Whats with the Racial Undertones on this board?

Regarding the second link, it's my understanding that the driver of the car that killed the young boy was never arrested. He escaped to Israel, and he never came back.

Regarding bluesea1015's critique about racial undertones, I don' t think every thread possesses the element of race in it -- if that is what is meant by the 'race card.'Quite frankly, I think it is better to more aptly describe what it is that is being described instead of simply saying the cliche'd 'pulling a race card'. It might be a turn off to discuss these things, but if race is a primary element of topical things that happen around here, then personally I do believe it ought to be discussed, or pulled, to use bluesea1015's lingo.

In addition, I don't know how the amount of time in which one resides here allows or disallows talking about race where it is deemed to be relevant. Where it seems that non-Black (and Black) people are making what seems to be biased perceptions about Black residents of the neighborhood, quite frankly I think they do me a service because I am better able to understand how they view the world around them. For instance, I have learned that if you possess a Black nationalist/Pan Africanist perspective then you are deemed to 'hate' white people, which is so far from the truth.

What it brings to the fore is that the history of this country still perpetuates racial pathos. And these are things that need to be discussed. I appreciate that these discussions can occur in relative anonymity, as anonymity encourages honest, candid discourse.

You ever read Brownstoner or Gothamist comments? Local NY-centric blogs usually have a reader undercurrent of really unpleasant racism, of the "What? I'm just calling it how I see it!" variety.

MHA wrote: What it brings to the fore is that the history of this country still perpetuates racial pathos. And these are things that need to be discussed. I appreciate that these discussions can occur in relative anonymity, as anonymity encourages honest, candid discourse.

Agree 100%

These boards often act merely as a mirror of conversations happening on the street, or behind closed doors.

The veil of anonymity may be used by some to hurl insults and attacks, but also by others as MHA mentions to offer up candid discussion of conversations that are long overdue.

Some may not be comfortable with hearing or participating in these conversations, but make no mistake...they happen with or without this board so they might as well happen here. Ideally with as much of an adult and neighborly (in spite of differences) approach as possible, in spite of often contentious and challenging subject matter.

So the choice falls to each person here.

Participate, or move on to another thread.

The conversations (hopefully thoughtful and well-informed, although sometimes in need of refereeing), are inevitable nonetheless.

bluesea1015 wrote: Yes stacey along with those "Is it safe posts",I Dont walk down this block because of the type of ppl that live there posts.... I even read in one thread that someone didnt want to have a block party because of the type of crowd it will bring....WTF? Its very subtle comments, that if you dont pay attention it will just go over your head.
I rather blatent, in your face racism than racism that is sugar coated and sweetend as something else.

Would u say every block in CH is safe?

Well, what struck me about the rooftop posting is that I could understand what the guy was NOT saying, that as a white dude potentially breaking some law, he is ironically low hanging fruit to a cop pressured to meet his monthly ticket quota. I have a hard time understanding why a police officer would focus on that guy and not the other frequent infractions that are obviously in his purview. There was something in the New York TImes about 3 weeks ago about this dude who got a ticket for having his bag beside him on an otherwise empty bench. The police officer wrote him up for blocking someone from sitting. The article ends with the cop saying resignedly, 'Look, this is what we are ticketing for right now,' orsomething like that. What happened to the dde on the roof reminds me of the ticket the bilding I live in got for improperly mixing recycled garbage with regular garbage. What was ticketed was a blue recylcling bag that upon closer inspection still met the required plastic and metal rule. But, instead of going after real criminals, the police department and the sanitation department are going after people who are essentially easy to ticket, and less likely to be able to afford a to respond.

What I find frustrating is that I am confident that while all who take the time out of their otherwise busy lives to use this medium to voice what irks and pleases them, our municipal services don't have the same sort of enthusiasm. From what I can tell, most of these cops don't live around here, given their Long Guyland like accents, and the sanitation department folk, might, but again, it's all about the numbers for them. We are caught in the midst of criminals trying to reach quotas, and cops trying to meet their quotas. WTF??!

Okay -- I gotta take issue here. Outside Child, I really think you need to show me the 'coded racist stuff' here.

Bluesea1015, I think what CTK is saying is no block in CH is safe. I don't get why the question is 'stupid', and frankly, even if you are right, the sudden strong language might bring out Jeffery's locking superpower, so, could you say WHY the question is stupid, instead of staying it's stupid with no justification?

Then, to the eyes and ears of many, if you are not able to justify your perceptions, you run the risk of being deemed just a noisemaker, trust me. These whitefolks done call me worse.

MHA wrote: Then, to the eyes and ears of many, if you are not able to justify your perceptions, you run the risk of being deemed just a noisemaker, trust me. These whitefolks done call me worse.

Well, a treehugger, for starters...
http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=56979



Yeah, any site can have mere name-callers. I'd like to think that most folks would like to (and consider the conversation important enough) to rise above that.

I just want to say that while I may not always agree with the attitudes/terminology of many of the posts on brooklynian regarding race-specific issues, I'm deeply appreciative of the posters willingness to openly discuss and debate.

It reminds me to always seriously consider the experiences and opinions of others.

There were some posts by MHA the other day, I think, that were particularly eloquent and really took the discussion to another level. Thanks.

MHA wrote: Okay -- I gotta take issue here. Outside Child, I really think you need to show me the 'coded racist stuff' here.

For example, when people ask the "is it safe" questions, I see it in both the answers and the questions, that is just one instance

MHA wrote: Agreed. Sad to say but true. Certain types of music attracts certain types of people. I for one can do without hearing 'gyptian's latest song again, or anything by Mobb Deep, The Game, even Jay ('hovah') Z blasting out loud on the streets. I say someone hold a street party and play only House, or Jazz, and that's it. Anything about cars, women, sex, or money, keep it to yourself.

"Extreme" or "Hard Core" of any Genre is going to attract who the like.

I've been to many events around the world dealing with all kinds of music in different venues and it don't matter, red yellow, white, purple green. rock, rap, country. Throw on that hard core (insert genre here) add the alkihaul - similar results.

MHA wrote: I say someone hold a street party and play only House, or Jazz, and that's it.

Whatever. There' s a building on Union by the canal that routinely blasts house music out of what appears to be a professional sound system in the back yard, all night long all weekend long, and whomever throws these douche-fests and their guests are far and away the worst, most inconsiderate neighbors I have ever had the misfortune to live near. I'll take a Mobb Deep BBQ any day.

Outside Child wrote: [quote=MHA]Okay -- I gotta take issue here. Outside Child, I really think you need to show me the 'coded racist stuff' here.

For example, when people ask the "is it safe" questions, I see it in both the answers and the questions, that is just one instance

:idea:

Ah, thanks for clarifying, ha...sorry to hear.