# Laughing While Black? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 25, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894 "2015-08-25T22:33:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/61 "2015-08-26T22:14:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > My own inclination is that if you can’t beat 'em, join 'em. Find out what you’re been missing out on! So should the loud people be quieter, or the quiet people louder? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/62 "2015-08-26T22:28:37Z")
I am reading that by police they mean the wine train’s own, ‘train police’, which would seem to be uniformed bouncers. Considering it’s a train full of people being encouraged to drink wine, probably necessary. I’m not surprised they have to put people off the train every month really. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/63 "2015-08-26T22:44:27Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I am reading that by police they mean the wine train’s own, ‘train police’, which would seem to be uniformed bouncers. Considering it’s a train full of people being encouraged to drink wine, probably necessary. I’m not surprised they have to put people off the train every month really. Do you hang around winery tasting rooms? I do quite often because Niagara wine country is just a short drive from where I live. And rowdiness doesn’t happen, but perhaps the “wine train” is more of a wine pig-out than an authentic wine tasting or dining experience, which would be unfortunate. I’ve been to Napa wineries but not the train. The fact is some people are just loud, especially in groups, as already said. I loved the SNL “Loud Family” skit from back in the days of Dan Akroyd and Jane Curtin because it perfectly expressed how (a) some folks are just plain loud, and (b) they are uniquely clueless that they are loud. Or they just don’t care, which is worse, because it makes them intentionally inconsiderate Loud Assholes. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > So should the loud people be quieter, or the quiet people louder? I’d be fine with requiring the quiet people to be loud. Just get me a space ship and take me off this planet! ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/64 "2015-08-26T22:49:23Z")
> [@XT](#): > > …Honestly, I think there was a racial component to this the more I’m seeing…the fact that they called the police (for the first time in the polices memories at least) is a bit suspicious. (post shortened) That was the first time they called that particular PD. It’s a train. It travels thru many towns. You can even follow it’s tracks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/65 "2015-08-26T22:58:26Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I suspect there are some cultural issues at play here. For good or bad, AA women in groups “having a good time” in public can get noisy in a particular way, much more so than any other gender/culture mix I can think of. I can see a dozen black women plus wine plus fun-time getting to be… more than the rest of the passengers could bear. > > And to be fair, maybe that should read “more than the other mostly white passengers could bear.” Seriously? Wow. Ignorance fought! ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/66 "2015-08-26T23:09:45Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I am reading that by police they mean the wine train’s own, ‘train police’, which would seem to be uniformed bouncers. The St. Helena city police are who initially responded because the rail officers were elsewhere at the time. Eventually a [NVRP](http://nvrpolice.com/nvrpolice.html) officer arrived. Far as I can tell the NRVP officers are regular law enforcement not rent-a-cops, just like the BART police or other fully certified transit police departments. Apparently on any given day one is usually assigned to Wine Train duty. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/67 "2015-08-27T00:56:03Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > That was the first time they called that particular PD. It’s a train. It travels thru many towns. You can even follow it’s tracks. 🙂 There aren’t that many towns on the wine train. St Helena would be one of the main stops. They probably get several wine trains coming thru there every day. This is serious, serious wine country and St Helena is near the northern end of the valley. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/68 "2015-08-27T02:23:57Z")
IME, “wine-tasting” events featured wines that were swished in the mouth and then spit out in a cup. So absolutely no inebriation ever took place. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/69 "2015-08-27T02:24:33Z")
Re: “loudness” at an event/excursion effecting others…I was on a tour of [Boyden Cavern](http://www.visitsequoia.com/boyden-cave.aspx) and there was a group of 15 or so that just wouldn’t shut up. Their incessant chattering ruined the tour for the rest of us. It didn’t matter what race or culture they were–they were just jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/70 "2015-08-27T02:25:10Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > IME, “wine-tasting” events featured wines that were swished in the mouth and then spit out in a cup. So absolutely no inebriation ever took place. Those are professional tastings, where judges need to make a, well, judgment, and thus must stay sober. This is people sampling a product in the hopes that they’ll like it enough to purchase, like at a winery. Thus, they drink. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/71 "2015-08-27T05:14:14Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > IME, “wine-tasting” events featured wines that were swished in the mouth and then spit out in a cup. So absolutely no inebriation ever took place. Boring. I prefer to catch a buzz with the wine, hence I drink it. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/72 "2015-08-27T13:37:57Z")
I sold wine professionally for a few years, regional sales rep for a lovely Eastern Washington winery. I went to uncountable wine tasting events, spend untold hours in our tasting room, and sampled hundreds of bottles at events and parties. Yeah, no. Nearly everyone swallows (barring, as **Leaper** mentioned, professional tasters as well as the odd DD or two). . ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/73 "2015-08-27T13:42:16Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Nearly everyone swallows (barring, as **Leaper** mentioned, professional tasters as well as the odd DD or two). > . Why would a large breasted woman not swallow? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/74 "2015-08-27T13:52:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Why would a large breasted woman not swallow? It’s so hard to find a good bra that fits. They can be really constricting. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/75 "2015-08-27T14:00:36Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > IME, “wine-tasting” events featured wines that were swished in the mouth and then spit out in a cup. So absolutely no inebriation ever took place. That doesn’t sound like much fun. But, yeah, that’s for professionals. We’re all a bunch of amateurs. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/76 "2015-08-27T15:02:19Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Re: “loudness” at an event/excursion effecting others…I was on a tour of [Boyden Cavern](http://www.visitsequoia.com/boyden-cave.aspx) and there was a group of 15 or so that just wouldn’t shut up. Their incessant chattering ruined the tour for the rest of us. It didn’t matter what race or culture they were–they were just jerks. Well, you were clearly on the boring Cavern Tour, and not the fun-loving, loud, AWESOME Cavern Tour that other posters would go on. Why didn’t you join them in the incessant chattering, and see what you’ve been missing out on? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/77 "2015-08-27T15:45:41Z")
When I lived in Japan, there was a time a group of us were riding in a reserved section of a train and we were probably talking too loudly. The conductor came by and said there were complaints about the noise. At the time, I was certain that it was because we were talking in English, but probably it was because we were louder than what we thought. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/78 "2015-08-27T15:52:00Z")
And in fairness, people speaking a foreign language are probably more distracting than otherwise. What may have been too loud in English might not have seemed quite as loud in Japanese. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/79 "2015-08-27T15:54:44Z")
Racial perceptions aside, there is a phenomenon I’ve noticed in restaurants that could be termed “Women’s Night Out” - wherein a group of females gets together on a Friday evening for (mostly) drinks and secondarily dinner, getting progressively louder and more boisterous with every cocktail. I don’t see this anywhere near as often with groups of men going out for dinner. I think there may be a perception that it is somehow liberating for women to explore the loud, obnoxious side of their natures in public. It is amusing to think of a trainload of wine connoisseurs appalled at the low behavior of their fellow oenophiles. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894/80 "2015-08-27T16:44:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Why would a large breasted woman not swallow? Would that be a European swallow or an African(american) swallow? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laughing-while-black/728894.md?page=5)