Stiltzkin

I'd ask for an extremely black cup of black coffee that is black.

Destrox

-1 pts for society.

Current score.. way below zero.

I dont even get into a fuss about stupid shit like this anymore , I just laugh and move on.

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You bore me.... next.

Strange Famous

you know... it really isnt that hard to ask for "coffee with milk" instead.

and if you believe in the free market, then a free enterprise is allowed to serve or not serve who they want... although this isnt the best way to stay in business.

Personally, I think it is very silly of anyone to believe that the word black is in itself offensive... but if you want to buy a coffee from this shop you obviously have a choice to either ask for it in the name they want, or go elsewhere.

Ive also notices that they do the same in McDonalds. (although not the same issue)

I remember trying to order a bagel with cream cheese there, and they had some silly name for it, and I just kept saying "just with cream cheese" and the guy kept saying "do you mean the McBagel McCheese?" or whatever it was called... and I was obviously being pedantic and kept saying "I want a bagel with cream cheese"... but he absolutely refused to take the order until I used the official McDonalds name... but I was hungry and I like bagels... so I did in the end!

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"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

MooseMan3000

I can't help but laugh every time I hear the term "African American." My friend and I were discussing this in government class one day, and he blurted out (rather loudly) "They're Americans! It's not like they're a special type of Americans!"

Since then, I've made a habit of referring to black people (especially when I'm around him) as "Special Americans."

I know, I'm awful. Isn't it great?


Anyhow, it's not really safe to say African American anyway because - and this may surprise some of you - not all black people living in the United States are of African descent. Ever heard of South America? Yeah, they have black people there, too. Funny ol world, ain't it?


And as a side note, I'm not entirely convinced of the validity of the article. I mean, it was from the Daily Record, with such gems of headlines as "HARTSON STALKER TRAPPED BY DAILY RECORD," "BECKS: IT'S TRUE WE ROW," "I'LL SEE PM IN COURT OVER 'WAR CRIMES.'" Call me crazy, but I'm just not so sure a source like that is very reputable. Maybe things are different in the UK.

Biscuit Buns

PC folks (rather, those becoming) were put on this earth for me to play with. *maniacal cackle*

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A hard man is good to find. ~Mae West

Biscuit Buns

Reminds me of a road trip I took. We stopped to eat at a Denny's and I refused to say "Moons over my hammy." The waiter wanted me to say it and finally he asked loudly, "Moons over my HAMMY???"

"Yeah...thanks." Glare. Moron.

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A hard man is good to find. ~Mae West

IanSturgill

Ha Ha, at least he didn't order negro-coffee.

abaya

Hmm, you might take a look at the tone of your own posts, man. Chill the hell out...

Perhaps I am one of the "easily offended few," (actually, it takes a lot to offend me, but someone screaming bloody murder on an otherwise civil thread does raise my hackles). Even if I disagree with some of what he says, I respect Strange Famous' balanced, more unemotional tone a hell of a lot more than what I sense is your defensive, yelling, cussing-out diatribe that has no place on TFP. If you could make your point with a less-offensive tone, I'd be a lot more convinced by your argument. Your attitude offends me more than any "language" you might use to convey it, PC or not.

To me, that's the point of being careful with language... not whether or not you use "man" or "black," but to try not to hurt people with the attitude behind it.

EDIT: I just realized how old the OP was on this thread... so maybe Stare at the Sun won't even see it. But I still stand behind my point.

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And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

Janey

we've been using the term 'Frosh' for aeons.

But really? Glasgow? can't believe those miserly Scots are that concerned...

Stare At The Sun

Heh, think you totally missed the jist of what i was trying to say. Firstly. You're atleast 18 years old if you're a member of this website. If you can't tolerate someone saying "fuck", then...well, I'm simply speechless.

Anyways, I'm sorry that my "attitude" does not conform to how you wanted it to. I believe that if you reread the thread, and my posts on the first page, they all clearly state my opinion. If you don't like them *shrugs* thats just fine, but they are my opinions.

