# 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:** 4
**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 3, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/61 "2016-02-03T18:59:23Z")
> [@piepiepie](#): > > Oh man. I’m so glad I get emails on updates to my subscribed threads. This is what you originally said: > > Fuck you, you racist piece of shit. :eek: **Tithonus** , did you really post that? If so, why, and why did you change it? ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/62 "2016-02-03T19:05:27Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > :eek: > > **Tithonus** , did you really post that? If so, why, and why did you change it? Why did he post it? Because he’s a trolling piece of racist excrement. Why change it? Because it’s harder to troll this board when you show your true colors. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/63 "2016-02-03T19:09:47Z")
Jesus. That’s what people like **pie** are talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/64 "2016-02-03T19:14:08Z")
Hoo-boy, I’ve dug a little hole here. Perhaps I should explain myself. First of all “Flinging shit about like a frenzied ape” is simply my go-to simile to describe posters who are, in my opinion, just piling insults and snark onto other posters without substantiating themselves. I’ve used it several times in other threads and not once have I given a single thought to its potential racial connotations. Given the subject of this thread especially, that’s pretty damn stupid. So for that, I sincerely apologise. Lest we forget, I did immediately delete the post the second I made it because I realised it crossed the line. To be clear, it wasn’t the “frenzied ape” part I reconsidered, but the c word. It wasn’t until **piepiepie’s** retort that the racial connotations of the simile dawned on me. I won’t be using it again. That said, I found his/her treatment of **Novelty Bobble** (ie “You’re an idiot but I’m so superior I’m not going to deign to explain why”) intensely irritating. That kind of behaviour always gets to me, no matter who does it. That’s just an explanation, not an excuse. I overreacted in a very inappropriate way without even realising just how inappropriate I was being. I’m just going to bow out of this thread before I make an even bigger ass of myself. Apologies once again. ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/65 "2016-02-03T19:25:06Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Hoo-boy, I’ve dug a little hole here. Perhaps I should explain myself. > > First of all “Flinging shit about like a frenzied ape” is simply my go-to simile to describe posters who are, in my opinion, just piling insults and snark onto other posters without substantiating themselves. I’ve used it several times in other threads and not once have I given a single thought to its potential racial connotations. Given the subject of this thread especially, that’s pretty damn stupid. So for that, I sincerely apologise. > > Lest we forget, I did immediately delete the post the second I made it because I realised it crossed the line. To be clear, it wasn’t the “frenzied ape” part I reconsidered, but the c word. It wasn’t until **piepiepie’s** retort that the racial connotations of the simile dawned on me. I won’t be using it again. > > That said, I found his/her treatment of **Novelty Bobble** (ie “You’re an idiot but I’m so superior I’m not going to deign to explain why”) intensely irritating. That kind of behaviour always gets to me, no matter who does it. That’s just an explanation, not an excuse. > > I overreacted in a very inappropriate way without even realising just how inappropriate I was being. I’m just going to bow out of this thread before I make an even bigger ass of myself. Apologies once again. You should know that I’m not really interested in entertaining your apology. And in case you didn’t realize through all of my snark, I’m black. I’m a woman too, so thanks for calling me a cunt as well as an ape. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/66 "2016-02-03T19:27:25Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > For some reason, some white people forget the significance of February 1st more than they figure out it is April Fool’s Day after they realize news their dog died was a cruel prank: > > [http://www.sacbee.com/sports/article57856573.html](http://www.sacbee.com/sports/article57856573.html) > > A friggin’ MONKEY on a tee-shirt for a almost all black basketball team, ON the first (or second, does it matter) day of Black History Month? Of course, it took a black Sacramento Kings player to point out just how this might be POSSIBLY taken the wrong way, because Im sure no white player or staff member thought twice of it. > > I know, I know, throughout middle America theres millions of racist white trash or old people screaming “FOR GODS SAKES, YOU cant say ANYTHING any more!!!” > > Really? I don’t know, I cant believe in the entire tee-shirt decision making chain at the Sacramento Kings, not ONE white person didn’t think----gee, in a 90% black league, I wonder how putting a monkey on a tee shirt might be seen as offensive . . . . .and better yet, one even remembered the significance of February to black Americans. > > In other words, theres a SLIGHT chance this was intentional, and some white person sub-conciously allowed these tee shirts to be printed. If not, then this demonstrates our ignorance of this month, and maybe its time for a little re-education and awareness for all of us white people on how we need to show a little more sensitivity towards other races and cultures. > > This isn’t the first time this type of BHM “blunder” happened in sports: > > [http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25069242/eagles-not-our-fault-riley-cooper-is-on-our-calendar-for-black-history-month](http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25069242/eagles-not-our-fault-riley-cooper-is-on-our-calendar-for-black-history-month) > > No denial, no 6-figure costing pulling of the calendars by the franchise, worth over a billion dollars in market value by the way. The lily white Eagles front office just shrugged, and said, hey its not OUR problem a player that used the N word JUST HAPPENS to be the player featured in February. Its the CALENDAR MAKERS FAULT. > > Lets see, theres 12 months in a year. Theres 53 players on a NFL roster. Therefore, about one out of 4 makes the calendar. > > Lets assume Cooper was one of the top 12 players for the Eagles that year (something, as a sports fan, I dispute BTW). > > 12 players x 12 months = 144 various month/player combinations. AMAZINGLY, Riley Cooper gets paired with February. > > Coincidence? Or some white smart-ass working for the calendar company, angry at all the controversy surrounding Riley Cooper and how he as a white man, is being told be cant use the N word, decided to sneak this in hoping no one will notice his underhanded insult. > > And there fact that no white person in the entire calendar making chain noticed this? > > Give me a break. Zoos better hide their primates this month. Maybe a trigger warning would suffice? ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/67 "2016-02-03T19:34:38Z")
> [@piepiepie](#): > > You should know that I’m not really interested in entertaining your apology. And in case you didn’t realize through all of my snark, I’m black. I’m a woman too, so thanks for calling me a cunt as well as an ape. I can’t blame you. All I can do is reiterate that the racial connotations of my previous post were genuinely unintentional. I’m genuinely sorry and I feel pretty disgusted with myself about being so thoughtless. And, obviously, the c-word crossed the line too. You are, of course, under no obligation to accept my apology but, for what little it’s worth, it remains on offer unconditionally and in perpetuity. ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/68 "2016-02-03T19:42:22Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > I can’t blame you. All I can do is reiterate that the racial connotations of my previous post were genuinely unintentional. I’m genuinely sorry and I feel pretty disgusted with myself about being so thoughtless. And, obviously, the c-word crossed the line too. You are, of course, under no obligation to accept my apology but, for what little it’s worth, it remains on offer unconditionally and in perpetuity. I’ll get over it by tomorrow. What you said was awful, and maybe that’s why it was smart for the Kings to pull the shirt 😉 (You deleted but I agree with you about taking a break from posting, btw. I’ve been considering that myself.) ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/69 "2016-02-03T19:49:05Z")
> [@piepiepie](#): > > I’ll get over it by tomorrow. What you said was awful, and maybe that’s why it was smart for the Kings to pull the shirt 😉 > > (You deleted but I agree with you about taking a break from posting, btw. I’ve been considering that myself.) The pit is meant to be a nasty place. I don’t like PC ness in general. I don’t like symbols and words being forbidden. It’s far too 1984ish for my sensibilities. My thoughts about this monkey shirt are that in time this faux over sensitivity is going to lead to ridicule and dismissal of the very concept of PC. Do you think that’s a desirable outcome? In other words fight the right fights and people wouldn’t think this was so silly. ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/70 "2016-02-03T19:51:33Z")
The pit is not meant for a black person to be called a frenzied ape, even if the poster edited it out. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/71 "2016-02-03T19:52:51Z")
> [@piepiepie](#): > > You should know that I’m not really interested in entertaining your apology. And in case you didn’t realize through all of my snark, I’m black. I’m a woman too, so thanks for calling me a cunt as well as an ape. In all fairness. he didn’t call you an ape. He said all you had done is fling shit like a frenzied ape. Would you have rather said like a shit flinging machine? I don’t see that he was intending a racial slur in that. I had no idea you were black, or female. Frankly race, gender, orientation, religion, etc. is not important on the dope. Most members don’t find it necessary to qualify people on anything other than what they post. The ‘c’ word was inappropriate, but it’s the pit, and it was immediately removed. You’re bound to be called names if you post here. He saw what he’d done, and did his best to correct it. Most people filter things that might be offensive to other cultures, etc, out of their posts, but it’s not required in this forum. Shit slips by, especially unintentional shit. I’m questioning your motives more than his here. He’s apologized for \*unintentionally \*offending you. It appeared quite genuine to me. Not accepting it makes you look like you’re trying to be an internet martyr, and I don’t think that’s who you are. Let it go. ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/72 "2016-02-03T19:58:32Z")
When in doubt, semantics your way out. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/73 "2016-02-03T19:59:01Z")
