Pacman Arrested

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I RARELY pull the race card, and this is going to sound VERY wewhite3 of me, but if this guy were white, would you call him a thug?

I've just noticed that over the years and just wanted to bring it up today.

Definition of thug: A brutal ruffian or ganster.

I see no reference to a black man in that definition. It is the ACTIONS of the player that make him a thug, not his skin color.

Sheesh.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

Definition of thug: A brutal ruffian or ganster.

I see no reference to a black man in that definition. It is the ACTIONS of the player that make him a thug, not his skin color.

Sheesh.

I think we all agree on the textbook definition and even the orgin of the word itself. In the heat of the moment when I'm passing judgements and making off color remarks, sorry sometimes I do, I don't refer to Wikipedia or Google.

The bigger question is have we, as a whole, been conditioned to think of and label a particular culture in a certain way? I think it's a valid argument.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

The bigger question is have we, as a whole, been conditioned to think of and label a particular culture in a certain way? I think it's a valid argument.

Absolutely. IMO, that is what has happened with racism--it's gone underground (in America). What's worse, people don't even think that it's racism--they think you have to be lynching and segregating to be racist.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

Absolutely. IMO, that is what has happened with racism--it's gone underground (in America). What's worse, people don't even think that it's racism--they think you have to be lynching and segregating to be racist.

That's kinda my point. If you search some of the old Sean Taylor threads when he got arrested on the aggravated assault charge, I was pretty heated about the whole 'thug' thing. If you're not conditioned or think this way - outstanding!

I think it's more subtle and powerful than we realize.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I think it's more subtle and powerful than we realize.

Yeah, it is more powerful than we realize. We're talking about people's perception, which influences their actions and thoughts. The bad thing is, now it is much harder to confront someone about it (because it is subtle, and less obvious).

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

Yeah, it is more powerful than we realize. We're talking about people's perception, which influences their actions and thoughts. The bad thing is, now it is much harder to confront someone about it (because it is subtle, and less obvious).

The more you talk about it the more power it has.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

The more you talk about it the more power it has.

Not talking about gives it an equal amount of power.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

The more you talk about it the more power it has.

The more aware we are of our perceptions (and what, or who, shapes them), the more control we have over them.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I think we all agree on the textbook definition and even the orgin of the word itself. In the heat of the moment when I'm passing judgements and making off color remarks, sorry sometimes I do, I don't refer to Wikipedia or Google.

The bigger question is have we, as a whole, been conditioned to think of and label a particular culture in a certain way? I think it's a valid argument.

You mean a label like the REDSKINS? Or like YANKEES? Valid? Dude, it's life. We've come a long way I think from the days long ago. I'm sure we will continue to better ourselves as people and try even harder to be "politically correct" going forward. I doubt there was any harm meant towards blacks in that comment, it was just a comment and a word was used. The guy is a thug – white/black/yellow. It is what it is.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

You mean a label like the REDSKINS? Or like YANKEES? Valid? Dude, it's life. We've come a long way I think from the days long ago. I'm sure we will continue to better ourselves as people and try even harder to be "politically correct" going forward. I doubt there was any harm meant towards blacks in that comment, it was just a comment and a word was used. The guy is a thug – white/black/yellow. It is what it is.

Well I'm not sure Reskins or Yankees enters into this discussion quite the same way. Simply because neither one always, all the time carry a negative image, unlike the word thug. (I just said I wasn't going to stretch this out!) There is nothing positive or of any redeemable value in that word. Nothing. In fact, it carries a negative connotation.

Yes, we've come a long way! Yes, it's life....I agree! And I'm not getting on anyway in particular. I'm just saying is it possible that we have been conditioned to think a certain way and not know it?