# The Simpsons poke the Politically Incorrect Bear - The Problem with Apu **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091 "2018-04-09T17:17:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/161 "2018-04-12T00:12:56Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Sure go ahead. I let the black woman answer, why not you too? …wow. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/162 "2018-04-12T00:13:51Z")
It’s getting to be quite racial up in here, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/163 "2018-04-12T00:14:14Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Yep. Is the fact that I am an old white guy a way to filter my POV on this? Golly, wouldn’t it be bizarre if someone came into this thread and used “old white guy” to filter out responses. That would be crazy indeed. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/164 "2018-04-12T00:14:32Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Sure go ahead. I let the black woman answer, why not you too? I get it. You’re Simpsons funny. It’s not as tone deaf as their response, but it’s not speaking to my, and **you with the face’s** genuine attempts to answer your question. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/165 "2018-04-12T00:24:34Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > It’s getting to be quite racial up in here, isn’t it? Look, I was totally joking. However, do you not find it a little weird that in a thread about an Indian stereotype filled with complaints about middle aged white men, now is the time you notice it’s getting racial in here? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/166 "2018-04-12T00:26:48Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Look, I was totally joking. However, do you not find it a little weird that in a thread about an Indian stereotype filled with complaints about middle aged white men, now is the time you notice it’s getting racial in here? You’re saying that our complaints about the Simpsons writers’ response being completely tone-deaf is a dig at at their White Male-ness? We’re being racist with the nature of complaint being made? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/167 "2018-04-12T00:29:42Z")
😕😕I agreed it was a little tone deaf. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/168 "2018-04-12T00:33:02Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > 😕😕I agreed it was a little tone deaf. I am not sure how you are trying to invoke White Maleness. Related either to the main issue in the OP or my status. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/169 "2018-04-12T00:47:54Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Look, I was totally joking. However, do you not find it a little weird that in a thread about an Indian stereotype filled with complaints about middle aged white men, now is the time you notice it’s getting racial in here? Who has made complaints specifically about white men? I’m not going to go back and read all the posts in this thread, but to say it’s filled with such complaints is crazy when most of the posts actually support Groening et al. If there are complaints about middle aged white men in this thread, it wouldn’t surprise me if they mostly came from…other middle aged white men. That is not really my problem to address or apologize. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/170 "2018-04-12T00:49:56Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I am not sure how you are trying to invoke White Maleness. Related either to the main issue in the OP or my status. I am not the one who invoked white maleness into this thread and I’m pretty confident that you know that perfectly well. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/171 "2018-04-12T00:55:24Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I am not the one who invoked white maleness into this thread and I’m pretty confident that you know that perfectly well. I mention the fact I’m an old white guy because I am not claiming to speak as part of the affected population in this case while agreeing with the complaint. ?? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/172 "2018-04-12T00:59:08Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Who has made complaints specifically about white men? I’m not going to go back and read all the posts in this thread, but to say it’s filled with such complaints is crazy when most of the posts actually support Groening et al. > > If there are complaints about middle aged white men in this thread, it wouldn’t surprise me if they mostly came from…other middle aged white men. That is not really my problem to address or apologize. Ill leave it to you to cross reference these posters races but from the first page: > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > This situation reminds me exactly of the Cleveland Indians/Chief Wahoo situation. There’s a bunch of people on one side saying “it’s a loving tribute! Look, he’s better than all the white people!” and there’s people on the other side saying “I really don’t like how the actual portrayal makes me feel, as a person who is being portrayed by this cartoon.” The people on the “side” of the cartoon really have no ability to see it from the offended party’s side. > > Frankly I’m disappointed in The Simpsons for bringing out the “political correctness” buzz phrase. Trite. It’s not “political correctness” it’s so much more nuanced. > [@madmonk28](#): > > I think it’s more that we’ve only recently started giving a shit what people besides white men think. > [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > At this point I think we can all agree that tv shows should only have all white members lest non-white people are shown incorrectly. This way white people can not offend non-white people. And all tv shows that have a non-white member should have that member white-washed from the shows history so that only white members are only shown from the very past and into the future. Then everyone will be happy. And I too have better things to do than search every page for you. And I know the last one isn’t a complaint, I am partially defending myself rom the accusation tht I “invoked” the subject as well. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/173 "2018-04-12T01:06:50Z")
