:
Take the most offensive image imaginable to you. Imagine a company plastered that image on their website. Accompanied by some explanation that makes it OK. Now imagine it's not just you, but a very large faction of the population that finds that image offensive. I don't know, like the mutilation of a kitteh. Whatever floats your boat. Would you not think it was in bad taste for the company to select a large version of that image as the first thing you see?

For some things, the explanation and backstory aren't enough to quell the reaction they garner.
Click to expand...

To some people, the most offensive things imaginable might be stuff like abortion and same-sex marriage. Or a religious symbol that is different from their own. Or eating pork. Or saying "Nik".

Think about it.
 
#29
MJ5150 said:
It was an SNL skit titled "White Like Me". A classic.

-Mike
Click to expand...

Yep. He gave away a lot of our fraternal secrets. Like free **** on the bus......


Australia is not the U.S. Their history is very different from ours. What may pass as offensive here, may not be offensive in the least over there. (I'm reminded of the European racist banana throwing.)

In America we killed the natives and imported black Africans.

In Australia, they imported the Europeans, and killed the black natives.

The history and the perceptions are very different. (So much so that as a Caucasian American, I suspect that I have none of it right.)
 
#33
Smokin' Toaster said:
To some people, the most offensive things imaginable might be stuff like abortion and same-sex marriage. Or a religious symbol that is different from their own. Or eating pork. Or saying "Nik".

Think about it.
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I'm not even going to waste my time parsing this one out.

More level headed response to this whole shebangabang than my last one:

As I said a couple of times in this thread, I don't know exactly how blackface is take in Australia. It seems the airline company genuinely didn't think the picture would be objectionable.

Also as I said before, I'm not ascribing anything malicious to anyone involved here. I just can't imagine how this was given the OK, and actually chosen as the winner and put on the social networking page of an airline company.

IMO, there are enough people who are heartily offended by the image of people painted jet black and smiling goofily to warrant maybe, just maybe choosing a different winner.
 
#36
macaroni tony said:
You never answered my question. That's OK. I'm pretty sure the post you quoted outlined what I am saying quite well, whether or not you choose to see
it
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What, this?

macaroni tony said:
Would you not think it was in bad taste for the company to select a large version of that image as the first thing you see?
Click to expand...

Possibly, but I wouldn't get all worked up about it. No image could have that sort of impact on me. I understand not everyone deals with images the same way.
 
#37
macaroni tony said:
IMO, there are enough people who are heartily offended by the image of people painted jet black and smiling goofily to warrant maybe, just maybe choosing a different winner.
Click to expand...

I see what you did there!

I agree, someone at the airline screwed the pooch when they OK'd the photo's for the world wide web.

That Japanese guy that shoots bananas out of his nose probably doesn't play too well in Poland......
 
#38
Horny Toad said:
I'm well aware of the history of blackface. I don't think this is the same at all. They weren't perpetuating a stereotype. They were dressing up to look like their favorite rugby player.
Click to expand...

This.

Chill people. Lots of contextual issues here.

If I were to paint myself green and go through my neighborhood knocking on every door and demanding candy and ranting about smashing things, what would that mean?

Does it mean I'm a mental patient? Does it mean that I am stereotyping all green-skinned individuals as violent? Or could it just be Halloween and I dressed as the Hulk.

The picture is taken out of context leading some to be offended. Similarly, the young fans who painted themselves may very well lack the context to understand that what they were doing was offensive to some.

I swear, if I started a thread every time I though someone might be making fun of white people . . .
 
#39
Horny Toad said:
Possibly, but I wouldn't get all worked up about it. No image could have that sort of impact on me. I understand not everyone deals with images the same way.
Click to expand...

If you understand, then it is not unreasonable.

I put forth this illustration for the sake of understanding MT a little bit better: Imagine you frequent expedia.com. You fly a lot. You type it in your browser one day, and William Shatner is violating a young boy. Come to find out, their new slogan is, "We won't **** you in the *** like priceline."

Would you say something about it? No? Would you find it unreasonable if someone did?

Sound a little extreme? That is not far off from the extremity of blackface. To African-Americans.

Phalex said:
I see what you did there!

I agree, someone at the airline screwed the pooch when they OK'd the photo's for the world wide web.

That Japanese guy that shoots bananas out of his nose probably doesn't play too well in Poland......
Click to expand...

I could always count on you to see me as something other than an angry black guy! :D
 

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