Political Correctness Run Amok

[Trish]

This is just ridiculous! It's a very sad state of affairs when any phrase containing the words "white" or "black" is deemed racist! Crap like this trivializes real racism.

Texas County Official Sees Race in Term 'Black Hole'

Thursday, July 10, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/images/foxnews_story.gif

DALLAS — What do "black hole," "angel food cake," and "devil's food cake" have in common?
They're all racist terms, says a Dallas County, Texas, official.
A county commissioners' meeting this week over traffic tickets turned into a tense discussion over race when one commissioner said the county's collections office was like a certain astronomical phenomenon.
"It sounds like Central Collections has become a black hole," Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, said during the Monday meeting.
One black official demanded an apology, and Commissioner John Wiley Price, who also is black, said that type of language is unacceptable.
At the meeting, Mayfield said he intended his comments to be taken in the context of the scientific meaning, and became upset that he was being misunderstood.
In astronomy, the term black hole refers to a star that has collapsed upon itself, creating something so dense and small that it does not have any physical properties besides a gravitational force so great that even light cannot escape its pull.
Later Price told MyFOXdfw.com that he believed it and other terms were racist.
"So if it's 'angel food cake,' it's white. If it's 'devil's food cake,' it's black. If you're the 'black sheep of the family,' then you gotta be bad, you know. 'White sheep,' you're okay. You know?" Price said.
Price said people should watch their words when it comes to stereotypes.
"I think people should always be careful. You know, I'm okay if I'm 'bartering' with you. ... But if I try to 'Jew you down,' Oooooh. Is that racist? I thought it meant the same thing? No, maybe it doesn't."
The world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking might have a solution to the problem over perception of the astronomical term. He refers to the phenomenon as "a singularity."http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,380143,00.html

[preservanation]

I heard about this too, Trish.
This is a cosmetology term.
I think it's a collapsing planet where no light can escape due to the incredible density.
However, that density can't hold a candle to that displayed by this Dallas County, Texas, official.One black official demanded an apology, and Commissioner John Wiley Price, who also is black, said that type of language is unacceptable.
Unacceptable language?
This pisses me off to no end.
All this PC balderdash does is rub the wounds between the races not ameliorate them as they claim.
Bah!

[Invayne]

Fine, I'll just call it an African-American hole from now on.

Idiots.

I think we need a separate forum just for politically correct nonsense. There's so much of it going around.:grrrr:

[Buck Laser]

Yeah, things have really gone to hell when you can't call a black person a n****r any more.

[Invayne]

Yeah, things have really gone to hell when you can't call a black person a n****r any more.

That is totally irrelevant to this thread. Any other bright ideas?:madlaugh:

[AnnEsthesia]

I don't see this as having to do with political correctness any more than I see the racist rants by some GOPers as having to do with the whole GOP. Stupidity exists in all things.

[Muser]

As a [very ashamed] Dallas resident, I'd just like to state for the record that the views/comments of the city's elected officials do not necessarily reflect the intelligence of the rest of the populace.

Clearly the Texas educational system - particularly the science department - has failed John Wiley Price. Or is it the other way around?

The WSJ's Best of the Web Today (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121562638725539779.html?mod=Best+of+the+Web+Toda y) section had a rather amusing take:

This odd story from the Dallas Morning News caught our eye:County commissioners were discussing problems with the central collections office that is used to process traffic ticket payments and handle other paperwork normally done by the JP Courts.Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, said it seemed that central collections "has become a black hole" because paperwork reportedly has become lost in the office.Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is black, interrupted him with a loud "Excuse me!" He then corrected his colleague, saying the office has become a "white hole."We had never heard of a "white hole," so we wondered if Price knew something we didn't. And it turns out, according to this Web page at Cornell (http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=108), there is such a thing as a white hole, but only in theory:A white hole is something which probably cannot exist in the real universe. A white hole will turn up in your mathematics if you explore the space-time around a black hole without including the star which made the black hole (ie. there is absolutely no matter in the solution). Once you add any matter to the space-time, the part which included a white hole disappears. . . .A white hole is pretty much like an "anti-black hole." A black hole is a place where matter can be lost from the universe. A white hole is a place where (if it could exist with any matter in it--which it can't) matter would pop out into the universe.In other words, black holes suck. This of course was Mayfield's point: The central collections office is a "black hole" because paperwork goes in and disappears. It would be a "white hole" if instead it spewed papers out.

So how could Price have gotten this so wrong? Maybe it's not his fault. Maybe the Texas Legislature is just niggardly when it comes to funding science education.I wonder if Price gets similarly indignant when someone says "black box", "black cat", or "blackmail".

