# Yeah, Ben, America is freaking out because you're boffing a brown girl **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 4, 2003, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673 "2003-02-04T08:56:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/21 "2003-02-04T16:07:51Z")
because Jenny has the best ass in the universe. Put it there, Ben. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/22 "2003-02-04T16:57:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ryan\_Liam \* > \*\*Puerto Rico is home to it’s own race? Hmmmm. To me it looks like one real-tanned white girl going out with a no tanned white boy. \*\* That’s because you have the (refreshing) viewpoint of someone not from the United States. In the USA, anyone who is “Hispanic” is assumed to be of a different race than either “whites” or “blacks”. I am Mexican, and rather white. I have a hard to explaining to some folks that my pasty skin does not disqualify me from being “Hispanic”. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/23 "2003-02-04T17:10:30Z")
Since when did being from ‘below the border’ make people who are Hispanic different from the rest of us Caucasoids? ---
**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:** [February 4, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/24 "2003-02-04T17:11:43Z")
> [@](#): > > As to why he proposed to the twice-divorced Lopez after meeting her on the set of “Gigli,” their first onscreen pairing, Affleck explained: “I’m in love; I want to have a family and she’s the only person I’ve ever met who made me entertain the thought of doing that.” No doubt it’s those wide child-bearing hips… ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/25 "2003-02-04T17:14:12Z")
What does “Hispanic” really mean, anyway, beside meaning people who come from places colonized by Spain? What does some Indian guy from Guatemala have in common with a European-descended person from Buenos Aires or with someone whose family has been in the US for generations and doesn’t even speak Spanish? Moreover, the various countries in Central and South American have very different customs and traditions and speak different dialects of Spanish. And what about an immigrant from Spain? Is Antonio Banderas Hispanic, even though he’s from Europe? ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/26 "2003-02-04T17:34:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*What does “Hispanic” really mean, anyway, beside meaning people who come from places colonized by Spain? > And what about an immigrant from Spain? Is Antonio Banderas Hispanic, even though he’s from Europe? \*\* As far as I know (and I have done some research over this), Hispanic was divised by the United States government in the 1970’s to label a group of people that seemed to defy the traditional “white/black” paradigm of ethnic relations. Let me make it clear that most Latino people in the United States are descended from some mixture of Native American/European/Black African origin and many do view themselves as separate from other ethnic/racial groups in the United States to some degree. The problem with the popular American layman’s definition of “Hispanic” is it assumes all Latin Americans are part of this particular demographic, when in reality every country in Latin America is a multiracial society. Part of this, to be frank, is because most of the Latinos that have immigrated to the United States come from mixed backgrounds. The mostly white upper and middle classes of Latin America tend not to emigrate. the main exception is the Cuban-American community, which is heavily white - at least it was before the 1980 Mariel boat lift. As far as Antonio Banderas, he gave an interview in an Australian magazine describing how the “Hispanic” label in the United States confuses him as well. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/27 "2003-02-04T17:42:46Z")
I suspect the fascination (other than the routine ‘they’re both celebrities and are inviting us into their lives vicariously’ crap) is more due to J-Lo’s propensity for gaining/ditching lovers/husbands in quick succession. Similar to Julia Roberts. Maybe it’s a “J” female superstar thing? nah, there’s the so down to earth Jennifer ANniston ( 😉 ) anyhow. He can’t act, neither can she, he’s a pretty face, so’s she. shrug. ::gazing into my crystal ball:: Yep, they’re there in the future at the 2045 Awards show, trying desperately to get interviewed by Joan Rivers III, she’s wearing a daring hospital gown and he’s wearing, what is that, a Backstreet boy??? (this catty moment has been brought to you by the Letter K and the color green ) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/28 "2003-02-04T18:15:18Z")
Hey \*\* wring, \*\* no dissing my girl Julia! She ain’t no Jenny from the block. She only had one hubby before Danny, and that was my Lyle. JFTB is in her own catagory of skankyhoness. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/29 "2003-02-04T18:20:50Z")
