Thinking of leaving...

[Jenn! 918]

And we're back to my original point....

I think the question is...what kind of person would WANT to do this sort of thing? Go around harassing women from the ME/NA forum with anti-arab hate speech....

great question!! have you thought of asking that person directly??

Yes, I have. They don't answer and they don't stop.

odd that you haven't reported someone spewing anti-arab hate speech to the admin ... i'm sure that would make them stop!!

I have reported it.

And now I'm tired of being on the defensive with you. Open your eyes here, Gimy. Do you really not see it? Or are you just playing Devil's advocate?

Edited July 7, 2006 by jenn3539

[Together4ever 1]

*Now chuckling*

I'm reminded of Poke the Penguin... poke, poke, poke, poke....

[gimygirl 0]

odd that you haven't reported someone spewing anti-arab hate speech to the admin ... i'm sure that would make them stop!!

I have reported it.

And now I'm tired of being on the defensive with you. Open your eyes here, Gimy. Do you really not see it? Or are you just playing Devil's advocate?

nah i don't have time to play games! maybe you can link me to the post with the anti-arab hate speech because that's a big no-no!!

but in the meantime ... i'm off for lunch!!! ta!

[Together4ever 1]

*Wiping tears of laughter*...

Hugs Jenn. Not laughing at you.

[Welshcookie 17]

sorry you are feeling bad today jenn........sometimes a break away from here is a good thing...

[UmmSqueakster 54]

*Now chuckling*

I'm reminded of Poke the Penguin... poke, poke, poke, poke....

Thus the avatar. Uberly appropriate as of late.

[Bosco 1]

I think this is a two-way street. Unless in our shoes, of course no one else can get how hypersensitive we may be to certain remarks. However, we should also keep in mind our own hypersensitivity when interpreting what other people have to say. This is, after all, an open forum and we will be exposed to differing points of view, and comments we will find offensive and attacking. This is the reality anytime/anywhere you open yourself up to other people.

Non-ME/NA VJ members have been some of the quickest and most passionate to respond to past incidents (within this forum and the unnamed event).

I have heard many remarks, assumptions and even a few attacks made about the poster(s) who repetitively post articles that have an anti-Islam slant. When a member here posts numerous articles that take a pro-Palestinian point of view, assumptions will unfortunately be made about her as well. It goes both ways. Not everyone is looking at this from our perspective. Do we only condemn assumptions made about a member when we agree with the articles she/he is posting? (I agree things did cross a line recently). I am grateful our member is posting such articles and hopefully opening a few eyes to a less publicized side, but feel the backlash is somewhat to be expected since it has been doled out before. I somehow suspect she is strong enough to handle it based on how she responds ( W_O_M)

I unfortunately think the responses within our forum has given fodder to those who want to rile us up. I think we should all pause and think if our responses are going to potentially change minds or reaffirm their points of view. (i.e. CAIR's response to the Danish cartoons versus the rioting).

Hoping things calm down around here soon,

Rebecca

[Jenn! 918]

There seems to be line that is visible to everyone in the ME/NA forum, yet invisible to some others.

I can't imagine someone getting away with saying something nowadays like, "Oh, your fiance is black? Well, be very careful, because black men are much more likely to be involved in drugs and crime than white men. You should think hard about your decision here. I'm not saying that ALL black men are criminals, but let's be realistic and look at the statistics."

If someone said something like this they'd be jumped on by nearly all VJers.

But somehow, replacing the word "black" with "Arab", and "criminals" with "terrorists", and it's only the ME/NA forum members who jump.

Something to think about...

[Together4ever 1]

*Now chuckling*

I'm reminded of Poke the Penguin... poke, poke, poke, poke....

Thus the avatar. Uberly appropriate as of late.

I was just WAITING for Rahma's hammer to arrive! Now the song "Bang, bang Rahma's penguin's hammer came down upon her head..." Sung to the tune of Maxwell's Silver Hammer...

I'm still laughing.

Apologies... I am just fed up, I have been trying to keep myself from being insulting... I just really needed to get that out of my system. I will try to behave now. Bosco I agree with you. However, I have my limits and tire of having to constantly hold myself back. Some of this is such nonsense its hard not to have a wee bit of fun with it now and then.

Edited July 7, 2006 by just_waiting

[Bosco 1]

There seems to be line that is visible to everyone in the ME/NA forum, yet invisible to some others.