But the first two of the three examples aren’t complaints specifically about white men. They allude to assumptions and sentiments that in theory anyone could have. The last example is certainly not a complaint about white men; it’s one more post taking a dismissive stance towards anyone who see problems with minority representations in the media. I hate to suggest this in Cafe Society, but have you had too much to drink or something? Your arguments seem to be flailing around. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/174 "2018-04-12T01:14:12Z")
You are seriously going to say “I think it’s more that we’ve only recently started giving a shit what people besides white men think.” isn’t a complaint about white people? Oh, it’s only a complaint about the white people in charge or something? Ok. I’m the one disconnected. Please carry on without me. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/175 "2018-04-12T01:23:42Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Ok. I’m the one disconnected. …this sounds about right. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/176 "2018-04-12T01:25:39Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Did you read the OP? > > … they decided to make a joke condemning people for being upset about it, now the people they decided to attack are fighting back. … I did. And the other responses in this thread. Thank you for asking, The Simpsons is responding as the show always had when criticized for being inappropriate or offensive. Maybe it’s not been considered and criticized as offensive for a while now, partly because they haven’t been, and partly because the bar has moved so much, but mocking those who are offended? No they don’t write OpEds pointing out how well developed of a character Apu is and explaining how the gol is “getting us all to laugh at the silliness in all the many sub-cultures that comprise America” … they make fun. > [@MacLir](#): > > ♫He was short and fat and rode out of the West > With a Mogen David on his silver vest … > They called him — Irving. Big Irving. > The hundred-and-forty-second fastest gun > In the West.♫ 😃 I can’t believe there is actually someone else alive who knows that song!! [Big short fat Irving.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJgQBvG1XIM) ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/177 "2018-04-12T01:30:21Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > The Simpsons is responding as the show always had when criticized for being inappropriate or offensive. …cite for how many times The Simpsons has directly responded to being “criticized for being inappropriate or offensive”? And that they responded in a similar manner? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/178 "2018-04-12T01:37:34Z")
> [@Carnal](#): > > You are seriously going to say “I think it’s more that we’ve only recently started giving a shit what people besides white men think.” isn’t a complaint about white people? Oh, it’s only a complaint about the white people in charge or something? Ok. I’m the one disconnected. Please carry on without me. Do you disagree that, historically, the interests of white male audiences have been given higher priority than other groups? Look, you can present this as a complaint about white people if it makes you feel as aggrieved as all those Indian-Americans mocked by strangers on the street. I won’t stand in your way. But you can’t see how pathetic it is to complain about a “complaint” that is undeniably true? Forget about race for sec. TV caters to those who spend the most money; it’s all about advertisers. Up until recently, which demographic group had a lock on that? It wasn’t people like me, I assure you. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/179 "2018-04-12T01:44:15Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …this sounds about right. Right. If a person said that “we finally stopped listening to all that Maorian complaining,” you wouldn’t bat an eye. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091/180 "2018-04-12T01:44:34Z")
You want me to cite episodes from the early days in which they mocked the uproar over them? Honestly I can’t remember the individual eps myself but [wiki lists a few](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_The_Simpsons#Bartmania_and_criticism_from_conservatives). I like this one: > [@](#): > > on January 27, 1992 then-President of the United States George H. W. Bush made a speech during his re-election campaign where he said, “We are going to keep on trying to strengthen the American family, to make American families a lot more like the Waltons and a lot less like the Simpsons.”[38] The writers decided that they wanted to respond by adding a response to the next broadcast of The Simpsons, which was a rerun of “Stark Raving Dad” on January 30. The broadcast included a new tongue-in-cheek opening where they watch Bush’s speech. Bart replies, “Hey, we’re just like the Waltons. We’re praying for an end to the Depression, too”.[39][40] The criticism eventually led to the idea for the episode “Two Bad Neighbors”, which has George and Barbara move into the house across the street from the Simpsons.[41] My own memory is filled with "don’t have a cow man"s that were clearly addressed at stand ins for those expressing offense … but I can’t point to exact eps and minutes in the broadcasts. Sorry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-poke-the-politically-incorrect-bear-the-problem-with-apu/812091.md?page=10)