Lynching, and an apology
I’ll keep this as brief as possible. I apologize to everyone here for my ad hominem attacks that caused such a sensation a couple of days ago. That’s not like me, but it shouldn’t have happened anyway. I wasn’t trying stir up everyone, but with such an emotional display it would be hard to imagine a different outcome. Again, I am sorry.
Having said that, I still stand by my original premise, in that “lynchers” is an inappropriate term to describe those of us who wanted to ban MrFisk. Now before anyone points me to a reference book, I KNOW that its dictionary definition doesn't include race. However I still contend that “lynching” is a charged term, especially in the U.S., because throughout American history it has largely been used against African Americans. Therefore I believe it should never be used in the context it was mentioned. When I, and MANY others, think of the term “lynching”, we’re not thinking of this, but this. Do a Google image search on the term "lynching", and this is what you'll find. Now one could argue that since the meaning resides in the individual then it’s really only my fault for taking offense, but I beg to differ. I do my best to avoid analogies because in the end they always fail, but I’ll offer this one as an example anyway:
Remember when, just for a joke, some Sift Talk posts were tagged “Gay”? Now I don’t think anyone who did it dislikes homosexuals or was even trying to insult them. Nonetheless, the word was used in a depreciatory sense, and dag even had the good sense to spank the gay out of them, because he knew that it shouldn’t be used that way. That is basically my contention about the term “lynchers” and “lynching”. They should not be used unless we’re talking about actual lynchings, because to use it in another way would denigrate the significance of what it means to a LOT of people, including me. I do not want to be even remotely compared in any way to the monsters responsible for the deaths of so many innocent black people. Even if most people here don’t think of it that way, it doesn’t mean it’s right to make use of it in a bad metaphor. Most people here also didn’t seem to have a problem with the “Gay” tag, but that didn’t make it right either.
You can call me “too PC” if you want; I don’t care. I simply want us to be respectful of each other’s feelings, and if that makes me too PC then so be it. I offer this post only because I did not want to leave here on such a low note. You’re a great community, and you deserve better than that from me. Once more, I apologize for the ad hominem attacks.
Having said that, I still stand by my original premise, in that “lynchers” is an inappropriate term to describe those of us who wanted to ban MrFisk. Now before anyone points me to a reference book, I KNOW that its dictionary definition doesn't include race. However I still contend that “lynching” is a charged term, especially in the U.S., because throughout American history it has largely been used against African Americans. Therefore I believe it should never be used in the context it was mentioned. When I, and MANY others, think of the term “lynching”, we’re not thinking of this, but this. Do a Google image search on the term "lynching", and this is what you'll find. Now one could argue that since the meaning resides in the individual then it’s really only my fault for taking offense, but I beg to differ. I do my best to avoid analogies because in the end they always fail, but I’ll offer this one as an example anyway:
Remember when, just for a joke, some Sift Talk posts were tagged “Gay”? Now I don’t think anyone who did it dislikes homosexuals or was even trying to insult them. Nonetheless, the word was used in a depreciatory sense, and dag even had the good sense to spank the gay out of them, because he knew that it shouldn’t be used that way. That is basically my contention about the term “lynchers” and “lynching”. They should not be used unless we’re talking about actual lynchings, because to use it in another way would denigrate the significance of what it means to a LOT of people, including me. I do not want to be even remotely compared in any way to the monsters responsible for the deaths of so many innocent black people. Even if most people here don’t think of it that way, it doesn’t mean it’s right to make use of it in a bad metaphor. Most people here also didn’t seem to have a problem with the “Gay” tag, but that didn’t make it right either.
You can call me “too PC” if you want; I don’t care. I simply want us to be respectful of each other’s feelings, and if that makes me too PC then so be it. I offer this post only because I did not want to leave here on such a low note. You’re a great community, and you deserve better than that from me. Once more, I apologize for the ad hominem attacks.
33 Comments
BillOreillyAwww, this is so sweet.
*documentaries
siftbotInvocations (documentaries) cannot be called by BillOreilly because BillOreilly is not privileged - sorry.
rottenseed*gay
god this is going to be downvoted.
siftbotMoving post to Gay Talk - requested by rottenseed.
gwiz665When I say lynch, I mean the first of your pictures, but then I don't have the same history as americans about it, so my understanding of the word is clearly different than what many others have. I'll abstain from using it too frequently here, if it can start such a rockus.
rottenseedlynching and strange fruit are both very awkward things to mention, at least here in America.
schmawyYes, talking to an American about lynching is like talking to a German about the holocaust. It brings us shame and drags up terrible feelings.
dotdudeTwo days ago this appeared in the Times-Picayune (my local paper). It is a law being considered by the Louisiana House of Representatives concerning the display of nooses. It was prompted by the "Jena 6" controversy and other incidents in Louisiana.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1212471060245400.xml&coll=1
SarzyLeave here...? Are you leaving, KP??
swampgirl>> ^schmawy:
Yes, talking to an American about lynching is like talking to a German about the holocaust. It brings us shame and drags up terrible feelings.
It doesn't in me and shouldn't do that in any of us. We weren't involved in those horrible deeds. It is history now.
