How Does Your Mind Work?

[PlatyPius 5]

Uncle Tom and Jamal were hanging out at Tom's cabin one day. Jamal said to Tom, "I seen that new neighbor of yours yestiday; he's #######!" Tom replied. "Ayuh, he's an abnormally gay dude." "You gonna put 22s on yer six-four, Tom?" asked Jamal. "Naw...I couldn't afford to buy new tires every time I ran over a '####### if I did that.", said Tom. "I'll be back in a few minutes Tom, I'm agonna go to your neighbors' house and puff on a **." "Just be sure to put your butt in the trash and don't throw it on the ground, Jamal." said Tom. "You really can be a niggardly bastid sometimes Tom, ya know it?" replied Jamal.

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Now, after reading this, answer the poll questions above. Answer with what FIRST came into your mind. Be honest, please.

Just curious about what people first think of when they read/hear certain words.

(If THIS one violates the TOS, then I freaking give up.)

[Jenn! 918]

Same answers for me: black/yes/0. And I'll reask my previous question: I don't see how the second answer could be anything but yes. What am I missing?

[Mags 112]

Same answers for me: black/yes/0. And I'll reask my previous question: I don't see how the second answer could be anything but yes. What am I missing?

Because you are going by what Jamal and Tom said...you don't know the facts for yourself. They may just have it in for him and be bigots.

I answered other asian/can't tell/0.

Edited November 25, 2006 by mags

[Jenn! 918]

Same answers for me: black/yes/0. And I'll reask my previous question: I don't see how the second answer could be anything but yes. What am I missing?

Because you are going by what Jamal and Tom said...you don't know the facts for yourself. They may just have it in for him and be bigots.

I answered other asian/can't tell/0.

Aha! Thanks, I didn't get it. Why did I trust Jamal and Tom? I should know better!

[Donna A 4]

to be honest...my first thought was who is uncle tom and jamal?

[Mags 112]

Same answers for me: black/yes/0. And I'll reask my previous question: I don't see how the second answer could be anything but yes. What am I missing?

Because you are going by what Jamal and Tom said...you don't know the facts for yourself. They may just have it in for him and be bigots.

I answered other asian/can't tell/0.

Aha! Thanks, I didn't get it. Why did I trust Jamal and Tom? I should know better!

[Jenn! 918]

It is clear from this story that Uncle Tom is a Pacific Islander.

[Mags 112]

It is clear from this story that Uncle Tom is a Pacific Islander.

Hope you're not taking Tom's word for that!

[PlatyPius 5]

I'm going to go ahead and tell the "secrets" now, in case this one gets closed too.

Tom is Jamal's uncle. Jamal is white. (Yes, I do know a white guy named Jamal. Name chosen because of the racial associations) So is Tom.

They are both from Maine. (Tom's use of "Ayuh")

Reference to "puttin' 22s on the six four" = putting 22 inch wheels on a 1964 Impala. A thing commonly associated with black males.

As for the neighbour.... He's a bit ####### (odd). He's ####### (odd) because he's abnormally gay (happy) all the time.

The "#######" reference is, of course, about a raccoon.

"Puffing a **" was thrown in to further the homosexual associations for the neighbour.

"Niggardly" (which has no etymological link to the "n-word") was included because a while back a politician was forced to resign for using the word in its proper context.

The whole point of this poll.... to illustrate the various assumptions and misconceptions that people make every day. To make people think about how they react to words. To try to make people understand that words themselves are not insults...only if used in a certain context, and sometimes not even then. Words do not have the ability to hurt people. They really, really don't. Only the persons' reaction to those words, and how they perceive them, does.

Edited November 25, 2006 by PlatyPius

[sparkofcreation 0]

1. Can't tell; the names "Uncle Tom" and "Jamal" automatically indicate "black" to me (especially if they're at Uncle Tom's cabin) but the rest of the story is a mish-mash of speech patterns and slang that are internally inconsistent.

2. Yes. People may use "#######" and "gay" individually with their original meanings occasionally, but to use them together like that to me indicates the neighbor is indeed homosexual.

3. Depends on the context; could be 0 or 1 depending on whether the characters are using "#######" as a racial insult or not. But since the entire paragraph was obviously written to be as confusing as possible and prevent anyone from figuring out anything about the characters, there's no way to know whether they mean a raccoon or a black person. Though I've never heard anyone use "#######" to mean a raccoon.

Frankly, the whole paragraph reads like it's meant to contain as many stereotypes of different groups as possible with no regard for trying to find one culture and stick to it.

Edited November 25, 2006 by sparkofcreation

[PlatyPius 5]

Frankly, the whole paragraph reads like it's meant to contain as many stereotypes of different groups as possible with no regard for trying to find one culture and stick to it.

Very good.

(BTW: raccoons are called Coons here in Indiana. The people who hunt them are "####### Hunters".)

[mybackpages 0]

And I'll reask my previous question: I don't see how the second answer could be anything but yes. What am I missing?

You need to watch more BBC America

[Jenn! 918]

And I'll reask my previous question: I don't see how the second answer could be anything but yes. What am I missing?

You need to watch more BBC America

Yes, I guess so. Although I did understand puffing a **. Why two white men from Maine would say that is another question, I suppose...

[Mags 112]

Well, whole paragraph is meant to contain as many stereotypes of different groups as possible ...

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Why oh why have to started another thread exactly the same as the one closed for being against the TOS of VJ.....