Colin, you seem to be a textbook case of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing. Whopper’s story exhibited no racism whatsoever. What you’re incorrectly calling racism is actually just ethnocentrism - a trait that you possess, I possess, Whopper possesses, and everyone who lives in American society, wherein white is considered normative and everything else is viewed as abberational, possesses. Racism is an open, acknowledged bigotry against people one assumes are somehow inherently (“racially,” though race is a bogus reified concept) different than they. Yes, the fact that Whopper assumed he would get a certain response from black people in his gym shows that he possesses, like ALL of us, unconscious biases; EVERYONE who lives in racialized societies like America possesses these biases. If you’d read his story with half your brain turned on, however, you would’ve noted that he was doing his best to overcome these unconscious biases, which is as noble an endeavor as one can undertake, and also that he was man enough to admit that he was wrong at first. I doubt you, so driven to exhibit your contempt for everything, would be man enough to do that. Please explain – why do you feel the need to proclaim your anger so loudly to the world?
Zev: A Girl said that she finds people of color more forgiving and generous than whites. That is racist (Based on your own definition). As far as me being angry, possesing a dangerous small amount of knowledge, and reading without my brain turned on, who here is really angry? Also, were you born yesterday? Do you think pointing out a silly, fake and homoerotic sounding little story is angry and hateful? Your indoctrination with relativism and political correctness has left you without a sense of humor.
Zev is hitting the nail on the head Colin. Whopper’s description of his impromptu spotter were fact, not elements of racism. He WAS wearing a doo-rag and gold chains. There was no generalizations or assumptions made in that respect. He simple stated fact, that’s what the guy was wearing. All people feel the need to belong and receive acceptance when introduced to a new or foreign culture or environment. Now, our response to those yearnings is what makes each of us individuals. Some people will follow those feelings and do what they can to belong and become a part of the “group”, whether it be dressing alike, eating alike, etc. That is where Whopper’s comment about needing a doo-rag falls in. Not because it is a racist statement about the gym, but because, as evidenced by at least one of the Big Dawgs in the Yard, that is the norm for this environment. They actually ARE wearing doo-rags. Some people, like our dear friend JRB, experience those feelings, those yearnings for acceptance, and then decide to do exactly the opposite of what they are telling him. Whereas such intellectual luminaries as Monkeyboy Eric , Ironbabe, Whopper, and Zev use clarity, common sense, and rational insights to state there positions, JRB spouts his meanderings and diatribes much like monkeys throwing their dookey at the wall, hoping something, anything will stick. Now, I don’t want to get off on a tangent here…wait, that’s D.Miller’s job. I think that, even though it can be a nuisance, and tends to send threads woefully off course, we should all be grateful that individuals like Mr. JRB DO continue to spout off. As Whopper has so beautifully shown via his experience, it allows the rest of us that are actually intellectually functional to more fully appreciate the diversity and beauty that this world has to offer us. In the word’s of one of jazz’s greats, Louis Armstrong: What a wonderful world!
Colin - not that I really want to debate you, but I WILL defend whopper (not that he needs it) What about his story is fake? why is it silly? Whopper has been posting for a long time and he is often quite insightful and helpful. Implying he made up what happened implies that he is a liar. Watch who you insult.
And I do not see A Girl’s post as racist. There are many sub-cultures in America and they posess different general traits. One part of black culture seems to be more acceptance of differences, weither it be in body type or anything else. Of course there are exceptions to the rule. But I don’t believe a few bad apples spoil the bunch.
And yes, both of the people I posted about earlier were very big, built black men. Very intimidating looking, is that racist? No. I would have been intimidated physically by someone of any skin color that was that size. However, like anyone else, entering a room full of people who are obviously different than you are is a bit scarey (one of these things is not like the others). Most days I am the only woman in the area of the squat racks, and yes, I find it a bit unsettling sometimes. It is a huge relief when someone ‘breaks the ice’ and goes out of their way to make me feel comfortable. That is not sexest, it’s just the truth.
