Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to tell son NOT to post memes of black people

241 replies

mazxim · 17/08/2024 13:34

Please help me . Huge row with 11 year old.

His friend posted a meme of a black person with "bombastic side eye".

He wants to repost it to some silly comment.

I said it is wrong and not the right thing to do even if the person "bombastic side eye" posted it himself on tin tok.

Please give me your thoughts.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
ComealongMartha · 17/08/2024 15:38

Honestly you Brits are literally violently racist

Of course we are @GreyTS ! None of us brits are black either!

@mazxim I think that this issue (of yours) proves that your ds isn’t ready for social media.

TwigletsAndRadishes · 17/08/2024 15:42

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 17/08/2024 15:37

I'm assuming you son isn't white, though you haven't clarified

So would you allow him to post, say, this gif?

"White people" Gifs are almost always taking the piss. White people dancing for example.

So would he be allowed to post that?

Genuine question

Yes white people are always portrayed as uncool, uptight, stiff and starchy, terrible dancers with no rhythm, not sexy. A bit of a joke in general, really.

Zow · 17/08/2024 15:44

YABVU @mazxim and a bit dramatic.

THIS is one of my fave gifs. First one that comes up for me when I search for 'annoyed woman.'

Go Away Do Not Want GIF
Haffiana · 17/08/2024 15:45

Overtheatlantic · 17/08/2024 13:37

It’s racist. Black people don’t exist for the amusement of others.

CANCEL all black comedians NOW!

The Offense Tourist has decreed it...

SpicyMoth · 17/08/2024 15:45

I'm sorry but I think it's more racist to avoid using a meme simply because a black person is in it to be completely honest...

I don't really get your logic OP - I'm confused.
PoC are allowed to make memes, be funny, etc too without being "There for our amusement" whatever that means...?

Pick your battles, a side eye meme is very obviously not inherently racist nor intended as such.
Is this .gif also racist, or? o.o

Question Mark What GIF by MOODMAN
Hadjab · 17/08/2024 15:46

soupfiend · 17/08/2024 13:45

Jesus, dont tell cats there are memes about them, they'll have us!!!

They are plotting our demise as I type…

Danglers · 17/08/2024 15:46

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MSLRT · 17/08/2024 15:47

Overtheatlantic · 17/08/2024 13:37

It’s racist. Black people don’t exist for the amusement of others.

And white people?

23Shadows · 17/08/2024 15:47

I sometimes end up baffled by threads like this. Like many others, I don't understand why using that meme would necessarily be racist (context depending, obvs). Attempts to clarify why its racist are met with silence or "educate yourself". So I leave the thread none the wiser.

Zow · 17/08/2024 15:48

MSLRT · 17/08/2024 15:47

And white people?

Yeah @Overtheatlantic Should we take all the gifs/memes down that feature white people too? Confused

PinkyFlamingo · 17/08/2024 15:48

And still nooone has explained why they think this meme is racist.

Zow · 17/08/2024 15:49

THIS one is one of my faves to show 'ha ha very funny - NOT!' kind of sarcasm!

Kanye West Laughing GIF
powershowerforanhour · 17/08/2024 15:51

The most famous side eye of all is probably "Disaster Girl" (the young girl with the burning building in the background).

InkyPinkyPonky24 · 17/08/2024 15:52

Zow · 17/08/2024 15:49

THIS one is one of my faves to show 'ha ha very funny - NOT!' kind of sarcasm!

😂 I love this one

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 17/08/2024 15:52

I can understand that continually using "Sassy black woman" gifs in a presentation comes across as offensive. It's mocking a stereotype continually and lacks diversity

But just using a gif of a black person doing something which isn't a stereotype or "part of the black culture" but could have been a white person, Asian person, dog, cat or monkey then still no one can say how it's racist.

Danglers · 17/08/2024 15:52

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Zow · 17/08/2024 15:54

InkyPinkyPonky24 · 17/08/2024 15:52

😂 I love this one

Me too! Grin I have this face sometimes (when DH makes a dumb 'joke!') 😆

JLou08 · 17/08/2024 15:54

This is stupid. It's this sort of shit that belittles actual racism because it feeds the racist views about being "PC" and treating races differently.

Zow · 17/08/2024 15:55

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

😂

'Ooooh sorry... tongue's kinda big!' 😆

Danglers · 17/08/2024 15:56

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Isittimeformynapyet · 17/08/2024 15:57

SummerSplashing · 17/08/2024 14:16

@Isittimeformynapyet

snd your explanation for why it's unacceptable would be?

and don't say 'it's racist' explain why you think it's racist.

I replied to someone else earlier. I didn't understand what the meme was until other posters explained. I also said that I'd jumped the gun.

You're a belligerent arse though.

Zow · 17/08/2024 15:57

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

😆 I daren't post on here what one one lass (cop dressed as a lass!) says to the chief! 😬

Danglers · 17/08/2024 16:02

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

WomensRightsRenegade · 17/08/2024 16:03

Overtheatlantic · 17/08/2024 13:37

It’s racist. Black people don’t exist for the amusement of others.

Some of them do - if they are entertainers. Don’t purport to speak for all black people, most of whom
don’t want to be treated as absurdly fragile by patronising white people.

Hectorscalling · 17/08/2024 16:03

Ilovelurchers · 17/08/2024 14:42

"it's not" what?

I am not suggesting that the concept of "side eye" is inherently a racist one. I am saying that maybe OP feels this particular meme plays into a stereotype about black people being aggressive - so a joke about black people giving particularly potent (bombastic) side-eye could, potentially, be seen as racist/offensive?

I don't know. It wouldn't have immediately struck me as racist I must admit. But I am not black, so I am not one of the people most likely to be sensitive to, and offended by, racism, and am therefore happy to take my cues regarding the matter from those who are.

Is there anybody on here who is willing to say they are black (I know not everybody likes sharing details about themselves - that's understandable) and tell us whether or not they would find it racist personally? As those are the opinions I am most interested in really.... I think white people debating whether a meme about black people is offensive to black people is a bit of a racist concept in itself! And admittedly I am currently part of it....

Of course I have no idea whether you are all white. I perhaps erroneously assume that at least some of you are

I am not white. But I am also not black. Someone who is black has already said it’s not. Again, like anyone of any colour black people may all have differing opinions.

Giving the side is not aggressive so it doesn’t play into an aggressive stereo type. ‘Giving the side eye’ is when is a reaction to someone’s else’s behaviour. It’s not aggressive. Even a particularly potent one.