# "Guess Who" double standard? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 30, 2005, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924 "2005-03-30T10:12:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drgnrdr07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@drgnrdr07](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drgnrdr07)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/1 "2005-03-30T10:12:34Z")
I don’t know what is wrong with people. I am talking about the movie, Guess Who. I actually haven’t seen the movie but just from the trailers I can see that the whole movie will be one big ball of stereotyping and bigotry. Just from one of the parts of the trailer I can tell the tone of the whole movie. The part where Ashton is in the house with his girlfriend’s family, a black woman walks in, sees Ashton and exclaims that they must be getting audited. Can you imagine if the tables had been turned? Imagine it was a white family with a black boyfriend and someone saw him and exclaimed that they must be getting robbed. I haven’t heard one peep out of anyone on this and it makes me wonder if it is because people either don’t notice or don’t care. Is there a double standard when it comes to generalizations? ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/2 "2005-03-30T10:15:53Z")
The black version’s already been done in **Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?**. That could be a big part of it. ---
**Author:** ![drgnrdr07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@drgnrdr07](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drgnrdr07)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/3 "2005-03-30T10:26:02Z")
I understand that people were more tolerent of racism in the past but that doesn’t make it correct to do the same thing now (or then for that matter). ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/4 "2005-03-30T11:24:19Z")
> [@drgnrdr07](#): > > Imagine it was a white family with a black boyfriend and someone saw him and exclaimed that they must be getting robbed. I did. Everyone turned into ice cream. Is that what was supposed to happen? > [@](#): > > I haven’t heard one peep out of anyone on this and it makes me wonder if it is because people either don’t notice or don’t care. Is there a double standard when it comes to generalizations? Maybe everyone else has actually seen the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/5 "2005-03-30T11:41:50Z")
I haven’t seen many trailers for _Guess Who?_ so I’m not going to comment (the mere fact that it contains Ashton Kutcher is enough to make me content to wait until it comes out on STARZ!, and then only if there’s no _Cosby Show_ reruns on). I would like to point out, though, that _Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?_ was not a comedy, did not employ racist stereotypes, and contained actors who had talent. From [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061735/): > [@](#): > > Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn play a couple whose attitudes are challenged when their daughter brings home a fiance who is black. One of my favorite movies. Please don’t compare Ashton Kutcher to Sidney Poitier. It’s like comparing really stupid apples to oranges. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/6 "2005-03-30T12:47:19Z")
> [@](#): > > _Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?_ was not a comedy Yes it was. Tracy and Hepburn together in a [_sotto voce_] **SERIOUS DRAMA** [_/sotto voce_] **?** It did have a serious point–to challenge the prevalent racism of the day–but to claim it was not a comedy is silly. (Look at the _first_ category that IMDb places it in.) Similarly, the current movie is probably an attempt to just turn the roles inside out, perhaps even demonstrating that blacks have achieved sufficient success to face their own prejudices. Now, I don’t know that it will work with the broad comedy for which Bernie Mac is known and the movie may be played strictly for laughs (successfully or unsuccessfully), but the first one clearly was comedy and I doubt that the remake is really all that racist as opposed to just broadly satirical. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/7 "2005-03-30T13:19:43Z")
I don’t think you’re intending to dismiss the importance of _Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?_, **Tom** , but your post could be read that way. It was nominated for 10 Oscars, and I think it’s safe to say the current version is unlikely to garner even faint attention from the Academy. And I’m with **Marlitharn**. Comparing Ashton Kutcher to Sidney Poitier makes my brain hurt. I’m not aware of any films of the caliber of _Dude, Where’s My Car?_ in Sidney’s filmography. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/8 "2005-03-30T13:49:58Z")
> [@drgnrdr07](#): > > Just from one of the parts of the trailer I can tell the tone of the whole movie. The part where Ashton is in the house with his girlfriend’s family, a black woman walks in, sees Ashton and exclaims that they must be getting audited. Let me get this straight. A _character_ in the movie makes a comment that plays on racial stereotypes and we’re supposed to be all in an uproar? Seriously, dude, get the fuck over yourself. > [@](#): > > Can you imagine if the tables had been turned? Imagine it was a white family with a black boyfriend and someone saw him and exclaimed that they must be getting robbed. Yeah, because _that’s_ never happened in a movie before. If the commercials for _Guess Who_ have got you all in a snit, please, for the love of all that’s holy do NOT watch _Bringing Down the House_ with Queen Latifah\*. \*[sub]Mostly because it sucked, but my point still stands.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/9 "2005-03-30T14:11:41Z")
