# Myspace racist cowards **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 27, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700 "2009-02-27T18:56:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/81 "2009-02-28T21:32:24Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > You obviously don’t want to have any sort of honest, open discussion, and you’re clearly refusing to learn anything or admit any misconceptions, misunderstandings, or gaps in knowledge you had/have. That’s nonsense. I already admitted that by your definition, Brazillians are not Hispanic. I won’t admit that my dictionary is wrong, since the dictionary simply describes the way that large numbers of people use words. In any event, none of this undermines or contradicts my (non earth-shattering) point, which is that “whites” are a group in roughly the same sense that “blacks” are a group. (This does not apply to “hispanics” by your definition of the word.) ETA: Again and again, I have offered to agree for the sake of argument that Brazillians are not Hispanic. Yet you continue to insist on arguing the point. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/82 "2009-02-28T22:15:31Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > That’s nonsense. I already admitted that by your definition, Brazillians are not Hispanic. I won’t admit that my dictionary is wrong, since the dictionary simply describes the way that large numbers of people use words. > > In any event, none of this undermines or contradicts my (non earth-shattering) point, which is that “whites” are a group in roughly the same sense that “blacks” are a group. (This does not apply to “hispanics” by your definition of the word.) > > ETA: Again and again, I have offered to agree for the sake of argument that Brazillians are not Hispanic. Yet you continue to insist on arguing the point. Why? See all those little qualifiers I’ve underlined? That is why the point is still being argued. Your ham-handed attempt at conceding a point is a passive aggressive way of conceding nothing. And everyone can see it, which is why you keep getting called on it. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/83 "2009-02-28T22:19:10Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > See all those little qualifiers I’ve underlined? That is why the point is still being argued. I doubt it, but only **Cisco** knows. > [@](#): > > Your ham-handed attempt at conceding a point is a passive aggressive way of conceding nothing. I’ve conceded everything I need to. Let me ask you this: Is it your position that the definition I quoted earlier is simply wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/84 "2009-02-28T22:29:32Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I doubt it, but only **Cisco** knows. Dante is right. Please drop it now. I don’t feel like going 5 or 10 or 20 more rounds and still coming to the same result. You’re hijacking. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/85 "2009-02-28T22:41:40Z")
Who the fuck cares if Brazillians are Hispanic or not? I thought this was about white pride. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/86 "2009-02-28T23:23:49Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Let me ask you this: Is it your position that the definition I quoted earlier is simply wrong? Is it your position that being Hispanic is solely limited to those of American citizenry or residency? ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/87 "2009-02-28T23:26:26Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I’m not sure what your point is. Obama is not descendant from slaves in this way. As far as I know. What you’re pretending not to understand is that, in the United States throughout most of its history, the minority group defined as “black people” has been so defined (by the white majority) as such _based on their skin color and other morphological characteristics, regardless of their descent._ In a way, in a thread about racist cowards, it’s useful to have one show up. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/88 "2009-02-28T23:47:22Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > Is it your position that being Hispanic is solely limited to those of American citizenry or residency? I don’t really know. I once had a Brazillian friend who lived in Porto Allegre who considered herself to be Hispanic. I haven’t given the matter much thought, viz. the precise definition of “Hispanic.” Now will you please answer my question? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/89 "2009-02-28T23:50:45Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > What you’re pretending not to understand is that, in the United States throughout most of its history, the minority group defined as “black people” has been so defined (by the white majority) as such _based on their skin color and other morphological characteristics, regardless of their descent._ I do understand that and I agree 100%. But here’s the thing: “white people” too have been defined based on skin color and other morphological characteristics, regardless of their descent. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/90 "2009-03-01T00:04:49Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I don’t really know. I once had a Brazillian friend who lived in Porto Allegre who considered herself to be Hispanic. I haven’t given the matter much thought, viz. the precise definition of “Hispanic.” I’m a Canadian citizen born in Ontario with a father of Scottish descent. What if I lived in Port Alegre and “considered” myself to be Hispanic. Would I be? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/91 "2009-03-01T00:33:18Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I once had a Brazillian friend who lived in Porto Allegre who considered herself to be Hispanic. I once knew a gay black jew. Does that make it accurate for me to go around saying black people are gay and jewish? Your friend could’ve been the daughter (or granddaughter, or whatever) of immigrants. Certainly you agree that there are hispanic people living in the US; does that make the United States a hispanic country? What about towns like [Nogales, Arizona](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nogales,_Arizona), which is 93% hispanic - does _that_ make the United States a hispanic country? Do want to keep going? