# Apology for my insensetive comment in GQ. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 13, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573 "2004-11-13T16:36:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/21 "2004-11-14T03:15:05Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Must… resist… urge… to make joke… about Richard Park… Oh no, you better not go there. Nobody messes with my boy, Richard “The Yellow Dart” Park… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/22 "2004-11-14T04:42:55Z")
> [@Machetero](#): > > There is a oilfield supply company called REDMAN that was started by an INDIAN. Oh well, that makes racism all right then! Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/23 "2004-11-14T05:00:20Z")
Redman is a neutral term. I wouldn’t find it especially racist used by a white guy, black guy or Native American. Some people can be hyperbolic in their finding offense at any term, even innocuous ones. I once offended a moderator on another message board because I posted a joke about “Not pissing off Don Scalera” after he bounced somebody off the board for being an ass-- the one and only time I ever made reference to his Italian surname. He called me a racist. For using “Don?” I once edited a newletter called for my Americorps team called (not by me) Hard Corps. A volunteer was pretty peeved I refused to change the name because to her, it sounded like “hardcore” as in “hardcore pornography” and that I was an unwitting participant in the degradation of women. The person being offended can be off their rockers, **Q.E.D.** ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/24 "2004-11-14T05:02:36Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Actually, your calling me “smartass” cheered me up. Takes one to know one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/25 "2004-11-14T05:25:24Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > And we have a football team called the “Redskins”. Still offensive. Interesting. HBO’s _Real Sports_ did a spot on this. There are those Indians who are outspoken in their objections to these type of mascots and team names. There are also many, though not outspoken, who couldn’t care less. In fact, they mentioned a school on a reservation that named themselves ‘Redskins’. Not that I am advocating anything. It’s better, IMO, that we move away from these images. But there isn’t a _clear_ consensus amongst Indians about the offensiveness of the term. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/26 "2004-11-14T05:45:58Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > But do you think an Arab being offended at “towelhead” is as unreasonable as a Canadian being offended at “Canuck”? No, not at all. “Towel-head” is degrading, offensive, and also inaccurate to boot. Larry, theres lots of good black hockey players, in case you haven’t been watching. The best hockey player in the world right now - Jarome Iginla - is black (or half black, whatever.) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/27 "2004-11-14T05:56:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Larry, theres lots of good black hockey players, in case you haven’t been watching. I’m fully aware of that, man-- just playing with the stereotype and the NHL’s long history of institutionalized racism. (Which it’s worked hard to overcome.) ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/28 "2004-11-14T06:08:00Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Plus, you know, they don’t wear actual towels. Really? What _do_ they wear on their heads, then? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/29 "2004-11-14T06:13:29Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > Really? What _do_ they wear on their heads, then? [Google is your friend](http://www.traderscity.com/abcg/culture9.htm) > [@](#): > > With the Dishdashah men also wear a 3-piece head cover. The bottom piece of this head covering is a white cap that is sometimes filled with holes. This cap, called “Thagiyah”, is used to hold the hair in place. On top of the Thagiyah is a scarf-like head cover that comes in two types: a light, white head cover called “Gutrah” which is worn in summer, and a heavy red and white checked head cover called “Shumag” which is worn during winter. These head covers protect the head from direct sunlight and can be used to cover the mouth and the nose during sand storms or cold weather. On top of the Thagiyah and the Gutrah is the “Ogal”, which is a black band surrounding the top of the head to hold everything else in place. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/30 "2004-11-14T06:57:58Z")
:smack: Last time I throw you a straight line. But thanks for the info. ========== Improv scene from the Groundlings: “I can’t have chidlren, my ovaries don’t produce eggs.” “What _do_ they produce?” “First class mail. Oh, look, there goes one now.” \ ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/31 "2004-11-14T09:02:35Z")
You sure there’s not some common place term for the headgear Arafat always wore? We used to have one in our dress-up box that my parents brought back from their middle-east trips. I remember there was some relatively simple name for it that’s been on the tip of my tongue for years now… and it wasn’t “towel” ;). ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/32 "2004-11-14T09:58:56Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Oh well, that makes racism all right then! > > Sheesh. Palestinian is a race now? You hand-wringing leftists are behind in your memos. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/33 "2004-11-14T11:36:36Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > You sure there’s not some common place term for the headgear Arafat always wore? We used to have one in our dress-up box that my parents brought back from their middle-east trips. I remember there was some relatively simple name for it that’s been on the tip of my tongue for years now… and it wasn’t “towel” ;). Kaffiyeh? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/34 "2004-11-14T19:19:11Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Palestinian is a race now? You hand-wringing leftists are behind in your memos. Do you deliberately go out of your way to post moronic drivel to make yourself look like a sniveling jackass or are you honestly this fucking stupid? My comment was in response to **Machatero** ’s comment, itself discussing “Redskins” as a racist term for Native Americans, about how an “Indian” owns an oilfield company called “Redman.” I did not comment on Palestinians. To sum up, Go Fuck Yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/35 "2004-11-14T22:04:48Z")
And you can go fuck Amerigo Vespucci. Maybe you could help him slaughter some “Native Americans” or sell a couple hundred in Spain. Fucking leftist snot-nosed tit-sucker — even when you try to be oh-so-correcto, you select one of the Indian population’s most vicious conquerors to assuage your pathos. Dimwit. Take your pity and shove it up your Native Jacksonian ass. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/36 "2004-11-14T22:17:59Z")
Uh huh. Buh bye, Liberal. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/37 "2004-11-14T22:32:16Z")
**Otto** and **Liberal** Can you take this to the, er… oh. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/38 "2004-11-15T03:59:26Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > But do you think an Arab being offended at “towelhead” is as unreasonable as a Canadian being offended at “Canuck”? My personal opinion is that is isn’t. I’ve heard “Canuck” used as a neutral term pretty frequently, but I cannot think of “towelhead” ever used in a non-negative manner. Canuck is probably not so much a derogatory comment , that I or anyone else might be offended at , snowback , on the other hand , would probably offend. Declan ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/39 "2004-11-15T04:14:47Z")
**Lobsang** - I agree with your reasoning for posting an explanation with your apology. It makes it seem more sincere. Let’s suppose I said something like “Carthaginians are the stupidest, cheapest, laziest drunken bastards whoever walked the face of the Earth”. And then my apology was “I am sorry for saying 'Carthaginians are the stupidest, etc”. Seems really phony doesn’t it. Disclaimer: If there are any Carthaginians on the SDMB I was only using your ethnic group as an example. It’s only a few Carthaginians that ruin it for the vast majority of the “good ones”. As a matter of fact I can proudly say that some of my best friends are Carthaginians. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573/40 "2004-11-15T04:54:05Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > As a matter of fact I can proudly say that some of my best friends are Carthaginians. 😃 You mean little punks like [Hamilcar Bolger](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5495139&postcount=20)? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apology-for-my-insensetive-comment-in-gq/274573.md?page=3)