In this posting (“Go in, stow your stuff, and sit the fuck down!”) in the Pit, I expressed my rant in very racist, bigotted terms. I was extremely pissed off at the time (a reason, but definitely not an excuse) and posted stuff that was absolutely inexcusable and wrong and I apologize for that. I am neither a racist nor a bigot, but that probably doesn’t matter, but I am extremely sorry for having said those things.
Not being around the Pit or knowing what prompted this, I’ll take your apology at face value. We very rarely cross paths but I’ll call it no harm, no foul at least for me personally.
I think I was the first to call out the racist element in that thread. Thank you for your apology.
I was actually very disappointed at the usually great Dope crowd not recognizing it as they are usually quick to do. So I did not revisit the thread.
Yes it was you. Thank you for shining a bright light on my asshole-ness and waking me up. I went terribly overboard for pitness and am quite disgusted with myself.
Don’t beat yourself up. You said something you regret (who hasn’t?), you’ve apologized. I believe you, when you say that you aren’t racist. A true racist wouldn’t really give a shit what others thought.
Thank you for the apology. 
This is the thread in question: Go in, stow your stuff, and sit the fuck down! - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board
I didn’t interpret it as “racist” as such, though there were comments that suggested bigotry at a certain level. (I find these days that folks use “racist” with abandon even in situations where the person is not delivering the message or operating on the belief that they are better than another person because of their race or ethnicity, or that the other person is inferior to them because of race or ethnicity.) I also didn’t take away from it that you thought this phenomenon was limited to flights in the middle east, but instead that where it took place and who was involved seemed a relevant detail to you. There are in fact many cultures in the world where badgering and horse-trading is simply part of every single interpersonal transaction, and trying to arrange seating to one’s liking would be no different. The middle east is such a place.
I’m a bigot to some things but that’s reality of life and I make no apologies for it. Everyone is their own person that’s just how it is. But if you’re not then certainly the apology is needed, everyone makes mistakes.
Well, I didn’t read the entire thread in question, but at least based on the OP in that thread…where was the terrible racism? The only objectionable thing I can see is that you refer to an ethnicity when I am assuming you mean a culture, and people from different cultures DO, on average, behave differently in different situations - including how they act in queues.
Ahhhh, that. And I will admit to giving most of it a fast read more than a serious study. Some forums I would take some offense at some of the wording but for the Pit? No, not really. It may show some serious bias but we all have that on one subject or another. Class move velomont on recognizing it and making amends - and here’s hoping we do cross paths here and there.
There wasn’t a goddamn thing racist about it. It was bigoted against a culture, not a race. And I understand it completely. Of course, taking my grandma, etc. for her first flight ever would be exhausting and quite the PITA, and I really think most of the problem is the clusterfuck contrast of a large family of all ages with no flying experience versus the usual American/Canadian flying situation of people alone or in groups of 2 adults at most, who are very experienced passengers.
Of course, when you add in the lack of interest in strict punctuality that some cultures have, and the general lack of haste in those cultures, combined with the lack of haste of most elderly folk, combined with the chaos of small chidren…
For penance, you must now go have sex with a middle eastern woman and rock her world. And you can’t enjoy it
I’m E. Indian and I didn’t really take it as racist. Because the fact is, I have seen large groups of E Indian families act exactly as the OP said. I have also seen large groups of Spanish people, and I think the last ones were Ukrainian but I am not entirely sure.
I don’t know, people’s IQ and manners just go down in groups. I guess I could be offended at the OP - how dare you! But I have seen way more racist stuff directed at me so I can’t really be too offended.
Lesson learned, apparently. Good on you for being open to that if it was necessary.
Thanks all for the responses and comments. Lesson learned.