# Attention white people: ITS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Think. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 3, 2016, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036 "2016-02-03T06:55:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/441 "2016-02-10T15:46:45Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Your lack of response is what confirms it… Still waiting for your response about why you hate kittens. > [@](#): > > You haven’t seen one where I urge kitten-lovers not to get angry at the kitten-killers, either. Analogy fail. No, my analogy was correct. You’re confused about your own arguments. That said, I’ve never ever said that kitten-lovers shouldn’t be angry at kitten killers, or that nobody should be angry at racists, or sexists. That’s bullshit. > [@](#): > > I don’t hate kittens. I love kittens. Sorry, I don’t believe you. You have a pattern of hating kittens, after all - you’ve never once said you didn’t hate them, so that’s a pattern. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/442 "2016-02-10T15:46:55Z")
> [@Mithrander](#): > > Just so you know, if your goal is to convince everyone reading this thread that Lance is right, just keep posting shit like this. You’ve convinced me that he is right already. And you are…? And I should care because…? And you know what my goals are … how? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/443 "2016-02-10T15:48:16Z")
> [@Mithrander](#): > > Just so you know, if your goal is to convince everyone reading this thread that Lance is right, just keep posting shit like this. You’ve convinced me that he is right already. And here’s the deal. I could be toying with him and drawing this out of him just to troll him and make him look foolish. But I’m not. I really do hope he figures this out and the world is a better place for it. I have little hope for that, of course. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/444 "2016-02-10T15:49:30Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > And you know what my goals are … how? Your _pattern_, of course. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/445 "2016-02-10T15:58:30Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > That said, I’ve never ever said that[…] nobody should be angry at racists, or sexists. That’s bullshit. I didn’t say “nobody” or “never”, but you have, more than once, said that anger hurts the debate on racism and that anger puts off independents or fellow-travellers. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/446 "2016-02-10T15:59:34Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Your _pattern_, of course. **Mithrander** ’s your sock, is he? Because I was asking him, not you. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/447 "2016-02-10T16:03:06Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > And here’s the deal. I could be toying with him and drawing this out of him just to troll him and make him look foolish. But I’m not. I really do hope he figures this out and the world is a better place for it. I have little hope for that, of course. I just hope you two continue the back-and-forth for a hundred more pages. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m more riveted than the Eiffel Tower. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/448 "2016-02-10T16:05:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > And you are…? > > And I should care because…? I’m just a random person reading the thread, calling shit like I see it. If you care what other posters think, then I am providing my perspective. If you don’t care what other people think, why are you here? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/449 "2016-02-10T16:06:27Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I didn’t say “nobody” or “never”, but you have, more than once, said that anger hurts the debate on racism and that anger puts off independents or fellow-travellers. I didn’t say “all” anger. I thought it was pretty obvious that it’s okay to be angry at racism. Of course it is. What I actually said was far more nuanced than that. When you see someone say something as absurd as what you \*think \*I said - that one should never be angry at racism - it either means that person is a compete loon, or you misunderstood. At that point, your choice is to either assume he’s a loon, or try to find out. The fair way, and the best way to get to the truth and no make yourself look like a loon, is to try to find out. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/450 "2016-02-10T16:08:02Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I just hope you two continue the back-and-forth for a hundred more pages. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m more riveted than the Eiffel Tower. If it gets to 50 pages, I’m going to charge admission. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/451 "2016-02-10T16:13:47Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > I didn’t say “all” anger. Not All Angry Black Men! I get it. > [@](#): > > When you see someone say something as absurd as what you \*think \*I said - that one should never be angry at racism - it either means that person is a compete loon, or you misunderstood. Or you can’t read what you, yourself quoted… > [@](#): > > At that point, your choice is to either assume he’s a loon, or try to find out. The fair way, and the best way to get to the truth and no make yourself look like a loon, is to try to find out. “loon” at least moves away from all the “angry” imagery. Props for mixing it up, there… ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/452 "2016-02-10T16:31:51Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Not All Angry Black Men! I get it. No, you don’t even remotely get it. > [@](#): > > Or you can’t read what you, yourself quoted… No, you can’t. You’ve proven that. > [@](#): > > “loon” at least moves away from all the “angry” imagery. Props for mixing it up, there… For the fourth or fifth time, you have a right to be angry. But you just ignore it when I say things you agree with. It doesn’t fit your “pattern.” THAT is one thing that makes you a loon. