# So, black hole is racist?.... Really? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 22, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358 "2008-07-22T12:54:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/21 "2008-07-22T16:31:26Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] Isn’t it sexist, too? [/QUOTE] Haven’t astronomers determined that at the center of every galaxy there’s a big white dick? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/22 "2008-07-22T16:36:45Z")
What an ignorant and niggardly attitude. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/23 "2008-07-22T16:44:12Z")
[QUOTE=jali] Sooo last week. [/QUOTE] Seconded. [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YsEoVuotyk) is considered good press for JWP. This guy is a junkie for attention. This is far from his worst and as noted he’s been at this for years. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/24 "2008-07-22T17:15:06Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] I read somewhere that Russian astronomers are reluctant to use the term “black hole”, because translated literally into Russian it has a rather … rude meaning. Dunno if it is true or not. 😉 [/QUOTE] I read the same thing about the French, where the phrase apparently has a vagina connotation IIRC. Which makes the [No Hair Theorem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_hair_theorem) somewhat more interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/25 "2008-07-22T17:18:26Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] I read the same thing about the French, where the phrase apparently has a vagina connotation IIRC. Which makes the [No Hair Theorem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_hair_theorem) somewhat more interesting… [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > “Black holes have no hair.” 😃 This one writes itself … ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/26 "2008-07-22T17:32:33Z")
When I become Evil Overlord, I will create a system of **Rest Homes For The Terminally Stupid** , so that they can be taken care of and never have to worry about the big bad world outside their doors. Conversely, the rest of us will not be required to dance around their stupidity. Of course, being the _ **Evil** _ Overlord, some degrees of excessive stupidity will put the terminal in terminally stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/27 "2008-07-22T17:35:30Z")
[QUOTE=Chimera] When I become Evil Overlord, I will create a system of **Rest Homes For The Terminally Stupid** , so that they can be taken care of and never have to worry about the big bad world outside their doors. Conversely, the rest of us will not be required to dance around their stupidity. Of course, being the _ **Evil** _ Overlord, some degrees of excessive stupidity will put the terminal in terminally stupid. [/QUOTE] You could toss them in a “black hole”, for example. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/28 "2008-07-22T18:03:05Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] I read the same thing about the French, where the phrase apparently has a vagina connotation IIRC. [/QUOTE] :dubious: We use the phrase “un trou noir” all the time at work, and I see no one sniggering or giggling. I’ve used the phrase in front of my boss and colleagues and no one’s ever batted an eyelid. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/29 "2008-07-22T18:07:03Z")
I was born in Blackburn, Lancashire. There were rumours of a campaign to get the name of the city changed. Big fat juicy :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/30 "2008-07-22T18:17:12Z")
[QUOTE=Angua] :dubious: We use the phrase “un trou noir” all the time at work, and I see no one sniggering or giggling. I’ve used the phrase in front of my boss and colleagues and no one’s ever batted an eyelid. [/QUOTE] Perhaps it was only when the term was recently coined. I found this reference with a quick Google. > **[Black Holes, Quasars - Crystalinks](http://www.crystalinks.com/black_holes.html)** “Prior to that time, the term black star was used occasionally. The latter term appears in an early episode of Star Trek, and was still used occasionally after 1967. This is because some people found the term “black hole” obscene when translated into French or Russian, for example.” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/31 "2008-07-22T18:25:26Z")
[QUOTE=Chimera] When I become Evil Overlord, I will create a system of **Rest Homes For The Terminally Stupid** , so that they can be taken care of and never have to worry about the big bad world outside their doors. Conversely, the rest of us will not be required to dance around their stupidity. Of course, being the _ **Evil** _ Overlord, some degrees of excessive stupidity will put the terminal in terminally stupid. [/QUOTE] I find your ideas appealing, and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. Also, do you have a need for a Chief Henchperson? If so, I’d be interested in applying for the job. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/32 "2008-07-22T18:27:23Z")
Wow, that’s some high-level retarded right there. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/33 "2008-07-22T18:30:32Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Wow, that’s some high-level retarded right there. [/QUOTE] Truly, Price could use an education on what black holes really are. He can start [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=435435). ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/34 "2008-07-22T18:46:01Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] I was born in Blackburn, Lancashire. [/QUOTE] I heard there are a bunch of holes there. Something like 4000? Are they black? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/35 "2008-07-22T19:09:10Z")
[QUOTE=MrSquishy] I heard there are a bunch of holes there. Something like 4000? Are they black? [/QUOTE] You’d have to ask someone who’s seen them. Perhaps a certain Mr. Al Hall. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/36 "2008-07-22T20:43:55Z")
> [@](#): > > That prompted Judge Thomas Jones, who is black, to demand an apology from Mayfield for his racially insensitive analogy What? No slap down for the other guy who sided with the stupid and demanded an **apology**? Now _that_ was some brass ball stupid. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/37 "2008-07-22T20:47:09Z")
[QUOTE=Death of Rats] What? No slap down for the other guy who sided with the stupid and demanded an **apology**? Now _that_ was some brass ball stupid. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] I wonder if the judge really thought Price has a legitimate point, or if his thinking was more along the line of, “Just apologize to him so he’ll shut up and we can move along.” ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/38 "2008-07-22T22:30:10Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] You could toss them in a “black hole”, for example. 😃 [/QUOTE] I say we throw them into the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Best place for them- there, the galaxy really _will_ rotate around them. OTOH, then we’d have to orbit around their stupidity, and I’m not sure that’s such an improvement over dancing around it. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/39 "2008-07-22T22:43:09Z")
J.W. Price does have a point though. Physicists originally accounted for the fact that matter appeared to vanish at the event horizon of a black hole by hypothesizing that it was being stolen by infinitely dense Negroes living inside. Years later, John Wheeler recieved a Nobel prize nomination for his revised field equations which conclusively proved Einstein’s theory that Mexicans were really to blame. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358/40 "2008-07-22T23:12:51Z")
\*Black hole sun Won’t you come And wash away the rain Black hole sun Won’t you come, won’t you come\* (And the second guy is a _judge_?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-black-hole-is-racist-really/457358.md?page=3)