# It's like having your own black man in the pool! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 13, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850 "2002-06-13T14:02:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/81 "2002-06-14T14:02:35Z")
Uh - would this be the time and place for me to observe that my invite to **Scylla’s** housewarming pool bash - _It sucks! With wings!_ - apparently has been misplaced by the men in blue? Another victim/contribution to our war on terrorism. Or am I to assume youze gots something against big ugly polacks in your snooty PA pools? ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/82 "2002-06-14T14:08:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*But I _want_ a black man in my pool. Ty Diggs would be cool. Djmon Hunsou doing a power crawl would definitely make me happy. > > My son and husband can clean it. It would be like having my own Hayward Navigator in the pool! \*\* You could get your son and husband to clean your black man? Wow! That’s some marriage you got there. Although if they got Angela Bassett in the pool too. . . ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/83 "2002-06-14T14:18:46Z")
I too would probably have to weigh in on the side of not pursuing the matter further with the guy’s boss. He’s already been corrected and made to understand that his comment was bullshit. Unless he’s actively promoting racism, I don’t think it was egregious enough of a lapse in judgement to be further reprimanded or fired over. He fucked up, got bitch slapped and likely won’t ever make the same mistake again. Not only was he socially embarassed, but he also lost a sale he obviously wanted. Now if in further associations with the store you see him displaying the same lack of judgement then yeah, do your best to get him shitcanned. Is it not bizarre that the Hayward Navigator Company also makes colonoscopy tools? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/84 "2002-06-14T14:25:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tansu \* > hey - **lobley** - I’m all Brit and I definitely don’t think it’s OTT. I simply don’t like doing business with people who offend me. In a situation like this, it’s easy to walk out of the store (which in itself gives the offending salesperson a small lesson in salesmanship) and it’s also easy to mention it to the manager. “I found your employee’s comments offensive - I just thought you ought to know” > > Yes, Brits have a reputation for not wanting to make waves, but we don’t have to keep our mouths shut all the time. It’s not about punishment, it’s about challenging offensive behaviour, and giving people the opportunity to learn to be less rude. And yet another Brit joins in on the polite, caring side that Scylla represents. I worked in Harrods (top London Department store) many decades ago. Training included how to be courteous, helpful, discreet and knowledgeable. Apparently this guy didn’t have the benefit of such a course… ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/85 "2002-06-14T15:36:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Who appointed you our spokesman?; **Scylla** did the right thing; vote with your feet; give the bloke cause to think a bit. > > “Brits will probably all think just like me” pshaw! honestly. :rolleyes: \*\* No-one appointed me our spokesman. who appointed you our policeman? Scylla did an understandable thing. But all this talk of talking to managers and getting the guy sacked IS OTT! There’s a reason some people (me being one) don’t like to make waves - we don’t know what the consequences are. It is safer therefore to put up with it. I’ve seen a lot of good points in this thread. one of them - The guy will get a 7$ph job somewhere else, and be racist somewhere else, but the shop owner will suffer the ball-ache of hiring a new person, someone who may also be racist, or may be an axe-murderer. Half (probably more) of the people that serve me in shops where I live are probably racist, in fact I think it goes with the teritory (low paid jobs) to be ignorant in some way or other. If I went around not buying things because I suspect the person I buy them from is racist or a drug adict or stupid or grossly incompetent I’d never buy anything! On another point. I wish shopkeepers would leave people alone in shops. It puts me right off even being in the shop. I like to be relaxed and browse on my own, but when someone comes over and says “would you like any help” I am out of the shop not long after. I had a similair experience to the OP once when I was in boots (chemists) looking at digital cameras. The guy came over and I said “I’m just looking” He started saying things like “this is a good one” (he said that about all of them) and reading the labels to me, and telling me how much each one costed (the price tickets were hard to miss - and I failed to miss them). I tried to get rid of him by saying “I won’t be buying one, I am just interested” no luck. I made it obvious that I had a brain and that his ability to read labels wasn’t helping me by talking about megapixels and memory cards etc, he would then stare at the ticket franticaly looking for any words that looked like the ones I was saying so that he could read them to me. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/86 "2002-06-14T16:21:44Z")
> [@](#): > > But all this talk of talking to managers and getting the guy sacked IS OTT! I agree. But then, not many people have said a thing about having the man sacked. When I managed restaurants for a living, I would be extremely annoyed if I lost custom because of an employee’s behavior _and I wasn’t told about it_. I think most managers would take all steps to address the issue _without_ sacking him, simply because of the irritation involved. But they’d want to know. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/87 "2002-06-14T18:44:33Z")