Oh, and not to personally attack strange famous or anything, but he is FAR from "balanced" (just as I am). He is way liberal, and thinks everyone deserves to live in a world free from naughty words that might offend. I, being more realistic, say get the fuck over it and grow up. The unbias people on this board, by in large, are the mods.

abaya

Briefly:

The word fuck is fine with me, I use it plenty myself. It's the tone and attitude behind it that offends me.

Your opinion is fine, I wasn't offended by that. Once again, it was your attitude and the way you expressed it.

Most people on this board are unbalanced in some way, but that does not call for screaming at them. This board is about respectful discussion, and I did not sense the desire to observe this protocol in your posts.

It's not worth my time to comment any further on this thread.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

hrandani

just fyi journalists have to say alleged 99% of the time so they don't taint the jury pool or 'influence public opinion' in case of trials and suits and other items. Oh yeah, and defamation of character / slander / libel type items.

streak_56

First of all, I would like to state that asking for black coffee is not racists. Though this seems a little out of hand for the coffee shop. I would question the motives behind it.

Secondly, I'll talk about myself. I lived in Ohio for about three years. I've heard black people called coloured, from a white person. That I considered racist. I have said racist comments myself. I've said the 'N' word to a black person, and that guy, laughed at me and couldn't believe I said that. He said that it was funny because I AM NOT a racist person, and that he felt that being PC is stupid. So, I try to be considerate towards people.

And lastly, when does speech because a sexist issue? Should the french be punish because they have separate words for femenine and masculine words? Or should we be punished because we don't? Its just gotten way out of line where people are offended by the smallest things.

I don't like to be called boy, but do you see me trying to change the education system because I find it offensive? No, because thats just dumb. I'm also offended by people not giving me the respect I deserve, should I make it law, so that I get the respect I deserve. No, because thats idiotic.

Three things I hate:
1) Idiocy
2) Immaturity
3) Ignorance.

maleficent

Based on the age of the person, I'm not sure I would consider it racist... When I was a kid, in the late 60s early 70s, black people were referred to as coloreds, or colored people. Even into the late 70s - that term still held. Some older folks that term would be hard to get rid of. Their intent in using it might be racist but the word itself isn't

Somewhere in that time, maybe before, maybe after, blacks were referred to as negros. Later on blacks. Sometime later on, they opted for the African American label.

King's dream is the correct one, though I'll paraphrase it a little We should live in a world wher we are judged by the content of our character, and not by whatever label we've chosen to give ourselves , or labels others have chosen to give us.

The brouhaha over coffee is dumb. I am a pretty staunch feminist, but I cringe at the stupidity of those women out there who spell women womyn, and use gender neutral terms. Who cares... (I am the only female in my office, I get emails regularly addressed to the crew- Guys and Gal - it's done jokingly, but I would have no problem with being one of the guys because I am. )

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Glava

If blacks come from South America, then their ancestry is still African. I hate the hyphenated bullshit, though.

Charlatan

In my mind the only ones who have a need or an excuse to call themselves African American are people who just immigrated from Africa. For example, if I was born in Africa, moved to the US and became a US citizen, I would be and African-American. My children, born in America would be simply American.

Should I as a decendant of European stock start calling myself, European Canadian? That would just be silly.

I'm not one to tell people what they should label themselves... go nuts. Call yourself a Congolese/Irish American for all I care... I understand that the use of a label like African-American was supposed to empower people. That it was supposed to give some sort of connection to a heritage that had been stolen long ago. I get all that.

I just feel that all this labelling ultimately does is perpetuate a divisiveness in American culture. I perpeturates an us and them mindset that just isn't healthy.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Manuel Hong

Um...I'll take mine black and bitter like my heart.

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Believe nothing, even if I tell it to you, unless it meets with your own good common sense and experience. - Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha)