# FEAR ME: I'm a Jew! or \*sigh\* WB strikes again **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 2, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008 "2001-10-02T18:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/21 "2001-10-02T19:17:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beelzebubba \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Otherwise, if I’m wrong, will members of the SDMB please start sending me money and women. Obviously, I’m naturally superior to you all and you should be happy to subsume your needs and desires to the greater glory of Chance. > > This could be material for the FOX special “When Jews Go Bad” > > \*\* [http://www.theonion.com/onion3110/foxdefends.html](http://www.theonion.com/onion3110/foxdefends.html) ---
**Author:** ![gtzaskar00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@gtzaskar00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gtzaskar00)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/22 "2001-10-02T19:31:22Z")
Those were definitely rhetorical questions, but you got the point. What most people would view as “positive” stereotypes are, IMO, just as harmful. I can’t say what would be offensive to someone else, or what should be. The continuing of “positive” stereotypes follows the same faulty thinking that continues “negative” stereotypes. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/23 "2001-10-02T19:32:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*Look at Sammy Davis Jr: he’s a credit to your people!"? > \*\* Hey, Sammy Davis is a credit to BOTH Jews and blacks. He’s the “Stereotyper’s Friend”. I dunno…WB’s post was one of those “Thanks, but…” ones. I don’t think it was intended to be hostile, but it still was kind of unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/24 "2001-10-02T19:38:21Z")
And if I may draw a simple example from the wonderful book _Confederates in the Attic_ by Tony Horwitz. While wandering around the south trying to connect with the leftover hard feelings from the Civil War he has dinner with a man. This man tells him that it’s the responsibility of the Anglo-Saxon race to always be on guard against Jews. Reason? Jews are naturally a superior race. Jews are smarter, better at business, more capable of applying themselves. Therefore they were the natural ‘master’ race (what a hell of a thing to apply to Jews) and if he and others weren’t constantly on guard Jews would end up ruling the world. Tony asked him if he’d ever actually met any Jews and the man said, “One”. Tony replied, “Well, now it’s two.” And that’s the type of thing this sort of ‘compliment’ sets of in me. I’m a Jew. I may be superior in some ways and inferior in others. But to claim it’s some sort of racial characteristic pisses me off. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/25 "2001-10-02T19:49:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*I’m a Jew. I may be superior in some ways and inferior in others. But to claim it’s some sort of racial characteristic pisses me off. \*\* Exactly! First, “Jew” (IMHO) ain’t a race, it’s a belief (or how do you explain my wonderful Sis-in-law, who’s a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, Scottish Jew?. You can’t convert into a race. Second, either way, it denigrates my hard-fought accomplishments and failures if everything I’ve done and am is because of my “race” and not my efforts. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/26 "2001-10-02T20:05:02Z")
OK, I understand now why even complimentary generalizations can be considered offensive. I saw them as merely stupid, but now I see how they can be seen as backhanded. What is you folk’s opinion on the widespread belief that Italians are good cooks? I find it hard to find anything backhanded about this (inferring that it implies gluttony, perhaps, but too much of a stretch IMHO). Right or wrong, can this be seen as offensive? I’m italian, and I don’t feel anything one way or another about this stereotype. Some of the people in my family are good cooks, others aren’t, and the rest I don’t know or care. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/27 "2001-10-02T20:08:23Z")
Maybe I’m just slow (hey, you in the back, shut up, ok?), but was **cuautemhoc** ’s post sarcastic, or a joke? Because if it wasn’t tongue-in-cheek, I’m a little worried that he thinks he’s not negatively stereotyping Poles! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/28 "2001-10-02T20:20:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EJsGirl \* > **Maybe I’m just slow (hey, you in the back, shut up, ok?), but was cuautemhoc’s post sarcastic, or a joke?** Hey! Whatareya, a dumb Polack? :ducks and runs: Yes, it was a joke. And rather well done. But I’m still confused what the WB has against Jews. Weren’t the Warner Brothers Jewish? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/29 "2001-10-02T20:24:00Z")
**EJ’sGirl** with this slower than snot computer, probably 15 people will come in and post that yea, the post about Poles was meant as a joke, but, I’ll do it anyhow. Yea, I read it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/30 "2001-10-02T20:26:48Z")
ok people listen up, because this is the last time I’m going to explain this. Judaism is **NOT** a race. It is a **RELIGION** You can convert to Judaism, but you can’t convert to a different race. Yes, you probably have met Jews before. We stopped wearing those little yellow stars about 60 years ago…THEY WERE GETTING US KILLED! We don’t run around introducing ourselves "Hi, I’m Miss Creant, Jew! Damn glad to meet you! We don’t run the (insert type of business here). Judaism is NOT, repeat NOT the only religion in Israel. Maybe there lines between “church and state” are a little blurred. Whenever you here a comment like **WB** makes, remove said ethnic group and insert your own. Then see what you think. Now go study Torah ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/31 "2001-10-02T20:31:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miss Creant \* > \*\*ok people listen up, because this is the last time I’m going to explain this. > Judaism is **NOT** a race. It is a **RELIGION** > You can convert to Judaism, but you can’t convert to a different race. > > Yes, you probably have met Jews before. We stopped wearing those little yellow stars about 60 years ago…THEY WERE GETTING US KILLED! We don’t run around introducing ourselves "Hi, I’m Miss Creant, Jew! Damn glad to meet you! > > We don’t run the (insert type of business here). > > Judaism is NOT, repeat NOT the only religion in Israel. > Maybe there lines between “church and state” are a little blurred. > > Whenever you here a comment like **WB** makes, remove said ethnic group and insert your own. Then see what you think. > > Now go study Torah \*\* Maybe there(should have read **their** ) lines between “church and state” are a little blurred See, we’re not that smart!;j ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/32 "2001-10-02T20:45:52Z")
Thank to **dropzone** and **wring** for the _Whoooosh_-control. **Revtim** , I’m also of Italian extraction. On the surface, the stereotype about being a good cook isn’t too bad, but even something as seemingly innocuous as that can easily get out of hand. If you’re not a cook, have you ever had someone ask your advice about cooking? “Hey **Revtim** , you’re Italian, right? Lasagna? Pasta e faziole? _Aht’sa SPICY Meatahball!!!_” If you are a cook, have you ever had someone just automatically _expect_ that you’ll be doing the cooking? (Neither of these things has ever happened to me, but I might be annoyed if they did). ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/33 "2001-10-02T21:28:15Z")
**drop** > [@](#): > > Weren’t the Warner Brothers Jewish? Nope. They’re puppy-headed things. And Dot’s just cute. **Miss Creant** and **Fenris** , point of order. Judaism is a religion, yes. But “jewish” refers to both adherents of the religion and those who share the common ethnic heritage based on that religion. Just as it’s possible to be religiously Jewish regardless of ethnicity (Sammy Davis Jr, for example), it’s also possible to be ethnically Jewish without practicing Judaism. I know several people who fit that description. :shrug: Perhaps they shouldn’t claim to be Jews if they don’t go to Temple? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/34 "2001-10-02T21:37:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andros \* > **Nope. They’re puppy-headed things. And Dot’s just cute.** These are not mutually exclusive. David Duchovny has shown you can be (half) Jewish and look like a basset hound. And **Miss Creant** is adorable AND Jewish. (Why, I oughta… 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/35 "2001-10-02T21:40:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andros \* > \*\ ***drop** > > > [@](#): > > > > Weren’t the Warner Brothers Jewish? > > Nope. They’re puppy-headed things. And Dot’s just cute. > **Miss Creant** and **Fenris** , point of order. > > Judaism is a religion, yes. But “jewish” refers to both adherents of the religion and those who share the common ethnic heritage based on that religion. > > Just as it’s possible to be religiously Jewish regardless of ethnicity (Sammy Davis Jr, for example), it’s also possible to be ethnically Jewish without practicing Judaism. I know several people who fit that description. > > :shrug: Perhaps they shouldn’t claim to be Jews if they don’t go to Temple? \*\* No, but you’re close. There’s a **WORLD** of difference between ETHNICITY and RACE. There a Jews in Yemen who have a totally different ethnic backround from myself, Caucasiod, of Eastern European Descent. Many of the Jews in Yemen are Negroid, (don’t start with me I’m using the anthropological terms here)and have never even heard of Pinsk. WB seems to believe that Jews are a race all their own. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/36 "2001-10-02T21:43:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miss Creant \* > **and have never even heard of Pinsk.** Not Minsk, either? I always liked that insult to one’s urbanity, “Where are you from, Minska-Pinska?” ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/37 "2001-10-02T21:43:43Z")
Why **Drop** , I bet you say that to all the Jewish Girls ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/38 "2001-10-02T21:46:10Z")
Actually, I do! It’s this genetic thing in me… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/39 "2001-10-02T21:47:44Z")
No, I’m not “close.” I’m right. _I_ have said nothing about race. > [@](#): > > **Jew** _noun_ > > 1. An adherent of Judaism as a religion or culture. > 2. A member of the widely dispersed people originally descended from the ancient Hebrews and sharing an ethnic heritage based on Judaism. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company.) If you’re pissed off at Bill, tell _him_. I’m just pointing out that “Jew” does not solely refer to a religion. (“I have a friend in Minsk, who has a friend in Pinsk . . .”) ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Creant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Miss\_Creant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Creant)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008/40 "2001-10-02T21:53:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andros \* > \*\*No, I’m not “close.” I’m right. _I_ have said nothing about race. > > > [@](#): > > > > **Jew** _noun_ > > > > 1. An adherent of Judaism as a religion or culture. > > 2. A member of the widely dispersed people originally descended from the ancient Hebrews and sharing an ethnic heritage based on Judaism. > > (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company.) > > If you’re pissed off at Bill, tell _him_. I’m just pointing out that “Jew” does not solely refer to a religion. > > (“I have a friend in Minsk, who has a friend in Pinsk . . .”) \*\* I give up. Wanna see my horns and tail? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-me-im-a-jew-or-sigh-wb-strikes-again/85008.md?page=3)