> [@piepiepie](#): > > The pit is not meant for a black person to be called a frenzied ape, even if the poster edited it out. I’m not an ape caller, but if I were I wouldn’t hold back based on color. That’d be discriminatory! ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/74 "2016-02-03T19:59:17Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Hello there **Mr Bubble** … > You need to shut up, your ignorance is showing Norvern monkeys havin’ a row. That’d make a good T-shirt… ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/75 "2016-02-03T19:59:38Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > In all fairness. he didn’t call you an ape. He said all you had done is fling shit like a frenzied ape. Would you have rather said like a shit flinging machine? I don’t see that he was intending a racial slur in that. > > I had no idea you were black, or female. Frankly race, gender, orientation, religion, etc. is not important on the dope. Most members don’t find it necessary to qualify people on anything other than what they post. > The ‘c’ word was inappropriate, but it’s the pit, and it was immediately removed. You’re bound to be called names if you post here. He saw what he’d done, and did his best to correct it. Most people filter things that might be offensive to other cultures, etc, out of their posts, but it’s not required in this forum. Shit slips by, especially unintentional shit. > > I’m questioning your motives more than his here. He’s apologized for \*unintentionally \*offending you. It appeared quite genuine to me. \*\* Not accepting it makes you look like you’re trying to be an internet martyr, and I don’t think that’s who you are. Let it go. \*\* (bolding mine) I beg to differ. ---
**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 3, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/76 "2016-02-03T20:05:18Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > In all fairness. he didn’t call you an ape. He said all you had done is fling shit like a frenzied ape. Would you have rather said like a shit flinging machine? I don’t see that he was intending a racial slur in that. > > I had no idea you were black, or female. Frankly race, gender, orientation, religion, etc. is not important on the dope. Most members don’t find it necessary to qualify people on anything other than what they post. > The ‘c’ word was inappropriate, but it’s the pit, and it was immediately removed. You’re bound to be called names if you post here. He saw what he’d done, and did his best to correct it. Most people filter things that might be offensive to other cultures, etc, out of their posts, but it’s not required in this forum. Shit slips by, especially unintentional shit. > > I’m questioning your motives more than his here. He’s apologized for \*unintentionally \*offending you. It appeared quite genuine to me. Not accepting it makes you look like you’re trying to be an internet martyr, and I don’t think that’s who you are. Let it go. The double 'splain! Whitesplaining and mansplaining in a single post! Not that I’m sure you’re either white or a man… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/77 "2016-02-03T20:10:48Z")
> [@piepiepie](#): > > Fuck you, you racist piece of shit. [Moderating] **piepiepie** , saying “fuck you” to other posters is a violation of the Pit’s language rules. Please avoid this in the future. **Tithonus** , likewise on the word “cunt.” No warnings issued all around. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/78 "2016-02-03T20:14:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The double 'splain! Whitesplaining and mansplaining in a single post! Not that I’m sure you’re either white or a man… The White Apes are a feared race of semi-intelligent, gorilla-like monsters who inhabit the wilds of Barsoom. (and Barrooms too, I’m sure) Like a shit flinging white ape from Barsoom, but that’s piss off the whites. Maybe he should have said Giant Asian Ape, it’s extinct, but that still might have pissed off a few Asians. Or perhaps De Loys’ Ape, but that would piss off the South American members. European apes? They are extinct but I’m betting there will be a few from the EU who would be offended. Antarctic ape? Shit, there’s even an Antartic ape. maybe that’s the one to use from now on. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/79 "2016-02-03T20:17:02Z")
There have been no protest marches over this. No angry bullhorn-shouting about it. No one calling for boycotts. No rioting. No black folks calling any white folks “racist” because of this. But people in this thread are convinced that there is “black outrage”. One black person expresses a opinion and his employers care enough to actually listen to it (as they should), and this gives people license to yet again shit on “the blacks”. People don’t need much of a reason to engage in this favorite pastime, I guess. **piepie** , you are a better woman than me. ---
**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 3, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036/80 "2016-02-03T20:17:51Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The White Apes are a feared race of semi-intelligent, gorilla-like monsters who inhabit the wilds of Barsoom. (and Barrooms too, I’m sure) > > Like a shit flinging white ape from Barsoom, but that’s piss off the whites. Maybe he should have said Giant Asian Ape, it’s extinct, but that still might have pissed off a few Asians. Or perhaps De Loys’ Ape, but that would piss off the South American members. European apes? They are extinct but I’m betting there will be a few from the EU who would be offended. Antarctic ape? Shit, there’s even an Antartic ape. maybe that’s the one to use from now on. No, like he said, he should have avoided simian similes (band name!) in a thread about monkey imagery during BHM. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-white-people-its-black-history-month-think/745036.md?page=5)