Reply #138: Excellent Post : An Observation [View All]

[RoyGBiv]

I've been here a little over a year, and I've noticed what you're talking about from the first day I lurked. In fact this sort of thing, in combination with a couple other trends that to my mind indicated a double-standard of sorts, is one of the things that prevented me from officially registering for awhile. I didn't consider it pervasive, more of a regularly recurring theme that would get real old after awhile. And, btw, it has become very, very old.

But, obviously, I did register, and I did start participating because, as I said, I didn't see this phenomenon as pervasive. It's something that is present, and at times it is more evident than at others. Certain types of subjects bring it out. From my personal observations, the biggest problem is with various types of humor, whether of the light-hearted, punch-line oriented variety or as a component of a stinging criticism, and this is where I find the double-standard.

If a DUer were to post a sexist or racist joke, that person would, at minimum, be soundly and justifiably criticized. It wouldn't matter how relevant the joke was or how true in that way humor sometimes has a way of being true. Stereotyping people based on race or sex is, to be kind, boorish behavior. Of course, some would defend this as "just a joke," but they would be in the minority and would be criticized just as harshly. Were that same person to post a redneck joke, the responses would either be laughter or groans and little to no criticism. Those that did criticize would themselves become the target of critics. "It's just a joke." Want evidence? Look up various threads in which that tired, boring, not-funny-anymore-at-all joke "Hey, Red States! We're Leaving!" appears.

Some might claim this is not a class warfare joke. If so, I suggest you look at it again. It's not only an attack on the poor generally, but on single mothers, rural people of all persuasions, overweight people, those who cannot afford Ivy League schools, and, of course, those with any religious convictions at all.

And then there's the one phrase that first caught my eye, and it was the subject of a rather intense debate some time last year that, as far as I know, ended in the departure of one DUer who felt much as the OP did. That term is "trailer trash" or more generally the rather rampant habit among many people to poke fun at those who live in mobile homes. The simple fact is this: Some people could never afford a home at all if it weren't a mobile home. The disparaging comments about those who are in this position are nothing at all but an example of class prejudice. Of course, to this some might be tempted to say either "it's just a joke," or "just an expression," or even, "I don't mean anyone who lives in a trailer, but specific types of people ..." Yeah, and I know people who use the "n" word who say they don't mean all black people, just certain types of black people.

That's as close to give specifics as I'm willing to go. Anything more is essentially "calling someone out" because I'd have to point to specific posts made by specific people. Suffice to say many of the people I see do these sorts of things are not freepers-in-disguise, or if they are, they have fooled a lot of us. I even like most of them quite a lot and think they have many valuable things to say, but there is something underneath that makes them think it's okay to make fun of the poor and the weak just because they are, and I don't understand it.