No Chris Rock / Will Smith thread? I'm disappointed in you guys

[Rtmac]

If it was a joke, I don't get the joke.

You should slap him!

 

[NorCalAthlete]

You should slap him!

 

[Eldritch]

We're going to just have to agree to disagree on this one, my friend.

If you like, it is a simple matter of perspective. Have you ever tried being a Jew in Europe in the mid-20th Century? A Chinese during the Japanese occupation? My point is just that stereotypes and prejudice are one of the more terrible aspects of the human experience and they happen all over.

While there is no question that when the Europeans did all the horrible things they did to Africans in this country, and when the Americans began and liberated themselves from European slavery, excluding the Black Americans was a shameful mistake, over the course of 5,000 years of recorded civilization and even in the world here now today, it isn't an entirely unique experience, just ask the Dalit in India.

My thought is more to just accept the grotesque horror of human nature, revile the awfulness of it, find good and decent people who can see past such raw and awful humanity and be worthy of your company. Keep and protect them and don't let them go, because, "the good ones," are sadly quite rare.

yes, negative stereotypes are an issue many people need to deal with, but IMO black men are inordinately challenged in that regard. and no matter how much any white man in authority has been scrutinized or judged, it pales in comparison to the scrutiny (or fucked up judgement) inflicted on even the most pedestrian black man.

am speculating this is a ‘haven’t walked a mile in my shoes’ situation.

In the limited history of this country? That is probably true. On some sick level, the Black Americans have always been able to participate in society though. At least this country gave them some sort of value as cheap labor. The Native Americans were just straight up murdered mostly out of existence as a result of their stereotypes.

Which is worse? I don't know, people could debate it I guess, but I think my point is more that misery and suffering is not a fucking contest. Try being Catholic in Belfast in the1960's. Straight up KKK style lynchings in the early 70's. The list goes on and on.

Dwelling on the awfulness of humanity is an endless pit from which there is no escape. "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster," yes? Better I say to disassociate from such nonsense, except the chattering goblins of the human masses for what they are, and try to live better and separate from their horrible games, lest you become like them.

 

[littlebeast]

If you like, it is a simple matter of perspective. Have you ever tried being a Jew in Europe in the mid-20th Century? A Chinese during the Japanese occupation? My point is just that stereotypes and prejudice are one of the more terrible aspects of the human experience and they happen all over.

While there is no question that when the Europeans did all the horrible things they did to Africans in this country, and when the Americans began and liberated themselves from European slavery, excluding the Black Americans was a shameful mistake, over the course of 5,000 years of recorded civilization and even in the world here now today, it isn't an entirely unique experience, just ask the Dalit in India.

My thought is more to just accept the grotesque horror of human nature, revile the awfulness of it, find good and decent people who can see past such raw and awful humanity and be worthy of your company. Keep and protect them and don't let them go, because, "the good ones," are sadly quite rare.



In the limited history of this country? That is probably true. On some sick level, the Black Americans have always been able to participate in society though. At least this country gave them some sort of value as cheap labor. The Native Americans were just straight up murdered mostly out of existence as a result of their stereotypes.

Which is worse? I don't know, people could debate it I guess, but I think my point is more that misery and suffering is not a fucking contest. Try being Catholic in Belfast in the1960's. Straight up KKK style lynchings in the early 70's. The list goes on and on.

Dwelling on the awfulness of humanity is an endless pit from which there is no escape. "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster," yes? Better I say to disassociate from such nonsense, except the chattering goblins of the human masses for what they are, and try to live better and separate from their horrible games, lest you become like them.

great points - and yeah, it’s not ‘a fucking contest’, but the subject was a black man, and my response was specifically about black men. like i said - they seem more universally negatively stereotyped (today, in the US) than other groups. am saying that based on what i’ve seen, and what i’ve heard. had the point driven home by a man who is a good friend of my parents (the husband of my mom’s best friend). she’s white, and he’s black. i had met her several times before i met her husband. i knew who he was (very famous auto racing executive - which was mentioned because they all knew how much i love cars and racing). anyway - when i finally met him i sat next to him at a large dinner, and was completely enchanted. he was an incredibly elegant and engaging man - and fascinating to talk to. i won’t say too much more about him because it would be easy to figure out who he is (and he’s a very private person, and i respect his privacy). anyway, over the years i have heard numerous stories from his wife and my mom of when he has been accosted and treated with suspicion (including numerous times being demanded to prove he owned the car he was driving - and being a car guy, he owns some really amazing cars). it’s been so bad that he and his wife have moved several times - at her insistence (different cities and different states) looking for somewhere, anywhere where he can be at peace.

i have also relayed the story before about a conversation i got into with a black woman who worked for me (very high level professional woman - devoted to her job, and also to her family). she was upset about an incident with one of her sons, and i replied that it was anomaly, and to forget about it. she was upset by my response - and said it happens all the time. i said seriously - you and your family experience racism? she said ALL. THE. TIME. and gave more examples. i told her i couldn’t believe that - not in this day and age. she said ‘how would you know, you’re not black, and you don’t have 3 black sons. you can probably walk into a store without having the clerks watch every move you make’. the look on her face was heartbreaking.

so yeah i get that it’s not exclusive, but i do think, like i said, WRT black men, it’s predominant in our society. and i definitely respect their perspective when i see and hear their experiences - especially from people who love them, and have no ability to protect them from the suspicion, fear and cruelty that they endure when they are out in the world.

your last point it well taken, but earlier you added ‘protect them’. agree, and i echoed it above. how do we do that? what do you suggest to the woman trying to protect her husband, or the mother trying to protect her sons? personally, i have failed miserably in those conversations. the only thing i am sure of is to listen carefully before i talk.

 

[TheRobSJ]

Hi I’m here for the fucking contest. Pretty sure I can win with my average time of 38 seconds.

 

[Eldritch]

Hi I’m here for the fucking contest. Pretty sure I can win with my average time of 38 seconds.

I don't think you can, my dad is an engineer and he says your 3 cylinders are inherently unbalanced, sorry bro.

 

[Climber]

If you like, it is a simple matter of perspective. Have you ever tried being a Jew in Europe in the mid-20th Century? A Chinese during the Japanese occupation? My point is just that stereotypes and prejudice are one of the more terrible aspects of the human experience and they happen all over.

While there is no question that when the Europeans did all the horrible things they did to Africans in this country, and when the Americans began and liberated themselves from European slavery, excluding the Black Americans was a shameful mistake, over the course of 5,000 years of recorded civilization and even in the world here now today, it isn't an entirely unique experience, just ask the Dalit in India.

My thought is more to just accept the grotesque horror of human nature, revile the awfulness of it, find good and decent people who can see past such raw and awful humanity and be worthy of your company. Keep and protect them and don't let them go, because, "the good ones," are sadly quite rare.

Yes, other people have been persecuted in other countries, but trying to normalize the behavior because it has happened to others is not a valid path to take, especially when going that route to underplay the atrocities that they've experienced.

In not place or situation is the persecution, by race or religion, an acceptable action or behavior. The only way to completely stop it is to not tolerate it, minimize it or give a free pass to the people doing it.

 

[FXCLM5]

I don't think you can, my dad is an engineer and he says your 3 cylinders are inherently unbalanced, sorry bro.

Goddamn thought it was pre 2007 for a sec