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This is the problem. People will choose to ignore context and other grammatical history because of their own personal incorrect views. It's not like the word "
by Fogest 6y ago
This is the problem. People will choose to ignore context and other grammatical history because of their own personal incorrect views.
It's not like the word "black" is just used with blacklist. We also use it in other places like black market, black hat, and black site. None of these are related to black people, but instead all relate to a shady dark/scary side of things like you mentioned.
When someone pictures a black market they are not thinking something that looks bright and colourful, they are thinking something that is dark and maybe grungy/sketchy looking.
The word policing is something I am really getting sick of.
- curlypaul924 6y agoOf those, I've heard of white hats, but I've not heard of white markets or white sites. If it had been black list and green list, I'm not sure anyone would have made a racial connection.
- Fogest 6y agoYeah for sure. Like it's not racist that I like the white part of an Oreo cookie more than the black part. It just so happens that the cookie portions is called black and the filling colour is called white but other than that the colour is irrelevant. I also have never heard of white markets, but I have heard and often use the word "grey market" to indicate an in between of legal and the illegal markets. This helps point to the fact that the word is not used in the racial sense, but instead the colour itself reflects a certain vibe. Grey is a bit brighter than black but not quite as bright as white. Thus the colour can indicate an in-between. But like you mentioned "black market" and "grey market" probably won't be targeted by cancel culture since there is not an opposing white element.
- curlypaul924 6y agoThe oreo itself may not be racist, but it most definitely is associated with racism because of its colors. So I would caution you in using it as an analogy; it may be why your post was flagged.
- Fogest 6y agoWhat? I have never in my life heard of a damn cookie being called racist. That is insane. I am not going to be caution in the least with using that anaology. I am using a cookie to talk about how ridiculous things are and you're telling me a cookie is offensive. That is insane.
- curlypaul924 6y agoPlease do not misconstrue what I have said. The term "oreo" has a long history of being used as a racist epithet. There is nothing wrong with using it as an analogy, but in a discussion on racism, it might be better to pick a cookie with a similar color scheme that does not already have racist connotations, such as a Moon Pie. You are, of course, free to use whatever analogy you feel best expresses your point.
- Fogest 6y agoInteresting, I will continue to use it as I think it still demonstrates the point. I have never in my life heard of a cookie being used in a racist way. I've heard crackers being used in racist ways though. Regardless it's a weird world out there!
- jobigoud 6y ago> None of these are related to black people, but instead all relate to a shady dark/scary side of things like you mentioned. Isn't it the other way around though? Black people skin is not of color black as in actual black. And white people skin is certainly not white. It's the naming of skin tone that is sloppy and figurative. While the association of white with light/visibility and black with darkness/unknown is natural.
- Fogest 6y agoYes, a lot of people would identify as a "black" person, but their skin colour would probably more accurately be called "brown". Personally I think the more correct term is African-American, but people choose to be offended by "black" when used in words even though it relates more to the colour than a skin colour like you said. Overall I think the logic of opposing words like "blacklist" just falls apart logically in multiple areas and I think your explanation is a good example of why.