# Fuck You Visa You Damn Racist Motherfuckers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 26, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807 "2002-11-26T01:44:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/61 "2002-11-26T13:53:35Z")
What I imagine happened - and the OP is, of course, welcome to correct this if it’s indeed a misapprehension - is that he didn’t realize the two men were twins, and disregarded the fact that they actually look alike out of a horror at potentially perpetuating a “they all look alike” racial stereotype. I think this heightened sensitivity to stereotyping is a bad thing. It’s better, I suppose, than embracing stereotyping, but I contend it would be better to simply treat people as people, regardless of their race. With that mindest, I believe a neutral observer would have watched that commercial and said, “She’s got a point – those two _do_ look a lot alike!” I believe the OP rejected the idea that they look alike, not because they do not, but because he or she wanted desperately not to be the stereotypical purveyor of “they all look alike.” In other words, stereotypes or not… sometimes, they do look alike. And if they do actually look alike, it’s perfectly OK to say that they do actually look alike. And if they don’t, then say that they don’t. Regardless of the race that “they” belong to. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![super\_head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@super\_head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/super_head)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/62 "2002-11-26T14:28:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eidolon909 \* > I agree. They need to protect us. From _The Terrible Secret of Space_. No, no, from [Robots That Attack Old People](http://www.robotcombat.com/video_oldglory_hi.html) - and that’s why we have Old Glory Insurance. And, additionally, [according](http://www.nfl.com/insider/2001/barbertwins_092201.html) to the twins, they **are** identical: > [@](#): > > Produced from a single egg, bearing the same strands of DNA, the twins truly are identical. Their heads are shaved clean, their bodies free of tattoos. Ronde says he has a distinguishing birthmark on his elbow, though it is virtually impossible to see. There is a slightly more nasal tone to Tiki’s voice, but it’s subtle. Each is 5 feet 10 inches tall. Only when they remove their shirts do you notice the 15 pounds Tiki put on in college to improve his durability. All their lives, people have been mistaking one for the other, and neither seems to care. > > “If they didn’t have a clue, I wouldn’t even tell them,” says Tiki, the New York Giants’ running back. ---
**Author:** ![Reuben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/54ee81/32.png) [@Reuben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reuben)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/63 "2002-11-26T14:44:51Z")
I guess this is what happens when your personal sense of right and wrong is not a product of your own god-given intellect, but is instead a blind acceptance of the ‘values’ of the day. I am certain that in making his post the OPer wanted nothing more than to advertise his own sensitivity to racial ‘issues’. Any real concern for blacks about the effects of racism in Visa’s advertising came a distant second to that. There is considerable schadenfreude from watching the architect of such plastic and _dishonest_ emotion come a cropper. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/64 "2002-11-26T15:52:25Z")
I told my husband about this thread. He asked, “Didn’t he catch the part at the beginning where one said, ‘Mom will really like this’?” I’m thinking the OP didn’t pay very close attention to the commercial at all, because there were clues everywhere… ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/65 "2002-11-26T15:58:08Z")
The biggest clue being that the two people really did _look alike_! ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/66 "2002-11-26T16:16:56Z")
Wait wait _wait!_ Now, _I_ noticed these guys looked alike, but they’re _black???_ ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/67 "2002-11-26T16:32:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by reprise \* > \*\*Iwatched _Rated X_ on the weekend and it’s damn **spooky** how alike Charlie and Emilio look in that movie. \*\* Not suprising since they are brothers. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/68 "2002-11-26T16:36:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Canadians are the ones saying “aboot” all the time. 😉 \*\* So are those damn people from MN The dirty dirty hippies! (Ahh 4 years of college there… I never did understand the whole soda thing) ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/69 "2002-11-26T17:51:17Z")
I was told yesterday that I sound as though I’m from Minnesota. I don’t say aboot, and I say ‘pop’. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/70 "2002-11-26T21:43:14Z")
Its just this kind of hysterical reaction to all things involving race that keeps racism alive and well. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/71 "2002-11-26T22:44:28Z")
