# What's the Striaght Dope on racism? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 9, 2000, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694 "2000-08-09T12:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/1 "2000-08-09T12:53:57Z")
In [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=32833&pagenumber=2) thread, a certain **KM2** keeps making jokes about (and only about) black people that, in my view, can be regarded as racist. Now, I understand that there are many jokes in that thread that take a humourous jab at various ethnic groups / nationalities / genders / etc., but isn’t this walking the line a bit too much? FWIW, I called the guy an idiot for posting this garbage. Possibly, Slythe hasn’t seen it yet. Just a heads up, I’d say. But I am also wondering whether I could be overreacting: please tell me if this sort of thing is OK, for future reference. It just seems so odd. As far as KM2 goes, he only seems to post about racial issues. Do a search on all his posts. That, combined with the lack of frequency in his posts makes me have some other suspicions as well, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/2 "2000-08-09T13:11:05Z")
A. Yeah, FWIW, I think you’re overreacting a little bit. There’s racism all around us. I think it’s unrealistic to expect the SDMB to be 100% free of it. There were also jokes in that thread that were probably deeply offensive to handicapped people, nuns, blondes, old ladies, etc., but I don’t see any of them posting a protest. Chill. B. For heaven’s sake, don’t post any accusations along the lines of, “I’ve got you now, Troll-Poster Formerly Known As [whatever]!” **Tuba** doesn’t need any brushfires started in here. Send her an e-mail or something, okay? And anyway, C. **KM2** has been around for a while, saying the same stuff. So he’s back again. So big deal. His registration date’s in 1999, so ya’ll must be used to it by now, right? And, D. Difficult though it may be to believe, there are actually people in this world who find that kind of joke truly amusing. Maybe he’s not just jerking our collective chain–maybe he was just sharing some of his favorite jokes, as requested in the OP. And not everyone cares as deeply about appearing to be Politically Correct. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/3 "2000-08-09T13:22:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > **B. For heaven’s sake, don’t post any accusations along the lines of, “I’ve got you now, Troll-Poster Formerly Known As [whatever]!” Tuba doesn’t need any brushfires started in here. Send her an e-mail or something, okay?** That’s not what I meant at all. I meant to imply that he _might_ be a sock puppet for someone else who wouldn’t do this sort of thing under his own username. No idea who this would be, it just seems so odd to post that infrequently. Well, to me anyway. And I chose to post a thread instead of sending an e-mail because I was genuinely interested in knowing peoples opinions on whether I was overreacting or not. For which I thank you. I’m not into brushfires. If I wanted to flame the guy, I would have done so in the Pit. Just trying to see what to make of this, really. I certainly don’t see anyting wrong with asking it here in ATMB. Oh, and sorry for misspelling “straight” in the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/4 "2000-08-09T13:49:50Z")
I’ve posted a response to him in the thread you mention **Coldfire** , and I’ve responded to him before in less than flattering terms. IIRC however, he did have a non-racially themed thread in the last fortnight or so. In response to **DDG** ’s comment about emailing TubaDiva, I’m not sure I agree in this case. I’m happy for people who are in breach of the TOS to be quietly offed behind a curtain. This would be different: it would be a statement that some views are not compatible with fighting ignorance. I would certainly agree, but can see others might not. picmr ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/5 "2000-08-09T16:25:31Z")
I think a corrolary to **Coldy** ’s question is this: When do non-directional abusive, racist, or derogatory posts cross the line into “Jerkness?” That is, is it possible to be a jerk on general terms, or must the jerkiness be directed _at_ someone specific? I was less than pleased with **KM2** original handle (Klanman), and he got busted for being a jerk. Since then he’s been fairly quiet about forwarding his agenda. Nevertheless, blatant racism seems to me to be skirting the Jerk Maginot Line. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/6 "2000-08-09T16:32:49Z")
That’s not to say that the rest of the jokes in the thread were any great shakes either. I’m certainly not calling for any censure of our dear little Klanboy. Just wondering. (BTW, Coldy, do you read the Onion? This week, “Congress Debates Coolness Of Rush.”) ---
**Author:** ![lunapark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/278dde/32.png) [@lunapark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lunapark)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/7 "2000-08-09T17:49:06Z")
IMHO KM2 crosses the line because he doesn’t post anything **but** racist jokes in the thread in question. I’m not sure if anything can or will be done about it, but it’s just disgusting. If we truly are fighting ignorance this guy needs a swift kick out the door. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/8 "2000-08-09T20:38:29Z")
KM2 has been around for a while- KM2 is actually his second name. His first was “Klanman” (hence “KM2”). Care to guess what the subject he always brought up was? If he’s fighting ignorance, he’s deep undercover. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/9 "2000-08-09T21:34:34Z")
Do you have definitive proof that KM2=Klansman? If so, we’d be interested in seeing it. And yes, this matter is under discussion; I have to tell you, the entire thread is distasteful, but KM’s stuff really stands out. None of it’s funny. your humble TubaDiva Administrator who has no sense of humor where ugly’s involved. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/10 "2000-08-09T21:48:56Z")
Um…yeah. He admitted it. From the [“Black on White Crime!”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=21985) thread: > [@](#): > > First off, I apologize for my earlier postings in other threads. Using the n-word was perhaps not appropriate (even though they call each other a misspelled version of that). I also realize being politically-incorrect is not good for this board, so I will try my best not to upset anyone. > > I applaud those who felt I shouldn’t be banned because my opinions don’t fit in a nicely packaged PC-box. I realize I am different and it may be hard to accept, so I will try to appease everyone while still trying to discuss some issues. > > Nonetheless, I will not be so careless in the future, so please do not ban me based on this posting here. > > However, no one has really answered the question in my OP about the unequal treatment “hate crimes” get. How come when blacks commit crimes against white (which happens with far more frequency) is it not called a “hate crime”? True, poverty may play it’s part, but no one blames poverty when some poor white trash offs a black. And let’s face it, the people who dragged the guy were not rich or even middle-class, nor are many percieved KKK members. The OP was started by Klanman and KM2 admits it was his OP. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/11 "2000-08-09T21:54:00Z")
