# Help, I have a new job in the ER and it is making me prejudiced **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 29, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506 "2012-12-29T19:30:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/221 "2012-12-30T21:42:53Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > You don’t need to get to a breakthrough. I understand that the Ebonics grammar may favor the turn of phrase that you’re trying to explain. What I am amazed at is your insistence that all Ebonics users follow that, and none of them could possibly use the verb differently than your “accepted” use. That kind of absolutism is ridiculous. Native English speakers constantly mangle English grammar. Why you think that Ebonics speakers cannot possibly mangle Ebonics grammar is puzzling. Oh, people do mess up Ebonics, all the time. But like my example upthread, to use it the way the man in the OP used it would be the same as me all of a sudden speaking like Yoda. I am submerged in black culture for 38 years and have NEVER heard it used that way by black people, but very often hear it used that way when whites imitate us. How can that be? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/222 "2012-12-30T21:45:17Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Oh, people do mess up Ebonics, all the time. But like my example upthread, to use it the way the man in the OP used it would be the same as me all of a sudden speaking like Yoda. I am submerged in black culture for 38 years and have NEVER heard it used that way by black people, but very often hear it used that way when whites imitate us. How can that be? Because of the circular thinking. When you hear “be” used, you mentally translate it to “habitual be” even if the speaker means it in the current sense. And since often both can apply, you have no way of knowing. Just like with the Run DMC thing - you insist that it is the “habitual be” use although, since the song writer doesn’t know the person, it is more logical to assume that it is a one-time thing. Why do you insist on it? Because that’s how it should be! ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/223 "2012-12-30T21:48:09Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Because of the circular thinking. When you hear “be” used, you mentally translate it to “habitual be” even if the speaker means it in the current sense. And since often both can apply, you have no way of knowing. Just like with the Run DMC thing - you insist that it is the “habitual be” use although, since the song writer doesn’t know the person, it is more logical to assume that it is a one-time thing. Wouldn’t I then sometimes hear it when there is no mistaking its incorrect usage? Shouldn’t at least once in my life I have heard someone get hit in the head with a rock and say, “I be gettin’ hit in the head with a rock”? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/224 "2012-12-30T21:48:37Z")
I’ll yield to your superior expertise. But blacks of America, know that I’m always watching. And listening. As soon as you be using “be” incorrectly I’ll be there to document it and return here to report it. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/225 "2012-12-30T21:50:29Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I’ll yield to your superior expertise. My new sig line. Do I have to be a member for people to see my sig? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/226 "2012-12-30T21:51:23Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > This is a circular argument. You’re saying that the “be illin’” is a “habitual” use of “be” because that’s the way it is in ebonics. Even if it is logically contradicted in the song. Anyway, here are some lyrics by “Fabolous”: > > I can’t really explain it > My friends be thinking I’m slippin > These girls be thinking I’m trippin > What kinda weed you be smokin > What typa drinks you be sippin > Sweet thing just to think of you dippin > Would have me with the blues so hard > > Is he “habitually” slippin, trippin, etc? Or is it just for this “sweet thing” now? In fact, replace all the "be"s with "are"s, and the meaning stays the same. And "are"s are not “habitual”. Yes, of course. And it’s pretty obvious that he is. He means routinely think he’s slippin’. Here’s a made up, but very typical conversation: Say some girl is acting like a bitch to someone she is unfamiliar with. This person would turn to me and ask, “Why she actin like that?” I would wave my hand dismissively and say, “She be trippin.” No, we did not just have some surreal conversation in which he asks “Why is she acting this way?” and I respond “Yes, she is behaving that way.” No. He’s asking why she’s acting like a bitch right now, and I say she’s _often_ a bitch. At this point, the conversation would end, having established that the woman is, in fact, a bitch, or we’d go on talking about what a bitch she is, or perhaps what we’d have for lunch. In your examples of people who be thinking he’s trippin, slippin, or whatever, Fabolous is talking about something that has occurred more than once. In your other example, “But sometimes I be feelin’ like a needle to these young kids,” yes, he means he repeatedly feels like a needle to the young kids. How can he mean “sometimes I AM feelin’ like a needle”? He doesn’t. Again, we do not use “be” and “is/am/are” interchangeably. “Sometimes I be feelin’ like a needle” means “Sometimes I feel like a needle.” So one would say “She be lying” to mean she does in general. Maybe she frequently lies, maybe not, but it’s a recurring event. That is different from “She is lying” which means that is happening right now. “She be lying” means the same thing as “She lies” and NOT the same as “She is lying [right now].” Here’s a chart. Or at least visualize a chart because I don’t know how to make one here. She BE lying = She lies. She lyin(g) = She IS lying. Sometimes she BE lying = Sometimes she lies. She BE lying everyday = She lies everyday. I can’t believe I’ve explained this for the thousandth time. Damn it, I have a NYE outfit to buy! ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/227 "2012-12-30T21:52:04Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > My new sig line. Do I have to be a member for people to see my sig? Nope. I’m especially fond of mine. Edit: You do have to check the box each post you want to use it in, though. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/228 "2012-12-30T21:53:29Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Wouldn’t I then sometimes hear it when there is no mistaking its incorrect usage? Shouldn’t at least once in my life I have heard someone get hit in the head with a rock and say, “I be gettin’ hit in the head with a rock”? I can truthfully say that I never heard anyone say “I am getting hit in the head with a rock”. Does that mean it is impossible for someone who speaks English to have said it at some point? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/229 "2012-12-30T21:54:37Z")
