# So. That's what the race card looks like... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 31, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448 "2004-03-31T02:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/61 "2004-04-02T16:36:52Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Ooh what about the soup? Is the soup Campbell’s? The chicken noodle is, to my untrained eye, identical to the “good” Campbell’s soup. That stuff that comes in a jar… You know. That stuff. Argh. Anyway. Is it Campbell’s? 😉 Actually, yes it is. The creamy potato with bacon is nice. 😉 Or, you could just have the veggie with rotini, which is also delicious (and contains no pig). ---
**Author:** ![3.885AM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/58956e/32.png) [@3.885AM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3.885AM)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/62 "2004-04-02T17:34:04Z")
Where I get in trouble with this is not taking it seriously. I am white, wife is black, and we have 3 teen age kids (well one just turned 20). And this sort of thing is a running joke here, “Do the dishes! You’re only making me do them because I’m BLACK!!” so on the rare occasion that I run into this in the real world it just sounds silly. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/63 "2004-04-02T17:46:24Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > Here’s another. It hit close to home because I’ve been in a few situations where I’ve been politely taken advantage of by some authority figure. I allowed myself to be walked over each time, but if I’d have rightfully taken a stand, some arrogant know-nothing bystander would have easily deemed me in the wrong. If somebody sees a ballistic black person in a conflict with somebody behind a desk or a badge, the OP proves who’s going to be the “bad guy” in everybody’s mind. And I never used the “race card” either, even though both situations it would have fit; but that has nothing to do with my anti-rant anyway. What stuck out in my mind was that the OP made it a point to point out how “polite” the person behind the counter was being. It strikes me that you are projecting here - seriously, how likely is it that a counter person would say something racist to a customer that would deserve his response? And if she did, wouldn’t his response have been different, rather than complaining about the cleanliness and getting someone else to make his salad? Aren’t you kind of, well, pre-judging people here yourself? ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/64 "2004-04-02T17:47:59Z")
> [@](#): > > _LonesomePolecat_ > Nuts to you. You WEREN’T EVEN THERE but you’re absolutely sure the OP got it all wrong. You’re a racist asshole. I didn’t say I was absolutely sure she got it all wrong, I’m just not absolutely sure she got it all right. She even said she wasn’t paying attention at first! You weren’t there either, what makes you so certain of anything? ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/65 "2004-04-02T18:06:56Z")
> [@](#): > > _featherlou_ > It strikes me that you are projecting here - seriously, how likely is it that a counter person would say something racist to a customer that would deserve his response? And if she did, wouldn’t his response have been different, rather than complaining about the cleanliness and getting someone else to make his salad? Nobody said anything about _saying_ something racist. The guy felt he was being wronged. The OP already admitted that the “race card” part of the guy’s rant was insignificant, so that wasn’t the basis of his anger. But he may have believed that his race was the reason he was being wronged, so he threw it out. I don’t know. The point is, I’m wary about easily choosing sides in situations like this, especially when they’ve been racially charged and then recounted by someone who has “NEVER heard anything remotely ressembling this before.” It’s easy to laugh at the angry black guy when it seems that everyone around him is calm. But everyone else is calm because they’re not the ones being wronged. For that reason, it’s impossible for a black person to stand up for himself; he either gets walked over or he’s an “asshole” (again, I wasn’t there, so I’m not necessarily taking his side). ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/66 "2004-04-02T18:56:11Z")
I will say one more thing, and then I refuse to comment on this thread again. The guy was acting like an asshole, I don’t care if he was black, white, or tatooed pink. He _was_ harassing the server, and acted like a jerk even before bringing up the fact that he was black. You guys can say whatever you want about the rest of my OP, but I know that this part is true. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/67 "2004-04-02T19:34:03Z")
**pizzabrat** I love ya, but you’ll be black _and_ blue if you react to everything with such a forcefull knee-jerk. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/68 "2004-04-02T19:55:45Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > Who put the bacon in **your** pickles? Do I smell a catch phrase? ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/69 "2004-04-02T23:26:10Z")
> [@kung fu lola](#): > > Pillsbury cookie dough (just like Tim Horton’s!)… That’s a change. I used to watch the bakers mixing everything before sticking it in the oven. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/70 "2004-04-02T23:40:48Z")