Colin: You’re right. A Girl is clearly racist. That’s why she goes on to say “I have personal experience with the fact that we all bleed red, and assholes and angels come in all colors, shapes and sexual orientations.” Hmm… or maybe what she was doing by saying that non-whites are often more generous than whites was not disparaging whites, but rather trying to counteract the unconscious belief of many white people that non-whites are for some reason to be feared. But I don’t want to put words in anyone’s mouth. A Girl, care to hop in here and clarify?
And yes, Colin, I absolutely think your posts have been hateful. Why do you automatically assume that Whopper’s story was “false”? Do you have any evidence for that assertion? If you think it is, why not ask instead of shouting it (so to speak) in knee-jerk reactive fashion as though it were fact? And why do you interpret his story as “homoerotic”," as though that would even be a bad thing if it were? Your desire to proclaim that Whopper’s story was false, your desire to characterize it as homoerotic, and your implied belief that homoeroticism (if it were even present) is shameful are all pretty strong support for the idea that you feel the need to be “hateful”. Not only to BE hatful, but to show the world just how hateful you are. If you have such problems with posters here, why not go elsewhere? Because then you’d lose your all-important audience and have to face the fact that you’re an insecure and insignificant little man. At least this way you get to feel like you have a voice.
To everyone else: I really apologize for sullying an otherwise worthwile thread with this off-topic, tiresome nonsense. I've tried to ignore Jason B. and Colin in the past, and I'll try to continue to do so in the future, as I recognize that indulging them is really to no one's benefit but theirs.
I usually don’t find myself defending Jason, but I think you guys owe him an apology. Whopper did relate a great, touching story, but he took the unnecessary step of taking a dig at Jason at the end. Jason did not hijack this thread. He was invited into it.
Hey colin. I don’t want to get into an argument with you or anything; I just think you may lift at my gym. Are you pretty thick and vascular? Respond at your earliest convenience.
First off all, the term “racist” was invented by the Communists, and no self-respecting speaker of the English language would have that word in his vocabulary. Only pathetic individuals who have been psychologically castrated would ever use such an effiminate term. Second of all, yes we all bleed red: so do horses, dogs, rats, cows and just about every other mammal. How far are we willing to take this egalitarian insanity? Third of all, yes I am a manic-depressive. However, you only know that because I told you, I have never been hospitalized, I have an above average IQ, and I could care less how you treat me. I’m not “special,” I’m crazy. But so what? A long time ago being crazy meant something; today everybody is crazy.
Hello T-gang!
Troll. The word to describe jason, colin and hetyey225 is troll. An Internet Troll is a person who lurks on boards and purposely causes unnecessary controversy. Usually, the Troll's arguments are shallow, uninformed and emotional. There is no intellectual content what so ever to any of the writings. If you would like to get rid of the three trolls previously mentioned, ignore them. -
wghtlftgrl
I have never posted to this site before but I feel the need to respond to what is becoming a race war on the site. If you wand t to quote the bible to support racisum then look at it more cosely. After the flood everyone was descended from Noah and his family (read one race. At the tower of Babel God looked at what the prople were doing and said “because the prople are one nothing is impossible for them”. Note what could we accomplish if we could onlyu get our act together and all get on the same page. So God confused their language and scatered them across the land. The only conclusion can be that instead of being seperate races, we are all pieces of one race and are therefore incomplete without all the other peoples.
Sorry to butt in, stay cool or at least stay in the shade.
Hyok, Jason is a dirty bigot. We do not want him to feel welcome here. Allowing him to participate in this forum because he makes an occasional post about 4-AD is like justifying allowing a Klan member in your living room to talk about weightlifting. Everything he does here is just an attempt to race bait. Why anyone occasionally compliments him or says that insults to him are uncalled for is beyond me. Racists give Testosterone a bad name, and I hope none of you would want anything to do with someone who hates some of us based on our skin color. I didn’t know if you were aware of his previous posts.
Rafael wrote: “Hyok, Jason is a dirty bigot. We do not want him to feel welcome here.”
