[LamarVannoy]

Originally Posted by EchoPark

Australia is the most racist society on the planet. The sheer audacity of this stunt and the feigned ignorance by the host and the performers that they thought it was okay to paint their faces black and dance around mimicking talented black entertainers lends to their stupidity.

Australians like to think they know everything and carry themselves with a smug self satisfaction. To hear you admit your ignorance is refreshing

And Americans dont?

We're not racist, we just dont take ourselves so seriously.

Originally Posted by NeededYouMost

I think people can base that "comment" by reading a lot of the things you have already posted. You are clearly ignorant. If ignorance correlates to racists, then you sir are a dumb racist.


I could simply respond to this by saying "you don't know who i am, how do you know my parents aren't Australian and that I had to go there every fucking summer for the past 22 years thus equaling to about 6 years worth of time spent in Australian." but no im not going to argue that. Instead Im going to stick to my convictions that Australia is a racist place. if that's a problem for you then too bad. I've heard and read enough to know that a black man in Australia is almost like a elephant walking down the streets of Manhattan. Something to be gawked at and stereotyped.

are you serious? obviously you havent heard or read enough to know anything about Australia because this comment is the most ignorant and idiotic statement I've ever read. Do you honestly believe we treat people like that here? I'd like to know where you get your information from.

[ghostyouare]

I love the ignorance in here by Americans. It's racist because we done fucked up and now everyone should be held to our standard. Outstanding.

[mooshthedoosh]

racial context? this just shows that you dont understand and don't try to understand why this might be offensive. Sure your racial contexts might not be the same as Americans and any other country for that matter, but it also acts as ignorance. Sure it might not be racially motivated, but it also shows a lack of understanding and respect for another race. Someone here said there aren't a lot of black people in Australia and maybe that might be a contributing factor to this, but like any globalizing country, respect for people should be held in high regard. Do you remember the social faux pas that the Spanish Olympic Basketball team made? When they purposefully slanted their eyes with their hands, and took a group photo? In Spanish culture, things like this is generally accepted, and they don't really understand why jokes like that are such a problem. But to the rest of the world, this was a huge faux pas and the Spanish basketball team was under huge flack.

This is generally the same thing. You have got to understand that this world is starting to become a huge melting pot. People have got to accommodate and welcome different cultures and ideas into their lives. This not only affects how we communicate amongst each other, but it also lends to shaping globalization as a whole (whether it be in business or society). The fact that you give a reason to why Australia might not be held accountable to ignorance for this video shows that you don't understand other cultures, and why it might be ignorant.

Now I am by no means one of those people who get offended very easily, nor do I like tackling these types of subjects, as they often give people the impression of weakness. But if you haven't experienced ignorant things like this in a timely basis, you will never understand why things such as these might be hurtful to a certain culture or race. Oftentimes, people will make racial/ignorant remarks and back it up to be as truth or not see it as hurtful.

In short, you might not have to agree with why it is ignorant, but you should be able to see why it might be ignorant.

[Inaction]

Originally Posted by mooshthedoosh

racial context? this just shows that you dont understand and don't try to understand why this might be offensive. Sure your racial contexts might not be the same as Americans and any other country for that matter, but it also acts as ignorance. Sure it might not be racially motivated, but it also shows a lack of understanding and respect for another race. Someone here said there aren't a lot of black people in Australia and maybe that might be a contributing factor to this, but like any globalizing country, respect for people should be held in high regard. Do you remember the social faux pas that the Spanish Olympic Basketball team made? When they purposefully slanted their eyes with their hands, and took a group photo? In Spanish culture, things like this is generally accepted, and they don't really understand why jokes like that are such a problem. But to the rest of the world, this was a huge faux pas and the Spanish basketball team was under huge flack.

This is generally the same thing. You have got to understand that this world is starting to become a huge melting pot. People have got to accommodate and welcome different cultures and ideas into their lives. This not only affects how we communicate amongst each other, but it also lends to shaping globalization as a whole (whether it be in business or society). The fact that you give a reason to why Australia might not be held accountable to ignorance for this video shows that you don't understand other cultures, and why it might be ignorant.

Now I am by no means one of those people who get offended very easily, nor do I like tackling these types of subjects, as they often give people the impression of weakness. But if you haven't experienced ignorant things like this in a timely basis, you will never understand why things such as these might be hurtful to a certain culture or race. Oftentimes, people will make racial/ignorant remarks and back it up to be as truth or not see it as hurtful.

In short, you might not have to agree with why it is ignorant, but you should be able to see why it might be ignorant.

For the most part this is what I have been saying. I at least agree with the greater sentiment minus the Australia is ignorant slant.

