Just got into a short YouTube argument

[Jamaal510]

x-Posted from GD.

Here is the video:

So I posted a comment about the title of the video that says:

"So the title of this video is "Jacksonville state university student beats down his BLACK roommate for stealing his stuff". I don't get how including the roommate's race in the title is really relevant whatsoever. All it does is make something a Black-and-White issue that need not be. It also creates an "otherization" of Blacks, and further contributes to the image of us all being thieves.
Every time I see video titles like these and as I read some of the comments below, it makes me cringe. America (and society as a whole) evidently still has a long way to go in solving its race problem."

A person who calls themselves "Jerry Seinfeld" said:

"Here comes the PC police, keeping those hurt feelings in check officer?"

My response was:

"PC police". So basically it is "PC" to call out ignorance, then. Got it. You're basically expecting people to sit down and shut up.
I really get a kick out of how people like you throw around the "PC" term in order to justify being backwards-minded assholes in the 21st century. Grow up."

Another person calling themselves "Jake Tere" responded to me, saying

"lol butthurt nigga chill up homie"

My response to that was:

"What is this, kindergarten?"

Jake Tere said:

"lol wut why you defend a thief"

My response:

"I'm not defending a thief. My point was that whoever that posted this video didn't need to include the guy's race in the title, and that it was totally irrelevant to what happened. That's it."

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with the folks here at DU after I saw the thread about "political correctness". Not only did I find the title of the video to be ridiculous, but I was also disgusted with how there were actually more people giving the first person who responded to me more "thumbs up", despite how ignorant and mean-spirited his comment was. I'm fully aware that YouTube comments in general are a cesspool, but boredom got the best of me here...now I feel like I've caught the cooties and need to take a cold shower.

[randys1]

1. tick tick tick

I am sorry I watched this...

How do we know who stole what from who?

Why they mentioned his race is obvious...

Post racial Obama's America, my ass


by the way, some white americans might just consider themselves lucky that if stealing a "whatever" is the worst that happens to them after the past 200 yrs, well what can I say

[Jamaal510]

2. Funny turn of events--

the video actually got yanked a short while ago! I have no idea what happened.

[randys1]

3. It was a beating by an obviously trained fighter, in shape etc against an average joe

not able to protect himself like most of us in that situation

If I am that man I arrest the motherfucker, for sure...the beating he took was assault REGARDLESS of whether he stole anything, our laws dont allow that shit

and how in the HELL do we know if he stole anything, in a situation like that I am never going to believe the guy making the accusation, gonna need proof first

[Jamaal510]

5. Good point, and

"how in the HELL do we know if he stole anything, in a situation like that I am never going to believe the guy making the accusation, gonna need proof first"

I wish I would've included that in my comment. Unfortunately most of the folks who commented on the video aren't able to connect the dots like that and only go by what they are shown.

[thucythucy]

4. I've pretty much given up on YouTube.

Sorry you went through that, but your comments might have made an impression on someone.

Sometimes I wonder if it's that the racism is worse than years back, or just more obvious because of social media. Probably a mix of the two.

Best wishes, and hang in there.

[Jamaal510]

6. YouTube is OK

for watching videos, but yeah...I've got to train myself to stay out of its comments section for the sake of my sanity. I'm actually a little bit relieved now that the video got taken down so I won't be tempted to go back on it and deal with those knuckledraggers.
Most of the people who comment on videos there come across as so willfully ignorant. When reading YouTube comments, it's easy to forget that I'm still in the 21st century, and I wonder sometimes if I'm talking to normal adults or children who happen to be trapped in adult bodies. People can't openly be bigots in public without getting reprimanded for it, so they feel the need to be cowards and vent online.
I know that DU isn't perfect and has its share of funny-acting posters, but compared to much of the stuff I read on YouTube, it is like a fresh breath of air here.

[randys1]

9. To the "is it worse now, racism" "children in adult bodies"

and if you turn on the tv you will see McCain actually blaming the plane downed on Obama

a nut job from the far right of the teaparty is suppose to be that irrational and irresponsible, not the de facto leader of the repub party

Racism is now required somehow to be patriotic, in their minds...it is that bad

Speaking as a white guy I dont have an opinion on whether actual, day to day racism, institutional and otherwise, is better, same or worse than 1960, pre civil rights days, so I wont speculate.

I will say that the civil rights ACT is under attack as well as voting rights and why is it most of the people without water in Detroit

"just happen to be Black" ???????????????????/

[steve2470]

7. YouTube comments are a wasteland of ignorance, racism and stupidity, in general

Yes, sometimes people say something informed and intelligent, but the rule, from what I've seen, is racist, homophobic, sexist, ignorant, mean, and stupid. For the lulz. I'm sorry you had to deal with that.

eta: Add anti-semitic, conspiracy-mongering and every other kind of nasty "ism" out there.

[Jamaal510]

8. I forgot all about

"Add anti-semitic, conspiracy-mongering and every other kind of nasty "ism" out there."

...this, but that's so true. I lost track of how many comments I've seen about crap like the Illuminati and the "Gay Mafia", and Jews supposedly plotting to take over the world. How did these people even figure out how to operate a computer?

[Blue_Tires]

10. +1

Sane folks are better off not even wading into heated discussions about ethnic/religious/gender/political issues...