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The Library => Haley Center Basement => Topic started by: Snaggletiger on August 31, 2012, 09:56:37 AM
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To hold down the fort. Copypasta from Foxnews. Just more :facepalm:
Watch your mouth -- everyday phrases like "hold down the fort" and "rule of thumb" are potentially offensive bombshells.
At least according to the State Department.
Chief Diversity Officer John Robinson penned a column in the department's latest edition of "State Magazine" advising readers on some rather obscure Ps and Qs.
Robinson ticked off several common phrases and went on to explain why their roots are racially or culturally insensitive. The result was a list of no-nos that could easily result in some tongue-tied U.S. diplomats, particularly in an administration that swaps "war on terror" for "overseas contingency operation" and once shied away from using the word "terrorism."
For instance, Robinson warned, "hold down the fort" is a potentially insulting reference to American Indian stereotypes.
"How many times have you or a colleague asked if someone could 'hold down the fort?'" he wrote. "You were likely asking someone to watch the office while you go and do something else, but the phrase's historical connotation to some is negative and racially offensive."
He explained: "To 'hold down the fort' originally meant to watch and protect against the vicious Native American intruders. In the territories of the West, Army soldiers or settlers saw the 'fort' as their refuge from their perceived 'enemy,' the stereotypical 'savage' Native American tribes."
He singled out another phrase, "Going Dutch," as a "negative stereotype portraying the Dutch as cheap."
And "rule of thumb," he wrote, can according to women's activists refer "to an antiquated law, whereby the width of a husband's thumb was the legal size of a switch or rod allowed to beat his wife."
Further, he explained, "If her bruises were not larger than the width of his thumb, the husband could not be brought to court to answer for his behavior because he had not violated the 'rule of thumb.'"
He went on to urge caution over the word "handicap," as some disability advocates "believe this term is rooted in a correlation between a disabled individual and a beggar, who had to beg with a cap in his or her hand because of the inability to maintain employment."
What to make of all this?
Robinson cited the cautionary tale of Nike rolling out a "Black and Tan" sneaker without realizing the phrase once referred to a group "that committed atrocities against Irish civilians." Nike later apologized.
"Choose your words thoughtfully," Robinson wrote. "Now that you know the possible historical context of the above phrases, perhaps you will understand why someone could be offended by their use. Let us agree that language will continue to evolve with continually improving consciousness and respect for others."
Robinson also serves as the director of the Office of Civil Rights and an adviser to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on diversity issues. He earlier worked as chief diversity officer with the IRS.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/30/state-department-hold-down-fort-other-common-phrases-could-be-offensive/#ixzz258E8myNP
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Just so you know, from henceforth all rape victims will be referred to as unwilling sperm recipients.
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Just so you know, from henceforth all rape victims will be referred to as unwilling sperm recipients.
If being an unwilling sperm recipient is inevitable...
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They give us these phrases and then take them away...that would make them
Indian givers Well, a person that gives something and then they're dissatisfied and they wish they had, had never uh...
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The Irish brothers in Boondock Saints actually mention the Rule of Thumb phrase and it's historical place. And promptly get pounded on by a big bitch who didn't think it was funny.
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I have really had to watch myself these days now that I am specializing in international contracts. For example, when discussing a SaudiAramco deal in a (thankfully internal) memo, referring to the contract terms as "kosher" is frowned upon... :facepalm:
Not one of my better moments.
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I find the term "Back door" offensive
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I find the term "Back door" offensive
only before the stretching.
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I have really had to watch myself these days now that I am specializing in international contracts. For example, when discussing a SaudiAramco deal in a (thankfully internal) memo, referring to the contract terms as "kosher" is frowned upon... :facepalm:
Not one of my better moments.
Sad because all it literally means is pure diet. Too much PC in the world and it's getting worse.
Never have I once been offended by a stereotype or joke of my ethnicity. Hell, I laugh at them. All of them!
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For 69 points, who said the following?
The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get into this country?"
On ever playing for a New York team: "I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing."
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Ted Williams?
