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design219 · Feb 19, 2009, 11:56 AM

Geez, the controversy over this cartoon got me thinking about this today.

I was offended when I first saw it. Like 99% of the members on this forum, I don't believe I am racist in the least. But sometimes I wonder if my sensitivity to the subject is an over reaction. Or compensating for something I'm not aware of.

If anyone here is brave enough to admit they are racist, tell us why.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 12:00 PM

I'm not offended, I just plain don't get it.

osiris · Feb 19, 2009, 12:26 PM

I'm not offended. The first time I saw this I thought about the "bunch of monkees in a room with a typewriter" analogy.
Apparently the racism aspect went right over my head.

SpaceMonkey · Feb 19, 2009, 12:29 PM

It's not an either-or thing. I wasn't offended when I first saw the cartoon, but I would not dismiss the feelings of others, such as the National Association of Black Journalists, who perceive it to be an attack, based on the historical depiction of blacks in America.

Gator Lager · Feb 19, 2009, 12:32 PM

Should have made a poll out of this.
I don't get it either ?

residentEvil · Feb 19, 2009, 12:44 PM

monkey(s) is term used to describe black people. the US president is black; who just created/signed a stimulus package.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by residentEvil

monkey(s) is term used to describe black people. the US president is black; who just created/signed a stimulus package.

Seems more like a series of unfortunate coincidences than a concerted attempt at racism.

design219 · Feb 19, 2009, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Seems more like a series of unfortunate coincidences than a concerted attempt at racism.

I don't think it was intentional, but how did it go through the editorial process without someone saying "Hey, wait a minute, could this be seen as racist?"

residentEvil · Feb 19, 2009, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Seems more like a series of unfortunate coincidences than a concerted attempt at racism.

well, with the recent chimp attack on a woman; and the bill being signed...

sorta a double meaning cartoon.

SpaceMonkey · Feb 19, 2009, 12:59 PM

Intent is basically irrelevant. The question is really whether the Post should have anticipated that the cartoon might be perceived as racist, and I would argue that they should have.

design219 · Feb 19, 2009, 01:00 PM

If it weren't so horrific, the chimp story would be kind of funny.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Intent is basically irrelevant.

No. **** you, 1000 times, no. If someone says something that could be construed as racist unintentionally that does not make them racist.

osiris · Feb 19, 2009, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Intent is basically irrelevant. The question is really whether the Post should be anticipated that the cartoon might be perceived as racist, and I would argue that they should have.

The NY Post is notorious for all things seedy and is thoroughly tainted by yellow journalism - it knew what it was publishing. Anything to sell papers.

residentEvil · Feb 19, 2009, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by design219

If it weren't so horrific, the chimp story would be kind of funny.

was the chimp use to getting zantec (sp?). i mean, giving "wild" animals drugs probably isn't a good thing.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

The NY Post is notorious for all things seedy and is thoroughly tainted by yellow journalism - it knew what it was publishing. Anything to sell papers.

Now, say if that's the case, what's the appropriate punishment? It sounds like you're saying talking about it only encourages them.

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

No. **** you, 1000 times, no. If someone says something that could be construed as racist unintentionally that does not make them racist.

No matter what you say or do, there is always someone that will find some sort of racist undertones to it. To try and pander to those people would be impossible.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

No matter what you say or do, there is always someone that will find some sort of racist undertones to it. To try and pander to those people would be impossible.

Al Sharpton, perhaps?

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

The NY Post is notorious for all things seedy and is thoroughly tainted by yellow journalism - it knew what it was publishing. Anything to sell papers.

Racist! There are plenty of great Asian journalists out there.

SpaceMonkey · Feb 19, 2009, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

No. **** you, 1000 times, no. If someone says something that could be construed as racist unintentionally that does not make them racist.

I'm not saying that it makes the Post racist. However, if you put out an ambiguous message that could easily be interpreted as racist without clarification, you essentially acknowledge the racist interpretation. This is not so important if it's a small group of people talking (assuming none of them subscribe to the racist interpretation), but if you are wider media entity like a newspaper you have to be held to higher editorial standards (not that the Post has a history of having standards...). The question is whether the chimp cartoon has a racist interpretation that should have been clearly identified by the Post editors, and I would say that it does.

design219 · Feb 19, 2009, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

To try and pander to those people would be impossible.

What do you mean by "those people"?

