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AIBU?

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Original poster

Racism threads.

260 replies

Cranberri · 11/09/2018 21:44

Anyone else feel a bit uncomfortable with the spike in threads about racism? I don't mind a healthy debate about racism but many threads recently seem to have brought out the worst in people. Mnhq having to delete numerous comments due to racism. Ignorant or culturally unaware posters writing ridiculous posts that would simply not be accepted in day to day life. People claiming racism when it isn't.

I'm tired of it. Is anyone else tired of it? It's really draining...

OP posts:
Dottierichardson · 15/09/2018 12:03

Faithless12 agree with you re: Serena Williams, Claudia Rankine writes about her extensively in 'Citizen' and I found her assessment of the abuse that Williams has had to deal with very convincing and also made me very angry on Williams's behalf.

flirtygirl · 15/09/2018 12:23

If anyone needs to see how mumsnet reacts to race issues then read the 16.15 bus in Croydon one. On Aibu.

So many mumsnetters jumping on to say that it's not a race issue. White privilege does not exist etc.

Despite explanations at every turn. Too many white women so ready and willing to decry bame experiences and to not listen when they have it explained to them. So much whiteplaining on mumsnet.

SemperIdem · 15/09/2018 19:41

Sound

In what way?

Serena Williams has suffered horrendously re both racism and sexism. The things said about her are disgusting.

She is justifiably angry about this treatment.

I’m white and see it clear as day that she has been unfairly treated regarding the recent on court incident. Male tennis players behave in such a way often and don’t suffer the same penalities she has.

Is she being held to a higher standard because she is a peerless sportswoman? Or is she held to a higher standard because she is a woman. Or is she held to a higher standard because she has the audacity to be a black peerless sportswoman?

I’d feel very angry indeed in her shoes. Her talent is ignored in favour of falling on accusations of “playing the race card” and “being an angry black woman”. As though she has no justification for being angry and she, like “all” black women are just angry by nature.

They are not, anymore than white women are submissive delights.

The reductive arguments surrounding Serena Williams and her “anger” say so much about how white people cannot accept their privileged status. I don’t mean privilege as in money - I mean the privilege of being treated well, as an expectation. White people have that. Black people, indeed anyone who isn’t white, do not.

SoundOfWaves · 15/09/2018 22:40

@SemperIdem - if you go on that thread, posters that know about yet sport, as opposed to being on a mission, have given numerous examples of where that umpire penalised White male players in the same way.

She broke the rules of her game, and got penalised for it. Unless you think the rules shouldn't apply to her?

KnotsInMay · 16/09/2018 00:37

Flirtygirl: I agree with you. On the ‘Can an ordinary family send a child to Eton’ thread a poster makes a cynical (she says she is cynical) comment about a racial dynamic between her non white child and white families. It is something that I too have seen happen sometimes. She is dismissed, suspected of paranoia, ‘the racist card’ is quoted (even though the poster who says it is the only person to use the word ‘racist’). No willingness to accept and learn from the parent of a black child, or even believe them.

SalemBlackCat · 16/09/2018 07:41

@SemperIdem "Male tennis players behave in such a way often and don’t suffer the same penalities she has."

Again, can we stop right now with the lies. Please. Just enough already. It has been proven that male tennis players have had the exact same penalties, and often for less. Regurgitating a lie doesn't give it any more validity than the first time. I am not suggesting that Serena has never experienced any sexism or racism in her life, but it is as clear as day that she did not in this game. In fact, over the years, she has gotten away with far more than most players.

SalemBlackCat · 16/09/2018 08:15

I've had another thought. One thing I find very disturbing on here is the use of the term 'fag'. Yes, I know it is an English saying for cigarettes, but that doesn't matter. Once we know better, we DO better. It is very ironic and hypocritical the amount of people on here who would put themselves across as very unprejudiced, very open-minded, very aware of other races and cultures. YET, still use a term that is deeply hurtful to the LGBT community. All around the world and on the net, the term 'fag' is BANNED. Just as the 'n' word is, or 'p..fter' is. Yet on here, the same one who sanctimoniously go on about race, would have no problems with the term 'fg' being used. Let me tell you this: to the gay community, that word is basically the 'n' word. It is deeply hurtful to them and it is shocking this site even allows the word to be written in full (other sites automatically blank it out).

