Comments on: Off-Color Commentary

By: Emma Landberg

Emma Landberg — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:14:17 +0000

So, instead of patting ourselves on the back about how horrified we are at this behavior, what does one do about it?

What does it mean that two black men will use “nigger” talking to one another? What does it mean when in a social situation someone is talking like that?

How do you think we, as citizens, can correct this type of behavior? How do you fix it? Apparently what has been done so far isn’t very effective — ignorance is applauded in our society and education is looked down on.

In a social situation like your example, you’re waiting for a meeting with a vet. Do you get up and leave? Do you slap her across the mouth? Do you tell her to shut up? Unplug the IV?

By: Yvonne DiVita

Yvonne DiVita — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:46:05 +0000

Interesting. She spoke out loud what many people still think, silently. May older people… and, I expect, some younger people.

It’s sad. That’s what it is. I believe our children and grandchildren are rising above that. I believe we are making progress, yet, regardless, the racial slurs and gay bashing and misogny will prevail… in a small minority.

At least, I’m hoping it is becoming a small minority. That’s what I SEE around me.

By: Sean Howard

Sean Howard — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:03:28 +0000

And he smells funny.

By: Sean Howard

Sean Howard — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:02:28 +0000

And a dodo head.

By: Sean Howard

Sean Howard — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:02:10 +0000

Tim is a dork.

By: Jim Sutton

Jim Sutton — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:23:20 +0000

I am reminded of that short story, “Everything That Rises Must Converge,” by Flannery O’Connor? It’s the same idea only the person who is the equivalent of the cat owner gets flattened in front of her son who has been embarrassed by her behavior. He is shocked and frightened when he realizes she is seriously hurt. I am not sure where I am going with this, maybe just the humanity of it all.

By: Christian Gulliksen

Christian Gulliksen — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:35:25 +0000

I lived in Mississippi for a few years, and found there were two times that people made racist remarks in my presence: they either leapt to the wildly erroneous assumption that I shared their viewpoint; or they were trying to wind up the Hollywood Liberal.

People who are now in their 70s were in their 30s during the civil rights movement–they have no excuse for ignorance, let alone the malice behind the sentiment. Whatever she believes, she should know better than to say it out loud in public. And that’s where I don’t give anyone a free pass.

When we make an honest mistake about someone–for instance, my utterly flawed belief that you must have been an outgoing child–making a factual adjustment requires nothing more than an, “Oh, really? Wow.” And I don’t think there’s any harm in that. The human experience, really.

It’s all about intent.

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 31 May 2008 16:38:05 +0000

I remember my grandmother (born in 1904) talking about the “coloreds” and how I used to bristle. When finally I garnered the strength to challenge her on it, she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about and dismissed me with an impatient flick of the hand.

My mother, on the otherhand, is currently in her early 70s, the same age as your cat woman. While she is completely self absorbed , she is very “hip” and liberal politically and would never say anything like your cat woman.

While age contributes to tunnel vision, it is by no means the only contributor – cluelessness is rampant across way too many boundaries!

Thanks for the post!

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:34:40 +0000

Ad Broad — Maybe not, but that’s laugh out loud funny….

Paxton Guy & Mack — I kinda don’t think her age had anything to do with the comments. In other words, she likely always viewed the world in.. well, black and white. Definitely there’s a whole subset of her generation who’d agree with her.

By: Ad Broad

Ad Broad — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:33:41 +0000

Excellent post, Ann. More than a post–an op ed-worthy piece on obliviousness alive and well in us all, to some degree. She might have recognized her cluenessness if someone had peeked in her cage and observed, “Such an old cat. What do you call him? Geezer? Methuselah?” Or maybe not.