Am I the only one sees the hypocrisy in the above statement? Rafael is full of venomous hatred towards any White person who admits that they are uncomfortable around a very alien African race. This African race looks different, thinks different, and even smells different. Everybody knows this, but very few will admit it. Rafael and his worshippers are disgusting hypocrites. If I admit that I wouldn’t want a smelly African stinking up my living room, and irritating me with his alien sounding voice and his subject/verb disagreement, then I’m a “dirty bigot.” But when the promoters of “peace” and “brotherhood” call me names and say that they would not have me in their living room, and say that I should not be welcome on this forum, it’s in the name of “tolerance”??? I just had a revelation: I’m the only sane person living in a world of insane people. No wonder why I have to take pills, it’s hard getting through the day when you’re a normal person living in a world of freaks.
That’s cool! Sounds like a cool place to work out! Reminds me of the time I worked out in Peoria ILL. It was called Jim’s Gym. It was a really cool gym! All iron & no bull shit! It had naked pics. of beautiful women on the walls, it was great. That gym was the best thing in that crazy as hell town! I feel sorry for anyone that lives in Peoria ILL. That town sucks, except for Jim’s Gym of course!!
Really now, do you actually believe everything you read in textbooks and newspapers, let alone internet forums? Seriously, have a sense humour. Sad.
Folks stop trying to change Jason’s mind. At this point people who continue to debate him are starting to look ignorant to me. Not stupid, but ignorant. He is going to continue responding with his beliefs and continue to believe what he believes. You are never going to change how he feels about this. This is not some political issue to him. This is a matter of survival to him. Whether or not you disagree, Jason is going to believe that his life and/or livlihood is under threat by minorities. For him, this is a war. Let him say what he has to say. Ignore him if you disagree with him. Otherwise, you’re just pissing in the wind folks.
Jason, what is wrong with (theoretical) Communists? With all your scripture quotes and what not, surely you of all people would like brotherhood, and sharing behind the theory.
GREAT POST WHOPPER! It was really nice to read your story. Don’t pay any attention to the moron’s trying to bring race or homosexuality into it. I’m glad you posted your experience and please keep us informed.
Communists are filthy murderers, thieves, looters, and nation-wreckers. That is what is wrong with Communists. I’d rather be dead than Red.
whopper, great story bro… Jesus was once asked by a pharisee to identify the most important commandment. Instead of picking one of the ten, he summarized them all in two: 1.Love God with all your heart, and 2.Love your neighbor as yourself.
It really is all about love.
well hopefully the third time is the charm here. I have typed this post three times…the first one had enough hate and anger in it for me to drown in…so I erased it. The second one, while better, still was a bit too angry, so lets try again here before I click the Post Message button. OK, Hyock, you are 100% right, I invited Jason here by commenting on him, and therefore he has EVERY right to post his feelings. It was unfair of me to attack him, however to be honest, after I left that first day, he was the first person I thought of, and the fact that he would never have an experience like that, and I genuinely felt bad for him. In reguard to my post, all I was trying to do was post a POSITIVE experience, and I have been accused of being a liar, a homosexual, and a racist. Now, was I guilty of racial profiling…YES…was I wrong…YES. Were there others in that gym who felt that I was imposing on their turf because I was white? YES. If that guy had not spotted me and tallked to me…would I have probably never come back and had found a “safer” gym…YES. Was I nervous walking in there…YES. This is a hardcore gym, where 75% of its members are young black males wearing copious amounts of jewelery, (some) doo rags, and about 10 of them have a gang tribal mark (I suspected it was a a gang thing, today I asked and confirmed that it was). Because of my own preconcieved ideas, I made some wrong assumptions that first day. The guy who spotted me was a bigger man than I was (and I am not meaning sizewise…I am talking attitude) As far as my comment about getting a doo rag in my last post…it was a JOKE. I am really very angry that I tryed to relay something positive here, and it seems that most of the old timers have respected it and appreciated it, however it seems a lot of the newbies (and I have seen this in a lot of threads lately) seem to want to just see their name on the forum, and will put something stupid just for attention. It is really a shame…because for me it is turning me off to this forum quite a bit. This forum was always about mutual respect before…yes, even people like Jason have been debated quite well, with people attacking his views, but usually not him personally. All I know is at this point, I am disappointed in the way the forum has been as of late, and genuinely dissapointed in some of the people who have posted here.