# A Word, Shodan **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537 "2009-09-18T02:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/141 "2009-09-21T10:25:43Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > It’s a real simple question, which you haven’t tried at all to answer, despite repeated requests. Give me an example of **Shodan** ’s racism, and a working definition of racism. You are the one who made the claim. Put up or shut up. It’s as simple as that. Ok, I’ll try to put this as simply as possible for you, since you seem to be incapable of basic reasoning: \*\*Shodan \*\*stated that “Obama would turn the white house brown”. Is that racist? I stated that “I wonder how Shodan would feel if someone made a joke about his house turning yellow when he brought his adopted kids home from Korea?” Frankly, I think both are racist. So what say you, obtuse-boy? ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/142 "2009-09-21T10:56:11Z")
Technically, he said beige. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/143 "2009-09-21T12:25:44Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Technically, he said beige. Technically, it was [Steven Sondheim](http://www.sjsondheim.com/contrib.html) who said beige, but perish forbid we keep **leander** from his shit fit. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/144 "2009-09-21T14:35:21Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Ok, I’ll try to put this as simply as possible for you, since you seem to be incapable of basic reasoning: > > \*\*Shodan \*\*stated that “Obama would turn the white house brown”. > > Is that racist? > > I stated that “I wonder how Shodan would feel if someone made a joke about his house turning yellow when he brought his adopted kids home from Korea?” > > Frankly, I think both are racist. > > So what say you, obtuse-boy? For starters, I don’t understand why you need to call me obtuse. This is the first time you have provided an example of what you claim to be a racist statement by **Shodan**. How, exactly, am I being obtuse? Was I supposed to read your mind? Second, absent a working definition of racism, which I now request for the FOURTH time, and absent the context of the quote, no, I am not prepared to call it racism. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/145 "2009-09-21T15:26:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Technically, it was [Steven Sondheim](http://www.sjsondheim.com/contrib.html) who said beige, but perish forbid we keep **leander** from his shit fit. > > Regards, > Shodan I know little about the Sondheim quote. What was its context, and why did you equate it to what Obama was doing? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/146 "2009-09-21T15:49:44Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > I know little about the Sondheim quote. What was its context, and why did you equate it to what Obama was doing? It’s from the musical _Merrily We Roll Along_, which bombed on Broadway ([cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrily_We_Roll_Along_(musical))). The idea is to imply that the Obama administration would also turn the White House beige (he is half black, in case you hadn’t been told 😃 - that’s why it has to be “beige” not “brown”) and would also bomb after only a few performances. As mentioned elsewhere, I don’t expect this to do much good. [list=a][li]It never helps to explain a joke [_]For some reason, jokes about Obama don’t seem to get the same reaction as jokes about, well, anything else in creation [_]Those who are determined to characterize any joke about Obama as racist aren’t going to read it anyway.[/list][/li] I’m not saying that you are one of those people. I am saying that **leander** ’s accusation of racism is intended to end the discussion, not add anything to it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/147 "2009-09-21T17:30:01Z")
> [@TurboNuke](#): > > Hmm, there are about 6 conservatives left on this board. > > How about y’all run off the rest and y’all can continue your liberal douche circle jerk. Six is probably enough for your own circle if you snuggle in close enough. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/148 "2009-09-21T18:44:27Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Six is probably enough for your own circle if you snuggle in close enough. Not quite. If it less than 25 in the circle, my dick tocuhes the guy in front of me…and then the fun ends. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/149 "2009-09-21T18:52:33Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The idea is to imply that the Obama administration would also turn the White House beige (he is half black, in case you hadn’t been told 😃 - that’s why it has to be “beige” not “brown”) See? Not racist! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/150 "2009-09-21T20:12:28Z")
> [@leander](#): > > \*\*Shodan \*\*stated that “Obama would turn the white house brown”. > > Is that racist? > > I stated that “I wonder how Shodan would feel if someone made a joke about his house turning yellow when he brought his adopted kids home from Korea?” > > Frankly, I think both are racist. And inaccurate. Since Obama is mixed white & black, it should say that Obama will turn the White house grey. It’d still be racist, but at least accurate color mixtures. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/151 "2009-09-21T21:16:01Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > It’s from the musical _Merrily We Roll Along_, which bombed on Broadway ([cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrily_We_Roll_Along_(musical))). The idea is to imply that the Obama administration would also turn the White House beige (he is half black, in case you hadn’t been told 😃 - that’s why it has to be “beige” not “brown”) and would also bomb after only a few performances. > > As mentioned elsewhere, I don’t expect this to do much good. [list=a][li]It never helps to explain a joke [_]For some reason, jokes about Obama don’t seem to get the same reaction as jokes about, well, anything else in creation [_]Those who are determined to characterize any joke about Obama as racist aren’t going to read it anyway.[/list][/li] > I’m not saying that you are one of those people. I am saying that **leander** ’s accusation of racism is intended to end the discussion, not add anything to it. > > Regards, > Shodan You can make as many jokes about Obama as you like, but when you make one about the color of his skin that’s racist. Get it? Fuck, I feel sorry for your kids. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/152 "2009-09-21T22:04:56Z")