I am now officialy amused at the size of this thread discussing such a trivial matter. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/88 "2002-06-14T18:51:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lobley \* > \*\*I had a similair experience to the OP once when I was in boots (chemists) looking at digital cameras. \*\* Just a tip… I assume you’re clarifying what Boots is for us 'mericans… but no one in the US calls it a “chemists” and you’ll probably confuse the hell out of a lot of people who won’t know what the heck you are talking about. They’d probably think you meant a chemistry supply shop or something. Boots is more like a drug store (but not exactly… Boots are kinda strange) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/89 "2002-06-14T18:56:28Z")
I think racism is a bad thing. I don’t think it is trivial, far from it! BUT THE POOL CLEANING DEVICE WASN’T RACIST!!! By all means call the manager and get the guy sacked if your (not the OP, but the people with the make-a-fuss opinion) annoying whinging personality says you must. But BUY THE CLEANER! I think racism is a terrible thing. I think If I kicked up a fuss I would make things worse! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/90 "2002-06-14T19:04:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\* > > Just a tip… I assume you’re clarifying what Boots is for us 'mericans… but no one in the US calls it a “chemists” and you’ll probably confuse the hell out of a lot of people who won’t know what the heck you are talking about. They’d probably think you meant a chemistry supply shop or something. Boots is more like a drug store (but not exactly… Boots are kinda strange) \*\* I had a similair experience to the OP once when I was in boots (drug store) looking at digital cameras. I didn’t know ‘chemists’ wasn’t used in the US of A. I would have thought looking at digital cameras in a store that sells drugs would be the bit that confuses people. (but boots sells digital cameras. I got my shiny new one from there. a few days after the tossflap served me)… ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/91 "2002-06-14T19:06:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\* > > Just a tip… I assume you’re clarifying what Boots is for us 'mericans… but no one in the US calls it a “chemists” and you’ll probably confuse the hell out of a lot of people who won’t know what the heck you are talking about. They’d probably think you meant a chemistry supply shop or something. Boots is more like a drug store (but not exactly… Boots are kinda strange) \*\* I had a similair experience to the OP once when I was in boots (drug store) looking at digital cameras. I didn’t know ‘chemists’ wasn’t used in the US of A. I would have thought looking at digital cameras in a store that sells drugs would be the bit that confuses people. (but boots sells digital cameras. I got my shiny new one from there. a few days after the tossflap served me)… …ok don’t post then!.. …I’m waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/92 "2002-06-14T19:10:43Z")
Sorry guys. I _am_ learning. (I just realized the delay is not in posting, but in opening the post. Next time I will have more faith in my post getting through) ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/93 "2002-06-14T19:15:22Z")
> [@](#): > > BUT THE POOL CLEANING DEVICE WASN’T RACIST!!! NOBODY SAID IT WAS!!! BUT SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO PATRONISE A SHOP THAT EMPLOYS PEOPLE WITH NO CUSTOMER RELATIONS SKILLS!!! AND YELLING DOESN’T CHANGE THAT!!! Christ almighty, would you please read my last bloody post? ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/94 "2002-06-14T19:15:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lobley \* > \*\*I think racism is a bad thing. I don’t think it is trivial, far from it! > > BUT THE POOL CLEANING DEVICE WASN’T RACIST!!! > > \*\* That remains to be seen. It **does** have a very long hose. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/95 "2002-06-14T20:16:35Z")
You got the one with the extra muscle in the paddle, right? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/96 "2002-06-14T20:40:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Better scrap the Mexican/Jacuzzi thread, and the Polack/Porsche incident, they’re onto me. :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/97 "2002-06-14T20:44:10Z")
Jesus, Scylla. That was hysterical. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/98 "2002-06-14T21:00:22Z")
Just wanted to toss in my “ **Scylla** did the right thing” chit into the pool. 😉 Sure, the guy probably didn’t mean to be offensive, but by doing what you did, you let him know that it _was._ I’m not sure if I’d return to that store, but that’s a personal decision. I do know that I’d be looking to buy that same pool-cleaning robot from somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/99 "2002-06-14T21:59:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Scylla did an understandable thing. But all this talk of talking to managers and getting the guy sacked IS OTT! There’s a reason some people (me being one) don’t like to make waves - we don’t know what the consequences are. It is safer therefore to put up with it. Not being a minority, what happened in the OP is the kind of racism I usually encounter. I believe it facilitates much worse behavior, so I’m not going to put up with it if I don’t have to. And whenever I do call somebody on it, the blame reversal is almost instantaneous… the ensuing unpleasantness is always _my_ fault for making an issue of it. I’m seeing the same response in some of the replies in this thread, and I’m sorry but it’s bullshit. If a shopkeeper makes a racist comment to me and I speak with the manager about it, whatever happens to the shopkeeper is a consequence of the shopkeeper making a racist comment, not a consequence of my decision to talk to the manager about it. Of course the results of my actions are going to be awkward and unpleasant for everyone, but let’s not forget who’s fault it is. -fh ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850/100 "2002-06-15T05:09:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scylla \* > \*\* > > That remains to be seen. > > It **does** have a very long hose. \*\* 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-having-your-own-black-man-in-the-pool/113850.md?page=6)