[AlanC]

As a [very ashamed] Dallas resident, I'd just like to state for the record that the views/comments of the city's elected officials do not necessarily reflect the intelligence of the rest of the populace.

Clearly the Texas educational system - particularly the science department - has failed John Wiley Price. Or is it the other way around?

The WSJ's Best of the Web Today (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121562638725539779.html?mod=Best+of+the+Web+Toda y) section had a rather amusing take:

I wonder if Price gets similarly indignant when someone says "black box", "black cat", or "blackmail".

No doubt he does as he seems to have never heard of lemon devils food cake. I have never seen a devils food cake that was black. Nor do I think it says anything about its quality or desirability. To make that into a racist term is the hieght of stupidity.

Kind of like taking offense at the term, black hole. Some people need to get out of public life and get an education first.

[BoogyMan]

Yeah, things have really gone to hell when you can't call a black person a n****r any more.

What does this comment have to do with the thread Buck?

I originally thought this OP might have been something from the Onion, but apparently it isn't. This has to be the most moronic bit of PC thought I have ever seen.

[Elrathin]

I have never seen a devils food cake that was black.

Well, that's all I've ever seen with devil's food cake. There may be some variations that ane't, but for the most part Devil's Food Cake is black. Here, take a look for yourself.

http://images.google.com/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=picture+of+devils+food+cake&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

And then here is Angel Food Cake.

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=angel+food+cake&btnG=Search+Images

[Elrathin]

I think he has a very valid point that some terms are done to show favorable when white is used and not favorable when black is used.

Take a look at old movies. In most of them the person in white was the good guy, whereas the bad person wore black.

Edit: I should add that I also don't agree with him that it is because of racism though. There is just a cultural phenomenon that associates black with bad things and white with good things.

[AlanC]

I think he has a very valid point that some terms are done to show favorable when white is used and not favorable when black is used.

Take a look at old movies. In most of them the person in white was the good guy, whereas the bad person wore black.

Edit: I should add that I also don't agree with him that it is because of racism though. There is just a cultural phenomenon that associates black with bad things and white with good things.

As opposed to a black hole that is so named because even light cannot escape it gravitational pull? Or other things being called black because they actually are black in color and it would be rather foolish to call them anything else?

The adoption of black as a dark, mysterious, menacing color versus white being looked at as cleaner, purer, more wholsome had nothing to do with race and everything to do with superstitions and realities in the minds of people who most likely had never even seen a black person.

[Elrathin]

The adoption of black as a dark, mysterious, menacing color versus white being looked at as cleaner, purer, more wholsome had nothing to do with race and everything to do with superstitions and realities in the minds of people who most likely had never even seen a black person.

Did you read my Edit? I just said the same thing.

[Buck Laser]

That is totally irrelevant to this thread. Any other bright ideas?:madlaugh:
So how exactly is it irrelevant to this thread? The initial post was about using words. Admittedly the example was a little silly, but people whine about "political correctness" mostly when they can't use the crude language they grew up with. Of all the real issues we have in this country, "political correctness" is such a minor concern that it mainly gives people with a bad attitude something to piss and moan about. And of course you're taking advantage of it, aren't you?

[Osborn F. Enready]

Buck said:
Yeah, things have really gone to hell when you can't call a black person a n****r any more.

:unreal:

Buck said:
So how exactly is it irrelevant to this thread? The initial post was about using words.

Where did the particularly foul, racist word you referenced come up before your post?

Buck said:
Admittedly the example was a little silly, but people whine about "political correctness" mostly when they can't use the crude language they grew up with.

Yes, the word black is SOOooo crude.....


Buck said:
Of all the real issues we have in this country, "political correctness" is such a minor concern that it mainly gives people with a bad attitude something to piss and moan about.

Yea, thats one way to look at it, but I disagree with the "threat level" you assign to PC.

Buck said:
And of course you're taking advantage of it, aren't you?

The only one I saw taking advantage was the person using the thread as a platform to launch racist comments in reference to others who are making a legitimate argument about the bullshit involved with spreading and enforcing of Political Correctness.

Again, how does the comment you made relate to the thread? Seriously Buck....

[AlanC]

Did you read my Edit? I just said the same thing.

Oops. I missed your edit and yes, we completely agree.

[AlanC]

So how exactly is it irrelevant to this thread? The initial post was about using words.

No, the initial post was about finding racism where none exists and using silly examples to prove that point.

The idea that anyone wants to be free to use the word you referenced is not only wrong, but its completely off the point.

The only silliness evident here is the comment by this idot councilman.