well **stoid** , I grant you that Julia didn’t actually do the wedding vows thing but twice, however, she has had quite the history of interviewing w/ responses like “I know (fill in current co star’s name) is the love of my life, I can’t imagine a more perfect life than one with him at my side”. Don’t forget the ‘undying love’ she felt for Keifer Sutherland right up until the weekend of their wedding, when she ran off w/his former friend and her then current co star Jason Patric, (all of which was preceded by her dalliance w/the guy from the Practice who starred w/her in Steel Magnolias -Dylan McDermot/Dermot Mulrohney - they are the same guy aren’t they?); followed by a few others I can’t recall, then the surprise Lyle, who was followed by a few others, then Benjamin Bratt, and now the current one who was married when Julia sank her claws into him\*\* \*\*note the extreme reluctance w/which I share my all too encompassing knowledge of her assorted and sordid love affairs. I must spend hours at grocery check outs for this to happen, right? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/30 "2003-02-04T18:30:07Z")
Hey Ben, do those lovers make J Lo’s ass look puffy? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/31 "2003-02-04T19:59:58Z")
Now, wring… you gotta give Julia some credit. Yeah, she falls in love pretty readily, but for the most part, she THINKS before she goes around saying “I do…til death do us part or you bore me, whichever comes first”. Ya gotta give her credit for NOT marrying Keifer, better that than marrying him and dumping him 3 months later. Gotta give her credit for NOT marrying Benjamin, even though she was goofy crazy for him for 4 years. She recognized that somethin 'tweren’t right. Ms. Lopez, on the other hand, is an unrepentent twit (or is it twat?) that stains the very idea of marriage with the kleenex-like treatment she gives to her “commitments”. And Ben is a obviously a giant dick, since that’s what’s doing the thinking for him. How could anyone with 3 or more braincells want to marry this woman? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/32 "2003-02-04T21:00:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Ms. Lopez, on the other hand, is an unrepentent twit (or is it twat?) that stains the very idea of marriage with the kleenex-like treatment she gives to her “commitments”. Ah, how quickly you forget the “A Low Vera” t-shirt. Talk about staining the very idea of marriage and commitment. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/33 "2003-02-04T21:13:40Z")
Ok, ok, break it up. Julia has no class for carrying on a public affair with a married man. Jennifer has no class at all. Too bad, because I thought she had acting potential when I saw _Out of Sight_. Ever since the “I wanna be a pop star” thing, I can’t stand to look at her. Shame about Ben Affleck. He seemed like a reasonable guy. Race and class? If only people thought about the two of them on such an intellectual level! Ben dear, we watch because we are fascinated by train wrecks of all sorts. Yours promises to be particularly gory and entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/34 "2003-02-04T21:44:36Z")
I loved Ben Affleck in **The Second Voyage of the Mimi**. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/35 "2003-02-04T21:51:29Z")
Me too, **Hazel-rah**! We watched that in…6th grade. I can hear the super annoying theme song now. (And now it’s stuck in my head, damn you.) ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/36 "2003-02-04T22:21:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Now, wring… you gotta give Julia some credit. Yeah, she falls in love pretty readily, but for the most part, she THINKS before she goes around saying “I do…til death do us part or you bore me, whichever comes first”. Ya gotta give her credit for NOT marrying Keifer, better that than marrying him and dumping him 3 months later. Gotta give her credit for NOT marrying Benjamin, even though she was goofy crazy for him for 4 years. She recognized that somethin 'tweren’t right. Which one of these is better than going after a married guy and then mocking his wife in public with T-shirts playing on her name? Of course, I’ll grant that if she were a man dallying around with all of those people she’d be considered a stud. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/37 "2003-02-04T22:26:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Oblong \* > \*\*Which one of these is better than going after a married guy and then mocking his wife in public with T-shirts playing on her name? > \*\* gotta admit that was an incredibly boorish and crass thing to do. much much worse (IMHO) than ‘merely’ getting married too quickly too often. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/38 "2003-02-04T22:44:53Z")
The “racial” difference between Ben and JLo had never entered my mind! That’s not why I don’t like them! It does make me think that _Ben_ is very aware of any differences. He is showing his butt. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/39 "2003-02-04T22:53:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*He was good in _Dogma_, though. \*\* That’s because his head exploded. ---
**Author:** ![Chaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Chaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chaco)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673/40 "2003-02-05T00:41:41Z")
Hey, Benjamin Bratt is half [Peruvian](http://us.imdb.com/Bio?Bratt,%20Benjamin) and they didn’t find a need to bring that up. Ben is a complete jackass and whatever happens to him in his relationship with J-Ho will be a form of Karmic retribution. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-ben-america-is-freaking-out-because-youre-boffing-a-brown-girl/152673.md?page=3)