California Mayor's 'Watermelon White House' email

[Waldo 0]

There is a joke and then there is a tasteful joke. If you say it in good context amongst friends then it's OK. Some of the best Priest jokes I heard came from a priest. Slap his wrist, put a firewall on his computer and move on.

[HAL 9000 96]

Bad taste is bad taste.

At least the guy had the sense to apologise for it.

Yep... too bad some still don't get it that bad taste is not good.

So, you are not a fan of popular humor, I take it? Monty Python? Saturday Night Live? Fox News? Morning Joe?

Some comedy has good taste... and some has bad taste.

You need to think more and react less.

Racism is what it is.

So you want that discussion? How we deal with racism? Didn't your mommy ever tell you what to say, when the kid down the block called you a name, "Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?"

No. You should perhaps focus on what is a stupid remark borne out of bad taste versus something your mommy should have taught you, yet apparently didn't, X number of years ago. Attitudes become entrenched with age, what can I say?

So then why does HBO have black comedians do racist skits and jokes about blacks? I watched one HBO special where this black guy (can't remember the guy's name) got up on stage and told a whole laundry list of old racist jokes about blacks. The whites in the audience were laughing their azzes off. So...should they all be summarily shot or just deprived of their livelyhood as punishment? Should HBO be required to pay reparations? Should the black comedian go through a Stalinist public show trial where he admits to his guilt and then summarily shot afterward as atonement?

Yes...I wonder how attitudes become entrenched with age. Stalin sure knew how to adjust attitudes. Eh, comrade?

Don't know. Why don't you go ask people in the African American community about it?

(And your obsession with Cold War era figures is really stale... yet unsurprising.)

[HAL 9000 96]

Bill's got to be old enough to know the racial implications of watermelons associated with blacks.

For anyone who is too young or is unaware...here's some history.

(Disclaimer: These offensive images were published a long time ago.)

from what i recall in the book "roots" (read about 2 decades ago, so if my memory is incorrect, sue me) watermelon allegedly resembled in taste a fruit from africa, hence why the newly arrived slaves liked it so much.

I doubt slaves had much say or control as to what they wanted to plant.

I'm curious if any Bush bashers ever find anything tasteless on OT and called a poster on it. Hell, I'll take a Cheney, Palin or McCain example.

I don't like the watermelon joke but it's too late for the respect the Presidency ####### and too early in Obama's reign to look for every tasteless insult to strike some self-righteous pose. My guess is as Obama begins his slide in the polls there will be a concerted effort to distract the public with these stories on a weekly basis. It builds sympathy and will paint any and all detractors as racists no matter how incompetent Obama is.

alc - this was a Mayor of a city sending out an email with a racially charged joke. So the question beyond the obvious bad taste, is why an elected politician would send something like that out? Imagine if he were a manager of a company - he'd most likely be fired. This was not some stand up comedian doing a routine. There's a big difference.

But I do see one thing true here Steven... we shouldn't be surprised that sore losers will continue whining for some time to come. This may well be one kind of manifestation of whatever it is that has been rotting inside some people's innards thanks to their frankly idiotic way of polarizing members of the same species.

[slim 1,528]

If you're black or white, the only thing racially-sensitive you should be concerning yourself with is how much Spanish you can speak.

In about 20 years, there's not going to be a "well, that's offensive." There's only going to be a "que mierda le importa?"

[peejay 327]

Bad taste is bad taste.

At least the guy had the sense to apologise for it.

Yep... too bad some still don't get it that bad taste is not good.

So, you are not a fan of popular humor, I take it? Monty Python? Saturday Night Live? Fox News? Morning Joe?

Some comedy has good taste... and some has bad taste.

You need to think more and react less.

Racism is what it is.

So you want that discussion? How we deal with racism? Didn't your mommy ever tell you what to say, when the kid down the block called you a name, "Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?"

No. You should perhaps focus on what is a stupid remark borne out of bad taste versus something your mommy should have taught you, yet apparently didn't, X number of years ago. Attitudes become entrenched with age, what can I say?