[Buck Laser]

:unreal:
Where did the particularly foul, racist word you referenced come up before your post?
So where's the rule that someone else has to introduce the epithet?
I think all the emotion wasted over "political correctness" is just stupid, so I chose to go directly to one of the words that began the sorry debate about "pc". If that annoys you I'm sorry, but that's how I see it. Sorta like you think all the presidents have been traitors.:evil:

[Osborn F. Enready]

Buck said:
Sorta like you think all the presidents have been traitors.

..being able to prove, and idle speculation are two different things. Its quite provable, but thats for another thread.

By the way, I respect and applaud many Presidents and their actions in office, just none in my lifetime, or many in many fathers or grandfathers....

[Muser]

Buck said:
Sorta like you think all the presidents have been traitors.

..being able to prove, and idle speculation are two different things. Its quite provable, but thats for another thread.

By the way, I respect and applaud many Presidents and their actions in office, just none in my lifetime, or many in many fathers or grandfathers....

Ummm...not even Teddy Roosevelt? He wasn't perfect, but it seems to me the good outweighs the bad.

[Osborn F. Enready]

Teddy did a lot of good, but a lot of bad came with it....

In fact, I just brought up Teddy the other day in another thread, referring to his splitting the party and forming the Bull Moose Party.....

The 1912 Election was a fiery time in American history, and there was a ton at stake in that election, therefore a ton of propaganda from all sides.... Obviously, I prefer Teddy to Eugene Debs, but I think many Americans by 1912 had lost sight of what this country was all about when founded....

[Muser]

I think all the emotion wasted over "political correctness" is just stupid

I think "political correctness" is stupid. I think people who create "racism" where none exists are stupid. And stupidity greatly offends me. Hands up who gives a rat's ass about my offended feelings? You can partner with me in my class-action lawsuit, just as soon as I figure out who to sue. Anyone know a <oxymoron alert> good lawyer?

[GHJ]

I'd like to know when white people are going to stop rolling over and playing dead every time a black person screams "racism" at them. When are we going to give up the foolish "guilt trip" we seem to be on? None of my ancestors had anything to do with slavery. They came her AFTER the Civil War. I refuse to feel guilty about something I had nothing to do with. Isn't it time we stopped all the racial BS?

White people who have black people scream "racism" at them when they use perfectly good English words and scientific language in proper context should say, "I'm not going to apologize for your ignorance. That's your problem, not mine."

If more white people would do that instead of cowering in a corner somewhere and apologizing this BS would stop. Blacks are not going to keep doing something that doesn't get the desired results any more.

Poor old Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton, they'd be out of the extortion business if they couldn't scream "racism."

[Osborn F. Enready]

GHJ said:
When are we going to give up the foolish "guilt trip" we seem to be on?

I suggest you look at the sources of "naturally instilled guilt", like religion and political parties.

They both try to shame and guilt people into believing something that is not natural, and try to convey that you are "born into sin"-which implies guilt by birth....

[Six]

This is just ridiculous! It's a very sad state of affairs when any phrase containing the words "white" or "black" is deemed racist! Crap like this trivializes real racism.

Texas County Official Sees Race in Term 'Black Hole'

Thursday, July 10, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/images/foxnews_story.gif

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,380143,00.html



By now I'm sure those politicians regret their stupidity. I mean from now on it's their claim to fame. I'm sure their proud that the entire U.S has a good idea that their cumalitive I.Q. is under 60.

[GHJ]

I suggest you look at the sources of "naturally instilled guilt", like religion and political parties.

They both try to shame and guilt people into believing something that is not natural, and try to convey that you are "born into sin"-which implies guilt by birth....

That's BS and it has absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand. Nice try at hijacking a thread.

I think you've been pounding your head on your keyboard too long (re: your avatar).

[Muser]

LOL! You caught yourself just in the nick of time, GHJ. You know what I'm talking about. :madlaugh:

[Osborn F. Enready]

GHJ said:
That's BS and it has absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand. Nice try at hijacking a thread.

Are you saying most of the tenets of Political Correctness don't find shelter under religious ideals?

Are you saying both modern Dems and Reps don't appeal to this instilled GUILT with their pandering platforms?

It was quite on topic, I am sorry you find this aspect of reality so displeasing.

[Invayne]

As a [very ashamed] Dallas resident, I'd just like to state for the record that the views/comments of the city's elected officials do not necessarily reflect the intelligence of the rest of the populace.

Clearly the Texas educational system - particularly the science department - has failed John Wiley Price. Or is it the other way around?





OMG, I can't stop laughing at that article!

So how could Price have gotten this so wrong? Maybe it's not his fault. Maybe the Texas Legislature is just niggardly when it comes to funding science education.