It’s a good thing Visa didn’t go with the original version of the commercial where, right after the scene at the cash register, the two brothers shoplift some malt liquor and then get chased by security. The woman at the register runs after them, yelling “Schnell! Schnell!” ---
**Author:** ![apotheosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba8739/32.png) [@apotheosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apotheosis)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/72 "2002-11-26T22:47:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Giraffe \* > \*\*The woman at the register runs after them, yelling “Schnell! Schnell!” \*\* Why’s she telling them to hurry? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/73 "2002-11-26T22:51:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by apotheosis \* > \*\*Why’s she telling them to hurry? 😕 \*\* That’s the condensed version of the ad, shortened for time contraints. The origional has her yelling “Don’t schnell!! _Don’t_ schnell!” ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/74 "2002-11-26T22:51:43Z")
Because it’s the only German word I know. German guards are always running around yelling “Schell! Schell!” in movies. [sub]Besides, maybe she’s yelling at the security guards?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![apotheosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba8739/32.png) [@apotheosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apotheosis)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/75 "2002-11-26T23:07:56Z")
What about “Schweinhund?” That was always a good one. “Ach! Der Himmel! Shtop, Schweinhund!” Everything I know about German, I learned from Captain America. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/76 "2002-11-26T23:20:02Z")
Schlitz! Schlitz! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/77 "2002-11-27T03:57:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asylum \* > \*\*Slightly off topic, but I recall reading a study where people of one ethnic group had trouble telling individuals of another ethnic group apart. IIRC had to do with the brain focusing on characteristics that it found to the most different for memorizing faces or something and skin color is definitely one of the most distinguishing characteristics of a person. There may have been a bit about exposure lessening or nullifying the effect but I’m kinda sketchy on the details and a quick google didn’t turn up anything on the study. > > In effect what the study said was that people of a given ethnic group don’t look alike, just that people of a different ethnic group may have trouble telling the difference. > > \*\* This whole thread is reminding me of an SNL sketch from the early '90s. (This is not going to be a perfect transcription, but I remember the gist of it.) Jason Alexander was the host, and in the sketch, he was introduced to Chris Rock, then left the room. While he was away, Rock left and Tim Meadows came in. Alexander came back and mistook Meadows for Rock because they were wearing the same kind of hat. Meadows was offended and pointed out that he had a “D” shaved into his hairline. Alexander promised he would never make that mistake again, then left the room again. In his absence, Meadows left and Rock came back with Ellen Cleghorne, and shaved a “D” into her hairline. Alexander returned and greeted who he thought was Meadows; Cleghorne was greatly offended. Meadows came back again, and Alexander faced all three of them, listing their names and swearing he would never get them wrong again. Then he left the room yet again, just in time for a notary to arrive and tell all three that their African names had been registered. They were overjoyed, and declared that they would never again let anyone address them by their “American” names. Alexander came back and was just about to greet all three by their now-defunct names, and David Spade averted disaster by tripping the fire alarm. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/78 "2002-11-27T03:59:57Z")
Have you ever noticed that twins tend to be slightly better looking than “unies”, as well? And I’m not basing this on celebrity twins, but those I’ve knows. Isn’t life unfair enough? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/79 "2002-12-02T21:07:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Buck The Diver \* > \*\*😕 > What does football have to do with them being twins? \*\* Yeah, the Twins are a baseball team! ---
**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:** [December 2, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807/80 "2002-12-02T21:39:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Gorgon Heap: \*\*Wait wait _wait!_ Now, _I_ noticed these guys looked alike, but they’re _black???_ I hate to admit it, but I had no idea that Colin Powell was black until Harry Belafonte made that unfortunate comment. Don’t get me wrong-- I’m not saying that all Republicans look alike to me… in fact, some of my _best friends_ are Republican. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-visa-you-damn-racist-motherfuckers/138807.md?page=5)