Jawbone54 · Feb 19, 2009, 01:13 PM

The controversy over this cartoon is ridiculous. Obama signed the bill, but he didn't write it.

Stupid cartoon? Yes. Racist? No.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by design219

What do you mean by "those people"?

The easily offended, PC crowd (Assuming you weren't joking, which I hope and pray you were).

design219 · Feb 19, 2009, 01:16 PM

The stupid smilies just make things too obvious.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by design219

The stupid smilies just make things too obvious.

It's ok. 9 x out 10 I would of thought you were joking, but you did start this thread.

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 01:18 PM

No love for my other racist comment?

design219 · Feb 19, 2009, 01:20 PM

We'll let it slide.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 01:21 PM

Sorry, the thread is going a little faster than usual.

osiris · Feb 19, 2009, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by design219

What do you mean by "those people"?

What do YOU mean by "those people"?

osiris · Feb 19, 2009, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

No love for my other racist comment?

Noted.

design219 · Feb 19, 2009, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

What do YOU mean by "those people"?

Damn! I knew I must be a racist.

Luca Rescigno · Feb 19, 2009, 01:42 PM

Jawbone54 · Feb 19, 2009, 01:46 PM

Page 2 and still no "Wacist!" pic link?

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Page 2 and still no "Wacist!" pic link?

Page 2?

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Page 2 and still no "Wacist!" pic link?

Because Kevin's gone.

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Page 2?

They haven't developed the technology to view more posts per page down in Loo-siana. They're chocolate people, you know.

SpaceMonkey · Feb 19, 2009, 01:53 PM

Stephen Colbert has referred to Washington DC as the chocolate city with a marshmallow center (and a graham cracker crust of corruption).

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 01:59 PM

I love Colbert. He's the one thing I miss about not having cable. It's just not the same on Hulu.

Jawbone54 · Feb 19, 2009, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

They haven't developed the technology to view more posts per page down in Loo-siana.

That's right. I prefer my MacNN in small, manageable doses.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

That's right. I prefer my MacNN in small, manageable doses.

Noob.

Jawbone54 · Feb 19, 2009, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Noob.

Nerd.
OOoooOoOoOoOOOOooOOoOooOooOooOoooo!!!

osiris · Feb 19, 2009, 02:03 PM

Dorks.

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Nerd.
OOoooOoOoOoOOOOooOOoOooOooOooOoooo!!!

Are we on page 5 yet? Can you count that high?

design219 · Feb 19, 2009, 02:05 PM

Stop racing in the racist thread.

Jawbone54 · Feb 19, 2009, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Are we on page 5 yet? Can you count that high?

I can count the following numbers: 21-35.

turtle777 · Feb 19, 2009, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

It's not an either-or thing. I wasn't offended when I first saw the cartoon, but I would not dismiss the feelings of others, such as the National Association of Black Journalists, who perceive it to be an attack, based on the historical depiction of blacks in America.

Originally Posted by residentEvil

monkey(s) is term used to describe black people. the US president is black; who just created/signed a stimulus package.

But that's factually wrong.
The Stimulus was created by the House, chiefly Nancy Pelosi.

So I don't see any racism, unless, calling Nanci Pelosi smart as a monkey qualifies as racism.

Whodathunkit.

-t

SpaceMonkey · Feb 19, 2009, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

But that's factually wrong.
The Stimulus was created by the House, chiefly Nancy Pelosi.

Nevertheless, some very reasonable people are truly offended -- it's not just Al Sharpton. Obama is very much identified with the stimulus package. The Post should have seen this coming.

turtle777 · Feb 19, 2009, 03:18 PM

Look at this m****f***ing racist policeman, he shot a chimpanzee

I'm sure his intent was to shot a black person.

http://www.news10.net/news/thebuzz/s...&catid=157

-t

turtle777 · Feb 19, 2009, 03:19 PM

So, if I called the current Stimulus a financial "black hole", I'm sure it would be misconstrued as well

-t

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Nevertheless, some very reasonable people are truly offended -- it's not just Al Sharpton. Obama is very much identified with the stimulus package. The Post should have seen this coming.

So what's the appropriate punishment then?

SpaceMonkey · Feb 19, 2009, 03:34 PM

What do you mean? Fewer people buying their newspaper, I guess. It would be nice if they apologized, but they may have done that already, I haven't noticed.