The math question begins:
"Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second...."

This question appeared on a practice test for a math final at Bellevue Community College. Some students complained and the TEACHER HAS APOLOGIZED AND HAS REQUESTED CULTURAL SENSITIVITY TRAINING!!!!!!!!

WHAT!?!?!?!?

Somebody throwing a watermelon up in the air is offensive?????
Why???????
The students need insensitivity training!!

I second the motion for insensitivity training. Sensitivity (and political correctness) has gone way too far. Just because a black person handles a watermelon doesn't mean they are being done an injustice. It's really starting to get annoying how over-sensitive, and ultratolerant people are becoming.

Hahaha! Black people sure do love their watermelon!

And so Roman proves the need for cultural sensitivity training.

Originally Posted by Roman
Hahaha! Black people sure do love their watermelon!
”


And so Roman proves the need for cultural sensitivity training.

And exactly what did he say that was insensitive? Where does him saying blacks like watermelon become harmful? It's not like he said "haha, black people sure do love sucking cock" or some crap. Big wow, they like watermelon. Offensive? Gimme a friggin' break. What about chicken? Hell, tell a black person he likes chicken and he'll say hell yeah and won't be offended by it.

And then if you would have picked another type of food, you would have gotten PC responses of "OMG, WTF, a black person would never eat that shit! Whatcha tryin to do? Racist!"

What the heck is so offensive about it? It fits the question. I mean if you're gonna have another math test about a Mexican, you aren't gonna say "Jose eats one cornish hen and two brautworsts, how many items of food did he eat? You're gonna say he ate some tacos and enchilladas to make the question fit.

Damn PC Police. They're part of the problem with this world.

Hey Roman, Italians sure do like their pizza and spagetthi. Hahaha, uh oh, the PC Police are gonna come after me. Oh wait, Italians aren't a minority so that makes it alright. :rolleyes:

- N

Well, Neildo, since what Roman said is not offensive, find a group of big black guys (assuming you are not black), walk up to them real nice and slow, and say, "Wow, you guys really like Watermelon, huh?"

If they laugh, then it wasn't too offensive. If they beat the shit out of you, then it must have been offensive.

It's a matter of perception. Not your perception, or Roman's. But the person that it is being said about, and what they think you are implying by saying it.

If you are white, and I walked up to you and some of your friends who are also white, being black myself, and said, "Shouldn't you guys be getting back to the trailer park by now?" what would you do? Honestly.

If you are white, and I walked up to you and some of your friends who are also white, being black myself, and said, "Shouldn't you guys be getting back to the trailer park by now?" what would you do? Honestly.

Not if you wouldn't mind me saying the same thing about any ghettho. And that's what I would say in respond. If someone says something, I respond back with a similar style and level of response. Make a comment about race, get a comment about race back. Make a comment about where you live, receieve a comment back about where you live. Make a comment about a food, receieve a comment about a food. I'm not gonna all of a sudden respond to a comment about a food and then respond back about slavery or some shit as that's not the same level of response.

The comment is about foods. Being white, I don't know what a white person primarily likes, but go ahead and pick something and I won't be offended. It's friggin food for Christ's sake!

Do you think an Indian is gonna be offended by you saying they sure do love their curry? How about a Brit sure loving their fish 'n chips? Or how about Japanese sure loving their sushi? Italians with their spaghetti? Hawaiians with their Spam? Germans with their sauerkraut? French with their escargot? Gimme a break.

And by the way, yes, I have mentioned chicken 'n grits with a side of watermelon before to black people. Nothing wrong. You know why? We know how to have fun and not take petty things so seriously. And more often than not, they respond with a "hell yeah we love that shit" because well, they do love it and it's good stuff.

A comment like that is more along the lines of stupid than it is offensive. You'd just get laughed at for making a comment like that, not offend em. People these days can't even joke back and forth to one another without gettin all ass hurt.

I guess I'm supposed to cry whenever someone calls me a cracka or a Nazi all for being white or talk with a Tiger Woods/Eddie Murphy impersonation of a white voice or your redneck/trailer park comment. And those are more serious than some silly food comment, but I don't have a problem with that either. A joker is a joker and well, people don't take jokers too seriously and hold them in high regards.

