# It's a travesty to end someone's career over "chink in the armor" **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 21, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474 "2012-02-21T00:06:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/201 "2012-02-22T17:16:06Z")
I’m starting to realize that I’m confused regarding the “c-word” in this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/202 "2012-02-22T17:23:17Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I’m starting to realize that I’m confused regarding the “c-word” in this discussion. “Commentary.” ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/203 "2012-02-22T17:47:29Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > If you think that the thing that makes it seem funny to people of poor character involves a misunderstanding of it, then you don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, and you do think there’s something wrong with the people who find it funny. I think I followed that, but not really. > [@](#): > > This is some whatthefuckery right here. **Slacker** has never stated nor said anything that could plausibly be interpreted as implying that he’s not familiar with the existence of serious discrimination towards Asians. He seems to be of the opinion that he and hoards of other people are completely unaware of the racial epithet applied to Asians. That sure sounds like a lack of exposure (or attention) to discrimination. If it isn’t that, then what is it? Surely Slacker isn’t aware of the discrimination directed at Danny Chen (to be fair I wasn’t either), if he was, then he would know the role of racial epithets, including “chink,” in discrimination towards Asians. “Chink” is pretty much the number one epithet for Chinese people. Are you saying that Slacker has witnessed derogatory comments towards Asians, but “chink” never came up? Does that sound reasonable to you? I suppose you are welcome to that opinion, but it sounds like bullshit to me. If anything, Slacker is claiming ignorance of ALL epithets towards Asian people, and claiming that such ignorance is common. So yes, I equate Slacker’s lack of exposure to “chink” as an indicator that he isn’t exactly well-read on the subject on Asian discrimination. If you want to slam me for “reading between the lines” then that is your right, but my characterization of Slacker isn’t exactly from nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/204 "2012-02-22T17:57:13Z")
It’s mincing words, for all I care. I don’t care if Slacker hasn’t heard of the word before. Irrelevant. The backlash from this incident is more than enough proof that plenty of people DO know the word and that it’s not unreasonable to hold a writer of a major sports network to the \*same \*standard as these people at **worst** , let alone the higher standards we typically hold people to when they wield a greater responsibility as a writer with a larger scope of operation. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/205 "2012-02-22T18:06:16Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > In what world is the racist meaning of chink obscure? Even in the wilds of Northren Ireland, where most people have never even seen a Chinese person their entire lives, I’ve heard the word chink used in the derogatory sense. That must be some bubble you live in. And my dad’s a professor too, la-di-dah. That must be some bubble you live in to think that people in the wilds of Northern ireland have never seen a Chinese person their entire lives. You’re right though about the use of the term chink. Although some people in the north use Chinkie in a seemingly nonderogatory sense for a Chinese takeaway. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/206 "2012-02-22T18:23:19Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > It seems to me that your experiences are very oddly inconsistent and atypical. I suggest that you may not be in a very good position to judge what the average person should be expected to know or perceive as regards fairly common racial slurs. Heartily seconded. And **SlackerInc** , while this is not about any individual’s experience, it should be pointed out that you’re making a lot of assumptions yourself, and they don’t reflect well on your ability to consider the viewpoints of others despite your experiences in “ghetto neighbourhoods, where there was a lot of racial diversity.” For example: > [@SlackerInc](#): > > When would a liberal, educated person encounter this usage? When I imagine someone who might actually say this word, it’s a toothless redneck, covered in axle grease, with a Confederate flag hat. And there are a great many people in this country, especially those who go to college and work in white collar positions, who would just never cross paths with such people. You don’t know Anthony Federico’s background (not everybody who works in journalism is a liberal with an upper middle-class upbringing) and this is itself a goofy, stereotyped view of Southerners in addition to being an inaccurate picture of racism. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/207 "2012-02-22T18:38:05Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Kang\* notes that Lin used the online handle ChiNkBaLLa88 when he was in high school. Wow. A racial slur and a Hitler reference. That user name would get banned here within the first ten posts. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/208 "2012-02-22T18:50:12Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I have never however lived in a mostly white low income neighbourhood, which is where I assume you hear most of that talk. You assume incorrectly, then. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/209 "2012-02-22T18:51:19Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Wow. A racial slur and a Hitler reference. That user name would get banned here within the first ten posts. 88 was a number before it was a Hitler reference, and I am pretty sure there’s no Hitler reference intended. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/210 "2012-02-22T18:56:41Z")
Just to let the OP know he’s not crazy, I too am very suprised to hear there is any region or demographic among which “chink” is a term in current usage. I can understand why this guy had to be fired, and I don’t blame ESPN (instead I blame humanity but who can do anything about that?) for firing him. But I am also inclined to think it was an honest mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/211 "2012-02-22T18:59:46Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > 88 was a number before it was a Hitler reference, and I am pretty sure there’s no Hitler reference intended. 😛 I graduated high school in 88. I’d hate to think what some might make of pictures of us in our letterman jackets. Then again, this was suburban St. Louis, so… ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/212 "2012-02-22T19:05:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > 88 was a number before it was a Hitler reference, and I am pretty sure there’s no Hitler reference intended. 😛 Most likely a Chinese thing, 8 is considered a lucky number. Ever notice how many Chinese owned businesses seem to have phone numbers with lots of 8’s in them? Not a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/213 "2012-02-22T19:06:19Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > 88 was a number before it was a Hitler reference, and I am pretty sure there’s no Hitler reference intended. 😛 I heard Jeremy Lin was around 23. And most of '88 was 23 years ago… I got it! It’s a conspiracy on the part of Michael Jordan to instigate a race war. 😉 ETA: Upon reading some of the other responses, I’m a little appalled that other posters didn’t pick up on this sooner and will explicitly state that the ‘88’ probably comes from the fact that Lin was born in 19 **88** , to avoid any potential confusion. No need to invoke Hitler or any sort of racial aspect to something many high school kids (and several posters on this forum) do for online usernames. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/214 "2012-02-22T19:10:00Z")
Before anyone asks, no, I was not born in 1923. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/215 "2012-02-22T19:13:29Z")
Being born in '88 gives him plausible deniability when he claims he didn’t know he was referencing Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/216 "2012-02-22T19:15:40Z")
I feel old. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/217 "2012-02-22T19:24:10Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Being born in '88 gives him plausible deniability when he claims he didn’t know he was referencing Hitler. Growing up in the only family of East Asians in a majority black small town in Arkansas gives one an appreciation for racism that even the Jeremy Lins and Jay Caspian Kangs can’t fully understand (though that was a beautiful article that mostly captured my childhood). That said, I’d sure as heck love to see an Asian neo-Nazi white supremacist. I’d have a grin you could see from space. I’m giddy just thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/218 "2012-02-22T19:25:20Z")
Marley: Venture a guess here and assume you’re 23 years old? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/219 "2012-02-22T19:27:14Z")
> [@FixMyIgnorance](#): > > Marley: Venture a guess here and assume you’re 23 years old? I’ve had the same username on this board for almost 10 years, so that would be a severe case of arrested development. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474/220 "2012-02-22T19:33:04Z")
And you know who wrote _Mein Kampf_ 88 years ago? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474.md?page=12)