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> That said, there is a lot less racism going on in the Bay Area. I don't agree with that. I think it's just more hidden or wrapped up sarcastic "hipster" joke

by smtddr 14y ago

> That said, there is a lot less racism going on in the Bay Area. I don't agree with that. I think it's just more hidden or wrapped up sarcastic "hipster" jokes. Something similar to http://jezebel.com/5905291/a-complete-guide-to-hipster-racism http://jezebel.com/5905291/a-complete-guide-to-hipster-racis... Disclosure: I'm black.

asimjalis 14y ago
I found it hilarious that the author of this piece feels that calling a non-black person a "thug" is racist. Um, the word thug is actually of Indian origin. It's borrowed into English. So based on this logic the original thugs who were Indian are now racist. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=thug http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=thug
- smtddr 14y ago
  I think what you're debating is similar to how someone could tell me "gay" means happy. Yes, we all know that's the origin of the word - but in 2013, if you hear someone describe someone else(or something else) as "gay" you can probably assume they don't mean "happy".
  - mindcrime 14y ago
    Disclosure: I'm white. I never thought of "thug" as conveying an implication of the subject being black. "Thug" to me is more of a attitude / mindset / way of life, not something that corresponds to race. IOW, it's as easy to be a white "thug" as a black "thug". In fact, now that I think about it, the context in which I usually think of the word "thug" is the phrase "jack booted thug" which has connotations of Nazis, who were - as far as I know - mostly white. The other thing the word "thug" brings to mind for me, is the stereotyped image of a big white (Italian, probably) guy in an expensive suit, working as an "enforcer" for some mafioso type or something. Maybe it varies by region, age or other factors, but I would not think of myself as being racist towards blacks by using the word "thug".
  - asimjalis 14y ago
    Maybe in the US, but I am sure in India "thug" does not mean a black person.

by smtddr 14y ago

asimjalis 14y ago

I found it hilarious that the author of this piece feels that calling a non-black person a "thug" is racist. Um, the word thug is actually of Indian origin. It's borrowed into English. So based on this logic the original thugs who were Indian are now racist. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=thug http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=thug

smtddr 14y ago
I think what you're debating is similar to how someone could tell me "gay" means happy. Yes, we all know that's the origin of the word - but in 2013, if you hear someone describe someone else(or something else) as "gay" you can probably assume they don't mean "happy".
- mindcrime 14y ago
  Disclosure: I'm white. I never thought of "thug" as conveying an implication of the subject being black. "Thug" to me is more of a attitude / mindset / way of life, not something that corresponds to race. IOW, it's as easy to be a white "thug" as a black "thug". In fact, now that I think about it, the context in which I usually think of the word "thug" is the phrase "jack booted thug" which has connotations of Nazis, who were - as far as I know - mostly white. The other thing the word "thug" brings to mind for me, is the stereotyped image of a big white (Italian, probably) guy in an expensive suit, working as an "enforcer" for some mafioso type or something. Maybe it varies by region, age or other factors, but I would not think of myself as being racist towards blacks by using the word "thug".
- asimjalis 14y ago
  Maybe in the US, but I am sure in India "thug" does not mean a black person.