You guys really need to learn what insensitivity means. Joking about the Holocaust to a Jew is being insensitive. Saying likes [insert primary food they DO eat] isn't. That's more along a stereotype which is more often than not true. Stereotypes exist for a reason because more often than not, they're true. Nothing insensitive about it talking about a friggin piece of food. Now go make a comment about all blacks being slaves or something, then you'll get your ass whooped for being insensitive. Talk about chicken and they'll defend their love of it proudly and they'll also more likely than not insert their own jokingly comment about your type of food to continue the game.

Heck, stereotypes are how people of different races do their most common way of joking with another. Everyone I know cracks stereotypical jokes to one another about their various cultures. We don't have a problem with it. You guys must not be getting laid by your spouse or are living in a hellhole or something so you're all disgruntled. Lighten up and learn what is and isn't sensitive, unless you're all a bunch of nuns or something. God, America used to be made up of a bunch of tough people, now they're all pansies. I guess mother's these days don't teach their kids the rhyme about sticks 'n stones anymore. It's more along the lines of:

[i]Sticks 'n Stones
May Break My Bones [and only getcha a month in jail]
But Names Will Hurt Like Hell [and getcha life in prison]

- N

Nothing insensitive about it talking about a friggin piece of food. Now go make a comment about all blacks being slaves or something, then you'll get your ass whooped for being insensitive. I can (sort of) see where you are drawing the line between sensitive and insensitive, but is that line the same for everyone? Are you saying that it should be?


You guys must not be getting laid by your spouse or are living in a hellhole or something so you're all disgruntled.

- NDon't get sensitive now.

Listen cunt. Not that it matters, but I am white. I was referring to myself as black for illustrative purposes. Now, you putrid little piss-ant, you have made my shit-list. I don't know why I even try with little fuckwads like you.

Your buttons are too easy to push, Cotton.

Why is it so hard to accept that everyone's racist? What makes blacks so special that precludes them from hating white people?

I don't get it, explain?

Black people constitute about 12 percent of America's population. Textbook editors have to take special care to ensure that they are more or less proportionately represented. You can bet that several editors reviewed this particular decision.

There are, oh I don't know, several hundred different kinds of fruit that are commonly eaten in America. Many of them would make a really big SPLOT after falling 300 feet. I can see an editor with a sense of humor wanting to engage the students by choosing the biggest SPLOT he could think of. But once again, many people reviewed this decision. It's impossible that at least one of them didn't say, "Whoa now, you've juxtaposed a black person with a watermelon. Are we sure we want to do this?"

Finally, who decided that the site of the experiment would be the Federal Building and that the experimenter would be Condoleezza Rice? Both of those were real stretches. Why not use a school building or a movie house or a mall, something the kids would be more familiar with? Why pick Condoleezza instead of someone younger, someone with a more developed sense of whimsy? This looks like the setup for a Saturday Night Live joke, not a textbook. Deliberately making fun of Condoleezza for doing something a little bit naughty and completely out of character, and deliberately putting a watermelon in her hands.

This didn't just happen. It was deliberate and it was reviewed by several people before it went to the printer. Frankly I'm rather surprised that at least one of those people wasn't black. Every American corporation jumps through hoops to support Affirmative Discrimination. Oops I think I said that wrong. Anyway they all have black, latino, female, gay, people with disabilities, people from every conceivable religion on staff, to review everything to make sure it won't educate or entertain anyone. Oops I screwed up again, I mean to make sure it won't offend anyone.

There's something wrong here. Is it even true or just an urban legend? I notice there's no source link.

Is there something about watermelons we should know?

link please

This didn't just happen. It was deliberate and it was reviewed by several people before it went to the printer. Frankly I'm rather surprised that at least one of those people wasn't black. Every American corporation jumps through hoops to support Affirmative Discrimination.

Yes, they're watching out for Affirmative Discrimination which is why that question about a black lady and a watermelon was used so as to not leave out black people. We gotta represent them fairly, ya know. ;)

- N

Here's a link:

http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/news/announcements/

BCC Board of Trustees statement regarding insensitive test question

Posted April 16, 2006.



April 15, 2006



We, the Board of Trustees of Bellevue Community College are deeply offended by the conduct of a math instructor at Bellevue Community College and strongly condemn this offensive behavior. This behavior is in gross violation of BCC’s mission and core value of respect for diversity.



