Political correctness - gone TOO FAR!
 

Sorry guys... I know the topic was locked, but I just can't believe people these days... in response to thread -

http://www.canreef.com/phpBB2/viewto...asc&highlight=

Tell me... how does a deal on a skimmer get turned into a forum debate on race? What are we here for? We all have this one thing in common... to keep aquatic animals in a sustainable living environment. What colour our skin is or where we are from has absolutely nothing to do with what we are doing here. Geographically, where we get our livestock is of relevance... as is where some of the products are made, but to get sensitive to ones remarks regarding this is preposterous! This planet we live on is getting ever so smaller and the minute we are able to recognize, yet look past our physical differences the better off we all shall be... I suppose now this means that we should segregate our species so that an Indo Pacific creature doesn't have to have a Red Sea co-inhabitant...? I am of mixed culture - (READ - MUTT!) and am proud of every part of my heritage. If people call me cheap - that is my Scottish side coming out... My "geeky" technical side... would be the Japanese... My desire for strict order and arrogance would be the German... and so on....

If in your world you are offended by remarks such as that posted by Willow then perhaps counselling is in order? Personally, I don't care whether it's a fine hand crafted Swiss watch or a cheapo Chinese knock-off... as long as when it's 4:20 it says 4:20!!! As far as I'm concerned,... we're ALL Canadian... just different ethnic origin maybe... C'mon everyone! Lighten up!

That's the problem with reading posts on forums. Sometimes you just can't tell if offence was intended or not. There is no inflection of voice that lends to a speakers mood unless you are a gifted writer such as a novelist.

I don't believe Willow in any way intended to offend, but agree that the post should have been locked. If offence was taken, and the debate began.....we all know how these things can spiral out of control.

While racist, political and religious remarks should always be avoided, we must ask ourselves when reading posts if we are assuming what was the meaning of the post or if it is odviously clear. And when posting ask yourself if any offence could be taken.

I have, in the past been accused of racism. It was true! I was trying to beat the other guy to the finish line!! :smile:

And I also believe this would be better posted in lounge as it has nothing to do with reefs directly.

This is just rediculus. Come on people. :rolleyes: Now every time i type the name of a country im going to nervous about someone thinking im racist. Not that i care what any one else thinks. :cool:

Good southpark episode. :lol:

Love the new Avatar, Deb. :biggrin:

I like the new Avitar as well as it looks like my dog. :mrgreen:

If you knew Willow...... you would know that his comment was taken out of text.

let this die folks. It is old hat now.

4:20.. lol!

Re: Political correctness - gone TOO FAR!
 

I couldn't have said it better. I come to this site for salt water aquarium info so I find it offensive that I have to worry about being politically correct when in reality there is no such thing, because no matter what you say or how you say it someone can usually twist it and find ways to be offended.

Here is a quote from a very wise man that I try to apply in my own life--"Never attribute to malice what can be attributed to stupidity"
People need to be less sensitive and give other people the benefit of the doubt.
Life would be easier if people didn't look for ways to get offended by innocent remarks.

Re: Political correctness - gone TOO FAR!
 

Agreed......

Never agrue with idiots all they do is drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

My $0.02....done

Good!
 

Hey thanks to all you guys (and ladies! *wanna STAY politically correct here!*) for taking the time to read AND respond! I just posted to make sure I wasn't the minority here... and my suspicions were correct! NOW.... anyone know where I can buy a cheapo, knock-off Scottish skimmer????

I'll bet it's made out of a plaid thermos.... :lol:

Ach! 'es a bonnie skimmerrrr lot, that, yeah? Jus' a wee dram of skimmate.

Lmao, I can just hear that scottish guy in the beer commercials saying that!

Chris

I've found some of Willow's posts in the past to be a little bit abrassive, but never racist. (I enjoy having the occasional dabate with Willow..... Really.) :biggrin:

I read the thread and can see nothing but a guy offering some usefull info to others.

I think Andy Rooney said it best when he said this,

don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...
Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.
Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?

I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the Law of Probability.
I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours. I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry ass if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or "stop" in English, see the above lines.

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.
I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building.

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack his little behind when necessary, and say "NO!"

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

I am sick of "Political Correctness." I know a lot of black people, and not a single one was born in Africa;so how can they be "African-Americans"? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else.
And if you don't like my point of view, tough...
THEN DON'T PASS IT ON!!


:lol: :lol: :lol:

Maybe the internet is too harsh of a place for people with a fragile psyche?


Cheers.

*EDIT*

IBTL :lol:

*standing ovation*

Good post Gary!! :cool:

Welcome back Gary !!

:biggrin: :biggrin:

I think Gary deserves a cold beer for that post.

Anthony

Thanks everyone and thanks for the welcome back Jim. :smile:
Europe was real nice and all, but a month there realy makes you realize just how good we realy do have it here.

Anthony,
I'm going take you up on that cold beer when I find my way to your neck of the woods. :biggrin:

A couple of points about this.

First, this quote has been falsely attributed to Andy Rooney, it is a well-known fabrication, as detailed on snopes.com.

Second, the comments about black people are ignorant.

Black people were brought to the United States chained up on ships. Approximately 10 million African people were brought over, roughly half of them died on sea voyage. They were sold and used as an expendable source of labour. They were denied proper food clothing shelter or any medical care, and forced to work between 80 and 120 hours per week. If a plantation slave did not pick his allotted weight of cotton each day, he would be brutally flogged. Other punishments included mutilation and amputation of extremities. The slave women were often abused sexually and raped. Women who gave birth to a baby would be forced back to work in the fields the same day as they delivered their baby. As a result the babies would often die of starvation. Families would be split up, sons daughters, husbands, or wives would be sold away to a distant plantations. As a result of this brutal treatment the typical slave life expectancy was less than 30 years. Once slavery was abolished the black people were kept in line with lynchings, denied the right to vote, denied the opportunity for good jobs or education. As a result of this systematic brutalization over several generations, the black people of the United States have on average a lower standard of living, poorer health care, less education, and a lower life expectancy than white people.

Affirmative action is an attempt to redress some of these wrongs by providing black people with the chance for an education and an opportunity to work at decent jobs. I don't understand why someone would pretend to be Andy Rooney and circulate a hateful document like the above on the internet.

K, guys, i think this has run it's course. We're all here for reef stuff, remember? Let's move on.

I 2nd that !!!