Is it possible to say something racist but not be a racist?

[tokugawa]

Students to face discipline for Ward tweets

Two students in Massachusetts could be facing disciplinary action after writing racist tweets to Washington Capitals forward Joel Ward, according to the Boston Herald.

"The (Bruins) lost and I just said it," a Bruins fan told the Boston Herald. "The fact is, I'm not a racist. It was stupid of me. I would apologize to Joel Ward if I could."
Ward, who is black, was verbally attacked with racist slurs on Twitter after scoring the game-winning goal in Game 7 to eliminate the Boston Bruins.

A spokeswoman for New Hampshire's Franklin Pierce University told the Boston newspaper they will take action to address the racist tweets.

"We consider the racism, ignorance, lack of inclusiveness and poor sportsmanship reflected in the student's actions to be a matter of grave concern, and we are taking immediate action," the university said in a statement.

One of the students involved apologized on Twitter on Thursday night and said "he is not a racist and never will be."

The Bruins and Capitals both released statements on Thursday where the Capitals said they were "outraged" with the incident and the Bruins said the organization was "disappointed" by the "classless, ignorant views."

The National Hockey League also spoke out on the issue where they said in a statement that the racist messages on Twitter were "ignorant and unacceptable."

Ward and the Capitals begin their best-of-seven series Saturday afternoon where they take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Joel Ward Racist Tweets


Now is it possible to say something racist but not be a racist? In this case not only did the individual say it but he/she also took to a public forum to voice it. Clearly these individuals knew what he/she was doing? In this day and age, can someone be that stupid or is it so easy and excusable to just claim ignorance? Or has social media just allowed us to see how stupid some people really are i.e., more easily than when social media never existed? I used to think that I was just unlucky to meet assholes/jerks/bitches in life but maybe that's just the norm in life

 

[Ms. Yoko Anna]

Students to face discipline for Ward tweets



Now is it possible to say something racist but not be a racist? In this case not only did the individual say it but he/she also took to a public forum to voice it. Clearly these individuals knew what he/she was doing? In this day and age, can someone be that stupid or is it so easy and excusable to just claim ignorance? Or has social media just allowed us to see how stupid some people really are i.e., more easily than when social media never existed? I used to think that I was just unlucky to meet assholes/jerks/bitches in life but that's just the norm in life

It seems to me that there is a discourse that racist joke is funny. No doubt about that.
I don't know any comedian who does not throw any piece of racial joke for other race and/or their own race.
I'm not criticizing North American comedies, I do know Japanese comedy is way more bizzar.

However, I do sometime feel that it appears funnier to me when ethnically/culturally/sexually minority people make joke out of other race/sexuality as well as their own.
(I'm throwing the sexuality part because I suspect Daniel Tosh is a gay.... From how he says "vagina")

I haven't experienced much stigma towards me or my ethnicity much, but even when I do face, it does not bother me much. Tokugawa, if you feel other people or media are not sensitive to this matter, ignore them and pity them.
I would.

 

[Dgodus]

Here's an example of a joke that's shared between two comedians over the phone.

"How's the weather?"
"Raining"
"Fucking N*****s!"

To some that's going to come off as racist, the comedians however are actually making fun of racists who'll blame everything on whichever race they dont like, regardless of how absurd. I didn't see what was said towards Ward, but somethings (like the above joke) can be taken any way and it's largely dependant on the context, the receiver and how sensitive they are.

I'm sure someone could say some racist crap about a race they are completly ignorant about. I'm very unlikely to say something regarding blacks or asians, it's possible I could repeat something I've heard regarding say Italians or the Irish which is offensive and I just dont know.

 

[tokugawa]

I understand racism exists in this world and it will never go away.

I guess t just surprises me the lame excuses some people use when stuff like this happens (I said or did something stupid in public and then say sorry I didn't mean it).

By the way, here are some of the tweets that were geared towards Joel Ward. Pretty vicious.

But I guess social media has allowed people to be their true selves. There are some people in social media who tend to be quite brave and maybe say a little 'too much' i.e., not think before saying it. But then again, an 'asshole' is an 'asshole' regardless if it's in social media or in meeting one in person.

 

[Pillowtalk]

People who are not racist do not use racial slurs. Ever. They then do not have to backtrack, apologize and make excuses for what they did.


Having seen the posts, well, is that supposed to mean these guys are NOT racist? Within calling him the n-word, there is also references to 'white power', and that he should be hanged. Forgive me if I am puzzled by this even being debated.

 

[tokugawa]

People who are not racist do not use racial slurs. Ever. They then do not have to backtrack, apologize and make excuses for what they did.


Having seen the posts, well, is that supposed to mean these guys are NOT racist? Within calling him the n-word, there is also references to 'white power', and that he should be hanged. Forgive me if I am puzzled by this even being debated.

Not really trying to rehash to the whole 'what is racism thing?'.............that wasn't my intent of the thread. It's more about stupidity in general with people? The role of social media in general. I mean those comments were quite inflammatory; very hard to take back but it seems in today's society a simple 'I am sorry' will alleviate matters. I would rather these people just admit that they got a problem instead of saying 'I am not racist'! People who do and say those things are the least sorry. You're either a decent person or you're not; there is no in between here in my opinion.

This is a little off-topic here but a lot of people in this world say stupid things in social media even in this forum. When I say stupid things, I mean things like racist comments, insensitive comments, degrading type comments or responding inappropriately because they are unable to analyze or interpret a conversation/thread properly (this may be due to a lack of knowledge or experience or maybe they're just plain 'assholes').

 

[vancouver1992]

Holy S**T...WFT???? That word should be banned from not only any board but from our collective minds!

Any one using that word needs to have their head examined, free speech can only go so far.. just my .05

van'92

PS at least the Capitals got rid if the Bruins!!

 

[wilde]

A n***** calling another n***** a n***** is not racist, at least that's what an African American told me.:doh:


I had to endure the Chinaman song a lot when I went to school in the UK. Here are the lyrics:

"Ching Chong Chinaman he tried to milk a cow
Ching Chong Chinaman didnt know how
Ching Chong Chinaman pulled the wrong tit
Ching Chong Chinaman all covered in shit"

And here is Rush Limbaugh doing his impression of the Chinese President: http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201101190024

Is that racist or not?

 

[jesuschrist]

Black people were stolen from Africa, children stolen from their parents, forced into slavery, and been discriminated against in the United States for decades. They form the majority of the poor and the jail population. Things have gotten so bad for Blacks that many have integrated the prejudice and racism heaped upon them unto themselves. Black people suffer from an inferiority complex. Black women straighten their hair and dye it blonde. They get cosmetic surgery to get a caucasian nose. Now some even think that calling yourself a "nigger" is somehow owning it, making that term somehow less offensive - though it is still meant to offend in a prejudicial way against being Black.

Joel Ward is a racist, and arguably the worst kind of racist there is - racist against his own kind.

 

[vancity_cowboy]

the sad thing isn't the racial slurs... the sad thing is somebody getting so worked up over a fricken' hockey game fer fuck's sake that he does something this stupid :crazy:

SERIOUS values check required here :doh:

 

[grusse]

Black people were stolen from Africa, children stolen from their parents, forced into slavery, and been discriminated against in the United States for decades. They form the majority of the poor and the jail population. Things have gotten so bad for Blacks that many have integrated the prejudice and racism heaped upon them unto themselves. Black people suffer from an inferiority complex. Black women straighten their hair and dye it blonde. They get cosmetic surgery to get a caucasian nose. Now some even think that calling yourself a "nigger" is somehow owning it, making that term somehow less offensive - though it is still meant to offend in a prejudicial way against being Black.

Joel Ward is a racist, and arguably the worst kind of racist there is - racist against his own kind.

I agree with ur 1st paragraph,jc,but I need help with how Joel Ward is racist against his own kind?Should he be more outraged?
I thought he handled it well,but maybe I'm overlooking something?