That being said, Kronos I hope you're sticking around a bit longer. I think w/ the talk about the 3.2 developing.. we'll have some new toys to play with.
And you have to appear back in court for sentencing for your cheese crimes
rottenseed"dark" channel? so when you're not bashing the gays, you're a racist? that's just all sorts of messed up.
schmawyWho did that? That is so stupidly inappropriate. *nochannel
rottenseed*nochannel
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
KP - I agree that "lynch" is an ugly term - whether it's applied to race or not. (unless you're a certain filmmaker)
As usual, context is everything- and I'm sure you're not calling for an outright ban of the term.
The gay channel thing is a bit different - we don't have a *lynch channel - and I wouldn't try to enforce a rule on people using the word "gay" inappropriately. I would downvote their comment and leave a comment on why I did it.
Anyway- thanks for laying your thoughts down - and I hope you continue as a member - you're a pillar of sift.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
The "dark" channel was probably done by KP. I'm sure he means "dark" as in not happy. Kind of interesting, the context and interpretation of words ...
schmawyYes, so easy to misstep on these sensitive issues. Everybody's gettin' egg on their faces lately. But what do I know, I'm just a white pussy.
rottenseedI was purposely misinterpreting the words as I can't handle serious, sombre tones. Life's too short and this is just an internet video site
kronosposeidon* Dark channel removed
Here's why I added it:
Rottenseed invoked * gay on this post, which I felt was inappropriate given the circumstances, so I removed it and added * Dark for two reasons:
1. Because this is a serious matter that has a heavy, "dark" meaning to me
2. I didn't want anyone adding any other channels to it. By having a channel assigned to it, no one else could add another channel afterwards.
I didn't even think about the other way it could be used, which would be in terms of racism. I simply wanted to convey my "dark" feelings about this matter.
I apologize if I offended anyone, because that was the LAST thing I intended. Guess I should have thought that one through better.
And for God's sake, can we PLEASE stop adding "Gay", even as a joke? This wouldn't have happened if people would just leave people's Sift Talk's alone. There's no channel on this one now, so please leave it that way.
rottenseed>> ^dag:
you're a pillar of sift.
Dag, you misspelled "pile of shit"
just playing KP, you know we love you. It'd be silly if you left over this. It'd show that you take trivial things too seriously. So what if you displayed your emotions, thank evolution you have emotions at all, it's the only thing that almost all of us have in common.
schmawy>> ^rottenseed:
KP, you know we love you. It'd be silly if you left over this...
http://www.videosift.com/video/KC-The-Sunshine-Band-Please-Dont-Go
rasch187Kudos, kronos. It takes character to apologize like that.
doogleThat wasn't all that brief.
After reading the comments, I gotta ask
am I the only one dying to have *.gay invoked again?
come on people. admit it. it's okay.
rottenseedi wanna too, but you can't after the sifttalk post hast been assigned a channel. Personally, i think dark and gay would be the best channels for this post.
choggieglad to see you filled that scrip-
8383Arguments about semantics are almost exclusively pointless, particularly over the internet.
Regardless of anyone's opinion on the issue, the sun will still rise tomorrow, the earth will continue to revolve around it and this will still just be an internet video site.
Why let these things get important?
gwiz665>> ^schmawy:
Yes, talking to an American about lynching is like talking to a German about the holocaust. It brings us shame and drags up terrible feelings.
See, had this been explained in such brevity earlier, I would have gotten it immediately.
Zonbie*tips hat to KP*
I know whole siftinquisition got very heated but hoping myself that sift get back to normal
Oh, and I hope you stick around Mr Kronos, he has been a *quality member here for as long as I can remember
All I can say is, shit happens - to the best of us, hoping to see more great posts from you
siftbotZonbie cannot award a quality point for this Sift Talk post because Zonbie does not have enough Power Points - ignoring quality request by Zonbie. (You can always purchase more Power Points.)
SarzyIndeed. *quality -- don't leave us, KP!
siftbotAwarding kronosposeidon with one star point for this contribution to Sift Talk - declared quality by Sarzy.
schmawyThis thread is asleep, it seems, but I'd just like to say one last thing, KP.
Your offense at the use of the term "lynch" is noted and not misplaced. It is a shame upon US. Your indignation has reinforced that The Sift is not a place for loose or poorly chosen words. You, KronosPoseidonSuperDiamond500 are one of the reasons The Sift is what it is, and the primary reason I am here, along with countless numbers of others.
I speak for myself and I think others that I would accept you leaving with great difficulty, but there is no ignominy in staying because you successfully hammered home the point that insensitivity is not to be tolerated by your threatening departure.
Please don't go, KP, I beg you. Please.
moodonia/\
Just like to second the above post. Please dont leave KP, if you decide to I hope you write a book, you have a gift with language and your comments on here have always been great.
doogleHe's still leaving? That's a long time of leaving, since I believe he's still around.
If I had a SiftTalk post with an apology and regular replies asking me to stay, I don't think I would clarify my remaining/departure status in due time either. Especially after a long drawn out argument that other users didn't need to witness...
Just saying...
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