# RNC attendee: 'This is how we feed animals.' **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 29, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071 "2012-08-29T20:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/61 "2012-08-31T14:41:46Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Yes, it does. You’re the one connected two sentences that aren’t connected. They are quite clearly connected. If the “them” in the second sentence doesn’t refer to the “someone” in the first sentence then the second sentence has no context and makes no sense at all. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/62 "2012-08-31T14:42:25Z")
Well, golly gee I asked him if he was a racist, and he said “No”! So, there you go. Hey, he even has some friends who are black! Shows how wrong you were! ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/63 "2012-08-31T14:46:42Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Well, golly gee I asked him if he was a racist, and he said “No”! So, there you go. Hey, he even has some friends who are black! Shows how wrong you were! Stop playing stupid games. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/64 "2012-08-31T14:53:44Z")
He’s simply mocking _yours_. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/65 "2012-08-31T15:03:04Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > He’s simply mocking _yours_. Now let’s be fair. **lance** has clearly established in this thread the level of “credibility and integrity” he should be credited with. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/66 "2012-08-31T15:04:49Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > No, I think my interpretation of what he said is correct. I think he was imprecise. It quite obviously isn’t. Read again: > [@magellan01](#): > > You’re missing my point. **Someone** does something boorish. I throw peanuts I’m holding at **them** and say something to the effect, “I might as well feed the animals”. Emphasis added. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/67 "2012-08-31T15:11:51Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Stop playing stupid games. I’m not playing a stupid game. Just ask me! ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/68 "2012-08-31T15:30:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It quite obviously isn’t. Read again: > > Emphasis added. We have different interpretations. Reasonable people can disagree. What you don’t seem to understand is that I think he didn’t mean to write it the way he did. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/69 "2012-08-31T15:34:23Z")
Here is my test for whether something is obviously racist or not: If you heard that someone at a convention somewhere threw peanuts at someone and said “this is how we feed animals” and you did NOT know the victim was black, would you say, “hmm, that sounds racist, I wonder if the victim was black?” I wouldn’t, and I don’t think anyone else would either. It’s just not that closely associate with racism. If it had been watermelon thrown and someone called an ape, we’d all know it was a racist attack. But this is not clear enough. I have my credibility. When I make a charge of racism, it’s not done lightly. You guys can do what you want. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/70 "2012-08-31T15:45:48Z")
Well, for some people to see racism, I guess they just need to be hit in the stomach with a flagpole. Sometimes racists drag people behind their trucks or wear hoods. Other times they just call them names. At least you can see some of it. I guess that’s a positive. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/71 "2012-08-31T16:15:15Z")
Definitely **RACIST**. Not only is it unseemly to call anyone an animal, A “beast” harkens back to the 19th century idea that African Americans and people of color were “sub-human” hence, an animal.The proof, they point to the bible, all decendents of Noah’s son Ham, thought to be dark skinned, were cursed due to Ham’s devience. So if you have biblical proof of someone not being quite human you can justify slavery as just and necessary. The camera operator was a black female. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it being racist. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/72 "2012-08-31T16:22:50Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > “apes” and “animals” are not the same word. Oh you’re good. :dubious: I think I’m starting to like you. I’ve never seen someone explore the fine semantic definitions between apes and animals. Of all the defenses I thought you’d try, I never would have imagined that you’d come up with that one. Truly, it takes a mind already saturated by GOP propaganda, soaking in it like a sponge in the ocean, to come up with that line of defense. Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/73 "2012-08-31T16:42:20Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Well, for some people to see racism, I guess they just need to be hit in the stomach with a flagpole. Sometimes racists drag people behind their trucks or wear hoods. Other times they just call them names. > > At least you can see some of it. I guess that’s a positive. And sometimes people see racism when it’s not there. Do you deny that? So it’s important to make sure you get it right, either way. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/74 "2012-08-31T16:45:32Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > We have different interpretations. Reasonable people can disagree. > > What you don’t seem to understand is that I think he didn’t mean to write it the way he did. Not being psychic is among my (few) failings. So yes, I didn’t understand that, since you didn’t say it… especially since you referred to your interpretation of “what he said”, rather than what he meant to say. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/75 "2012-08-31T16:46:09Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Oh you’re good. :dubious: I think I’m starting to like you. I’ve never seen someone explore the fine semantic definitions between apes and animals. Of all the defenses I thought you’d try, I never would have imagined that you’d come up with that one. Truly, it takes a mind already saturated by GOP propaganda, soaking in it like a sponge in the ocean, to come up with that line of defense. Bravo! So now calling someone an animal is an obvious, undeniable racial slur indistinguishable from calling them an ape. Great. Like I said, I don’t make accusations of racism lightly. You can if you want, but that hurts your credibility. Without access to the minds of the people who threw the peanuts, all we can do is work with the evidence we have. Sorry, but calling someone an animal is not undeniable, obvious evidence of racism. Far from it. And to say so is good for the cause of fighting racism, because if you make false accusations of racism, they hurt your credibility. The right-wingers already use that - they call it “playing the race card” and belittle accusations of racism, even when they really are obvious. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/76 "2012-08-31T16:48:54Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > Definitely **RACIST**. Not only is it unseemly to call anyone an animal, Unseemly? No, according to you, it is always racist. > [@](#): > > A “beast” harkens back to the 19th century idea that African Americans and people of color were “sub-human” hence, an animal.The proof, they point to the bible, all decendents of Noah’s son Ham, thought to be dark skinned, were cursed due to Ham’s devience. So if you have biblical proof of someone not being quite human you can justify slavery as just and necessary. > > The camera operator was a black female. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it being racist. You have made a great argument that it COULD be racist (which is already obvious). Not that it definitely was. Is it possible to call someone an animal without it being racist? yes or no? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/77 "2012-08-31T16:54:20Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > …I’ve lived my whole life in the South. I have this down pretty well, thanks. Yes, you’ve swallowed it whole… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/78 "2012-08-31T16:54:59Z")
Of course it’s possible. The reason nobody here is willing to give _these_ people the benefit of the doubt is that nobody can think of any other reason why they might have meant something else. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/79 "2012-08-31T16:58:43Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Yes, you’ve swallowed it whole… Sorry, that’s not an argument. Are you accusing me of racism? If so, let me know so I can put you on ignore. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071/80 "2012-08-31T17:00:21Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Of course it’s possible. The reason nobody here is willing to give _these_ people the benefit of the doubt is that nobody can think of any other reason why they might have meant something else. That’s true. As a Democrat, I get awful mad when Republicans accuse me of things based on their bias against Dems. So I give them the same respect. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-attendee-this-is-how-we-feed-animals/633071.md?page=5)