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Ted Williams?
Winner winner chicke....wait...NO!
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For 69 points, who said the following?
The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get into this country?"
On ever playing for a New York team: "I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing."
One of my favorites. Tell it like it is John Rocker!
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For 69 points, who said the following?
The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get into this country?"
On ever playing for a New York team: "I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing."
I loved John Rocker. Great closer. He became even more unhinged after that interview.
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One of my favorites. Tell it like it is John Rocker!
The media firestorm after that was so overboard. Everyone had to keep piling on and it seemed that every talking head had to say, "The untold number of people he hurt with those remarks."
Really? Name one. Name one person on the face of God's green earth that was actually hurt or even offended by what he said. I think most New Yorkians would say, "Hey yo, fawk you, Rahkah!!"
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I like to walk softly and carry a big stick while beating my wife.
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I like to walk softly and carry a big stick while beating my wife.
Mr. GF, please tell the court when you stopped beating your wife.
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"Hey yo, fawk you, Rahkah!!"
"Hey, I just struck out your best hitter! What are you yelping about?"
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Mr. GF, please tell the court when you stopped beating your wife.
What wife?
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Those gubermint fucks aren't going to control my mouth. :fu:
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Those gubermint fucks aren't going to control my mouth. :fu:
They already do.
Walk into your employer and say the N word loudly and see what happens.
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They already do.
Walk into your employer and say the N word loudly and see what happens.
Stand up on an airplane and yell "For Allah!!"
Not that you would be allowed on a plane anyway. I'm sure you are already on the NWO Watch List.
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Stand up on an airplane and yell "For Allah!!"
Not that you would be allowed on a plane anyway. I'm sure you are already on the NWO Watch List.
I loved the NWO. Hollywood Hogan was too cool. Wasn't real keen on that Kevin Nash guy though. Scott Hall was a big fat drunk. Which made him even cooler than Hogan.
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I loved the NWO. Hollywood Hogan was too cool. Wasn't real keen on that Kevin Nash guy though. Scott Hall was a big fat drunk. Which made him even cooler than Hogan.
Of course, Hall would always thump that toothpick at you right before the match started. Painting the black beard on Hogan was a little much, though....brother
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They already do.
Walk into your employer and say the N word loudly and see what happens.
I have done that and all they did was transfer me to a better job.
Stand up on an airplane and yell "For Allah!!"
Not that you would be allowed on a plane anyway. I'm sure you are already on the NWO Watch List.
I'll give that serious consideration.
I know all of you know, I DO NOT GIVE SHIT.
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Of course, Hall would always thump that toothpick at you right before the match started. Painting the black beard on Hogan was a little much, though....brother
HEY YOOOOOO!
Someone told Hall he could quit working out apparently. Even as an old geezer, he still remembered the toothpick.....
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYEHTyDTUb0/TZ81gpWxZqI/AAAAAAAAAMg/LxOaDc-ZiAU/s1600/scotthall2.jpg)
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Razor Ramone
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Razor Ramone
Good old days of colorful characters!
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Good old days of colorful characters!
Remember Baron Von Rashke? When I was at Auburn, we'd get a group up a lot of Wednesday nights and hit Columbus for NWA Championship Rasslin'. Der Baron was a mainstay on the circuit at that time. He would finish you with the Brain Claw. He'd say "Dat is all da people need to know".
Saw him in an interview years later and he was talking plain English like everyone else. I laughed because of all the interviews he gave with that German accent.
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Remember Baron Von Rashke? When I was at Auburn, we'd get a group up a lot of Wednesday nights and hit Columbus for NWA Championship Rasslin'. Der Baron was a mainstay on the circuit at that time. He would finish you with the Brain Claw. He'd say "Dat is all da people need to know".
Saw him in an interview years later and he was talking plain English like everyone else. I laughed because of all the interviews he gave with that German accent.
This can be explained simply. He has been in the U.S. long enough that he lost his German accent.
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This can be explained simply. He has been in the U.S. long enough that he lost his German accent.
It's still real to him.