No doubt this writer will be accused of racism too!:lmao:

[apdst]

I see the black leaders are working hard to keep racism alive and well. If Racism went away, the civil rights industry would lose millions in revenue.

[Invayne]

No doubt he does as he seems to have never heard of lemon devils food cake. I have never seen a devils food cake that was black. Nor do I think it says anything about its quality or desirability. To make that into a racist term is the hieght of stupidity.

Kind of like taking offense at the term, black hole. Some people need to get out of public life and get an education first.

And preferably not "public" education!

[Invayne]

Well, that's all I've ever seen with devil's food cake. There may be some variations that ane't, but for the most part Devil's Food Cake is black. Here, take a look for yourself.

http://images.google.com/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=picture+of+devils+food+cake&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

And then here is Angel Food Cake.

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=angel+food+cake&btnG=Search+Images

Now ya got me hungry. And for the record, just to show that I am NOT a racist, I like Devil's Food cake better than Angel Food cake.:madlaugh:

[Invayne]

I think he has a very valid point that some terms are done to show favorable when white is used and not favorable when black is used.

Take a look at old movies. In most of them the person in white was the good guy, whereas the bad person wore black.

Edit: I should add that I also don't agree with him that it is because of racism though. There is just a cultural phenomenon that associates black with bad things and white with good things.

My favorite clothing color is black. What does that say about me?:embarrased:

[Invayne]

:unreal:



Where did the particularly foul, racist word you referenced come up before your post?



Yes, the word black is SOOooo crude.....




Yea, thats one way to look at it, but I disagree with the "threat level" you assign to PC.



The only one I saw taking advantage was the person using the thread as a platform to launch racist comments in reference to others who are making a legitimate argument about the bullshit involved with spreading and enforcing of Political Correctness.

Again, how does the comment you made relate to the thread? Seriously Buck....

Glad I read ahead a little...Thank you Os!:worship:

[Invayne]

I think "political correctness" is stupid. I think people who create "racism" where none exists are stupid. And stupidity greatly offends me. Hands up who gives a rat's ass about my offended feelings? You can partner with me in my class-action lawsuit, just as soon as I figure out who to sue. Anyone know a <oxymoron alert> good lawyer?

LOL!!

Political correctness is not only stupid, it is dangerous. Telling people what they can and cannot THINK is tantamount to brainwashing.

[Invayne]

I'd like to know when white people are going to stop rolling over and playing dead every time a black person screams "racism" at them. When are we going to give up the foolish "guilt trip" we seem to be on? None of my ancestors had anything to do with slavery. They came her AFTER the Civil War. I refuse to feel guilty about something I had nothing to do with. Isn't it time we stopped all the racial BS?

White people who have black people scream "racism" at them when they use perfectly good English words and scientific language in proper context should say, "I'm not going to apologize for your ignorance. That's your problem, not mine."

If more white people would do that instead of cowering in a corner somewhere and apologizing this BS would stop. Blacks are not going to keep doing something that doesn't get the desired results any more.

Poor old Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton, they'd be out of the extortion business if they couldn't scream "racism."

Good post, G! I couldn't agree more.:thumbsup:

[Invayne]

I see the black leaders are working hard to keep racism alive and well. If Racism went away, the civil rights industry would lose millions in revenue.

It's quite profitable to play the victim, didn't you know that?

[GhostintheMachine]

Lets face it though, discrimination against Blacks is still alive and well in America.

[apdst]

Lets face it though, discrimination against Blacks is still alive and well in America.

And it's imperative for the Leftists to keep it alive; no matter what they have to do to do it. real descrimination, or percieved discrimination, it makes no difference.

[Invayne]

Lets face it though, discrimination against Blacks is still alive and well in America.

Discrimination against whites is alive and well too.

[GhostintheMachine]

And it's imperative for the Leftists to keep it alive; no matter what they have to do to do it. real descrimination, or percieved discrimination, it makes no difference.

What do you mean keep it alive? As in talk about it? Tons of studies have shown that it is still very prevalent.

[GhostintheMachine]

Discrimination against whites is alive and well too.

Yes, discrimination exists on both planes, however it is much more prevalent against African Americans.

[ECW]

Just move to Texas. It's alive and well here. Just ask the State GOP convention vendors...

[AnnEsthesia]

What do you mean keep it alive? As in talk about it? Tons of studies have shown that it is still very prevalent.

Exactly. It seems some people think that if you cannot see it and do not hear it, it will not exist. I doubt if no one talks openly about racism, all the racists will wake up one day and wonder why they ever hated other races. :madlaugh: