# Shriekers here - MrDibble, Der Trihs **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 21, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467 "2013-11-21T19:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/101 "2013-11-22T14:28:11Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > We all damned well know what black and white in this country means. Can’t define it, but you know it when you see it? Here’s the thing: we all _ **don’t** _ actually know what it means. And that’s perhaps the best clue that it’s an ill-defined social construct instead of some bright-line genetic divide. In Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s immortal _Show Boat_, a despicable river rat reveals to the local sheriff Julie’s shame: although she appears to be white, and is married to a white man, her mother was Negro. The sheriff reluctantly arrives to arrest Julie for miscegenation, because, as he explains, “One drop of Negro blood makes you a Negro – at least around these parts.” (At the risk of being accused of posting a spoiler for a show eighty years old, Julie’s husband Steve saves the day: just before the sheriff boards the river boat, he pricks his wife’s hand and sucks a bit of her blood into his mouth. And when the sheriff arrives, he defends his marriage: it’s not miscegenation, he says, because he too has “more than a drop of Negro blood in him.”) So that was the standard along the Mississippi River in 1887. Clearly it’s not the standard now. What changed? (Hint: “The genetics” is not the right answer.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/102 "2013-11-22T14:40:15Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > You’re still wrong. You’re still dishonest. And you are of low character. Would you say I’m of loose morals? I need a reference. > [@](#): > > But you know that the restaurant mentioned in a TV show was a real one. I’m so happy for you. Well, we know you don’t think knowing stuff is important. > [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Is it wrong that I’m a little hurt that I wasn’t pitted as well on this thread? There there. There there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen **Der Trihs** say something that was anti-woman, but his attitude toward women and his endless litany of complaints about society’s unfairness to men are very creepy in the usual MRA 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:** [November 22, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/103 "2013-11-22T14:41:22Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What changed? (Hint: “The genetics” is not the right answer.) Broadway audiences demanded more musical numbers and less dialogue. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/104 "2013-11-22T15:20:55Z")
Bricker: “Here’s the thing: we all don’t actually know what it means. And that’s perhaps the best clue that it’s an ill-defined social construct instead of some bright-line genetic divide.” My point is that by using an ill-defined social construct does NOT equal racism. Shouting racism over the use of such a social construct may well be ignorant, incorrect, inaccurate or a lot of other things, but not necessarily racism. Flinging the race card around trivializes racism and it is not as though there was not plenty of real racism to throw that flag on. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/105 "2013-11-22T15:35:16Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > My point is that by using an ill-defined social construct does NOT equal racism. It’s probably time you acknowledged that **MrDibble** didn’t say using that construct it’s racist. He said using it in a particular set of circumstances is racist. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/106 "2013-11-22T15:47:19Z")
Ancient joke: DOCTOR: I’ve got bad news and worse news, Governor. GEORGE WALLACE: What’s the bad news? DOCTOR: You have a terrible disease. GEORGE WALLACE: How could that be any worse?! DOCTOR: You have sickle-cell anemia. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/107 "2013-11-22T15:47:45Z")
MrDibble said: “Anyone who ever says anything remotely scientific-sounding, that uses the commonly used races, is a racist” Another poster paraphrased from medical literature (ill-defined social construct) African Americans have a higher prevalence of sickle cell anemia. That is remotely scientific sounding and while it may technically be incorrect, perhaps inaccurate genetics-wise or perhaps even ignorant, but equating every inaccurate use of the term is NOT racist. That is simply too broad a brush. I understand MrDibble’s argument against those using quasi-science in a racist way, but merely improperly using a word, which clearly does have at least some context in common usage goes to far and is slinging the racist insult trivially. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/108 "2013-11-22T15:54:08Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > Another poster paraphrased from medical literature (ill-defined social construct) African Americans have a higher prevalence of sickle cell anemia. That’s not what was being discussed at that point, though. The exchange was: > [@Der Trihs Pitting du jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/273): > > Someone discussing whether all races have the same cognitive abilities may or not be a racist. > [@Der Trihs Pitting du jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs-pitting-du-jour/566714/294): > > Anyone who _ever_ says anything remotely scientific-sounding, that uses the commonly used races, is a racist. As soon as someone says “Blacks [something scientific]”, he’s a racist. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/109 "2013-11-22T15:57:46Z")
I think his last statement makes my point. In a very specific context, yes, MrDibble may well have a point, but broadly slinging racist out over any use of the term Black in context with ANYTHING scientific is overboard. The term racist is simply too loaded to be used so trivially. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/110 "2013-11-22T16:12:32Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I think his last statement makes my point. In a very specific context, yes, MrDibble may well have a point, but broadly slinging racist out over any use of the term Black in context with ANYTHING scientific is overboard. I think you’d have to try pretty hard to prove him wrong. Since I went to the trouble of continuing to read the thread you couldn’t be assed to link to, I saw **armedmonkey** tried to find an exception and the best he could do was say something that wasn’t really scientifically accurate. And **John Mace** found an exception with word games. I’m not sure either one of those examples disproves his statement. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/111 "2013-11-22T16:14:41Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I think his last statement makes my point. In a very specific context, yes, MrDibble may well have a point, but broadly slinging racist out over any use of the term Black in context with ANYTHING scientific is overboard. The term racist is simply too loaded to be used so trivially. Yeah, well, calling people “shriekers” who post entirely in lower case text, with conventional punctuation, is a bit overboard as well. I’m just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/112 "2013-11-22T16:19:31Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Yeah, well, calling people “shriekers” who post entirely in lower case text, with conventional punctuation, is a bit overboard as well. I’m just sayin’. Especially when compared to this calm missive from the other side: > [@magellan01](#): > > Holy shit! You fucking did it again! Are you really that stupid?! Or is it that you’re THAT dishonest?!!! I pointed out your error to you and not only did you try to act the tough guy to minimize your error, you now repeat the same fucking error. > > Unbelievable. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/113 "2013-11-22T16:21:09Z")
If anyone who ever uses anything remotely scientific sounding along with black is racist, then that is a very large club. Racist is an offensive term and should be reserved for real cases. Trivially slinging it around and especially using such broad strokes is being insulting. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/114 "2013-11-22T16:22:15Z")
Actually, I think that shrieking was in my defense although I asked for none and can’t help what others may say. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/115 "2013-11-22T16:30:04Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > Actually, I think that shrieking was in my defense although I asked for none and can’t help what others may say. Actually, that was the point of my posting it here. You have yet to come up with any example even close to what may be called “shrieking” when it comes to those you oppose, and it’s _your_ thread? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/116 "2013-11-22T16:34:40Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > If anyone who ever uses anything remotely scientific sounding along with black is racist, then that is a very large club. Yes. So- do you have a real counterexample? In light of my experience with racists like **brazil84** and **Chief Pedant** , I’m not uncomfortable with the idea that people who use the word that way are racists. Some of them even like it when you call them racist because it gives them a chance to proclaim that they are above such meager things and are mere students of siense (not to be confused with real science, because they don’t know what the fuck that is). Morons who need a fancy excuse to say ‘nigras is dum!’ don’t get a lot of opportunities to act haughty. > [@](#): > > Racist is an offensive term and should be reserved for real cases. Trivially slinging it around and especially using such broad strokes is being insulting. I shudder to think where we would be if not for all these people who live to protect us from overusing the word racism. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/117 "2013-11-22T16:38:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Especially when compared to this calm missive from the other side: > 😃 Of course you ignore how it got to that point and who ratcheted up what. Here’s a hint: Post 24. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/118 "2013-11-22T16:42:41Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > Racist is an offensive term and should be reserved for real cases. Trivially slinging it around and especially using such broad strokes is being insulting. They know it is very, very insulting. It has the power of a charge of “pedophile”. Now you would think that knowing this that these people would want to err on the side of caution, and use it, as you say, for clear cases. But the truth is different. They want to use it as cavalierly as possible. To the point of making a mockery of the word. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/119 "2013-11-22T16:49:46Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That’s not what was being discussed at that point, though. The exchange was: For the record, he’s also said this: [QUOTE=Mr. Dibble] In this context, no, there isn’t. Quite simply, it’s racist to group people into races\* , in-and-of-itself. If it’s racial, it’s racist. - as opposed to ethnicities, valid biological populations or specific genetic groupings. Which races aren’t. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467/120 "2013-11-22T17:02:24Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > It has the power of a charge of “pedophile”. Bullshit. Tons of racists say they don’t care about being called racists. Nobody would ever say “I don’t care if you call me a pedophile.” > [@magellan01](#): > > For the record, he’s also said this: Is linkophobia a thing? [Here’s **MrDibble** ’s post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16866462#post16866462), and I see with what he and **Left Hand of Dorkness** are saying at that point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shriekers-here-mrdibble-der-trihs/674467.md?page=7)