Quote: SmokeyTA "im not sure what at one point having a black girlfriend was supposed to prove, im also not sure what I accused you of other than [ifor no good reason whatsoever putting their right and for some unknown reason necessity to use archaic language ahead of offending other people. [/i I didnt accuse you of being racist. I used 'you' in hypothetical scenarios. If you did think i was accusing you of being racist then i apologise (see, its not difficult)
Here is your problem, you are not the arbiter of what other people are offended by. You cannot decide that a phrase is or isnt racist. You can have your opinion but that isnt definitive. And yes, you are entitled to free speech, but one of the integral parts of having free speech, is remembering other are free to judge you for what you say.
I don't believe that you have to speak and act as i find appropriate. But how you speak and act will influence my opinion of you.
Once again, you can say whatever you want, but if you say something which offends someone, you can insist all you want, for ever and a day, that it isnt racist, that it isnt offensive, that the other person is wrong and you are right and that they are wrong to be offended. The fact is they are still offended and are likely to judge you on your insistence on using words and phrases they find offensive, judge you on your arguments in favour of their use and maybe that judgment will describe you as a type of person you dont wish to be described as. That is their freedom.
Whataboutery is often the last flame of failed argument.
If someone had posted a picture of a Gorilla in a suit next to a picture of a black man then there is obvious racism in there that isnt relevant to a picture of white man. It really shouldnt need to be explained why it is different.
You are of course free to argue that it is selective, or hypocritical. That it is just as offensive to see shaun wane compared to an ape as a black man. You are free to argue that anyone who doesnt agree is wrong, or oversensitive.
People on the other side of that may see your argument as ignorant and offensive. They may see it as quite offensive to see people equating a head coach at the top of a professional sport where there are 0 black head coaches being compared to a gorilla to the years and years of systematic and public indignities that image was used to put upon all black people. They may find the idea quite distasteful that a relatively rich and successful free white man in a stable western democracy is affected by that image as a black man would considering those images were, for hundreds of years, used as justification for some of the most abhorrent things mankind has ever done under Slavery.
The reason i wont apologise here, is i dont care if you think i am selective or hypocritical in my indignation. If thats what you think, thats what you think. Im comfortable with it.
If i had come across as ignorant, or bigoted on the other hand.............'"
Apology accepted and you do come across as a bigot. bigotry is not restricted to race or sexual orientation.
Bigotry
Noun
Intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from oneselfany circumstances shows both of the above. Do you honestly believe that insults don't affect someone because they are white, straight or successful? Seriously, that is your argument? I find your kind of selective indignation disgusting and disturbing. I'm happy for you that you're comfortable in your ignorance. However I'd prefer not to aid you in spreading it and, as such, will be leaving this discussion here.