Is refering to Black folks as "colored" on DU acceptable. . .

[wndycty]

Poll question: Is refering to Black folks as "colored" on DU acceptable. . .

. . .it has happened.

[acmavm]

1. What in the hell are you talking about?

[wndycty]

4. Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4127454&mesg_id=4127634


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4127454&mesg_id=4128005

[Onlooker]

32. It can be

I think if you're quite old or think of it terms of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, then it should not be offensive, but the poster should probably be advised to use something more current.

[wndycty]

35. The poster saw no problem with that and . . .

. . .I would think that given that the poster is a feminist she would understand and not ridicule those of us who take offense.

[neutron]

56. In Deep South small Towns, it's considered Polite

by an older generation to refer to "colored people."
They don't mean it as offensive by any means.

[hlthe2b]

52. yes... somewhat understandable (if not ignorant) in the elderly

otherwise.... :wtf:

[Cha]

50. The message was removed so

a moderator didn't think it was a term we should be using on DU. I saw who it was though and given the source ..their leader is calling the shots and anything goes.

Sorry, it was offensive and I think I know why..is it because it was a term used when Black People were regaled to seperate bathrooms and weren't "served" in some places? This country has quite the little history for a country who was suppose to accept even "the down trodden".

Here's to an Obama win that will undoubtedly help heal us when we need it the most.

[Adelante]

2. No, but

Is that worse than what I saw on DU this morning?

A DUer who will vote absentee to avoid the coming race riots!

[Bobbieo]

14. What race riots?????

[Adelante]

21. You would have to ask that person

No idea here :shrug:

[no name no slogan]

53. Charlie Manson posts on DU now?

Is Helter Skelter really coming down 38+ years later?

[MethuenProgressive]

3. I see you edited the post where you were accused of using the term "colored people"

Is this your CYA thread?

[noamnety]

36. If you read the followup message

the person retracts that statement.

[Stewie]

5. Depends on your age

I know of older folks, not the least bit racist, who still use the term. It would be like someone around today still using the term "gay" if a new term becomes more popular 50 years from now.

Racism is actions against people of color or the belief that one race is superior to the other. I have a hard time believing that someone saying something that could possibly be interpreted one way, but clearly not meant that way, is "racist."

[noamnety]

6. I'm wondering if you are misinterpreting something.

are you seeing the phrase "colored people"? Or "People of Color"?

[wndycty]

7. No its was colored people

See the links above.

[noamnety]

9. Oh!

Wow ... I am a little surprised to see that here.

[wndycty]

22. And then when I called the poster on it. . .the poster defended it. . .

. . .the poster defending it was a feminist and you would think she would understand the sensitivities involved when it comes to words.

[MethuenProgressive]

31. The poster said *you* used it "in a post above" - this is your CYA thread

And from your link it's clear you edited that post afterwards.

[MiniMe]

47. The "links above" have been removed by the moderators

Does that answer your question?

[TwilightGardener]

8. No--unless it's an age thing. My grandmother used to use this term, without malice, but

had she lived she'd be in her 90's now. Those are the only people who could get away with it.

[Bonobo]

10. What if someone says: I am a person of "color"? Still freak you out?

Faux outrage can only go so far before descending into utter nonsense you know?

[wndycty]

13. You can mock me if you want, I have no problem with person of color. . .

. . .I'm talking specifically talking about "colored" as you can see by the thread I linked to in response to a question that was asked.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. It's Inappropriate And Strange

~

[Skinner]

12. "It has happened"

We do not pre-screen posts here. You could pretty much claim that any post -- no matter how offensive -- "has happened." Just in case anyone were to read between the lines on your post and infer that the moderators and admins actually would permit someone to sincerely post such a thing, let me be clear: That is not acceptable. If we were aware of it we would delete it, and the offender would likely be banned.

On a related note: I can see how people vote on polls. I can promise you that a few jerks are going to vote (against their own personal opinion) that it is okay just to "prove" that DU is a hotbed of racism.

[wndycty]

16. Skinner, I linked to it above. . .

. . .I challenged the poster, the poster defended it. Did not apologize.

[MethuenProgressive]

24. the poster posted that *you* had used it.

Thanks for the links.
edit adding link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4127454&mesg_id=4127669

[undercoverduer]

29. And if you notice wndycty challenged that poster for evidence. . .

. . .and that poster acknowledged wndycty didn't use it. If you are going to post on the issue read the entire thread. LOL

[MethuenProgressive]

37. A confessed Sockpuppet comes to the OP's defense?

Not only do you confess to being a sockpuppet, you brag about in your sig line:

I am not new. . .my day job requires me to be undercover when commenting on certain issues. . .I have been here since the start.

[undercoverduer]

40. Go ahead, attack me without addressing my response. Way to change the subject. . .

. . .by attacking me. What is your response to my response. Was I right, did the poster acknowledge that she was wrong and that wndycty never used the phrase. . .its a simple yes or no quesiton. Its not about me as much as you want to me it that way.

[MethuenProgressive]

41. Sockpuppets are not worth "addressing".

You deserve a tombstone, not a response.

[undercoverduer]

43. Tell me what I did to deserve a Tombstone? Just because you don't like me. . .

. . .doesn't mean I deserve a tombstone. You still aren't answering the question.

