# Pitting Black Women for Trying to Look White **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 2, 2003, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474 "2003-12-02T08:44:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/41 "2003-12-02T13:49:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > **Who do you call if a Moderator abuses you? > And shouldn’t Moderators set an example?** Formally, you’d contact an administrator when you feel a moderator has treated you unfairly. As for setting an example: yeah, we’re supposed to do that, and I think it’s fair to say we generally do. It’s just that that doesn’t mean we’re angels: when faced with stupidity of gigantic proportions, such as the OP, even the most stoic of us will occasionally use an expletive or two. > [@](#): > > \*\*I hasten to add that Coldfire is a top bloke, who just got irritated by a stupid argument. \*\* Why thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lilabet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@lilabet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilabet)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/42 "2003-12-02T13:54:27Z")
OP : Fucking wanker. Piss off and stick your fucking WIERD views somewhere else. I play with my hair. End of story. I should IMAGINE black women are similar, if we’re truly believing in the whole equality thing. It’s there, and I get bored with it. Twat. Lil ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/43 "2003-12-02T14:05:18Z")
One thing you have to remember \*\* glee \*\* is moderators are posters too. If they had to give up all their posting fun to be moderators, you wouldn’t be able to get anyone to do it. Maybe he could do a **poster hat on** to distinguish from his **moderator hat on** just before calling someone a dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/44 "2003-12-02T14:27:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \ ***… Sometimes, ya gotta call a spade a spade. …** Appropriate within your comment, but somehow so very wrong to say in this thread. :eek: But thank heavens black women, white women, all women mess with their hair. I love variety. Bubba ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/45 "2003-12-02T14:30:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*I know what you mean. It’s not something I do lightly, calling posters “dumbasses” or words to that affect. But by God, I’m a mere mortal too, besides being a moderator here. Sometimes, ya gotta call a spade a spade. Not to worry: I still treat everybody equally with regards to my moderator duties, whether I consider them complete dumbfucks or not. \*\* The truth is an absolute defense. Pointing out that **Hydrocortisone** is a dumbass is like mentioning that its raining out. Anyway, given the two high quality OP’s the dumbfuck in question has started I imagine we won’t have to deal with such idiocy for too much longer. I imagine everyone got the stink of bigotry coming from this OP. For our dimwitted OP: bigotry \Big"ot\*ry, n. [Cf. F. bigoterie.] 1. The state of mind of a bigot; obstinate and unreasoning attachment of one’s own belief and opinions, with narrow-minded intolerance of beliefs opposed to them. Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. > **[Definition of bigotry | Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bigotry)** > > Definition of bigotry from Dictionary.com, the world’s leading online source for English definitions, pronunciations, word origins, idioms, Word of the Day, and more. Yep, seems spot on. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/46 "2003-12-02T14:33:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\*No, this is important. > If I call you names, you can Pit me or call me names back. You can call in a Moderator. You won’t get far calling Moderators names. > > Who do you call if a Moderator abuses you? > And shouldn’t Moderators set an example? > > I hasten to add that Coldfire is a top bloke, who just got irritated by a stupid argument. \*\* If you look a few posts up, you’ll see that **Hydrocortisone** called **Coldfire** “bitch” with no relaliation. I think most of the mods are able to take as well as they give, as long as you’re insulting them as posters. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/47 "2003-12-02T14:36:50Z")
DISCLAIMER: The above post by me is my impression as a **Member** and not meant to convey any offical declaration of the Administration of The Straight Dope Message Board. I expressly disavow any interpretation that suggests I was attempting any type of **Junior Modding**. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/48 "2003-12-02T14:40:19Z")
You are an ass. How dare you pit black women for exercising their right to be beautiful in their own way. How fucking dare you. Do you have thick, kinky hair? Do you even know how fucking hard it is to comb that every morning and make it look “right” in the eyes of society? Do you know how it feels to have people call you a “nappy-headed” so-and-so? Do you know how ugly that makes you feel? I don’t think so. I don’t straighten my hair but it has fuck all to do with wanting to stay black. I happen to have hair that isn’t straight, isn’t kinky so I can get away with a lot. But I don’t cast judgement on ANYONE who decides that they can’t. I don’t see why a silly fool like yourself should either. Black folks aren’t the only ones who straighten their curly hair. If you have a thing for curly hair, why not pit all curly-headed people? Why are you picking on black women? Oh, I know! Because black people are so FUN to talk about on this freakin board! SDMB would crash if there wasn’t a discussion about black people going on somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/49 "2003-12-02T14:43:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > **If you look a few posts up, you’ll see that Hydrocortisone called Coldfire “bitch” with no relaliation.** That remains to be seen. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CheekyMonkey613](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@CheekyMonkey613](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheekyMonkey613)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/50 "2003-12-02T14:46:33Z")