So then why does HBO have black comedians do racist skits and jokes about blacks? I watched one HBO special where this black guy (can't remember the guy's name) got up on stage and told a whole laundry list of old racist jokes about blacks. The whites in the audience were laughing their azzes off. So...should they all be summarily shot or just deprived of their livelyhood as punishment? Should HBO be required to pay reparations? Should the black comedian go through a Stalinist public show trial where he admits to his guilt and then summarily shot afterward as atonement?

Yes...I wonder how attitudes become entrenched with age. Stalin sure knew how to adjust attitudes. Eh, comrade?

Don't know. Why don't you go ask people in the African American community about it?

(And your obsession with Cold War era figures is really stale... yet unsurprising.)

For somebody that "don't know" about it, you sure climbed up on a moral superiority pedestal and got a lot to say about the subject.

So...do you have a problem with racist humor in general or only when whites deliver the punchline? And the bigger question is...do guys like you laugh at those racist skits that hip black comedians like Dave Chapelle throw out to mostly white audiences? And if you do laugh at that stuff...you ain't no better than this witless mayor that forwarded this lame e-mail he likely didn't create in the first place. And...if you find Dave Chapelle's type of racist humor offensive, why aren't you (and the O/P) down on him too?

Comrade Stalin? Maybe I should have used McCarthy as an analogy? So...when there are so many commies hiding under rocks, maybe we ought to look under all the rocks instead of just some of the rocks? Eh, senator?

[Ban Hammer 13,360]

Oh stop with the hysterics already, tizzy my #######. I don't really know what you think you were trying to do. However, one thing you have not done is condemn that offensive piece of tat that is the OP photo. Do you find it offensive, just you know, for clarity?

oh i'm supposed to jump on the condemnation bandwagon with you. sorry, didn't get the memo listing that requirement.

if you'd read my posts with the slightest bit of comprehension, you'd note that i'm not applauding this event.

[Ban Hammer 13,360]

Bill's got to be old enough to know the racial implications of watermelons associated with blacks.

For anyone who is too young or is unaware...here's some history.

(Disclaimer: These offensive images were published a long time ago.)

from what i recall in the book "roots" (read about 2 decades ago, so if my memory is incorrect, sue me) watermelon allegedly resembled in taste a fruit from africa, hence why the newly arrived slaves liked it so much.

I doubt slaves had much say or control as to what they wanted to plant.

no really?

[HAL 9000 96]

If you're black or white, the only thing racially-sensitive you should be concerning yourself with is how much Spanish you can speak.

In about 20 years, there's not going to be a "well, that's offensive." There's only going to be a "que mierda le importa?"

Depende si la mierda te gusta.

(at least you used the 'polite' )

Part of the problem is you have the current 'racial' majority worried its going to be a minority. And just like we can see with some stellar examples... some are freaking out about it.

[HAL 9000 96]

Bad taste is bad taste.

At least the guy had the sense to apologise for it.

Yep... too bad some still don't get it that bad taste is not good.

So, you are not a fan of popular humor, I take it? Monty Python? Saturday Night Live? Fox News? Morning Joe?

Some comedy has good taste... and some has bad taste.

You need to think more and react less.

Racism is what it is.

So you want that discussion? How we deal with racism? Didn't your mommy ever tell you what to say, when the kid down the block called you a name, "Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?"

No. You should perhaps focus on what is a stupid remark borne out of bad taste versus something your mommy should have taught you, yet apparently didn't, X number of years ago. Attitudes become entrenched with age, what can I say?

So then why does HBO have black comedians do racist skits and jokes about blacks? I watched one HBO special where this black guy (can't remember the guy's name) got up on stage and told a whole laundry list of old racist jokes about blacks. The whites in the audience were laughing their azzes off. So...should they all be summarily shot or just deprived of their livelyhood as punishment? Should HBO be required to pay reparations? Should the black comedian go through a Stalinist public show trial where he admits to his guilt and then summarily shot afterward as atonement?

Yes...I wonder how attitudes become entrenched with age. Stalin sure knew how to adjust attitudes. Eh, comrade?

