The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Dave]

I've said I won't use the term (sorry need to repeat this for posterity) 'fried chicken' again. As you've seen it was a reflection on their lack of professionality and premiership footballers predeliction for fast food (see Andy Weimann and 'flamey')

With that, shall we say that was no ill intent, we are all more educated in the finer points of more obscure racial symbolism and move the thread back to the takeover?

(in the interests of harmony we'll let that ugly "Premiership" bullshit slide)

[Pat McMahon]

Interesting reading the above posts re chicken and racism. Despite having a motley crew of friends from all over the place I was utterly unaware of the connotations until I saw a black comedian last year and he based part of his set on that stereotype. Prior to that I had never heard of it.

I have just got back from China where they have been showing an advert on tv that goes beyond the pale- a girl putting her black boyfriend into a washing machine and he comes out Chinese, much to her delight. I didn't see it, because Chinese tv really is shite, but I think they have finally repented and pulled it with an apology.

I am intrigued by the term casual racism - I would have assumed this means racism in a matter of fact / daily way with no shame, ie with intent. Is it actually used to mean unintended racism?

[paul_e]

Wow! Just caught up with this thread and eventually found the "racist" comment?   I, for one, recognise the chicken comment but have never heard the water melon one. Didn't come across as racist to me.
No one on here has heard, or knows, everything.

I don't expect them to, but I think if you write something that is pointed out as being a bit iffy (in context it was a post slagging off 5 black guys that involved 2 of them talking about fried chicken, amongst other things - very probably not intentionally racist but definitely not shocking that it got picked up) then you really should be a little contrite.

Get over it.

I've said I won't use the term (sorry need to repeat this for posterity) 'fried chicken' again. As you've seen it was a reflection on their lack of professionality and premiership footballers predeliction for fast food (see Andy Weimann and 'flamey')

Save your energy for an actual racist. I'll be right behind you.

For fuck sake it's not the term 'fried chicken' it's using it in context of a conversation between 2 black guys sitting having a chat about things they have on common.  If you meant fast food, and I honestly believe you did, then just type that.  When I first called it out I never intended it to be an accusation but rather to point out that it might not be a good example to use in the context, as I said in the very first post I don't know why you put 'fried chicken' in there it just didn't fit with the rest of the post and just made it so it could be read i a way that was offensive.  All I wanted was for you to realise why I said that and either fix it or make it clear that you never intended any offence but your focus on not using the term any more shows that you still don't really get it.

[john e]

I think I had a sheltered upbringing as a child. I was brought up as a God fearing bible believing Pentecostal and I was still extremely naive by the time I got to Uni. I distinctly remember when I was at school a boy in our class got told off for swearing and I went home and asked Mom if she'd teach me how to swear because I had no idea what it even was.

My Dad was a Pentecostal Pastor (AOG)

[Pat McMahon]

I've said I won't use the term (sorry need to repeat this for posterity) 'fried chicken' again. As you've seen it was a reflection on their lack of professionality and premiership footballers predeliction for fast food (see Andy Weimann and 'flamey')
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(in the interests of harmony we'll let that ugly "Premiership" bullshit slide)

I quite like "Premiership" purely because it is a thumb in the eye to the sponsors. "You may call it the Barclays Premier League but despite all that money it hasn't registered with us so we call it what it used to be called" type of thing.

[Clark W Griswold]

Can't say I'd ever heard of fried chicken or watermelon being classed as racist terms.

Hard to see at what point do comments that are based around stereotypes become racist, I guess anything which is classed as demeaning or belittling.

They originated (and are mainly used) in the states.

[papa lazarou]

Like some others on here I had never previously known the term being considered a racial slur.

[Edvard Remberg]

How about biscuits ?

[paul_e]

Interesting reading the above posts re chicken and racism. Despite having a motley crew of friends from all over the place I was utterly unaware of the connotations until I saw a black comedian last year and he based part of his set on that stereotype. Prior to that I had never heard of it.

I have just got back from China where they have been showing an advert on tv that goes beyond the pale- a girl putting her black boyfriend into a washing machine and he comes out Chinese, much to her delight. I didn't see it, because Chinese tv really is shite, but I think they have finally repented and pulled it with an apology.

I am intrigued by the term casual racism - I would have assumed this means racism in a matter of fact / daily way with no shame, ie with intent. Is it actually used to mean unintended racism?

For me casual racism is where you, intentionally or unintentionally, hit on a stereotype which makes the comment possible to take in an offensive way.  There's been plenty of it about the chinese on here over the last couple of weeks but this one jumped out because, as I've mentioned, I do work investigating cyber bullying and this one read very similarly to a conversation between 2 kids (in a discussion group) that I was looking into on Tuesday and that means both of them will be getting an extra week off school next week.  They took it further but it was still fresh in my mind.

Dave - I'm sorry my last post was before I saw your comment and this one was to answer a question.  I'll leave it there.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I think I've made clear that i didn't mean any offence and if I'm really honest I hadn't even considered the players background.

I said 'fried chicken' not fast food. I also said pink and blue boots and not brightly coloured boots. I was attempting to make a light hearted post slightly more descriptive and creative.

I'm contrite if I have offended. I said I can't apologise for the intent as there wasn't any. And have said I won't use the term again. Not sure what else I can say.

I feel upset about being linked with something I'm certainly not.

It's starting to feel a little like a witch hunt.

[Richard E]

I think I had a sheltered upbringing as a child. I was brought up as a God fearing bible believing Pentecostal and I was still extremely naive by the time I got to Uni. I distinctly remember when I was at school a boy in our class got told off for swearing and I went home and asked Mom if she'd teach me how to swear because I had no idea what it even was.

My Dad was a Pentecostal Pastor (AOG)

We were Elim, so AoG were the enemy (sort of.)

[chrisw1]

Fucking hell - watermelons are racist now?  Wtf?

[Edvard Remberg]

Here where I live, Football is racist for people who don't have an education - better stop use that as well!

[Des Little]

For fuck's sake let's move on. Apologies have been made and it's now getting tedious.

[paul_e]

Fucking hell - watermelons are racist now?  Wtf?

Think of it as an american version of some football fans that have thrown bananas at black players.