Me Natural: Medium brown mousey hair with some grey, short sparse eyelashes, a unibrow, armpit hair you could braid, pubes with which (with a week’s growth) you could knit a scarf, and leg hair that you could use for the matching mittens. The “Real” Me: Light golden brown with blonde sunkissed highlights, dark thick long eyelashes, no unibrow due to laser hair removal, perfectly shaped brows, waxed pubes legs and pits. If men actually SAW the way women REALLY are, they’d FREAK OUT! The ones who do stay completely natural (including the chin hairs they refuse to pluck) are regarded as prospective circus acts. So I will give you this: Women DO customize their beauty routine according to what is considered “beautiful” in their environment. Most Canadians and Americans regard being “thin” as attractive. However, in other countries, a bit (or a lot) of shmaltz is what the high standard is. Thin women TRYING to gain weight, to be considered beautiful by men. Men in these countries often see “big child bearing hips” as a sign that the woman will be a good wife and mother. Women regard their perpetual metamorphoses as a way of bettering and balancing feelings they have towards themselves, as well as the way others perceive them. ~ Feeling like everyone takes you for granted because you’re so dependable? Red hair is daring and dangerous. ~ Feeling like nobody weighs your opinions heavily? Brown or black hair is serious and intelligent. ~ Feeling like you’re too serious and introverted? Blonde hair is sexy and fun. If even on a subconscious level, this modern-day Stanislavskian approach works. May I also add that the pubes are COMPLETELY waxed. Does that mean that I am rejecting the fact that I’m post-pubescent? Nooooooooooo!!! Like the Big Bad Wolf once said, “The better to eat you with, my dear”. Sometimes, it just is what it is. Considering all of the hard work and money that all races of women put into grooming, it would be too simplistic to calculate the answer without a full and comprehensive formula. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/51 "2003-12-02T14:47:44Z")
Whats up with the junior modding disclaimers? This is the second time I’ve seen it. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/52 "2003-12-02T14:57:34Z")
**Junior Modding** - Great band name Shit, I can’t believe I said that ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/53 "2003-12-02T15:01:56Z")
**Hydrocortisone** - another great banned name. ---
**Author:** ![emulsified](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emulsified/32/2915_2.png) [@emulsified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emulsified)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/54 "2003-12-02T15:02:46Z")
Hmm… It doesn’t seem like this rant went exactly as the OP planned. But crazy as it may seem, I’m not here to add to the pile on; in a small, obscure way, I think he actually makes a point. It’s one thing to say that women should be allowed to do whatever they like with their hair, and indeed they are. It’s another to dismiss entirely out of hand the idea that there are real beauty standards that compel black women to spend ridiculous amounts of time, effort, and money trying to undo to their hair what nature has done. Yes, women of other races “mess” with their hair, too. It really shouldn’t be surprising that in a society where being or even appearing black has historically entitled you to discrimination and prejudice that those people would have a reaction to that. One reaction could be an attempt to distance oneself from that group, culturally or cosmetically. Another could be increased pride in one’s culture or “natural” appearance. The OP was impolitic, to be sure, but behind the excess vitriol lies a legitimate issue, at least in my opinion. You now may return to the scheduled pile on already in progress. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/55 "2003-12-02T15:03:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Whats up with the junior modding disclaimers? This is the second time I’ve seen it. \*\* I think everyone’s a little nervous about stepping on toes since **Zenster** got banned for “junior modding”. Oh, and **Hydrocortisone** , I anxiously await your enlightenment. Surely you will be writing a book outlining which feminine beauty routines are acceptable, and which are sell-outs? When will said book be available for purchase? Oh, BTW, I need your opinion on this, for sure. I have a sister who is a lesbian. She’s very butch. Keeps her hair short, never carries a purse or wears a dress. So, is she selling out her feminine heritage by acting masculine? Or, would it be that if she started acting fem, she would be selling out her lesbianism? Hmmm. Sure makes ya think!:wally ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/56 "2003-12-02T15:05:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by norinew \* > \*\*I think everyone’s a little nervous about stepping on toes since **Zenster** got banned for “junior modding”. > \*\* That and the fact that I got accussed of it by **Cajun Man**. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/57 "2003-12-02T15:12:59Z")
Ah, makes sense, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/58 "2003-12-02T15:13:30Z")
I got to be the only persons who’s not a sell out. I’m white… very white (Swedish), and I **bleach** my hair. Obviously I’m very proud of my heritage and celebrate it by enhancing my natural whiteness. Or it could just be a way to look less bald… guess which it is. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/59 "2003-12-02T15:18:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Formally, you’d contact an administrator when you feel a moderator has treated you unfairly. > \*\* But they won’t do anything. Plus, you run the risk of them coming 'round and filling your mouth with cement. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474/60 "2003-12-02T15:20:44Z")
Did anyone else expect this to be about Michael Jackson? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-black-women-for-trying-to-look-white/216474.md?page=4)