Don't know. Why don't you go ask people in the African American community about it?

(And your obsession with Cold War era figures is really stale... yet unsurprising.)

For somebody that "don't know" about it, you sure climbed up on a moral superiority pedestal and got a lot to say about the subject.

So...do you have a problem with racist humor in general or only when whites deliver the punchline? And the bigger question is...do guys like you laugh at those racist skits that hip black comedians like Dave Chapelle throw out to mostly white audiences? And if you do laugh at that stuff...you ain't no better than this witless mayor that forwarded this lame e-mail he likely didn't create in the first place. And...if you find Dave Chapelle's type of racist humor offensive, why aren't you (and the O/P) down on him too?

Comrade Stalin? Maybe I should have used McCarthy as an analogy? So...when there are so many commies hiding under rocks, maybe we ought to look under all the rocks instead of just some of the rocks? Eh, senator?

That's right genius. Perhaps its because I've witnessed enough racism in my life?

Like I said... [grow some balls and] ask any African American.

Since you are the one mentioning Chapelle... post away with YouTube to elicit a response. Personally I find his style to be bland and perhaps you too.

Hey ummm... welcome to the 21st century.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Bad taste is bad taste.

At least the guy had the sense to apologise for it.

Yep... too bad some still don't get it that bad taste is not good.

So, you are not a fan of popular humor, I take it? Monty Python? Saturday Night Live? Fox News? Morning Joe?

Some comedy has good taste... and some has bad taste.

You need to think more and react less.

Racism is what it is.

So you want that discussion? How we deal with racism? Didn't your mommy ever tell you what to say, when the kid down the block called you a name, "Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?"

No. You should perhaps focus on what is a stupid remark borne out of bad taste versus something your mommy should have taught you, yet apparently didn't, X number of years ago. Attitudes become entrenched with age, what can I say?

So then why does HBO have black comedians do racist skits and jokes about blacks? I watched one HBO special where this black guy (can't remember the guy's name) got up on stage and told a whole laundry list of old racist jokes about blacks. The whites in the audience were laughing their azzes off. So...should they all be summarily shot or just deprived of their livelyhood as punishment? Should HBO be required to pay reparations? Should the black comedian go through a Stalinist public show trial where he admits to his guilt and then summarily shot afterward as atonement?

Yes...I wonder how attitudes become entrenched with age. Stalin sure knew how to adjust attitudes. Eh, comrade?

Don't know. Why don't you go ask people in the African American community about it?

(And your obsession with Cold War era figures is really stale... yet unsurprising.)

For somebody that "don't know" about it, you sure climbed up on a moral superiority pedestal and got a lot to say about the subject.

So...do you have a problem with racist humor in general or only when whites deliver the punchline? And the bigger question is...do guys like you laugh at those racist skits that hip black comedians like Dave Chapelle throw out to mostly white audiences? And if you do laugh at that stuff...you ain't no better than this witless mayor that forwarded this lame e-mail he likely didn't create in the first place. And...if you find Dave Chapelle's type of racist humor offensive, why aren't you (and the O/P) down on him too?

Comrade Stalin? Maybe I should have used McCarthy as an analogy? So...when there are so many commies hiding under rocks, maybe we ought to look under all the rocks instead of just some of the rocks? Eh, senator?

I don't really watch a lot of stand-up, but I always thought that there is at least some distinction between laughing with and laughing at someone.

I have seen standup acts where the "comedian" has verbally abused members of his audience, in one case picking on a guy's appearance and then going on to graphically insult his mother. And I'm not talking about a Heckler here - the comedian just singled out someone in the front row who had a "funny eye" and decided to insult him in the name of humour.

At least from what I understand the way standup is supposed to work - there's a degree of self-deprecation involved, that the humour is essentially harmless in a context where the comedian is directly it inwardly.

Perhaps its me - but as far as the comedy goes I think most people can tell the difference between "funny" comedy which uses stereotypes and that which relies on mean-spiritedness and comes at someone's expense and embarrassment.