> [@drgnrdr07](#): > > Just from one of the parts of the trailer I can tell the tone of the whole movie. Well, aren’t you special? Most of us are forced to actually watch a movie to tell the tone of the whole movie. Those in the advanced class can tell the tone of the whole movie from watching the whole trailer. But, you. . .dang. You got the tone of the whole movie just from one of the PARTS of the TRAILER. That is impressive, indeed. Or do you just want to start another stupid, _why is it all right when they stereotype whites_ “debate”? Come on, Honky, is that what you want? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/10 "2005-03-30T14:21:03Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > You got the tone of the whole movie just from one of the PARTS of the TRAILER. > > That is impressive, indeed. You should be even more impressed with me; I got the tone of the whole movie just from this thread. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/11 "2005-03-30T14:29:09Z")
You should know by now that racism directed at white men is ok (hell it’s even funny). Every other group in the world is absofuckinlutely off limits but feel free to jack around with the white man all you want. Seriously, Racism is ignorant bullshit regardless of where it’s directed. Unclviny ::dons flame-proof suit:: ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/12 "2005-03-30T14:40:29Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > You should be even more impressed with me; I got the tone of the whole movie just from this thread. I hope you aren’t serious. I’m guessing a poll of all participants of this thread asking who’s actually seen it would yield only one person. And let that person say he was pleasantly surprised, and that most critics didn’t even “get” most of the parts that they disparaged (like the notorious dinner scene). ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/13 "2005-03-30T14:40:58Z")
You’re a dumbass if you think blacks and other racial minorities are off-limits with regards to racial stereotyping in movies and television. I submit the aforementioned _Bringing Down the House_ as my evidence, along with _Soul Plane_, The _Friday_ Trilogy, _Undercover Brother_, _South Park_ and _Chappelle’s Show_. Also, playing on racial stereotypes does _not_ equal racism. Stop throwing that word around so lightly. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/14 "2005-03-30T15:38:53Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > snip… > Also, playing on racial stereotypes does _not_ equal racism. Stop throwing that word around so lightly. So racial stereotypes are ok now?. Thanks for the update I was under the impression that they were wrong (regardless of them happening or not, bad behavior is bad behavior.) Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/15 "2005-03-30T15:41:28Z")
> [@drgnrdr07](#): > > Just from one of the parts of the trailer I can tell the tone of the whole movie. The part where Ashton is in the house with his girlfriend’s family, a black woman walks in, sees Ashton and exclaims that they must be getting audited. Can you imagine if the tables had been turned? Imagine it was a white family with a black boyfriend and someone saw him and exclaimed that they must be getting robbed. Man, I’d be _so_ angry if someone mistakenly assumed I was a white-collar professional just because of my skin color. Black people are always whining with their “Oh, don’t treat me like a criminal just because of my skin color!”, but that’s nothing compared to the way a fictional character in a comedy movie made the horribly offensive and racist assumption that another fictional character played by Ashton Kutcher might have a serious profession just because he’s white. No one is more oppressed than the white man. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/16 "2005-03-30T15:47:47Z")
Your question is subjective and an non sequitur. If you think they’re wrong, then don’t laugh at them or watch movies/television shows that exploit them. If you don’t, have at it. > [@](#): > > Thanks for the update I was under the impression that they were wrong The only update I gave you was exploiting racial stereotypes for humor does not automatically equal racism. As I stated before, if you’re under the impression they’re wrong, by all means, remain under that impression. You’re impression, by the very definition of the word, is subjective. Don’t expect everyone else to labor under it with you. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/17 "2005-03-30T15:59:42Z")
WOO-HOO!, Racial stereotypes have been approved!. I can’t wait to go find me a rap music listenin’, fried chicken eatin’, nappy headed, watermelon lovin’, fake Gold wearin’, thug wanna be with fake Gold teeth and start making fun of them!. Unclviny (who thinks **UrbanChic** is a freaking moron) ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/18 "2005-03-30T16:08:39Z")
If that’s what you concluded from my posts, I submit that you, sir, are the moron. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/19 "2005-03-30T16:12:59Z")
I probably won’t watch this movie for the same reason that I refuse to see the movie _White Chicks_. If putting characters in blackface is not acceptable, putting them in whiteface shouldn’t be either. And if a movie that relies heavily on racial stereotyping of blacks does not sit well with me, neither will one that relies heavily on racial stereotyping of whites. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924/20 "2005-03-30T16:20:35Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > And if a movie that relies heavily on racial stereotyping of blacks does not sit well with me, neither will one that relies heavily on racial stereotyping of whites. Again, a poll of who here has seen the movie. ::pizzabrat raises his lonley hand:: Thought so. There is no heavy stereotyping of whites in the movie. There are probably about two jokes playing on stereotypes about whites in the movie, and they’re so obscure that your average white viewer probably wouldn’t even catch them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-who-double-standard/296924.md?page=2)