# possibly offensive question, but not intentionally offensive **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 30, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100 "2000-06-30T01:31:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/1 "2000-06-30T01:31:24Z")
I don’t know if it is a local “fad” or what, but I have been seeing a good deal of African Americans in their late teens, and even adults, walking around with infant pacifiers stuck in their mouths. Yes, real, actual, baby pacifiers. What the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_??? This is just totally bizarre and revolting. Has anyone else seen this fad, elsewhere? Can anyone explain to me the purpose of this ridiculousness? ---
**Author:** ![neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neuro-trash_grrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/2 "2000-06-30T01:33:44Z")
I don’t have any insight into your observation. But if anyone could also explain why I am constantly seeing young Hispanic males wearing hairnets… ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/3 "2000-06-30T01:45:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Can anyone explain to me the purpose of this ridiculousness? I imagine it’s the very purpose pacifiers were invented. They can’t get any real titties to suck on. ---
**Author:** ![Lil\_Kiffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Lil\_Kiffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lil_Kiffy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/4 "2000-06-30T01:47:36Z")
Isn’t that a little racist, AerynSun. Oh, that might be because the Aryan in your title. I hate blatant racists, it is disgusting to see such prejudice. ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/5 "2000-06-30T01:56:18Z")
Oh relax Kiffy, it was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/6 "2000-06-30T01:57:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Isn’t that a little racist, AerynSun. Oh, that might be because the Aryan in your title. I hate blatant racists, it is disgusting to see such prejudice. This is a joke, right? Please tell me this is a joke. ---
**Author:** ![single\_files](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@single\_files](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/single_files)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/7 "2000-06-30T01:58:09Z")
I don’t know where you live, but we went through the pacifier phase here about two years ago. Was a teenage thing, black, white and every other shade of juvenile. The pacifiers looked just lovely with those pants that were dragging to their knees. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/8 "2000-06-30T02:00:47Z")
It’s to keep in practice when you’re separated from your crack pipe for extended periods. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/9 "2000-06-30T02:02:41Z")
The way I understood it, a girl wearing a pacifier was indicating that she was willing to give a blowjob; presumably to a fella who became her “man.” I do remember this being a black thing. This was some time ago; can’t say what it might have morphed into. And for the life of me I can’t see anything racist with AerynSun’s little joke. It’s not Dave Barry, to be sure. But racist? Give me a break! ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/10 "2000-06-30T02:06:02Z")
Didn’t Ice Cube suck on a pacifier in _Boyz 'n tha 'Hood_ IIRC? Might be from that , although that movie came out quite a while ago. ---
**Author:** ![Lil\_Kiffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Lil\_Kiffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lil_Kiffy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/11 "2000-06-30T02:07:09Z")
I see that some of you may not have been the focal point of racial slurs before. I have, and while i do no claim I know more than you do, as to the direction of AreynSun’s comment, I do find that comment disturbing. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, I found most of the slurs were not straight-out attacks, but rather subtle hints. I apoligize for my wariness of such comments if I was wrong, but I think prejudice is a horrible thing in all forms. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/12 "2000-06-30T02:10:03Z")
I recently read that teens and young adults that use Ecstasy suck on pacifiers because the drug makes them clench their jaws and grind their teeth alot. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/13 "2000-06-30T02:10:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > I don’t know if it is a local “fad” or what, but I have been seeing a good deal of teens, and adults, walking around with infant pacifiers stuck in their mouths. Yes, real, actual, baby pacifiers. What the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_??? This is just totally bizarre and revolting. Has anyone else seen this fad, elsewhere? Can anyone explain to me the purpose of this ridiculousness? > \*\* I may be wrong, but I think I heard somewhere that when you are trying to quit smoking, sucking on a pacifier replaces the “oral gratification” thing better than chewing gum or sucking on lemon drops. Also better for your teeth. Then again, maybe I dreamed this. Who knows? Scotti ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/14 "2000-06-30T02:11:40Z")
I frequently walk around with a pacifier in my mouth. I usually stick it there to get it out of my daughter’s mouth and forget it’s there. And as far as AerynSun… Kiffy, did you bother to sound Aeryn out like a good little third grader? Sounds suspiciously close to Aaron or Erin. Give it a rest. ---
**Author:** ![Lil\_Kiffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Lil\_Kiffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lil_Kiffy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/15 "2000-06-30T02:14:58Z")
I try hard not to rise to the bait, but it is well known that the Aryan race was supposed to have descended directly from the sun. ---
**Author:** ![sweetcan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@sweetcan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetcan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/16 "2000-06-30T02:18:14Z")
I read an article recently on club kids and ravers…pacifiers are really trendy with them for some reason. Probably because of the freak factor. I have never associated this strange habit with African-Americans; freaks and trends cross all racial types. I didn’t think AerynSun’s comment was racist – however Mjollnir was blatantly so, in light of the OP. It perpetuates the belief that most black people smoke crack. Again, crack does not discriminate. Being a long time lurker and recent member, M’s crack statement ranks among one of the most ignorant and hateful comments I have seen on this board. If it was a joke, it was not in the least funny. ---
**Author:** ![BigJoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@BigJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigJoe)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/17 "2000-06-30T02:21:33Z")
Kiffy, Little tip - don’t act like a Troll if you don’t want to be treated like a Troll - m’kay? ---
**Author:** ![Lil\_Kiffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Lil\_Kiffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lil_Kiffy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/18 "2000-06-30T02:25:21Z")
No clue, how is that a troll? I give up on this subject, “You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the peope some of the time”, but this is insane. I obviously didn’t act like the troll, but fell for the troll’s bait, so ahhhh my bad. ---
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/19 "2000-06-30T02:26:22Z")
I hope no one thinks I was being rascist. I am not. I simply stated that the only group of people I notice doing this fad locally was African American. Nothing more intended. ---
**Author:** ![chicaku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@chicaku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicaku)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100/20 "2000-06-30T02:26:28Z")
Yeah, people who roll with E grind their teeth. The pacifier thing is probably just a fad. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibly-offensive-question-but-not-intentionally-offensive/24100.md?page=2)