Edited February 26, 2009 by Paul Daniels

[HAL 9000 96]

PD... some people don't draw those distinctions. Personally I'd rather not see the content since that is honestly reminiscent of realities that aren't that far off in the past. Of course, some will trivialize it with sick humor and others will profit off of it because hey... that's capitalism for you. If a douchebag wants to make fun of douchebags... then freedom of speech allows him or her to do so with all the bad taste in the world.

[peejay 327]

Bad taste is bad taste.

At least the guy had the sense to apologise for it.

Yep... too bad some still don't get it that bad taste is not good.

So, you are not a fan of popular humor, I take it? Monty Python? Saturday Night Live? Fox News? Morning Joe?

Some comedy has good taste... and some has bad taste.

You need to think more and react less.

Racism is what it is.

So you want that discussion? How we deal with racism? Didn't your mommy ever tell you what to say, when the kid down the block called you a name, "Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?"

No. You should perhaps focus on what is a stupid remark borne out of bad taste versus something your mommy should have taught you, yet apparently didn't, X number of years ago. Attitudes become entrenched with age, what can I say?

So then why does HBO have black comedians do racist skits and jokes about blacks? I watched one HBO special where this black guy (can't remember the guy's name) got up on stage and told a whole laundry list of old racist jokes about blacks. The whites in the audience were laughing their azzes off. So...should they all be summarily shot or just deprived of their livelyhood as punishment? Should HBO be required to pay reparations? Should the black comedian go through a Stalinist public show trial where he admits to his guilt and then summarily shot afterward as atonement?

Yes...I wonder how attitudes become entrenched with age. Stalin sure knew how to adjust attitudes. Eh, comrade?

Don't know. Why don't you go ask people in the African American community about it?

(And your obsession with Cold War era figures is really stale... yet unsurprising.)

For somebody that "don't know" about it, you sure climbed up on a moral superiority pedestal and got a lot to say about the subject.

So...do you have a problem with racist humor in general or only when whites deliver the punchline? And the bigger question is...do guys like you laugh at those racist skits that hip black comedians like Dave Chapelle throw out to mostly white audiences? And if you do laugh at that stuff...you ain't no better than this witless mayor that forwarded this lame e-mail he likely didn't create in the first place. And...if you find Dave Chapelle's type of racist humor offensive, why aren't you (and the O/P) down on him too?

Comrade Stalin? Maybe I should have used McCarthy as an analogy? So...when there are so many commies hiding under rocks, maybe we ought to look under all the rocks instead of just some of the rocks? Eh, senator?

That's right genius. Perhaps its because I've witnessed enough racism in my life?

Like I said... [grow some balls and] ask any African American.

Since you are the one mentioning Chapelle... post away with YouTube to elicit a response. Personally I find his style to be bland and perhaps you too.

Hey ummm... welcome to the 21st century.

Why grow what I was already born with from day one? And why ask questions I already know the answer to?

Genius? I'm flattered, but really............flattery will get you nowhere.

I've seen and experienced racism too. And not just from whites.

Edited February 26, 2009 by peejay

[HAL 9000 96]

No seriously... you are obviously too chicken to direct your inquiries to the right channels. The only one getting nowhere here is you and your clear lack of an ability to tell one thing from another. Which as I understand is something learned through life.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The offense is that anyone feels that in this day and age it's acceptable to imply that anyone is racially inferior. There is nothing frivolous about that.

We can make jest at each other's differences, without creating inferiority complexes, can't we? Can we drop the facade of self-rightous outrage in defense of a race that can demonstrably defend itself? I mean, we white folk can do it. What make you think we are unique in that ability?

Nothing wrong in making jokes. I love jokes, I am all for jokes, but this is not a joke about something contemporary to and specifically about Barack Obama, it's about the notion that 'a black man' has no right to inhabit the White House, that he can't be trusted to treat it properly, that he is nothing more than some 'uppity ***' who doesn't know his station in life. That is the offense Mr Bill.

You read an awful lot into that cartoon. I recommend you spend more time watching Carlos Mencia!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Comedians aren't elected officials. You expect an elected official to be fair to all his/her constituents, no such expectation exists of Chapelle or Mencia.