I would just like to add that I damn near became physically ill after reading most of KM2’s “jokes”. No exaggeration at all. I can’t say that I have many good things to say about some of the other posters’ jokes either. However, I can say that they didn’t make me nearly “lose” my chicken fettucini alfredo. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/12 "2000-08-09T23:48:30Z")
Sorry. I should have stumbled across this yesterday, but I somehow skipped that page while going through the IMHO. It is now locked off. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/13 "2000-08-10T00:29:00Z")
No need to apologize, Slythe. I’m sure you have a life away from the boards as well. I also appreciated Ed Zotti’s warning to KM2. I really did think this little shit is crossing the line bigtime, and I’m glad to see more people agree. Which was the main reason for posting it here instead of mailing Tuba. Really, I wasn’t entirely sure on this. I might have been overreacting: bear in mind that I don’t live in the US. These jokes would DEFINATELY be racist in the Netherlands, but I just wasn’t sure how y’all thought of them. Again, this thread was not intended to flame KM2 or call him out. Although it seems it might as well have been. Andros: looked it up. Pretty funny 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/14 "2000-08-10T01:26:26Z")
KM2’s posting privileges have been removed. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![jally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90ced4/32.png) [@jally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jally)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/15 "2000-08-11T05:11:03Z")
I’m not such a prolific poster nor reader on/of these forums, but this much I’ve noticed during my spurts and flits to SDMB: These boards are predominated by left-brain oriented users, many of whom specialize in RUDISM. By that I mean: not stopping to think if they’re stepping on any toes not stopping to think what the limitations are of the people whom they’re addressing (as compared to the advantages life may have afforded them) For example, I wonder how many of the geeks here even know the EXPERIENTIAL meaning of face-blindness? OR dyslexia? Oh, theoretically they may know, but do they ever stop to think of how this may handicap peoples’ abilities? Or, do they ever stop to think that maybe right-brained or ambidextrous-brained people come to SDMB because they wish to learn things in a way where they’re not threatened or misjudged or condescended to? THESE SDMB GEEKS LACK THE BARE ESSENTIAL: Humanity. Knowing how to be empathic instead of jumping to the rashest, harshest conclusions. NOTE that I’m not making any sweeping judgments here. Note I said “many”. There are also MANY kind geniouses here. And I truly salute them from the bottom of my sluggish brain. And if one considers the effort involved in that, that’s saying alot! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/16 "2000-08-11T05:54:51Z")
Jally, what the hell was the point of that post? So, the guy who broke the rules by having a sock-puppet really has some sort of disease that makes him break rules? Is that what you are saying? Or are you saying that KM2 is so left-brained he didn’t know he was stepping on toes by posting extremely distasteful and racist jokes and breaking forum rules? Or are you just bitching about the board again? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/17 "2000-08-11T05:56:42Z")
jally, that was uncalled-for to say the least. You have been riding the edge too long, my friend. Don’t be surprised if you end up banned. Now that the warning’s out of the way, I want to address your claims. I am not an ‘art-type’ by any means. My idea of a good time involves more technology than creativity (except when I’m writing). And I’ve noticed something about the people here, especially the mods and the admin: They are nicer to people than anyone who posts here has any right to expect them to be. After all, they work for free. No payment of any kind is associated with using the SDMB. Making outrageous accusations does not work here, bucko. Plenty of us have battled with mental illness, physical problems, and a plethora of social ills. We aren’t all nerds with Ph.D.s and nothing better to do (I sure wish I was). Bottom line: WE ARE HUMANS! Treat us with respect or get left. Don’t try to think of us as entities in some great new program. We have physical bodies, physical lives, and physical emotions. Don’t trod on them. We really don’t need that. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/18 "2000-08-11T09:28:54Z")
Add me to the list of people who don’t understand what jally is trying to do. jally, after reading through some of the stuff you have been posting on the boards the last 24 hours, I can ony come to the conclusion that you’re a complete idiot. This isn’t even a flame: it’s an observation. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/19 "2000-08-11T09:37:09Z")
Yes he’s an idiot , he’s also a nut IMO . However that could be just my left brain talking :rolleyes: Sorry to Tubadiva for posting that in her forum but this guy makes me glad there’s a large ocean betwwen us . ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694/20 "2000-08-11T13:16:12Z")
Originally posted by jally: > [@](#): > > …[D]o they ever stop to think that maybe right-brained or ambidextrous-brained people come to SDMB because they wish to learn things in a way where they’re not threatened or misjudged or condescended to? Of course, you’d know about not being threatened, misjudged, or condescended to: > [@](#): > > These boards are predominated by left-brain oriented users, many of whom specialize in RUDISM. > [@](#): > > THESE SDMB GEEKS LACK THE BARE ESSENTIAL: > > Humanity. Knowing how to be empathic instead of jumping to the rashest, harshest conclusions. You found this board, and that’s great. But you never bothered to learn how it works. You made some simple mistakes, but rather than accepting admonishment and moving on, you decided to get angry and vengeful. Now you’re wandering around the board, lashing out at people. **jally** , go take some Prozac and lie down for a while, 'kay? I have more to say, but it belongs in the Pit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-striaght-dope-on-racism/28694.md?page=2)