Bedstuy Happy Hour

carmen · September 2007

^Oh no I didn't think you were accusing me at all. I'm just responding generally and referencing your comment

I guess I consider it different than serving ribs to a Jew, as ANY Jew that abides by that standard won't eat spare ribs. In contrast, I don't find that any one group is offended by terms like "ghetto."
I'm insensitive I guess because I'm so used to the term, and its near and dear to my heart. Growing up in the ghetto gives me some nostalgia about the word I spose...

queencallipygos · September 2007

Carmen wrote: ^Oh no I didn't think you were accusing me at all. I'm just responding generally and referencing your comment
I guess I consider it different than serving ribs to a Jew, as ANY Jew that abides by that standard won't eat spare ribs.

I wasn't clear. Let me try again:

I'm not Jewish, but I have friends who are, and who do keep kosher. If I had one of these friends over for lunch, and served ham sandwiches, wouldn't it be kind of dickish of me to do that, and then try to defend myself by saying "I don't get why someone would have a problem with ham, because I don't have a problem with ham myself"?

That's what I mean.

In contrast, I don't find that any one group is offended by terms like "ghetto."

....erm...Pardon me for sounding insensitive myself, but where in the heck have you been living that you've [/i]not[/i] encountered people bothered by this term?

...Okay, well, if you truly and sincerely didn't know this -- which I find improbable, but not impossible -- the term "ghetto" is today commonly used as a derogatory term for certain cultural stereotypes that some people associate with the African-American community.

And that's why bknest was upset.

carmen · September 2007

^I guess i recognize that some people are upset by this, but I've also heard people that are upset by the term "retarded" in reference to people that are ACTUALLY RETARDED (I worked in a special ed room for a few years and had parents that only referred to their children as "exceptional" including those that were considered medically on the level of severe/profound retardation [which is still the correct term.])
I don't really think its the same as picking on a Jew for not eating ham, as this is a fundamental religious belief. The word ghetto is popular slang at this point, not a thousand year old ideology. I agree that I may have been insensitive, but comparing that term to Jews eating kosher seems like a stretch.

Again. To me its semantics. I apologize to all offended parties. Can we go drink now please?

bknest · September 2007

queencallipygos wrote: [quote=Carmen]^Oh no I didn't think you were accusing me at all. I'm just responding generally and referencing your comment
I guess I consider it different than serving ribs to a Jew, as ANY Jew that abides by that standard won't eat spare ribs.[/i]

I wasn't clear. Let me try again:

I'm not Jewish, but I have friends who are, and who do keep kosher. If I had one of these friends over for lunch, and served ham sandwiches, wouldn't it be kind of dickish of me to do that, and then try to defend myself by saying "I don't get why someone would have a problem with ham, because I don't have a problem with ham myself"?

That's what I mean.

In contrast, I don't find that any one group is offended by terms like "ghetto."

....erm...Pardon me for sounding insensitive myself, but where in the heck have you been living that you've not[/i] encountered people bothered by this term?

...Okay, well, if you truly and sincerely didn't know this -- which I find improbable, but not impossible -- the term "ghetto" is today commonly used as a derogatory term for certain cultural stereotypes that some people associate with the African-American community.

And that's why bknest was upset.

Thank you queenc, I think Jocelyn was a bit perturbed as well. Sometimes ppl have to realize that just because the intent wasnt there it doesnt mean that someone might not take offense. And Carmen I believe you knew this that's why you said:
at the risk of being called a racist, is it "ghetto?"

Now I don't think this makes you a racist(which I NEVER impied) but I do think it was insensitive to say the least. And yes I'm familiar with the origin of the word ghetto hence my reference to boro park(an area heavily populated w/ hasidim).

queencallipygos · September 2007

Carmen wrote: ^I agree that I may have been insensitive, but comparing that term to Jews eating kosher seems like a stretch.

That's because I wasn't comparing the terms, I was comparing behavior.

But if you'd rather another approach that deals with comparing terms -- do you remember the flak when Mel Gibson released the film The Passion Of The Christ, because he included some passages from the Bible that are today frequently considered to be anti-Semitic? Mel's defense was to repeatedly insist that "look, I just followed what the Scripture said exactly. It's in the Bible, don't look at me."

And many others argued that okay, yes, it was in the Bible, and back in Biblical times the language may not have been inflammatory -- but today it was, and it was a little insensitive for him to overlook the fact that semantics sometimes matter to people.

That was my point -- that while it may just be semantics to you, it's a bit more than that to some others.

Fortunately, you're right that it is semantics, but that's an easy hurdle to overcome -- not that it can be ignored, though. But it's easily stepped over.

anonymous · September 2007

Why do people get so easily offended these days? Chill out...have a drink. It's not that important...

anonymous · September 2007

^^and on the topic of semantics, I find it interesting that I've never had a Jew reprimand me for using the word ghetto. Go figure.

Did you follow it up with the derogatory comment about something you think they eat or drink or do? That would make them call out the JDL. 8)

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