The instructor wrote an exam question that stated in part, “Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300’ Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20’ per second.” The question went on to ask when the watermelon will hit the ground based on a formula provided.



It is important to note that this is a revised question. The original question referenced Gallagher, a comedian whose humor involves smashing watermelons and other fruit. The Bellevue Community College math instructor deliberately chose to change the question resulting in a question which was racially insensitive and demeaning to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the students in his class who were expected to respond to the question, and the BCC community.



We want to commend the BCC students for bringing the egregious question to our college’s attention and apologize to the students that were asked to respond to a question that reinvoked negative stereotypes.



We recognize the difficult and complex challenges this instructor’s insensitive conduct has created for our college. We, the Board, have asked the President of the College to review this conduct and take appropriate disciplinary action. This type of incident is wrong and unacceptable at our institution. We are also asking that the college examine the curriculum and practices of all its departments to eliminate the use of unacceptable negative stereotypes in the future.



We have confidence in the efforts of our President, Jean Floten, in bringing the college community together to provide ways to assure an excellent academic experience and cultural environment for all of our students. We also support strengthening and furthering our work in providing an environment where teaching and learning take place with full respect for the dignity of each individual.



Board of Trustees

Bellevue Community College

- N

It is important to note that this is a revised question. The original question referenced Gallagher, a comedian whose humor involves smashing watermelons and other fruit.

Hey now, don't be stereotyping Gallagher and his love for watermelon even though it's true much-like the stereotype of blacks loving chicken and watermelon, Italians and spaghetthi, Asians and seafood, Brits and their fish 'n chips...

- N

You're being an idiot Neildo.

Really is Neildo being an idiot. Or is he just pointing out something. Many stereotypes are true, usually the harmless goodnatured ones. Just about everyone loves fried chicken and watermelon so it is no insult to claim our pigment gifted friends (oh god how PC is that?) love them.

Another idiot.

Another idiot.

As they say, the truth hurts.

However, I don't know how pointing out the primary food of a certain culture is hurtful.

Hey Japanese, I'm gonna drop a bigger bomb on you than Nagasaki. YOU LOVE FISH! HAHAHAHA!

Hey Italians, don't beat me up or break my ankles, you spagetthi eaters! HAHAHAHA!

Hey Brits, I hope you find this very offensive. Yo Momma eats Fish 'n Chips! HAHAHAHA!

Gimme a break. Cry me a river.

- N

That's just it. It doesn't matter what you think, as the one doing the speaking. It matters what the person it is being said to thinks.

That's just it. It doesn't matter what you think, as the one doing the speaking. It matters what the person it is being said to thinks.

You forgot to add in "it also matters what the person butting in and causing a previously non-existant problem thinks".

You know, the types of people that try and make everything their business and cause more harm than good? Sort of like the person who isn't on the receiving end of the watermelon comment -- yourself -- also known as the PC Police; making rules for others to follow when neither party asked for it.

More often than not, it's the over-sensitive WHITE people of the hippy generation trying to make everyone get along and have world peace, that are the ones butting in, not the actual "victims" of whatever it may be, if you can even call them "victims" in this case. Poor, poor victims. I feel sad when people pointing out that Italians love spaghetthi. How dare they make such a racist remark! And Asians also HATE Fish so don't say that most Asians love it because it's so not true. Only the Asians you know like fish and the ones who know only make up 0.00001 of the Asian population.

Here's one for you, Cottontop, the Army sure does love their camouflage and M4's! Please don't send the PC Police on me now for making a silly stereotypical assumption like that because we all know that Italians don't eat spagetthi nor do the Army like their equipment. :rolleyes:

- N

P.S. Psst, hey everyone, Mexican's don't eat Menudo or even touch Masa! And surfer's also hate tacos and burritos. Pass it on..

Yep, like I said before, you're an idiot.

You know, by the way you're talking, I'd have to say you were actually a part of the French military, not U.S., by the way you keep using that defeatist language.

Oh, whoops, sorry for another un-PC jab.

- N

Neildo, you're confusing nationality and race.

Neildo, you're confusing nationality and race.