Okay, Terr, you’re not even being serious anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/230 "2012-12-30T21:56:44Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I can’t believe I’ve explained this for the thousandth time. Damn it, I have a NYE outfit to buy! [I’ve got your back.](http://www.aliciascostumes.com/costume_rentals/holidays/images/close_ups/New_Year_Baby_NEWY1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/231 "2012-12-30T22:09:37Z")
I want to admit I over react on this topic. I want to clear up something I said in a past post that is bothering me. I DID NOT BRING UP THE FACT THAT I KNOW IGNORANT PEOPLE WHO SPEAK POORLY TO ‘OUT STREET CRED’ SLEEPS. I really need to make that clear. I only brought it up because I wanted to show that I’m not in denial about the fact that there are lots of black people who speak poorly. I was just trying to make a point. I would hate for anyone to think I was playing some kind of “I know dumb black people” card; that wasn’t my intent. ---
**Author:** ![LouLou7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LouLou7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouLou7)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/232 "2012-12-30T22:10:26Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Wouldn’t I then sometimes hear it when there is no mistaking its incorrect usage? Shouldn’t at least once in my life I have heard someone get hit in the head with a rock and say, “I be gettin’ hit in the head with a rock”? OK, I think I just had a breakthrough lightbulb moment. In this particular situation, the proper Ebonics usage would be “I IS gettin’ hit in the head with a rock”. Amiright? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/233 "2012-12-30T22:13:34Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > And as a lifelong resident of a pocket of Appalachia isolated from large cities, you are going to have to take me at my word for what I’ve seen and heard here. Kids pick up phrases from pop culture and incorporate them into daily speak. I grew up with primarily mixed kids who identified more strongly with black culture, but having limited contact with the all-black community means they often too cues from music, sports, and movies. It isn’t just a few sheltered white folk who think that the “be” convention is common, sheltered black kids screw it up, too, in an attempt to embrace the identity they prefer. Dismiss that silly song and wipe out a minor cultural artifact that bleeds into language today and will (mark my words) make it into Linguistics class if it hasn’t already. this makes sense to me and as for this post > [@](#): > > Instead of having a rational discussion, you jump on the ‘newscrashers a racist’ bandwagon and hit the gas. Way to go! That ought to help. this\*\*\* is\*\*\*, pretty much, a rational discussion. people disagree and it gets a bit heated, but so what? the only real problem is _leaving_, rather than continuing to talk. which is why I felt justified mocking the OP, he flounced and he left. keep talking is the key, see? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/234 "2012-12-30T22:17:32Z")
> [@LouLou7](#): > > OK, I think I just had a breakthrough lightbulb moment. In this particular situation, the proper Ebonics usage would be “I IS gettin’ hit in the head with a rock”. > > Amiright? 🙂 Ha. Hahaha. Thanks. I needed that. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/235 "2012-12-30T22:18:30Z")
a) “This thread be hijacked” b) “This thread hijacked” c) Both apply to this situation a), b), or c)? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/236 "2012-12-30T22:23:46Z")
I’m having flashbacks to [Bill Clinton and the meaning of “is.”](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/1998/09/bill_clinton_and_the_meaning_of_is.html) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/237 "2012-12-30T22:29:33Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Here’s a chart. Or at least visualize a chart because I don’t know how to make one here. > > She BE lying = She lies. > > She lyin(g) = She IS lying. > > Sometimes she BE lying = Sometimes she lies. > > She BE lying everyday = She lies everyday. Cool. Let’s go by your chart: Please translate, using your chart: “Cause my heart be hurtin’ but my private part be squrtin’”. Is his private part “habitually” squirtin’? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/238 "2012-12-30T22:31:31Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > a) “This thread be hijacked” > b) “This thread hijacked” > c) Both apply to this situation > > a), b), or c)? Well, since the OP left, why not hijack it? Linguistics is more fun than discussing who’s a racist. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/239 "2012-12-30T22:31:40Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Cool. Let’s go by your chart: > > Please translate, using your chart: “Cause my heart be hurtin’ but my private part be squrtin’”. My heart hurts but my dick squirts. … I mean it works just as well for “my thumb hurts.” Edit: What have I done?! ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506/240 "2012-12-30T22:38:51Z")
I’d like to invite **newcrasher** and everyone else to watch [Appalachian Emergency Room with me on Hulu.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FffzU7F6Lc) I hope I don’t have to point out that this skit is not an accurate representation of Appalachia, Southern White Culture, poor folk, sick folk, or crackers. (But someone, somewhere talked this way or performed stunts this stupid else there wouldn’t be a meme, right?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-have-a-new-job-in-the-er-and-it-is-making-me-prejudiced/645506.md?page=13)