> [@Obsidian Flutterby](#): > > That’s a change. I used to watch the bakers mixing everything before sticking it in the oven. Schneider, Black Diamond, … **kung fu lola** seems to be quoting Canadian brands. U.S. mileage probably varies. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/71 "2004-04-02T23:51:51Z")
Disregaurd all of my previous posts. I was just having one of my crazed-narcissistic moments. There was no reason to make this about me… ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/72 "2004-04-03T00:01:41Z")
> [@vd](#): > > Schneider, Black Diamond, … > > **kung fu lola** seems to be quoting Canadian brands. U.S. mileage probably varies. I am in Canada, and I used to work for them not that long ago 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/73 "2004-04-03T00:13:07Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > Here’s another. It hit close to home because I’ve been in a few situations where I’ve been politely taken advantage of by some authority figure. I allowed myself to be walked over each time, but if I’d have rightfully taken a stand, some arrogant know-nothing bystander would have easily deemed me in the wrong. If somebody sees a ballistic black person in a conflict with somebody behind a desk or a badge, the OP proves who’s going to be the “bad guy” in everybody’s mind. And I never used the “race card” either, even though both situations it would have fit; but that has nothing to do with my anti-rant anyway. What stuck out in my mind was that the OP made it a point to point out how “polite” the person behind the counter was being. So…you don’t regularly use the race card (which was one of the hypos I have about why you’d react the way you did to the OP) but you _wish_ you did? It seems more illogical to assume everytime you hear “it’s because I’m _black_!!” that it’s actually legit, rather than assuming whoever is pulling out the card is just doing it for a reaction. Because honestly, how the hell would you _know_? I don’t know, maybe I’ve got some leftover hostile feelings from when I worked in customer service and had the race card pulled out on _me_. I assure you, I’ve never made a decision in a professional capacity because of someones color. And I got rightfully offended when I was accused of being a bigot because some asshole decided to use his/her race to shame someone into giving in to whatever they desired. And what the hell is wrong with the OP commenting on how the cashier was being polite? How else is she _supposed_ to act? Should we chastise her for being polite? What alternative did she have? Don’t you think you would deserve some praise (or at least notice) if you kept your cool and was being polite as a customer abused you and accused you of being a racist for having a bit of bacon fall into the pickle bin? Seriously, what _planet_ are you from? ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/74 "2004-04-03T00:50:05Z")
> [@](#): > > _lezlers_ > So…you don’t regularly use the race card (which was one of the hypos I have about why you’d react the way you did to the OP) but you wish you did? Okay, you completely misread my post. I didn’t say I wish I used the “race card”, I said I wish I stood up for myself. I said the race card would have fit, but I don’t think it would have been prudent. I personally don’t see the point of that (“Hey, this is just because I’m black!” “Yeah? So?”). > [@](#): > > And what the hell is wrong with the OP commenting on how the cashier was being polite? How else is she supposed to act? Should we chastise her for being polite? What alternative did she have? Don’t you think you would deserve some praise (or at least notice) if you kept your cool and was being polite as a customer abused you and accused you of being a racist for having a bit of bacon fall into the pickle bin? You missed my point because you’ve already decided that the employee was in the right. I wasn’t chastising her for being polite, I was saying that it had nothing to do with her right/wrong status in the conflict. She could have been perfectly cheery while she purposefully tried to hide a handful of bacon underneath the man’s lettuce (just an example). > [@](#): > > It seems more illogical to assume everytime you hear “it’s because I’m black!!” that it’s actually legit, rather than assuming whoever is pulling out the card is just doing it for a reaction. Because…? I’ve personally never heard or overheard “it’s because I’m black” in real life, so it’s not like it ever really comes up. And besides all of that, I already said disregaurd my posts. ---
**Author:** ![agiantdwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@agiantdwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agiantdwarf)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/75 "2004-04-03T00:53:19Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > I’m reminded of the woman who sued McDonalds because she was burnt by a hot pickle that fell out of her hamburger :rolleyes: that story sure got distorted ---
**Author:** ![agiantdwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@agiantdwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agiantdwarf)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/76 "2004-04-03T01:06:15Z")
Also, the opposite of the race card is hilarious: yell racial epithets at an individual, then claim to only hate [split infinitive!] the individual, not the entire race. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/77 "2004-04-03T01:28:28Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > Okay, you completely misread my post. I didn’t say I wish I used the “race card”, I said I wish I stood up for myself. Since when does standing up for yourself require a person to bring race into the mix? I’m all for standing up for yourself, but I don’t see how this is an excuse for pulling out the race card when it’s not warranted (and in all the times I’ve seen it pulled, which as been many, it wasn’t once warranted. Hell, we’ve got black people posting about how they _joke_ about it. If it could be legitimately pulled out enough to require one to automatically assume it’s legit, to the point of not believing a first hand witness’s account of it, I doubt it would be as big of a joke as it is). > [@](#): > > I said the race card would have fit, but I don’t think it would have been prudent. I personally don’t see the point of that (“Hey, this is just because I’m black!” “Yeah? So?”). So since it’s not always prudent to pull out the race card, we should automatically assume that when it _is_ pulled, it’s because the cashier/server/whoever is a raging bigot, tryin’ to keep a brotha down? That’s like saying, because it’s not good to steal, whenever someone does, it must be because they’ve got good _reason_. Or more in line with the present topic, if a customer goes apeshit on a server, we should assume it’s because the server is _trying_ to slight them. Because the server _hates_ them, see? Otherwise, the asshole _surely_ wouldn’t be ranting and raving at them, now would they? Oh wait, that’s a ridiculous line of reasoning. > [@](#): > > You missed my point because you’ve already decided that the employee was in the right. Well, you’ve already decided the employee was in the wrong. We’re both doing some assuming, here. The difference is that: - I’m making my assumption after hearing a first hand recount of the incident, and giving the person who was, you know, _there_ the benefit of the doubt. You’re assuming the first hand witness is lying. Who’s making the safer assumption? \*I’m also making my assumption from my first hand experiences in seeing the race card be used. And like I’ve said before, I’ve seen it a lot. I’ve had it pulled on me. In my experience, I’ve never once seen it be _legitimately_ pulled, but I’ve seen it pulled for reactionary purposes quite often. You’ve never seen it pulled. So it follows then that you’ve never seen it _legitimately_ be pulled. But you’re assuming that whenever it is, it’s legit? Again, who’s making the safer assumption? > [@](#): > > I wasn’t chastising her for being polite, I was saying that it had nothing to do with her right/wrong status in the conflict. She could have been perfectly cheery while she purposefully tried to hide a handful of bacon underneath the man’s lettuce (just an example). No, it had to do with the fact that she remained polite while he kept on ranting and raving. That helps us with our above assumptions, see? You can tell a lot about a person by how the handle conflict. One person is calm and polite, the other is spewing vitriol. You’re not sure what exactly happened. Which person are you going to give the benefit of the doubt to? > [@](#): > > And besides all of that, I already said disregaurd my posts. You posted that while I was composing my previous post. Not like it matters, anyway. If you address a post to me, I’m going to respond. You don’t get to dictate who is allowed to respond to you on a public message board. You’re saying to disregard your previous posts, yet you still defend them. Not giving much reason to disregard them then, are you? ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/78 "2004-04-03T01:54:26Z")
Sorry about the stupid joke post. The fact is, this crap really pisses me off more than it should. “I’m a veteran, can you spare some change?” The VA is housed in the Federal Building two blocks from here. May I give you directions? “You just hate me because I fought in Vietnam.” “I’m a poor student, can you spare me some change?” Have you spoken with the Bursar and tried to arrange some student aid? “You just hate me because I’m Asian.” “I need some cigarettes, got a couple of bucks?” Well, no. I won’t give you any money to buy crack, either. The Mission is two blocks down and three blocks over. “You just hate me because I’m black/white trash/homosexual/mixed-race/a woman/hispanic/french canadian/mentally ill/Native American/wearing silly pants.” Stop it. Just stop. I now _do_ believe that not only do we have Equal Opportunity, but that I will be passed over for a less-qualified applicant purely based on race/gender/sexual orientation/whatever. When I made my last job application, the fact that I was a white male was no help at all, believe me. Flame away. ---
**Author:** ![htns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@htns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/htns)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/79 "2004-04-03T06:17:29Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > And what about the “gay” card? Can I be a snivelly little whiner and pull that? I wanna be a victim and have no responsibility for my actions either, waaahh! Is it possible to pull half a card? I’ve had sex with other men before, am I bi? Can I pull that card? Just let me count that as a card of some sort, and I’m happy. I can’t call myself a bisexual, as I do prefer women, but I’ve been known to be a “bottom” on occasion. But then again, my sexuality is my business, and I’m keeping that private. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448/80 "2004-04-03T06:24:47Z")
What about the sexism card? Would it work if I were to say, “it’s because I’m a woman, isn’t it?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-thats-what-the-race-card-looks-like/237448.md?page=5)