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/92 "2009-03-01T00:44:48Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > I’m a Canadian citizen born in Ontario with a father of Scottish descent. What if I lived in Port Alegre and “considered” myself to be Hispanic. Would I be? I don’t know. Anyway, I don’t debate with people who won’t answer reasonable questions about their position. So please answer my question: Is it your position that the definition I posted earlier was wrong? Your choice. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/93 "2009-03-01T00:49:36Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I once knew a gay black jew. Does that make it accurate for me to go around saying black people are gay and jewish? Nope. So what? > [@](#): > > Your friend could’ve been the daughter (or granddaughter, or whatever) of immigrants. And in fact she was. Immigrants from Europe. So what? > [@](#): > > Certainly you agree that there are hispanic people living in the US; does that make the United States a hispanic country? Define “hispanic country” for me and I will tell you. After all, you are the expert on the word “hispanic.” > [@](#): > > Do want to keep going? Sure, if you follow my rules I will go as long as you care to. But again my question: Given that I’ve offered to stipulate for the sake of argument that Brazillians are not Hispanic, why do you continue to push this issue? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/94 "2009-03-01T01:19:41Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Nope. So what? The point being that you knowing a girl from Brazil who considered herself hispanic is irrelevant. > [@brazil84](#): > > Define “hispanic country” for me and I will tell you. After all, you are the expert on the word “hispanic.” > > Sure, if you follow my rules I will go as long as you care to. > > But again my question: > > Given that I’ve offered to stipulate for the sake of argument that Brazillians are not Hispanic, why do you continue to push this issue? :rolleyes: Just fuck off, troll. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/95 "2009-03-01T01:54:21Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > The point being that you knowing a girl from Brazil who considered herself hispanic is irrelevant. No it’s not. Because until this weekend, my knowledge of the word “hispanic” was based purely on how people I have communicated with used the word. Granted, a dictionary definition is probably more authoritative than my own inferences based on hearing the word. Nevertheless, the dictionary I checked does include Brazillians (both US resident and non-US resident) in a subset of the definitions of “Hispanic.” Of course, you claim to be even more authoritative about what the word “Hispanic” means than my dictionary. I’m bit skeptical of this since, as noted before, the dictionary simply reports the way that people use different words. Nevertheless, since you made a claim using the word “Hispanic,” I am willing to accept your definition of the word for purposes of this discussion. But somehow that’s not good enough for you. As a side note, your own link indicates that the word “Hispanic” derives from the Latin word Hispania, which referred to the entire Iberian pennisula, which presumably includes Portugal. Not that it really matters. Words sometimes change in meaning over time. What matters is reality, and people are free to define words to describe the world. And for what seems like the 6th time, I’m willing to accept your definition of “Hispanic” for purposes of this discussion. > [@](#): > > :rolleyes: Just fuck off, troll. :shrug: If you don’t feel like discussing it anymore, it’s your choice. I’m certainly not trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/96 "2009-03-01T02:31:22Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I’m not sure what your point is. Obama is not descendant from slaves in this way. As far as I know. A point which was irrelevant to his status growing up as a black American. As Obama himself once said, when he was trying to get a cab, he was black. > [@](#): > > This is a key point. In America, “Blacks” are a group in no small part because they are treated as a group. Well guess what? Whites are also treated as a group in many ways. By who? ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/97 "2009-03-01T02:47:13Z")
[QUOTE=brazil84] Is it your position that the definition I posted earlier was wrong? [/QUOTE] See Cisco’s part of post #28. My position is the same. Previously, I would have agreed with you that Brazilian’s are Hispanic, but it turns out I was wrong. Happens often enough. I’m also going to honor **Cisco** ’s sentiment in post #79. Unless you bring something to the table regarding the OP, this whole Brazilian/Hispanic hijack should end. Whether this fits in with your “rules” matters to me not at all. **Cisco** , did you ever get a response from Little Red Riding Klan? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/98 "2009-03-01T02:50:34Z")
You spurious little turd, I think I found where you got your definition from. You wouldn’t happen to be using definition _3_ and ignoring the first two, would you? And let’s take a took at it: > [@](#): > > An American citizen or resident of Spanish or Latin American descent. TRUE. But so far from the whole story that it’s beyond disingenuous to pretend that it’s the final word on what hispanic means. You know, I was right. I do regret ever responding to you. You’re a fucking troll. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/99 "2009-03-01T05:06:11Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > I loved Morgan Freeman’s response to it [here](http://www.wimp.com/morganfreeman/). Sometimes I really wish that Morgan Freeman was my grandfather, because he’s amazing. Also - I don’t think whoever wrote that knows what Yom Hashoa or Mawlid al-Nabi or Cesar Chavez day are. Mawlid _maybe_ could be seen as a cultural celebration, but honestly I’d say it’s as much a cultural celebration as Christmas is (Christians celebrate the birth of their prophet with sermons, ritual feasting, and general festivities. Some Muslims do the same). And unless ‘farm worker’ or ‘proponent of organized labor’ is now a race or culture, I’m not quite sure how Cesar Chavez got on that list. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700/100 "2009-03-01T11:05:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > By who? By society in general. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myspace-racist-cowards/487700.md?page=6)