Is it racist

[Miss Jasmine]

Huh? This is EXACTLY like legal docuspeak. OMG, that wasn't racist in any way was it?

Only against Lawyers.


Where's Tiffer...I better run.

 

[paigevz]

Only against Lawyers.


Where's Tiffer...I better run.

Are lawyers a race?????

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I really hate how *in* the term ghetto has become...It's an ugly ugly word with hundreds of years of history and kids throw it around like it's cute

meanings of words change with time and generations....just two generations ago people used to refer to someone being gay as happy. "Sick" is now a compliment when 15 years ago "sick" meant gross.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Are lawyers a race?????

Hmmm....

Sorry I was just trying to make a funny.

 

[Anewman]

Do you not believe that she and you are saying the same thing then? So why would there be any twisting? Why not err on the side of nonconflict (in other words, PEACE) and say, misunderstanding? Since you really DON'T KNOW what is in someone else's mind and how they think, and therefore you can't know if someone misunderstood or twisted anything. Turn down the fire.

Listen...

WHEN one refers to a particular races' style of dress and calls it GHETTO, is "ghetto" being used in as a compliment or a slur?

Careful I dont want there to be any other misunderstandings

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

"Ghetto Superstar"....
that is what you are".....
anyone remember that dance song from the late 90's?

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

WHEN one refers to a particular races' style of dress and calls it GHETTO, is "ghetto" being used in as a compliment or a slur?

I don't see it as either. I think in this generation (and my 13 year old son agrees), "ghetto" is an adjective just like "punk" was a decade or two ago. In some cases, it might be used in a derogatory way. For example, if someone said to me, "Your house is so ghetto," I would assume they meant it was not very nice, and I would take offense. In reference to clothing, it implies baggy pants, lots of jewelry and a crooked hat.

 

[paigevz]

Hmmm....

Sorry I was just trying to make a funny.

Awww, don't be sad, I was just playing WITH you.

I agree about ghetto.......it's just an adjective, or a descriptive term, not a qualifier.

 

[Anewman]

I don't see it as either. I think in this generation (and my 13 year old son agrees), "ghetto" is an adjective just like "punk" was a decade or two ago. In some cases, it might be used in a derogatory way. For example, if someone said to me, "Your house is so ghetto," I would assume they meant it was not very nice, and I would take offense. In reference to clothing, it implies baggy pants, lots of jewelry and a crooked hat.

So you are not using it to describe a particular race, and that is great IMO.

I do see it the same as you, one can use the term "ghetto" in a large number of non race specific ways but when you associate and use it to describe the "style" of one particular race... There is no way around it.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I do see it the same as you, one can use the term "ghetto" in a large number of non race specific ways but when you associate and use it to describe the "style" of one particular race... There is no way around it.

See, I don't see it as being descriptive of the style of a specific race. I just see it as a style in general. I see equal numbers of white, black, and hispanic kids showing their boxers around here.

 

[Tiffer]

Back to the original post you feel is racist and says that I feel everyone in the GHETTO is of a single race.




If you can not understand that My saying it is a slur IF used to describe a particular races' style of dress, equals me not feeling it is exclusive to said race...

Never mind, some are not worth the effort.

I couldn't agree more

Are lawyers a race?????

Only if they live in the ghetto.

Listen...

WHEN one refers to a particular races' style of dress and calls it GHETTO, is "ghetto" being used in as a compliment or a slur?

Careful I dont want there to be any other misunderstandings

Neither. Unless you are 13-15 years of age. As I said earlier, it is cool.

"Ghetto Superstar"....
that is what you are".....
anyone remember that dance song from the late 90's?

Comin from a far, reaching for the stars....

LOVE THAT SONG!

 

[Spidey7]

I really hate how *in* the term ghetto has become...It's an ugly ugly word with hundreds of years of history and kids throw it around like it's cute

I agree, how did a term that denotes a hard life, rough neighborhood, very poor surroundings and meager existence become "cool"?

What's next, dressing all "concentration camp" style?

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I agree, how did a term that denotes a hard life, rough neighborhood, very poor surroundings and meager existence become "cool"?

What's next, dressing all "concentration camp" style?

I understand this point of view as well. I think it's a generational thing. Words that are alright in our kids' eyes are not neccesarily alright in ours. I would never say "That's gay," meaning something is stupid or nerdy, and think it was acceptable. Listening to a group of younger people speak can sometimes be shocking to those of us who associate words like these with negative things.

 

[phorsenuf]

People, people, people....this can be so easily solved. What does Wikepedia say?

 

[Tiffer]

I understand this point of view as well. I think it's a generational thing. Words that are alright in our kids' eyes are not neccesarily alright in ours. I would never say "That's gay," meaning something is stupid or nerdy, and think it was acceptable. Listening to a group of younger people speak can sometimes be shocking to those of us who associate words like these with negative things.

Well, "that's gay" is insulting a particular group of people. Where as a ghetto is an area where people still live.

But I get your point. It's more like saying, I'm going to dress suburb.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

Well, "that's gay" is insulting a particular group of people. Where as a ghetto is an area where people still live.

But I get your point. It's more like saying, I'm going to dress suburb.

I confronted some of my son's friends (and, I'm embarrased to say, my son) about using "gay" in that context. Every one of them argued that it had nothing to do with homosexuality, that it only meant something was stupid or nerdy. I still told them they shouldn't say it, but it was eye-opening for me to realize that they really don't think of some words the same way we do.

 

[Tiffer]

I agree, how did a term that denotes a hard life, rough neighborhood, very poor surroundings and meager existence become "cool"?

What's next, dressing all "concentration camp" style?

Just like rapping about te ghetto became cool and more middle class white kids buy rap albums then any other demographic.

 

[Cool-Beans]

As a teen, I said, "that's so gay" about ten thousand times. It was rarely simply "gay" - it was usually "so gay"...and it had nothing to do with homosexuality. I still say it sometimes. I get lambasted every time I admit it because people just have to insisit I'm some kind of homophobe, but I'm not.

When the word "gay" passed through my lips in the sentence "That's so gay" it never had a thing to do with gay people. It really is an entirely different use of the word.

I'm also absolutely certain that there is at least one gay man who uses the phrase "That is so gay" without it being a slam on himself or other gay men. He's my age, grew up at the same time, in the same area...it is just what we said. And once in a while, we still say it.

 

[jrmasm]

People, people, people....this can be so easily solved. What does Wikepedia say?

I can't believe that I didn't think of that!!

 

[jrmasm]

I don't think a kid dressing that way would be racist.
But I think this statement is.

I think you're looking for something to be offended by. Seriously.