> [@leander](#): > > You can make as many jokes about Obama as you like, but when you make one about the color of his skin that’s racist. Get it? The only flaw in your thinking is, no, it’s not. Feel free to insist otherwise, you politically correct little screamer, you. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/153 "2009-09-21T22:06:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The only flaw in your thinking is, no, it’s not. > > Feel free to insist otherwise, you politically correct little screamer, you. > > Regards, > Shodan So it’s okay if I make jokes about your house turning yellow? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/154 "2009-09-21T22:43:28Z")
> [@leander](#): > > You can make as many jokes about Obama as you like, but when you make one about the color of his skin that’s racist. Get it? > > Fuck, I feel sorry for your kids. For the fifth time, please define racism. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/155 "2009-09-21T22:46:13Z")
The bit about bombing after a few performances - not bad, there’s a chuckle or two there. The bit about turning the White House beige is just weird. If George W. Bush got a bad sunburn, would the White House turn pink? I am not finding the hilarity in this comedic setup. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/156 "2009-09-21T22:57:41Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > For the fifth time, please define racism. See, this is why I called you obtuse. The answer is in my quote. When you make jokes about the color of a person’s skin, that’s racist. ETA: And I’d also like you to answer the question: Is the joke about Shodan’s house turning yellow racist? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/157 "2009-09-21T23:10:05Z")
> [@leander](#): > > See, this is why I called you obtuse. The answer is in my quote. When you make jokes about the color of a person’s skin, that’s racist. That’s not a definition. It’s an example. Do you understand the difference? An example, by the way, that would make Chris Rock a racist. Is he? Is Steven Sondheim? > [@](#): > > ETA: And I’d also like you to answer the question: Is the joke about Shodan’s house turning yellow racist? I’d have to know the context. As you have presented it, it just seems stupid. Does he have Korean children? Who was he telling the joke to? What was the set-up? Things are not nearly as cut and dried as you seem to believe. A charge of racism is a serious one, in my mind, and one that should not be uttered without cause. So far, you have completely failed to back it up. You should be ashamed of yourself. Racism is a serious problem. Flinging these kind of false charges about just muddies the waters, and deflects from real incidents that need to be addressed. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/158 "2009-09-21T23:13:29Z")
Contra, you appear to be both stupid and obtuse. First, if you want a definition look it up in a dictionary. I’m not about to hold your hand. Second, read this entire thread if you want the context. It always boggles my mind when idiots jump in and make stupid ass comments without reading the entire thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/159 "2009-09-21T23:14:11Z")
I like how you’re trying to shame **leander** into stifling discussion. Seems to be the MO these days. “How _dare_ you, sir!” **Shodan** ’s joke was racist. Not horribly. Pretty mild as racism goes. Far as I can tell, Sondheim’s use of beige isn’t racist because he’s not linking it to the occupant’s skin color, but **Shodan** referenced it precisely because of that link. And yeah, Chris Rock can be kinda racist at times, although it’s hard to argue that when you talk about your own race. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537/160 "2009-09-21T23:23:17Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Contra, you appear to be both stupid and obtuse. First, if you want a definition look it up in a dictionary. I’m not about to hold your hand. I want \*your \*working definition. What dictionary should I use? And why did it take you so long to respond? > [@](#): > > Second, read this entire thread if you want the context. It always boggles my mind when idiots jump in and make stupid ass comments without reading the entire thread. I have read the entire thread. You have supplied no context whatsoever. [QUOTE=Bosstone] I like how you’re trying to shame leander into stifling discussion. Seems to be the MO these days. “How dare you, sir!” [/QUOTE] Stifling discussion? I’m practically begging him to engage. And you may want to check and see which one of us has resorted to name calling and _ad hominem_ atttacks. Typical tactics for one who has no argument and simply wants to stifle discussion, as you say. Here’s a hint. It isn’t me. > [@](#): > > Shodan’s joke was racist. Why? Can you do more than \*\*Leander \*\*and construct an argument that doesn’t simply repeat the same assertions over and over? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-shodan/510537.md?page=9)