[undercoverduer]

44. Are you gonna answer that question?

:kick:

[Skinner]

49. Allow me to answer the question.

Sockpuppets are not permitted here. We don't go hunting around for them, but when they are used in a blatantly misleading or inappropriate fashion, we do take action.

I can see the IP address on your posts. I've seen everything here, I'm jaded, and extremely difficult to surprise. But I gotta admit that it takes some serious chutzpah to use two different accounts in the same thread when an administrator is present. Particularly when your sig line claims you have some sort of special need for anonymity. Please send me a private message and let me know which account you want to use. I will shut off the other one. Thanks.

[MethuenProgressive]

51. Thank you, Skinner.

:applause:

[IsItJustMe]

54. And the games continue. Nice detective work there Sherlock.

[MethuenProgressive]

55. He confesses in his signature line, the Game Ends.

I am not new. . .my day job requires me to be undercover when commenting on certain issues. . .I have been here since the start.

[Skinner]

28. I see that you didn't alert on the post.

Nobody did. But you started a thread to draw attention to it, and in the process you made it look like DU approves. There is a better way to deal with stuff like this.

[wndycty]

34. There is a reason for that. The DU should be able to do a better job of policing itself

. . .I understand the reason for alert. To me its better that attention be called to it so we can see what happens. I appreciate all the work you do. But if I alerted it would have disappeared and we would not be able to discuss, we need to discuss.

I have the utmost respect for you guys, but to me its necessary to alert. We need to see this when it happens. Alerting would have deleted that comment and made it go away. You see DUers want links, this is important to me.

[Skinner]

39. With all due respect,

I would prefer that DU not become known as a website that tolerates bigotry. When posts like that are permitted to stay, and when threads are started to draw attention to them, people inevitably conclude that the moderators and admins approve. Every day I get angry emails asking why something was permitted, but in most cases it's because the moderators were never informed.

[wndycty]

42. I understand that. . .but it seems if that gets deleted its as if everything is fine. . .

. . .and that we, as DUers, don't have to work in confronting our own demons. I'm not sure what the answer is. I understand the deleting policy, but it does not seem right because making it go away does not necessarily make the problem go away because the damage has already been done.

Again, I will respect the decision you make. I just hope we can have solution that enables to address offending statements rather than just delete them.

Thanks for you concern.

[Skinner]

45. This is an open discussion forum. Practically anyone can post here...

...and we do not pre-screen posts or require any proof of identity.

In other words: The problem isn't going to ever "go away." We can -- and do -- deal with it after the fact. But no matter what we do, there will *always* be someone who posts something inappropriate.

But the truth is that bigoted and/or insensitive comments are rare here. While we do have our problems, the vast majority of our members are better than that.

[Barack_America]

23. Thanks for pointing that out.

That 5% had been blowing my mind, now it makes a little more sense.

[MethuenProgressive]

15. Blame Hillary?

...

[theredpen]

17. "people of color" == goodl; "colored people" == bad

Seriously though, it's up to people in question as to whether or not they think "colored people" is OK. I certainly hope people who support the NAACP don't mind the phrase "colored people."

This phrase is problematic because it is a reminder of segregation days when "colored people" were forced to use substandard facilities.

[wndycty]

19. I'm sick of people being intellectually lazy on race. . .

. . .words matter. And there is a huge difference between the NAACP's use of it and how it was used here today. This is 2008, years since its has become unacceptable to be used.

You can mock it and ridicule it all you want.

[theredpen]

48. I agree

I was just commenting on the various ways its still in use and the reasons why it became unacceptable.

Please return to being outraged. It looks good on you.

P.S. "Black folks"? How about "African Americans", wndycty?

[fenriswolf]

18. definatly not

I understand what the word means but to apply it to african americans only is racist because

a. It implies that african americans are the only people of color ( we all are one color or another)

b. it has always been used as a negative term for an african american.

[IndianaJones]

20. no, its racist. nt.

[jpgray]

25. I'll never de-acronymize NAACP again

The word "colored" as referring to race is offensive -depending- on context and intent. The word used in reference to race is not offensive in and of itself at all times (though it often is).

[wndycty]

26. When the NAACP ws founded that was the appropriate term. . .

. . .but its intellectually lazy not to understand how it is used by the NAACP and its appropriateness in any other situation.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. It's Hard To See In Somebody's Heart But Would It Kill Him Or Her To Call Folks What They Want To Be

Called?


Some goes with pronounciation of people's names that some folks play games with to make a point like when Dan Quayle emphasized how ethnic Mario Cuomo's name was...

[TwilightZone]

27. It obviously depends on context. It's not offensive in "NAACP"

It is, however, offensive in many other contexts.

[Evergreen Emerald]

33. while we are on the subject: is "black" acceptable?

Cause I thought that was also antiquated and now the acceptable phrase is "african american." But, of course not every person of color has ancestors in africa, but...

[msongs]

38. have you ever seen a person "of" no color? nt

[TheFarseer]

46. maybe, but you need to be over 80

and I am not flexible on that requirement!

[juajen]

57. Hell, we are all colored. This is not a representatifve word for any race.

N/T

[LWolf]

58. It depends on the tone and the intent.

I worked with a young black woman for a decade who preferred "colored" to "black." I grew up with people of color who preferred "black" to "colored."

If there is not consensus among African American/black/colored people themselves, then the correct answer is that it depends. It depends on the intent behind the term, since we can't always know which term our listeners may prefer.