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ambush · Jan 5, 2006, 11:16 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/20...ffensive_x.htm

Nice quote from digg.com

In the real world, **** like this happens. I'm sure if a movie about Abraham Lincoln were associated with the delightfully titled "Inbred Rednecks" no one would care. I think... I'm offended by how easily people are offended

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 5, 2006, 11:27 PM

They suck in every other way but is a store for dumb, poor rednecks so who cares.

Rolling Bones · Jan 6, 2006, 12:36 AM

They've applied for a bank charter. If approved there could soon be a Wal-Bank near you.

Soon everything will be Wal-Mart.

Someday...These United States of Wal-Mart.

DigitalEl · Jan 6, 2006, 12:50 AM

I can't stand Wal-Mart, but clearly this was a rather unfortunate and most likely accidental mixup. People need to lighten up sometimes.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 6, 2006, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by Rolling Bones

They've applied for a bank charter. If approved there could soon be a Wal-Bank near you.

Soon everything will be Wal-Mart.

Someday...These United States of Wal-Mart.

The US economy is hugely effected if wal-mart isn't doing well.

Rolling Bones · Jan 6, 2006, 01:00 AM

Black folk don't like monkeys or what?

Monkeys rise up and revolt I say!!

Trying to keep the monkey down. Shame.

Rolling Bones · Jan 6, 2006, 01:01 AM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

The US economy is hugely effected if wal-mart isn't doing well.

China too.

zanyterp · Jan 6, 2006, 02:16 AM

how are they racist? what's the big deal about the links being oddly put?

zanyterp · Jan 6, 2006, 02:17 AM

what's the big deal about wal-mart? why are people so intent to destroy and demean this particular company? they tend to offer most services at the best price.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 6, 2006, 02:19 AM

Originally Posted by zanyterp

what's the big deal about wal-mart? why are people so intent to destroy and demean this particular company? they tend to offer most services at the best price.

But at what cost?

If they kill babies for the best price is that ok? Should they use sweatshops just to make things cheaper for you?

Gankdawg · Jan 6, 2006, 06:45 AM

Here we go again.

Ron Goodman · Jan 6, 2006, 07:09 AM

People hate Walmart for many of the same reasons they hate Microsoft--they often act like corporate thugs.

Kevin · Jan 6, 2006, 07:18 AM

Millennium · Jan 6, 2006, 11:36 AM

See, I don't get any of this. I don't get why Wal-Mart took the system down, and I don't understand how anyone could be offended by the system's suggestion after anything more than the most cursory glance.

You can make some very convincing arguments that Planet of the Apes is a movie about racism and the struggle to overcome it. It's true that the oppressors and the oppressed in this tale aren't the same as they are in reality, but does this really matter all that much? The whole movie is unrealistic, and it's meant to be. It's an allegory, and as an allegory it works quite well. It is, perhaps, lighthearted enough that most people looking for films about racism wouldn't consider it on a first or even second glance, and perhaps it shouldn't have been recommended very highly, but I do think it deserves a place in the lineup somewhere.

OAW · 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

See, I don't get any of this. I don't get why Wal-Mart took the system down, and I don't understand how anyone could be offended by the system's suggestion after anything more than the most cursory glance.

A cursory glance at hundreds of years of racist depictions of black people as "apes" and "monkeys" and "sub-human" will answer the question. Personally I figure this is the result of a technical glitch or perhaps some racist Wal-mart employee trying to be cute. The company as a whole immediately apologized and handled the situation so it's yesterday's news AFAIC. But despite that, it simply doesn't help a company that is already suffering from numerous image problems.

Originally Posted by Millennium

You can make some very convincing arguments that Planet of the Apes is a movie about racism and the struggle to overcome it. It's true that the oppressors and the oppressed in this tale aren't the same as they are in reality, but does this really matter all that much?

And one can make an even more convincing argument that Planet of the Apes is an allegory about the fear of white people that the "darkies" uh, I mean the "apes" might take over one day and turn the tables on them. One can make a convincing argument that King Kong is an allegory about the fear of white men that a big black nigg*r oh I mean "ape" might run off with his precious white woman. One can make a convincing argument that Tarzan is an allegory about white supremacy because even when he is orhpaned, uneducated, illiterate, and "raised by apes" he still manages to be "King of the Jungle" despite the fact that black people have lived there since time immemorial. One can even consider a more modern and much more subtle commentary on racism in the film Underworld where the supposedly superior Vampires started a war with the Lycans (their former slaves) because one of the latter knocked up daddy's little girl.

Indeed, racist or race-based connotations have been used in films. Sometimes subtly ... sometimes not so subtly. Sometimes to denigrate ... sometimes to uplift. But to associate a film like Planet of the Apes with other African-American themed films .... when there is no obvious connection to anything African-American (i.e. an actor, director, theme, etc.) ... AND when there is a history of racist associations of blacks with "apes" going back centuries will only land you in hot water.

OAW

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 6, 2006, 04:15 PM

I don't think Wal-mart is wrong in this case which is a first for me.

Planet of the Apes IS about racism, end of story.

JoshuaZ · Jan 6, 2006, 04:38 PM

A planet where apes evolve from men!

Blah, being a minority does suck. Going back to that in 2 days. Nothing like having people decide to wait for the next bus just because you're getting on.

Kevin · Jan 6, 2006, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

I don't think Wal-mart is wrong in this case which is a first for me.

Planet of the Apes IS about racism, end of story.

Leia's Left Bun · Jan 6, 2006, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

A planet where apes evolve from men!

Blah, being a minority does suck. Going back to that in 2 days. Nothing like having people decide to wait for the next bus just because you're getting on.

That was 40 years ago. Now it is all gay issues.

JoshuaZ · Jan 6, 2006, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

That was 40 years ago. Now it is all gay issues.

No, that was last month for me. In Japan.

Or depending on where you are in the US, and how much 'terrorist phobia' there is... and if anyone is middle eastern.

Rolling Bones · Jan 6, 2006, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Leia's Left Bun

I don't think Wal-mart is wrong in this case which is a first for me.

Planet of the Apes IS about racism, end of story.

Yup, da apes be keepin' da huMAN down in dat story.

And da way da ape be treatin' the red monkeys wuz hurtin'.

Rolling Bones · Jan 6, 2006, 06:43 PM

Just heard that 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Home Alone' were directing people to black movies.

Jawbone54 · Jan 6, 2006, 09:00 PM

I totally agree with Millennium. If anything, Planet of the Apes is about the dangers of racism.

So...I'm offended that people are offended about my being offended over their offensive offendedness. I'm suing.

Eug Wanker · Jan 6, 2006, 09:44 PM

This is nowhere near as offensive as iTunes telling me to buy Barbara Streisand CDs.

aristotles · Jan 6, 2006, 11:55 PM

I don't think this is an example of racism but rather people being overly sensitive about "random" combinations.

zanyterp · Jan 7, 2006, 01:15 AM

i agree with Jawbone54. to be offended by this is asinine....the joys of dealing with people, though. right?

JHromadka · Jan 7, 2006, 08:12 PM

"Wal-mart hates black people." -- Kanye West