It's the same thing. It's called a stereotype. There's nothing more wrong about talking about blacks and chicken than there is Italians and spagetthi.

Fine, black people hate chicken and don't like watermelon, but people from "the South" sure love it! That somehow makes it all better? Or how about I stick with the "Asians love fish and rice" food comment instead as that's more along the so-called "offensive" black watermelon comment.

Wow, no wonder the liberal French were so easy to take over. Find a stereotype about race offensive and all ya gotta do is do a simple tweak and say nationality instead and it makes it all better!

- N

The only thing you are succeeding at Neildo is showing your idiocy.

The only thing you are succeeding at Neildo is showing your idiocy.

Hey bro, I'm quite confident in my stance on the matter. You're the only one speaking against me. :)

- N

Idiot.

Well, I gotta take a nap as I gotta be to work in a couple hours, but here's something else to read over in another thread that Mr. PC Police should enjoy while I'm gone:

Politics & Humor - Another casualty of the War on Terror? http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=54136

Go ahead and give yourself some self-pleasure in reading that and how the, literal, PC Police acted upon that "joke".

Idiot.

Wow, again. You just won't quit with the defeatist talk, will ya? You're becoming quite the perfect candidant as an officer in the French military. Is there a new program or something along the lines of Operation Blue to Green, but something like Operation Stars 'n Stripes to Blue, White, and Red? (U.S. to French)

Go squeal with delight in the Politics & Humor - Another Casualty of the War on Terror thread while you munch away on some escargot. I shall be back later to conquer ze French once more. Oh sacrebleu!

- N

Idiot.

Well, I decided not to go to bed since 2 hours of sleep would just make me groggy for work. I gotta leave in a little over an hour, so I have time to respond in this thread again. :)

Cotton,

Are you on meds for your temper or something? You sure don't seem like the Cotton we all used to know. You seem sedated and are all PC-loving now. Those meds have made you pussified. You've joined the rest of liberal America being doped up by the drug companies. No wonder whacky liberals are such commonplace these days -- the meds have gotten to everyone!

Oh sorry, that's another un-PC stereotype about most Americans being on meds. Oh wait, that's a fine stereotype since it refers to nationality and not race so that somehow makes it a-okay. :)

Which brings me back to Roman in regards to nationality vs race,

You seem to think, or at least eluded to it with my "confusing of nationality vs race", that the reason why the school question that had a black woman, Condoleeza [Rice], throwing a watermelon off a Federal building. So I guess you think a nationality stereotype is fine, just not one that refers to someone's race, even if they're the same degree of joke, ie: Blacks loving watermelon or chicken and Asians loving fish and rice is bad, but Italians loving spaghetti and Mexicans loving tacos is okay. (uh, nice logic there)

Since you seem to think that nationality stereotypes are fine, this makes the whole "offensive math question" a-okay. Why? You said it yourself, nationality vs race. When people crack jokes about watermelons (mmm, rum-soaked is best), it's not in regards to black people as black people in Africa probably haven't eaten a watermelon before. It's the Southern people in general, or if you prefer to limit it to only one group in the South, the blacks of the South, that love it and is where the stereotype is from. So it's a regional stereotype, aka, a nationality stereotype, not a racial-only one the same way some people dislike Mexicans but love Guatamalans or dislike Pakistanis but love Indians.

Southern blacks and watermelon is much-like redneck jokes that are about white people of the South, not whites in general. And if you want to be even more specific, it's a "poor white" joke, which can refer to poor whites everywhere since not all whites are confined to the South, which you wind up with another stereotype from that saying all whites in the South are poor or something, which can be said the same of blacks if you wanna go that route. Gotta love the chain-reaction of "insensitive" stereotypes you PC Police can get in such a tizzy over. It must be all those meds you whacky Liberals are on. Evil chain-reactions. Either dumbed down or sped up like on crack, or even both when super doped up and mixing em.

