Off season too long

Only if I get to be big spoon! ;)

Lord Gonchar said:
But I certainly don't see how one is fine and the other isn't.

There isn't a stereotype in the world that you could apply to white, straight males that would offend me. Being a white guy from Kentucky without stylish hair is a whole lot different from being people of a generally discriminated against ethnicity from another country, and implying they're too stupid to come up with more than one name. You may not have that perception, but it's not beyond basic human respect to be sensitive to the fact that others may see it that way.

I'm asking for that courtesy here on this site, not a debate about whether or not it makes sense to you.

There's not a stereotype you could apply to anyone that would truly offend me. I'm not sure that's the point.

There's every bit as many negative implications associated with mullet joke as the Jose joke (and we all know it). You're right though - your site, you draw the line.

I'll bite my tongue. (too late, huh? :) )

Guess I don't understand why one stereotype is offensive and the other isn't.

Ethnicity is not the same as socio-economic status. One can be changed. One cannot.

I'm not a big fan of mullet jokes. But, you can imagine drawing the "not cool" line in a way to place white trash jokes on one side, and ethnic jokes on the other. One also gets a lot more cultural leeway poking fun at members of the majority race/ethnicity. That isn't perhaps "fair" or "right", but it certainly "is".

Brian Noble said:

Ethnicity is not the same as socio-economic status. One can be changed. One cannot.

Haven't spent much time in southeast Ohio/West Virginia, have you? :)

Well, it's no less hurtful to make fun of someone for being fat vs being ugly simply because they may have the ability to lose weight.

Making fun of people in general (and especially for appearances) is not cool across the board for me. Making exceptions or categorizing the harm is kind of lame, if you ask me.

My gut reaction, right or wrong is the same as Jeff's - No way on Jose, lol on mullet. If for no other reason than a mullet is a choice, a name/ethnicity is not.

Also, historically, nobody's ever been systematically exterminated, segregated, denied rights or opportunities or relocated because of their hair cut.

Edit: forgot enslaved.

Perhaps it's the ability to immediately change. It's ok to make fun of someone's hair, but not someone who's overweight. Unless that someone is bald, I guess. Cuz, y'know, it would take a while to grow back into a more socially-acceptable style.

I kid. But then again I found nothing particularly offensive or harmful by any comment made in this thread (or the other one). I agree with Gonch, people could stand to lighten up.

Where's Lisa Lampanelli when we need her? Her whole comedy routine is making fun of all (stereo)types. She says stuff that makes your jaw drop in "oh my god she did not just say that!" while laughing hysterically at the same time. An aquired taste, I'm sure...but I think she's a hoot especially when she picks on "da gays."

As somebody who was a bit chunky "back in thw day" and still is, I belive that making fun of peole due to looks is just plain wrong.

In fact, there was a 15 year-old girl who committed suicide last week in Springfield, MA. Sadly, they think one of the contributing factors was the the constant harasement (both at school, out of school, & online).

It's like saying "All ACE'rs are bonehead morons who believe it's their BIRTHRIGHT to get free stuff and cut to the front of the line." This is NOT true.

ApolloAndy said:
My gut reaction, right or wrong is the same as Jeff's - No way on Jose, lol on mullet. If for no other reason than a mullet is a choice, a name/ethnicity is not.

Also, historically, nobody's ever been systematically exterminated, segregated, denied rights or opportunities or relocated because of their hair cut.

Edit: forgot enslaved.

Andy for president!

Brian Noble said:

Guess I don't understand why one stereotype is offensive and the other isn't.

Ethnicity is not the same as socio-economic status. One can be changed. One cannot.

I'm not a big fan of mullet jokes. But, you can imagine drawing the "not cool" line in a way to place white trash jokes on one side, and ethnic jokes on the other. One also gets a lot more cultural leeway poking fun at members of the majority race/ethnicity. That isn't perhaps "fair" or "right", but it certainly "is".

As another Appalachian-Amercian of Slavic descent, no less, I'll respectfully disagree with Brian's and some of the other comments. We all know the redneck white trash comments go beyond hairstyle. There's a general attitude of "they're stupid, ignorant, and inferior to me."

The socio-economic issues have a way of perpetuating themselves. How do they change, Brian? Rural schools have traditionally received far less state funding than city and suburban schools. Rural areas receive far less per capita for economic development than urban areas. Usually what passes for economic development in rural areas are landfills, prisons, and the ilk. The people and things you don't want in your planned communities and trendy urban neighborhoods. Sometimes it isn't as easy as saying, pick up and move elsewhere if you want to improve your situation.

And we should all know better than to rationalize that it isn't fair or right, but it certainly is, so we should just carry on. I'm sure many of us here remember when certain terms now considered derogatory were used in everyday language. That's how is was then, so what happened to change that? Somebody said it wasn't acceptable, that's why. I find it strange that people saying they know what it's like to be on the receiving end find nothing wrong with making fun of somebody else.

RatherGoodBear said: I find it strange that people saying they know what it's like to be on the receiving end find nothing wrong with making fun of somebody else.

Well in my opinion it's in the delivery. I'm perfectly capable of laughing at gay stereotypes (that being one of the groups I belong, obviously) if I know there is no malace behind the humor. Being half Polish I can also find humor in Pollock jokes. It's one of the reasons I don't find Lisa Lampanelli offensive.

My mullet comment was not made with any sort of malace or meanness. I've been to Beech Bend...there were people wearing the mullet hairstyle at the park. I didn't think less of them because of it. I didn't laugh at them or make comments in any way (in front of them or behind their backs). I didn't start attributing other stereotypical character traits because of their hair. It's just something one notices as you people watch.

If someone is offended by the mullet comment send a moderator an email and ask them to delete it. I grant my permission to have it removed. But I'm not going to remove it because it wasn't meant with any malice.

Clearly, the off-season is too long... ;) :)

I'll have to create a list thread: "Signs the off-season is too long"

Doesn't anyone here watch South Park? I think certain media outlets have desensitized a lot of people when it comes to stereotypes.

I like this thread.

I love South Park. They're equal opportunity offenders, nothing is sacred.

I'm not offended by any comment as much as I am the idea that it's not OK to say things about certain people, while it is OK to say things about other certain people.

Because when that happens, we no longer look at people as individuals but rather as parts of groups that we choose to create based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious belief, etc. Then we have to create scorecards for which group did or didn't do what, which group has or doesn't have what. Then finally, judge or prejudge people not on what they did, but on what their assigned group has done.

Haven't spent much time in southeast Ohio/West Virginia, have you?

Worse. Southeast Michigan. Slogan: "Our economy sucks more than yours."

I'll respectfully disagree with Brian's and some of the other comments.

To be clear, that's not the position I personally take. But, I can accept that a reasonable person might take that position.