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/453 "2016-02-10T16:44:44Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > For the fourth or fifth time, you have a right to be angry. Forget me - does Cousins have a right to be … let’s not say “Angry”, let’s say … upset? > [@](#): > > But you just ignore it when I say things you agree with. I’m happy to say when you say things I agree with. When you say them. > [@](#): > > It doesn’t fit your “pattern.” That’s outside the pattern, so doesn’t matter. Which pattern, I’ll re-iterate, is to show up criticising the tone of racial discussions (from one side) but not to otherwise substantially contribute to anti-racism on the Board. > [@](#): > > THAT is one thing that makes you a loon. Naah, looking like a much pointier duck is what makes me a loon… ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/454 "2016-02-10T17:01:30Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Forget me - does Cousins have a right to be … let’s not say “Angry”, let’s say … upset? Please refer me to what you are talking about with regard to Cousins, and I’ll answer. Sorry if you already did and I missed it. > [@](#): > > I’m happy to say when you say things I agree with. When you say them. Bullshit. I just did in this thread, and you dismissed it as a lie - because it didn’t fit your “pattern.” It’s called confirmation bias. > [@](#): > > Which pattern, I’ll re-iterate, is to show up criticising the tone of racial discussions (from one side) but not to otherwise substantially contribute to anti-racism on the Board. Like your pattern of not contributing to anti-kitten murder on the Board. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/455 "2016-02-10T17:23:29Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Like your pattern of not contributing to anti-kitten murder on the Board. This is not a reasonable comparison, in my view – there are lots and lots of threads on the Dope with Dopers making racist assertions; I’m unaware of any threads in which Dopers make pro-kitten-murder statements. You may have contributed to those threads opposing the racist assertions; I honestly don’t recall. If you have, it must not have stuck out to me. If you didn’t, that’s okay too, but it may cause some to wonder, if you’re interested in opposing racism, why you don’t do it in the threads in which people have said racist things. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/456 "2016-02-10T17:45:21Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is not a reasonable comparison, in my view – there are lots and lots of threads on the Dope with Dopers making racist assertions; I’m unaware of any threads in which Dopers make pro-kitten-murder statements. You arrived late. Earlier, MrDibble asserted the right to assume I’m a racist because he hasn’t seen me post anti-racist messages. I responded that I had never seen him post anti-kitten-murdering messages, so does that mean I can assume he approves of murdering kittens? > [@](#): > > You may have contributed to those threads opposing the racist assertions; I honestly don’t recall. If you have, it must not have stuck out to me. If you didn’t, that’s okay too, but it may cause some to wonder, if you’re interested in opposing racism, why you don’t do it in the threads in which people have said racist things. You may not make any conclusion whatsoever based on what you have NOT seen me write. However, I’m glad to explain, even if I don’t have to. I have indeed posted anti-racist messages. Unless you’ve read every single message I’ve posted ever, you can’t say you know I haven’t. But I rarely do, and that’s because others do a good job of that, and ignoring racists is sometimes the best policy, and also it’s boring to just call out racists. I’d rather explore the interesting issues. “Racism is wrong” is true, but hardly interesting. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/457 "2016-02-10T18:12:19Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > You arrived late. Earlier, MrDibble asserted the right to assume I’m a racist because he hasn’t seen me post anti-racist messages. I responded that I had never seen him post anti-kitten-murdering messages, so does that mean I can assume he approves of murdering kittens? > > You may not make any conclusion whatsoever based on what you have NOT seen me write. > > However, I’m glad to explain, even if I don’t have to. I have indeed posted anti-racist messages. Unless you’ve read every single message I’ve posted ever, you can’t say you know I haven’t. But I rarely do, and that’s because others do a good job of that, and ignoring racists is sometimes the best policy, and also it’s boring to just call out racists. I’d rather explore the interesting issues. “Racism is wrong” is true, but hardly interesting. That’s fine – even with my extreme distaste for it, I find the subject of racism very interesting because it’s had (and continues to have) such a profound effect on inequality. But not everyone’s going to find it as much “fun” to challenge racist assertions. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/458 "2016-02-10T19:31:48Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > You arrived late. Earlier, MrDibble asserted the right to assume I’m a racist I’ve done no such thing. Just because i think you’re a concern troll in anti-racist threads, doesn’t mean i think you’re a racist. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/459 "2016-02-10T19:32:57Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Please refer me to what you are talking about with regard to Cousins, and I’ll answer. Sorry if you already did and I missed it. RTFT. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/460 "2016-02-10T20:17:44Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I’ve done no such thing. Just because i think you’re a concern troll in anti-racist threads, doesn’t mean i think you’re a racist. Out of curiosity, I googled the term concern troll. The following description [from urban dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=concern+troll&defid=7118894) seemed to fit the way I’m seeing it used here. > [@Urban Dictionary](#): > > Supposedly, the idea is that the “concern troll” is actually an adherent of some other, opposing orthodoxy, disingenuously pretending to be sympathetic to the goals of the forum in order to disrupt it or sow dissent. Perhaps this actually happens (this longtime forum user is skeptical, having NEVER seen a clear example), but usually, the accusation comes from someone who can’t imagine honest disagreement with his or her favored ideology, and thus says more about the accuser than the accused. Basically it’s a bludgeon used by people with very black-and-white views on some topic, against anyone more nuanced than themselves. > > Accusing someone of being a concern troll is generally a bad idea. Even if you’re right about the “troll”'s motives, which you probably aren’t, that doesn’t make the “troll”'s arguments wrong; in other words, calling someone a concern troll is a basic ad hominem fallacy. The term is used to shut down, rather than to advance, discussion. So, MrDibble, if you can spare the time to respond with more than RTFT, is this what you mean by the term concern troll? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036.md?page=24)