"The fact that you give a reason to why Australia might not be held accountable to ignorance for this video shows that you don't understand other cultures, and why it might be ignorant. "

That goes both ways. Some people here aren't understanding that Australia has a completely different culture to America and therefore what may be offensive in the US isn't necessarily offensive over here. I've been explaining why to the majority of people here the skit wasn't offensive. I think someone mentioned earlier in the thread that Blackface was on television in England in the late 70's. Let's assume that it was the same here. That leaves a very large portion of a population (basically anyone under forty as I doubt anyone under ten at the time would have even a remote grasp of the implications of what was really being shown) with no connection to Blackface, no context for it. So it is surprising they wouldn't find this offensive? No. Does it mean they are racist like people have been trying to claim? No.

Claiming that Australia is ignorant because they don't see why something is offensive is in itself completely ignorant because you are ignoring the fact the concept of Blackface has no real context for the current generation. There may have been back when Blackface and minstrel shows were a common occurrence on television but it doesn't now.

This whole situation reminds me of a story. We have a brand of food here (Coon cheese). It is named after it's creator (Edward Coon or something). In the US apparently the name is a derogatory racist word. One of my friends had one of her US friends visit. She got extremely offended by the product. Nobody from here thought it was offensive because the word is not a part of Australian vernacular or at least it hasn't been for the current generation.

So who in that situation was wrong? Neither. Different countries with different cultures.

If anyone should be getting flack it's the producers of the show, not the entire country. And yes, I'd say the lack of a black population in Australia is a huge driving factor in this situation. Things would be a lot different if that wasn't the case.

[Inaction]

Originally Posted by timb89

my problem with calling it a racist skit, is that this implies that the performers, performed this knowingly with the intent to inspire some form of racial hatred.

i think what most people here are struggling about is a clear and constant definition of racism and its correlation between ignorance and context.

It's an uncomfortable and unfortunate situation, but intent doesn't necessarily clear someone of their mistakes when they offend someone. You could argue about the degree of racism involved in the skit, but it's really not a good road to go down.

[timb89]

Originally Posted by Inaction

It's an uncomfortable and unfortunate situation, but intent doesn't necessarily clear someone of their mistakes when they offend someone. You could argue about the degree of racism involved in the skit, but it's really not a good road to go down.

nah i definitely wouldn't, you can't claim your not aware of the context then go ahead and argue the severity of the racial act.

[BEERfortheBEAR]

Outback Steakhouse is more of a racial injustice than the skit.

[ghostyouare]

Originally Posted by mooshthedoosh

racial context? this just shows that you dont understand and don't try to understand why this might be offensive. Sure your racial contexts might not be the same as Americans and any other country for that matter, but it also acts as ignorance. Sure it might not be racially motivated, but it also shows a lack of understanding and respect for another race. Someone here said there aren't a lot of black people in Australia and maybe that might be a contributing factor to this, but like any globalizing country, respect for people should be held in high regard. Do you remember the social faux pas that the Spanish Olympic Basketball team made? When they purposefully slanted their eyes with their hands, and took a group photo? In Spanish culture, things like this is generally accepted, and they don't really understand why jokes like that are such a problem. But to the rest of the world, this was a huge faux pas and the Spanish basketball team was under huge flack.

This is generally the same thing. You have got to understand that this world is starting to become a huge melting pot. People have got to accommodate and welcome different cultures and ideas into their lives. This not only affects how we communicate amongst each other, but it also lends to shaping globalization as a whole (whether it be in business or society). The fact that you give a reason to why Australia might not be held accountable to ignorance for this video shows that you don't understand other cultures, and why it might be ignorant.

Now I am by no means one of those people who get offended very easily, nor do I like tackling these types of subjects, as they often give people the impression of weakness. But if you haven't experienced ignorant things like this in a timely basis, you will never understand why things such as these might be hurtful to a certain culture or race. Oftentimes, people will make racial/ignorant remarks and back it up to be as truth or not see it as hurtful.

In short, you might not have to agree with why it is ignorant, but you should be able to see why it might be ignorant.

Nope. You're wrong.

[BryterJonah]

long paragraphs i fear i watch hulu instead

[Buried A Lie]

Maybe not intended as racist, but fucking stupid without doubt. Don't care what culture, American or Australian, if this didn't strike anyone involved as possibly a bad idea due to racial insensitivity done in poor taste then they live in a world of total ignorance.

[Machu505]

So I guess Australia isn't alone in thinking blackface is ok.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beaut...his-ok-525789/

[timb89]

Originally Posted by ghostyouare

I love the ignorance in here by Americans. It's racist because we done fucked up and now everyone should be held to our standard. Outstanding.

thankyou. my point exactly.

[xshady121]

Blackface is NEVER acceptable.

This is awesome though.

http://boston.barstoolsports.com/ran...-being-racist/