I recently started a thread based upon a real life experience while waiting to get my hair cut. It was based on conversations I overheard about Obama. The gist of the conversations were things we need or should be afraid of with Obama. So I invited people to share their fears of this man. Of course they tended to center around a racial or religious nature. Some of the posts were merely a reporting of things I heard and some others (including some of my own) were clearly done in a way to illicit humor. At any rate the thread got quickly deleted. I guess I could be angry about that, but have decided I would like to use this as an opportunity to dialogue about the nature of humor, prejudice and the role that forum moderation takes in these forums. It is my contention that the standard of "inappropiate posting" is extreme and does not meet the standard in the rest of the media. There is a hyper-sensitivity to it here where in other formats it is considered humorous. I will provide a couple of examples and would invite and reasonable discourse from you.
Originally posted by duecerI talked to a moderator and that didn't seem to be the issue. If that were the issue, it would simply be a matter of moving the thread. The person who alerted it was offended by the racial implications. Anyway, I hope that person ,who ever it is, will show up and give some opinions as to what I posted in the initial post on this thread.
perhaps if it had been posted in the debates forum it might have been left alone. just a thought.
Originally posted by kirksey957that's a shame, Obama is legitimate, topical matter for discussion, and racial undertones permeate the current primary
I talked to a moderator and that didn't seem to be the issue. If that were the issue, it would simply be a matter of moving the thread. The person who alerted it was offended by the racial implications. Anyway, I hope that person ,who ever it is, will show up and give some opinions as to what I posted in the initial post on this thread.
Originally posted by duecerDo you find the use of humor or parody to be something that tends to exacerbate prejudices or creates a climate to look at the reality of prejudices in perhaps a helpful way?
that's a shame, Obama is legitimate, topical matter for discussion, and racial undertones permeate the current primary
Originally posted by kirksey957it can, depending on context and user. There is certainly prejudice in the current political arena, and it is worth discussion
Do you find the use of humor or parody to be something that tends to exacerbate prejudices or creates a climate to look at the reality of prejudices in perhaps a helpful way?
Originally posted by kirksey957How come, all of a sudden, you sound white? 😕
I recently started a thread based upon a real life experience while waiting to get my hair cut. It was based on conversations I overheard about Obama. The gist of the conversations were things we need or should be afraid of with Obama. So I invited people to share their fears of this man. Of course they tended to center around a racial or religious na rous. I will provide a couple of examples and would invite and reasonable discourse from you.
