# "Snowflake" is just so apropo **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 31, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172 "2017-08-31T14:35:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/1 "2017-08-31T14:35:15Z")
gag. > **[Greek Life retreat cancelled after banana peel found in tree](https://www.campusreform.org/article?id=9679)** > > 0 A Greek Life retreat at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) was promptly cancelled this weekend after a banana peel was found hanging in a tree. “To be clear, many members of our community were hurt, frightened, and upset by what occurred at IMPACT,” … After word of the banana spread throughout the retreat, leaders decided to end the event early. Arndt explained that she “felt it was imperative to provide space immediately to students affected by this incident.” According to The DM, some students left the retreat in tears, with McNeil noting that they “didn’t feel welcome” and “didn’t feel safe.” Swanson [who admitted to discarding the banana peel in a tree after he was unable to locate a garbage can] apologized for the incident, writing in a statement that he wants to “sincerely apologize for the events that took place this past weekend.” “Although unintentional, there is no excuse for the pain that was caused to members of our community,” he continued. “I have much to learn and look forward to doing such and encourage all members of our community to do the same.” ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/2 "2017-08-31T14:45:27Z")
Sorry you find this so triggering. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/3 "2017-08-31T14:49:09Z")
Yes, it sounds ridiculous. No, it’s not completely out of left (heh) field. If you follow the link to the other news story: > [@](#): > > She said the image was especially disturbing in light of an incident on American University’s campus in May of this year. The morning Taylor Dumpson was to take over as the school’s first female black student government president, students found bananas hanging from nooses across campus. Some of the bananas were inscribed with references to Dumpson’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. > “That, to me, was a slap in the face to see that banana hanging in a tree after talking about the personal truths of our campus,” McNeil said. ---
**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, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/4 "2017-08-31T14:57:53Z")
Context. It is important. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/5 "2017-08-31T14:58:49Z")
Thank heaven we have brave publications like _Campus Reform_, searching out these important stories that might otherwise not see the light of day. > [@](#): > > Anthony Gockowski > Investigative Reporter Investigating banana peels left in trees. Your Mama must be so proud. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/6 "2017-08-31T15:00:03Z")
The story linked in the OP contains a link to [a story in the _Daily Mississippian_](http://thedmonline.com/greek-life-retreat-ends-abruptly-bias-concerns/), where this was first written up. From [that article](http://thedmonline.com/greek-life-retreat-ends-abruptly-bias-concerns/), “Greek life retreat ends abruptly with bias concerns”: > [@](#): > > “It was so strange and surreal to see it there,” McNeil said. “We were all just sort of paranoid for a second.” > > She said the image was especially disturbing in light of an incident on American University’s campus in May of this year. The morning Taylor Dumpson was to take over as the school’s first female black student government president, students found bananas hanging from nooses across campus. Some of the bananas were inscribed with references to Dumpson’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. > > “That, to me, was a slap in the face to see that banana hanging in a tree after talking about the personal truths of our campus,” McNeil said. The incident then seems to have been resolved, as least as far as who did it and why, but apparently the ensuing discussion did not go well and the rest of the retreat was canceled. So not _exactly_ as the OP described it… ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/7 "2017-08-31T15:02:35Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Thank heaven we have brave publications like _Campus Reform_, searching out these important stories that might otherwise not see the light of day. > > Investigating banana peels left in trees. Your Mama must be so proud. I checked up on them. Campus Reform is a subsidiary of [The Leadership Institute](https://www.leadershipinstitute.org) (tagline: “Training conservative activists, students, and leaders since 1979”). > [@](#): > > The Leadership Institute trains conservatives > Founded in 1979 by its president, Morton C. Blackwell, LI provides training in campaigns, fundraising, grassroots organizing, youth politics, and communications. The Institute teaches conservatives of all ages how to succeed in politics, government, and the media. > > The Institute offers 47 types of training schools, workshops, and seminars; a free employment placement service; and a national field program that trains conservative students to organize campus groups. > > Since 1979, LI has trained more than 190,000 conservative activists, leaders, and students. The Institute’s unique college campus network has grown to more than 1,700 conservative campus groups and newspapers. Pretty much the opposite of an unbiased source; they don’t even try and hide their slant. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/8 "2017-08-31T15:03:19Z")
I used to throw banana peels into trees. I thought it was funny. Now it’s not? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/9 "2017-08-31T15:03:27Z")
Yeah, why do the snowflakes seek out trivial crap like this and get offended? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/10 "2017-08-31T15:05:11Z")
**Okrahoma** , my heart goes out to you. Hugs, man! I know reading about teenagers is pretty traumatic, and I’m glad you feel safe enough to share your concerns with us here. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/11 "2017-08-31T15:20:07Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > I used to throw banana peels into trees. I thought it was funny. Now it’s not? Of course not. Who does a pratfall in a tree? ---
**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:** [August 31, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/12 "2017-08-31T15:22:15Z")
Next, maybe we can get to the bottom of that whole ‘sneakers hanging from telephone wires’ thing. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/13 "2017-08-31T15:25:59Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > gag. Be strong. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/14 "2017-08-31T15:40:36Z")
Good thing nobody climbed that tree. They might have slipped. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/15 "2017-08-31T16:16:56Z")
Best wishes, **Okrahoma**. Hopefully you’ll get over this and be able to move onto bigger and better things. Life is tough out there, but with time and effort, you’ll get through it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/16 "2017-08-31T16:24:48Z")
Thoughts and prayers, **Okrahoma.** ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/17 "2017-08-31T16:29:21Z")
**"Snowflake" is just so apropo** Are you calling the racist sheriff in Arizona a snowflake? That’s not very nice. Arizona people don’t handle snow well. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/18 "2017-08-31T16:32:49Z")
> [@](#): > > [CampusReform.org](http://CampusReform.org) is a project of the Leadership Institute. Ok… > [@](#): > > **The Leadership Institute trains conservatives** > > Since 1979, LI has trained more than 190,000 conservative activists, leaders, and students. The Institute’s unique college campus network has grown to more than 1,700 conservative campus groups and newspapers. yeah, no bias here. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/19 "2017-08-31T16:42:34Z")
The word is **ap·ro·pos** (with an “s” on the end) ˌaprəˈpō/ preposition 1. with reference to; concerning. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172/20 "2017-08-31T16:44:06Z")
I agree with ThelmaLou. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowflake-is-just-so-apropo/795172.md?page=2)