I thought Eurotrash was specifically stuck-up rich Europeans who listen to bad German techno and refuse to learn the local customs of whatever country they’re visiting.
Finally, making assumptions based on skin color makes you look like a moron. Cut it out.
You identified a group by color (white) and described them pejoratively (there is something just inherently contemptible and hilarious about the antics of the aforementioned group) as a group. The very definition of racist.
If white trash is not hate speech, then neither is stupid darky. If we are to have a rule about hate speech, then white trash qualifies. I am offended by what I see as inconsistent application of the rule.
I agree with Contrapuntal here. “White trash” is “hate speech” and racist as “nigger” is.
I don’t know how many times I have heard a (non-self admitted) racist explain to ne “Well, I only use 'nigger” to refer to the bad ones, not the *good *coloured people." :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
As in this post by Sampiro in the PIT, when Sampiro relates much the same story as I just did.
** Contrapuntal ** The problem you have is that your terms aren’t analogous. Every term you use to “prove” that White Trash is hate speech, is based on descriptions that white people use to call others and not themselves. White Trash originated differently than the others.
So let me ask you, is the term “high yella”, hate speech?
Contrapuntal, what specifically would you like the hate speech rule to be, if anything? If we don’t warn people for using the phrase “white trash”, do you think we should allow any and all racial epithets? Ever read unmoderated Usenet/Yahoo Groups? If we add “white trash” to the list of hate speech, what about other terms which disparage a group of people, e.g. hick, hillbilly, fatty, retard, etc.? Should we add those too?
While complaints about the unfairness of the current rules are fine, specific suggestions for improvements are far more constructive.
I’ve been called a lot of things in my time. I have never. Ever. EVER. Been accused of racism. Someone mentioned earlier Chris Rock’s use of the word “nigger.” Like he said, there’s white people and white trash, black people and “niggers.” It’s a distinction between people with class and people without class. I’ve met wealthy, privileged white kids who were pure trash. And there are poor people who have far more class than I.
Now. I don’t use the word “nigger” unless I’m quoting Richard Pryor or analyzing it, like now. Somehow, I don’t feel entitled to it. But I know white trash when I hear it see it’s behavior.
Key word: behavior.
Not race. It’s a distinction between people who have respect and manners and those who go into a nice Italian restaurant, loudly complain to the staff and management that the music isn’t Italian enough (even though it’s Frank Sinatra) and loudly (and with poor grammar) announce that no one is getting a “Goddamn tip until someone finds something more Italian.” Anecdote courtesy of a piece of white trash in downtown Nashville.
I’m not sorry I said it.
Oh, and among the great things I’ve been called before I was once called “uncivilized.” Because I was rowdy at a college basketball game. Against a top-ten conference rival. Of course, the girl who said this only came to see her friend sing the national anthem (he nailed it, too). Alas, to some I am certainly a boor. And a bore.
This is the only board I read with any regularity, so I have no idea how the ones you mention operate.
I suppose if the issue is too complicated to delineate, then there should be no rule against hate speech. Let the marketplace of ideas control it.
P.S.
Scott Plaid has disagreed with me for “all the reasons stated already.” I hereby declare victory.
It is my belief that there is an inherent advantage to being born white in this country. We can talk about this if you want, but everything that I have seen leads me to believe that this is true. In other words, if you were to take two people, one black and one white, from the same socio economic background, it is my belief that over time you would see the white person’s “lot in life” be better. If nothing else, they would probably get pulled over a lot less.
It is further my belief that there is an identifiable group (call it whatever fucking sensitive term that you want) which is the subject of this very thread.
Now, if this boils down to the "contemptible and hilarious " comment well I guess that I stand by it. Some of the stuff that you see (I am thinking Cops or Springer) is just funny as hell.
So, just to make sure I’m clear, your opinion is not that “white trash” should be hate speech, but that the hate speech rule should be revoked and any and all racial slurs should be allowed?
Well, that proabably works if you wish to associate yourself with Scott’s method of argumentation.
As to the term:
White trash clearly began life as a racist term. (We’ve discussed this point numerous times, previously.)
However, it has been taken into the language by so many people with no understanding of its racist roots that, while is remains classist and insulting, it has pretty well lost its racist connotations in many parts of the country.
Is it “hate speech”? I dunno. One reason I avoid moderating the Pit is that I can censor insulting language in GD without having to split all the hairs down to discover the category of the insult.
The Admins and Pit mods will have to rule on the acceptability of “white trash” in the Pit, but if you are arguing “hate speech” as a function of the “racist” nature of the phrase, I am afraid that you lost that debate around 40 - 50 years ago when, having come up out of the South with the industrial migration, it began being used throughout the Great Lakes region and the West with no racial connotations associated with it.
We have a rule forbidding hate speech which says simply “Absolutely no hate speech,” with no further explanation. I assume everything not forbidden is allowed. If here is such a thing as hate speech, then “white trash” certainly qualifies, in my mind; but by being allowed in the Pit it is sanctioned otherwise. This idea that people are putting forth that “white” is just a modifier for “trash” is ridiculous.
If it is too dificult to make a judgement call, then yes, anything goes.