Why I got banned

[Adman]

i call my italian friend wop or whop all the time, we get a good chucle out of it.

[syzygy]

Originally posted by Troll King
You don't have to be the target of a racist act to feel insulted by it. To except racism just because it's not your group that's being targeted is naive, because it could very well be yours that is next on the list. It's not like how a mother tells her child to ignore a bully and he will go away, (and we all know that that doesn't even work). Just the fact that some racist comments are considered to be acceptable is a sign of the problem, not a reason to ignore it more.

i think what Cops is trying to say, and what i strongly believe as well, is that if u don't let something bother u, it won't bother u. we're not accepting racism when it affects a different group; we just as easily accept it when our group is the target. i don't know what kind of bullies u had when u were young, but if they realize that they're not making someone's life worse by picking on them, they stop and move on to someone else until their own pleasures r fulfilled. in my opinion, racism works the same way: it will only get worse if u show people that it hurts...otherwise it'll decrease in its severity and eventually come to a halt.

[ConcreteSchlyrd]

Look, the whole TW racism phenomena can be explained very simply. If you're PM'ing your friend with a slur, and you both think it's funny, great. No harm, no foul. It's analogous to talking directly to someone (in a quiet, normal speaking voice) in a private conversation in real life. If you and your friend are comfortable with it, that's fine for you.

However, if you're saying something in pub/spec chat, it's analogous to sitting by your friend in a crowded room, and screaming something. You might have meant it to be directed to your friend, but now everyone else in the room has heard you loud and clear. Now, I'm basing this on my opinion that you all aren't stupid, but I really doubt you'd sit in a crowded room of strangers and yell anything racial. Either that, or you'd be in pain from all the physical beatings.

It's very, extremely simple, you see? I'll acknowledge the fact that I joke around with some racially-charged jokes sometimes with my friends, but that's where it ends: with my close friends. Shit, even with friends, you can come horribly close to crossing the line. What people need to recognize is that different people have different tolerances for racial remarks. Most of us are mature enough to realize what's acceptable and what's not in a public voice. I don't care if you have black friends that you joke around with about slavery, it still doesn't make it cool for you to talk in that manner around people who you don't know (and don't necessarily know you). It's just common sense people--if it's not getting across to you here, it'll surely come across to you at some point in real life in the form of a fist impacting on the bridge of your nose.

And you don't want Troll King punching you in the face.

[Cops]

The idea of banning someone for racism isn't so much that they're really racist but they're ignorant enough to spam racial slurs in public and anyone that does that deserves what happens to them. I have no doubt that there our some racist people in Trench Wars but I would like to belief that it's more ignorant people trying to push the envelope rather then a straight up racist person.

[Cig Smoke]

what about us cripples who just use it like its money? EZ MONEY

[Ephemeral]

As others above have stated, you can’t legislate morality. In other words, society cannot create laws or rules that change what people want to think. But it can create laws and rules on how people behave. So having racist thoughts is one thing, acting on them is another. It is called discrimination.
Frankly, making sweeping generalizations is a sure way to look stupid and shows a lack of worldliness and maturity. It amazes me how racism is passed from one generation to the next, yet each young generation never wants to be like their parents.

C.S., I respectfully disagree with your statement ‘No harm, no foul’. On a higher level there is harm, even among like-minded friends, when you perpetuate racist remarks/jokes. It sends a message to others that it is acceptable behavior and is likely to allow them to feel comfortable with racism.

[Thors]

Just next time dont call them inuits

[ConcreteSchlyrd]

Eph, I agree that it might be wrong to perpetuate it, but I'm also a realist who knows that no matter how much finger-shaking you do, it's going to happen. Racism, in it's "malicious intent" form, is wrong and bad. Don't let me give the impression that I think rancorous talk is okay. I'm just trying to give an explanation as to why it shouldn't be the problem that it is in this game, and (in general) people should just be more aware of what they're saying in pub/spec chat. Basically, I'm tired of the "I said XXXXXX in pub chat and got banned! WTF!?"

Plus, it all really depends on context and comfortability. There's nothing wrong with celebrating differences, if all parties involved understand that it's in a joking manner. I'll be the first to say that I think we're reaching a point in society (American society, at least) where jokes that are harmless are getting overscrutinized. There's a difference in being malicious against a stranger and joking with a friend. I'm explaining this in a convoluted way, I'm sorry. The best example I could possibly give would be the stand-up of comedian Sarah Silverman. (And she's hot, too, which helps.)

Simply put: if you are easily offended, don't click on the following links.
If everybody had AIDS...
Sarah on Conan

[Exotic]

just thought that this would be important for this thread

Inuit

[Tigerex]

He is one Bitchin Inuit

[Tigerex]

Btw in my opinion and the opinion of the majority of mankind itself the word Inuit is about as offencive as calling me "Stupid English Boy". Thats all.

[Ephemeral]

C.S.
Satirical comedy has been used for ages as a form of sociopolitical disobedience, but none of us are professional comics. So while I agree that some professional performers might have a legitimate case for covering material like this, I don’t feel it makes it appropriate for you and me.
Even if the friends are close, and they know each other well enough to know that they are not racist, it still isn’t a ‘good thing’. Let’s say you are close friends with someone and they drop by to say hello where you work. Thinking no one is around, your friend tells you an off-color joke, but it is overheard. You get fired.
I used to feel the way you describe, that among friends some things were cool, but the business and legal segments of American society have changed how I now behave. ANYTHING that creates a ‘hostile work environment’ is now fair game for legal action. Even if you guys are still in school, you might consider starting to modify your behavior now. I’ve met up with some intelligent folks in TW over the years, but I’m not sure that I would hire any of them due to their attitudes about this subject.

[Thors]

You knew it was a racist term why did u continue to say it in Pub?

[Troll King]

I like how everyone read and understood when I said that the word Inuit wasn't the reason the statement was racist but the context in which it was used. That alone has restored my faith in humanity.

[Tigerex]

Maybe i have ignored all your posts using that forum ignore person thingymajiggy. Yeh work that one out genius.