I can't imagine someone getting away with saying something nowadays like, "Oh, your fiance is black? Well, be very careful, because black men are much more likely to be involved in drugs and crime than white men. You should think hard about your decision here. I'm not saying that ALL black men are criminals, but let's be realistic and look at the statistics."

If someone said something like this they'd be jumped on by nearly all VJers.

But somehow, replacing the word "black" with "Arab", and "criminals" with "terrorists", and it's only the ME/NA forum members who jump.

Something to think about...

Jenn,

I have seen things said about the Nigerians, the women from Russia and the Phillipines and other groups too. There is a lot of bigotry around.

Rebecca

[noura 0]

jenn.... let it go and do something more productive - it's obvious from her id anyway that she's a vampire -sucking the energy out of anyone who will play.... come to our little hide-a-way - no vampires there! this is getting less entertaining and more frustrating - no real immigration knowledge on these threads, just people way too bored and you know, the kind that pick at scabs to see if they'll bleed again.... ewww!

gimy-girl is exactly that... gimme, gimme, gimme... all take, no give (of anything worthwhile anyhow)

moving on now...

n

[UmmSqueakster 54]

*Now chuckling*

I'm reminded of Poke the Penguin... poke, poke, poke, poke....

Thus the avatar. Uberly appropriate as of late.

I was just WAITING for Rahma's hammer to arrive! Now the song "Bang, bang Rahma's penguin's hammer came down upon her head..." Sung to the tune of Maxwell's Silver Hammer...

I'm still laughing.

I played that on piano for a recital once *goes to dig out sheet music*

Also, my husband has taken to calling me his little penguin, due in part to the avatar and also my strangle waddle running style lol

Edited July 7, 2006 by rahma

[Jenn! 918]

There seems to be line that is visible to everyone in the ME/NA forum, yet invisible to some others.

I can't imagine someone getting away with saying something nowadays like, "Oh, your fiance is black? Well, be very careful, because black men are much more likely to be involved in drugs and crime than white men. You should think hard about your decision here. I'm not saying that ALL black men are criminals, but let's be realistic and look at the statistics."

If someone said something like this they'd be jumped on by nearly all VJers.

But somehow, replacing the word "black" with "Arab", and "criminals" with "terrorists", and it's only the ME/NA forum members who jump.

Something to think about...

Jenn,

I have seen things said about the Nigerians, the women from Russia and the Phillipines and other groups too. There is a lot of bigotry around.

Rebecca

Well, I guess I've missed that. All the more reason to go elsewhere.

I have no desire for the company of bigots.

Edited July 7, 2006 by jenn3539

[ceriserose 1]

Wow. Just...wow.

Bosco/Rebecca I appreciate your comments. Because honestly, while I get that this group does seem to have a target on their back, I think that the persecution complex is growing. I and many others here have done nothing to you other than be supportive and yet we're lumped in with the "non-ME/NA crowd" of people treating you like #######. Frankly that sucks, especially since it's patently not true.

I'm out of this now. I wish you all luck/the best on your journeys.

[john_and_marlene 162]

There seems to be line that is visible to everyone in the ME/NA forum, yet invisible to some others.

I can't imagine someone getting away with saying something nowadays like, "Oh, your fiance is black? Well, be very careful, because black men are much more likely to be involved in drugs and crime than white men. You should think hard about your decision here. I'm not saying that ALL black men are criminals, but let's be realistic and look at the statistics."

If someone said something like this they'd be jumped on by nearly all VJers.

But somehow, replacing the word "black" with "Arab", and "criminals" with "terrorists", and it's only the ME/NA forum members who jump.

Something to think about...

I've been following this and other threads...NOT because I ever visit the ME/NA forum because I don't...I usually click on the "View New Posts" and look at the most recent and active threads. I think often you are attaching racial meaning to comments that do not have a racial intent. anti-fraud does not equal anti-arab or anti-(insert any race). I've made comments regarding high fraud countries in the past and got blasted for them. What I do see from watching the New Posts area is a wide variety of posts from across the world. The ME/NA area is not being singled out as a target for comments about fraud. If you'll take a look, there have been many threads that involve possible fraud and they are not in your forum here. Lately there has been alot of discussion about deception and fraud in Nigeria. In the past there has been discussion regarding fraud from Brasil and Argentina and Russia and the Philippines. You are not being singled out for the most part. There may be some ill-willed and even racist people on this site that may try to cause trouble and I do not agree with that. If you don't want to hear comments about potential fraud, then by all means start a yahoo invite-group only where you can all tell each other how wonderful and fraud-free life is and how noone will ever be taken advantage of.