You need to realise that just because the term means something different in the UK, that doesn't make it right. When we know a word is offensive to a section of the community, we generally stop using it. So why is this term still allowed/used on here? Even after being told how deeply hurtful it is to gay people? The hypocrisy of this thread and others like it struck me as I read the title of a recent AIBU thread that had the 'fag' word in the title. So how about we make an effort to stamp out offensiveness in all it's forms, including outdated terms/words that should no longer be used? When we know better, we should do better.

SamanthaBrique · 16/09/2018 08:23

Funnily enough, it's possible to know something about the game AND still think Serena got a raw deal.

There's a few examples here of times the same umpire hasn't given point of game penalties to male players for bad behaviour.

Rosetintedglasses454 · 16/09/2018 08:23

Sorry did I miss something? did someone on this thread use that word? What do you mean by the hypocrisy of the thread?
@SalemBlackCat

SoundOfWaves · 16/09/2018 08:46

Do you need a ladder to help with that reach @salem? Is this a variation of when American SJWs try to force their country's racial problems on the rest of the world?

SalemBlackCat · 16/09/2018 08:48

@Rosetintedglasses454 No, I never said anyone used that word on this thread. Just pointing out how that word is used frequently on here and no one challenges it.

SoundOfWaves · 16/09/2018 08:50

@SamanthaBrique - in none of those has Ramos had his integrity attacked in the way Williams did though. Do you think the rules should apply to her or not?

SalemBlackCat · 16/09/2018 08:50

@SoundOfWaves Clearly you can't see the hypocrisy, however it does seem that people in the UK have adopted America's racial problems and automatically think everything applies to the UK. So you've demonstrated yet another hypocrisy and proved my point.

SoundOfWaves · 16/09/2018 08:55

@SalemBlackCat - you sound like another yank trying to force Americanisms on the rest of the world. We're not the 51st yet. Now, if you don't mind I'm off to smoke a fag.

SalemBlackCat · 16/09/2018 08:57

@SoundOfWaves I'm not American. However it is about having common courtesy and decency. Something that bigots and homophobes don't have, hence your last post.

Ghanagirl · 16/09/2018 09:09

I have been messaging MNHQ frequently and they come back with same insipid lack of either care or insight regarding prejudice to Black women.
Vocal white men we have to protect due to trans lobbyists

JamieFrasersArse · 16/09/2018 09:12

@SalemBlackCat Perhaps start another thread about that rather than derail this one? This thread is specifically about racism but there's no harm in starting another about homophobic abuse.

SoundOfWaves · 16/09/2018 09:16

I'm not American. However it is about having common courtesy and decency. Something that bigots and homophobes don't have, hence your last post. @Salem - I'm a bigot and a homophobe because I'm enjoying a cigarette? Oh and a bigot is "a person who is intolerant towards those holding different opinions." You would certainly fit that definition. Regressive left?

Ghanagirl · 16/09/2018 09:19

@chickedychicked
I remember that thread it was depressing and I remember on poster ranting about how her and her kids were against halal food, they weren’t even invited to the blood BBQ

SalemBlackCat · 16/09/2018 09:21

@SoundOfWaves "I'm a bigot and a homophobe because I'm enjoying a cigarette?" You are one because you deliberately used a word after I explained to you why it was offensive.
"regressive left"? Oh, now I get it. I am dealing with a far-right extremist. Hmm

Rosetintedglasses454 · 16/09/2018 09:23

Okay so if no one used the word here on this thread it seems a bit silly to talk about the hypocrisy of the thread in relation to such an issue. Perhaps start another thread to discuss the use of the word
@SalemBlackCat.

Moreover I dont think your comment about the Uk adopting americas racial problems is accurate. Given that this is a UK based forum the discussion is likely to focus on UK problems???!

SoundOfWaves · 16/09/2018 09:30

@SoundOfWaves "I'm a bigot and a homophobe because I'm enjoying a cigarette?" You are one because you deliberately used a word after I explained to you why it was offensive."regressive left"? Oh, now I get it. I am dealing with a far-right extremist. hmm

Wait, @Salem, so I should stop using words cos you say so? Lol

Ghanagirl · 16/09/2018 09:47

@SalemBlackCat
How do you explain the constant criticism of her body by commentsters and the fact that she is drug tested more frequently than her opponents plus when another female tennis player was positively tested she was given a slap on the wrist.

C8H10N4O2 · 16/09/2018 09:52

It has been proven that male tennis players have had the exact same penalties, and often for less.

This is simply not true, however frequently you repeat it. Providing some examples of men being penalised does not "prove" that they get equivalent penalties overall.