It’s not that I don’t believe any of these claims. I just think that saying “I don’t like black women” is so sweeping and broad that it signals a preference not based merely based on appearance, but something else that for some reason isn’t being copped to. At best, that something else is a close-minded view of what black women look like or an insularity that isn’t anything to be proud of (someone announcing that they only like pizza is cute…if they are 3 years old). At worst, it’s a hangup against Africanness that compells someone to casually drop this nugget of insight into conversation.
I hear you about white men, and my own preferences tend towards black men. But I admire the looks of enough non-blacks (whites included) that I can’t get with saying “I don’t find <insert race> attractive”, even as a form of shorthand. Along those lines, your issue doesn’t seem to be white men, per se, but with pale skin. What distinguishes that from say, not liking black women, is that there are plenty of black women who are pretty damn pale, or have long straight hair, or whatever.
All that aside, though, who cares who prefers what and who believes those preferences? I think the thing here is not Meyer being racist, but insensitive in a toolish way. If Meyer were being interviewed about his Asian fanbase, I wouldn’t expect him to start talking about how his David Duke penis makes him turned off by Asian chicks. I also wouldn’t expect him to elevate blonde white women above brunnettes or condenscendingly single out those few exceptional dark-haired women who could break his heart like a blonde by sucking somebody’s dick (WTF???). The guy sounds more misogynist more than anything, and given the songs he’s written, that spells creepy.
This was basically my reaction too. If Mayer isn’t attracted to black women then he isn’t attracted to black women, but he doesn’t need to announce that to the national media. Playboy didn’t ask Mayer if he were attracted to black women, it asked if black women were attracted to him, and he could have answered that question without comparing his penis to David Duke. It struck me as rather like wearing a “NO FAT CHICKS” t-shirt. I mean, no one is obligated to be attracted to large women, but it’s rude and arrogant to broadcast this to the world. In the context of the question that was actually asked, Mayer was basically saying that black women either are or would be throwing themselves at him, except he rejects them all.
Your reaction is different. What you wrote is basically saying that you’re attracted to who you’re attracted to. What YWTF is saying is that not being attracted to a particular race is racist.
Though I do agree with both of you that what I’ve seen of his interview is pretty douchy.
We both think he was arrogantly, insultingly, and unnecessarily oversharing, though.
And frankly, if a man compares himself to a white supremacist then I can’t see feeling sorry for him if other people call him a racist. He’s not being criticized for saying “I’ve just never been attracted to black women”, he chose to make a joke that any sensible person should have known would provoke a negative reaction. As others have suggested, this may well have been what he was going for. But whether he’s actually a racist or not, he’s an idiot or a real-life troll. (Or both!) It doesn’t look like this incident is going to do any real harm to his career, so I’m not going to cry for Mayer if some people think he’s a racist.
Beat around the bush in 1000 word posts all you want; that’s exactly what you’re saying. It’s even funnier that you contort your logic to give a not-racist pass to a black woman who doesn’t find white men attractive. But a white man not finding black women attractive? Whoo boy, that there’s RACIST!
I think whenever somebody says “I’m not attracted to ______” the “in general- on the individual basis there may be exceptions” rule is implied. There are after all white crows and white ravens but if you say “raven haired beauty” most would not assume you’re referring to an albino.
I can say “I’m gay, I don’t consider myself bisexual, I’m not attracted to women,” but truth be known there have been a few odd exceptions over the years, but very few and very far between. I’ve identified as a non-drinker on some surveys because I drink about, on average, two or three times per year and usually only get drunk about once every two or three years, but most surveys go from non-drinker to “<1 drink per day” which is really quite an understatement.
Not to in any way imply that Mayer isn’t a douche who totally went overboard. I wonder if he was talking while under the influence of any substances.
No it’s not, or else you’d be able to post something to support your interpretation. We both know you can’t. For Christ’s sake, I prefaced my first post in this thread with “I have no problem with people having racial preferences…”.
Get a motherfuckin’ grip and learn what nuance means, please.
Am I the only one who thinks his “music” sounds like Muzak with lyrics? I seriously don’t get why people think he’s talented. His music is bland and generic. And the lyrics are often painfully dumb. I turn the radio off whenever his “music” comes on.
“Bubblegum tongue” always makes me think about how I’d belt a guy if he actually started chewing my tongue like bubblegum. That’s got to be the unsexiest lyric ever.
I’m not that familiar with John Mayer, but if you get away from his “Body is a Wonderland”-type adult contemporary stuff and down to his more guitar-based work, he’s actually quite a damned talented guitarist. edit: For example, check out this video, where he plays “Crossroads” along with Eric Clapton.
ETA: …and can I just say that when I posted this, I assumed it would get 10 - 20 posts and die after a day, like other Current Pop Event stuff I and others start posts on. But I missed the point - yes, it is about this individual person’s douchebaggy tendencies, but there are more layers to it…
Again, I think he is an over-sharing arrogant twit who thinks he can articulate things in a risky way and walk that fine line of notoriety. In other words - some of the ideas he is trying to articulate make sense on some level, but could he be more of a twit in how he says them??
I learned a long time ago, and Mayer may learn soon, that what works as witty and edgy word-play in a conversation can be a total disaster in a letter or in print.
