# Dog Whistles **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 25, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898 "2016-07-25T23:06:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/41 "2016-07-27T00:40:50Z")
😕 Local to South Carolina? To Texas? To New York? I think of New York values as being helpful to strangers on the subway, since it’s easy to get lost there, paying way more in taxes than they ever get back from the Feds or the state and still voting for the party that’s likely to raise taxes higher still, and knowing how to order lunch when you get to the front of the line, then getting out of the way. That’s probably what Cruz meant. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/42 "2016-07-27T00:44:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, I am doubtful. It’s a local term. Really? 1. Local to where? 2. What exactly does it mean? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/43 "2016-07-27T01:52:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, I am doubtful. It’s a local term. That’s kinda the point, bro. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/44 "2016-07-27T03:14:05Z")
> [@DonLogan](#): > > That’s correct. > > “States Rights” = “Fucking Niggers!” > > “Immigration” = “Fucking Mexicans!” > > “Politically Correct” = “Fucking Mexicans and Niggers!” > > “Religious Freedom” = “Fucking Homos!” You’re hearing more of this dog whistle than the dogs themselves are. Maybe you’re a fruit bat? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/45 "2016-07-27T09:31:35Z")
I was in the park the other day when I saw a woman raise a silver metal object to her lips, and blow through it. Dogs came running. As I hadn’t heard anything myself, I concluded that she didn’t have a dog whistle. In fact, I went further: I concluded that dog whistles didn’t exist. She sure was surrounded by a lot of excited dogs though. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/46 "2016-07-27T09:42:32Z")
At that exact moment, I was struck by lightning while eating my hot dog, and developed the ability to speak to dogs. So I asked them “Did you hear that dog whistle?” They said, “What’s a dog whistle?” I said, “It’s a signal that is almost impossible to pick up unless you’re part of the specific audience it’s intended for.” They said, “No, haven’t heard any of those.” “We did hear a normal whistle though. It was very loud and clear.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/47 "2016-07-27T16:53:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Really? > > 1. Local to where? > 2. What exactly does it mean? What’s a “New York Minute”? isn’t a minute the same in NYC as the rest of the world? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/48 "2016-07-27T16:57:21Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > I was in the park the other day when I saw a woman raise a silver metal object to her lips, and blow through it. Dogs came running. > > As I hadn’t heard anything myself, I concluded that she didn’t have a dog whistle. In fact, I went further: I concluded that dog whistles didn’t exist. > > She sure was surrounded by a lot of excited dogs though. Weird. But you see, in the present case of political Dog whistles, it’d be the _Dogs_ sit around doing nothing and some human who saw her blow her whistle would complain she is a specieist for using such a racist tool of subjugation. Again, the expected targets of a Political Dog whistle can _never_ seem to hear them, while the opponents are very quick to proclaim\* they\* heard RACISM clearly. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/49 "2016-07-27T17:17:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What’s a “New York Minute”? isn’t a minute the same in NYC as the rest of the world? A New York minute means that something happens quickly, because everything in NY happens quickly. What do New York Values mean? What locale is it local to? I don’t think you’re really arguing in good faith here, so I’m backing out now. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/50 "2016-07-27T17:19:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But you see, in the present case of political Dog whistles, it’d be the _Dogs_ sit around doing nothing and some human who saw her blow her whistle would complain she is a specieist for using such a racist tool of subjugation. > > Again, the expected targets of a Political Dog whistle can _never_ seem to hear them, while the opponents are very quick to proclaim\* they\* heard RACISM clearly. :dubious: In your second paragraph, I think you’re wondering why someone wouldn’t declare their agreement with the racist subtext of some political statement. That would be because racists tend to be looked down upon, in case you weren’t sure why. OK, now I’m really backing out. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/51 "2016-07-27T17:22:51Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > A New York minute means that something happens quickly, because everything in NY happens quickly. What do New York Values mean? What locale is it local to? > > I don’t think you’re really arguing in good faith here, so I’m backing out now. In fairness to the OP, it’s hard to argue for dogwhistles in this cycle since people seemed to have abandoned them in favor of bullhorns and whoopie cushions. If anyone’s been attempting to hide their racism, I sure can’t tell. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/52 "2016-07-27T18:13:05Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You are David Duke?:dubious: > > Again, give me an example of a dogwhistle **meant for you** _that you heard._ > > No one seems to be able to do this. I cannot do this because there is no need for politicians to try and hide messages that would appeal to me. I do understand that language directed towards me may be tempered by political considerations, but unlike appealing to racists and the like, the core messages and positions themselves directed towards me do not need to be hidden. To claim coded language doesn’t exist is preposterous. To try and support the claim because one group of people do not use coded language is absurd. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/53 "2016-07-27T18:14:15Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > A New York minute means that something happens quickly, because everything in NY happens quickly. What do New York Values mean? What locale is it local to? > > I don’t think you’re really arguing in good faith here, so I’m backing out now. Really? Minutes in NYC are shorter than Alaska or Arizona? What it means to many is that New Yorkers are always in a hurry. Since he didnt \*say \*"New York Values’ mean anything more derogatory than a "New York Minute’ assuming so is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/54 "2016-07-27T18:16:22Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > In your second paragraph, I think you’re wondering why someone wouldn’t declare their agreement with the racist subtext of some political statement. That would be because racists tend to be looked down upon, in case you weren’t sure why. > > . We have had admitted racists and even pedophiles here. But how about someone who still is part of that culture? Besides , what you seem to be saying is that \*all Dog whistles are racist. \* ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/55 "2016-07-27T18:20:39Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I don’t think you’re really arguing in good faith here, so I’m backing out now. I think his posts following yours pretty much prove your point, and I’m out also. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/56 "2016-07-27T18:26:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think his posts following yours pretty much prove your point, and I’m out also. Likewise. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/57 "2016-07-27T18:32:38Z")
So, you got nuthin, then? OK. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/58 "2016-07-27T18:34:13Z")
Somehow I have the feeling that **DrDeth** is reading some other thread and posting responses in this one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/59 "2016-07-27T18:38:42Z")
This entire thread is a waste of time. We all know what dogwhistles are, the rest is just semantics and gotcha attempts. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898/60 "2016-07-27T18:44:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > This entire thread is a waste of time. We all know what dogwhistles are, the rest is just semantics and gotcha attempts. We do? It seems to be it’s always the “other guy” that uses dog whistles, and it seem to be just a way of saying “that guy is racist, see, because he used a secret coded message in his speech”. There are supposedly liberal dog whistles, however. 1. No one here has been able to say that as the intended audience they heard one. 2. No one has been able to point to a _clear_ use of one. They are as real as the Invisible Pink Unicorn and for the exact same reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistles/760898.md?page=4)