Anyhow, since the watermelon reference is a reference to those in the South, it's a regional/nationality stereotype, not a racial one. The ones who are turning this into a racist comment are the PC people who are doing their usual "reverse racism". They're the ones making the reference that all blacks like watermelon and are getting upset about it. Heh, go figure, getting upset over something in which they've created. And besides, Condoleeza Rice *is* from Alabama, so in fact, there's nothing wrong with the question as it perfectly fits. Oh wait, that truism makes it a stereotype again, oh gosh. :rolleyes: But hey, it's a regional one, so that makes it a-okay! And if you want something else to put in your pipe and smoke, check out this quote:

http://www.whitehouse.org/ask/crice.asp

"I've been positively touched by the many other gestures intended to make me feel right at home - from the Friday fried chicken and watermelon buffet, all the way to the addition of my favorite song (Funkadelic's "Wars of Armageddon") to the break room karaoke machine." - Condoleeza Rice

So there we go, straight from the horses' mouth. Nothing whatsoever racist about the math question as it's a truism. Condoleeza, who's from Alabama, does in fact, love watermelon. It's not an assumed stereotype.

And more on the whole "reverse racism" of what liberals do, here's something I found on another message board talking about this same thing:

In the old days, which sadly are still with us, it was a way to stereotypically portray blacks to suggest they were always eating watermelon and having some special affinity for it.

This goes along with the image of black people always eating fried chicken.

Now, growing up in Texas, I always heard these two comments. But I could never understand since everyone I knew liked watermelon and fried chicken.

What I have found out since explains this. IT'S A DAMNED YANKEE SLUR. Only a Yankee, who never ate either one (or put ice in their tea), would hurl this at someone to denigrate them since everyone in the South enjoys the aforementioned treats. This should be understood to have a very old origin since everyone in the nation, I presume, eats plenty of both now.

Unfortunately, many of my fellow regionalists adopted this slur. I try to educate them on the origin.

And:

What is it with the watermelon thing? I grew up eating watermelon, fried chicken, beans & rice, and all kinds of “stereotyped” food. Where did I learn that these foods were “black?” From my ever-so-tolerant Liberal Northerner and Hispanic friends. (Bill Clinton was the first black president, ya know; Maybe I’m a black Republican and didn’t know it.)

Those fit perfectly with what I'm referring to.

- N

It's the same thing. It's called a stereotype.

No. Blacks love watermelon is a racial stereotype. French love anal sex is a national stereotype. Israelis hate Arabs. Jews love money. Can you pick which is the national stereotype?

I'm not really sure I understand this French thing. The French are terribly xenophobic and racist. They're less PC than Americans. So is it just a weak, nonsensical, insult you parrot from your media idealogues?

So is it just a weak, nonsensical, insult you parrot from your media idealogues?

No, it's because last I recall, Cotton doesn't care for the French. And then, of course, the "stereotypes" of French and war for a little jab to the sensitive PC Police, not to mention Cotton used to be in the military so I thought I'd mix the two in hopes of getting at least something out of him other than the defeatist response of "idiot".

Anyhow, since Condoleeza Rice and watermelon isn't a stereotype, but is in fact, a truism, in which she's stated herself as loving, there is nothing "racist" about the math question, in question.

Here you are again:

http://www.whitehouse.org/ask/crice.asp

"I've been positively touched by the many other gestures intended to make me feel right at home - from the Friday fried chicken and watermelon buffet, all the way to the addition of my favorite song (Funkadelic's "Wars of Armageddon") to the break room karaoke machine." - Condoleeza Rice

Nope, no stereotype there, only truth. As I said, the truth hurts.Why in this case over a piece of food, I have no idea. Odd that you people are getting so worked up over something true. I sure hope I don't get decked by an Italian if I ever ask such an obvious question if he likes spaghetthi! Oh sorry, there we go again, confusing nationality with race, as if that makes it all better. How about, I hope I don't get karate-chopped in the throat by an Asian if I ask if they like fish and rice. (woohoo, added two stereotypes in that one to make ya PC people twitch)

Israelis hate Arabs. ---- Can you pick which is the national stereotype?

I don't know, you're confusing nationality with race again. ;)

- N

Aha, Eureka! I've got it!

It's actually the Republicans that are the racists, stereotyping and assuming Condoleeza Rice would love fried chicken, watermelon bufffets, and the Parlament Funkadelic!

http://www.whitehouse.org/ask/crice.asp

"I've been positively touched by the many other gestures intended to make me feel right at home - from the Friday fried chicken and watermelon buffet, all the way to the addition of my favorite song (Funkadelic's "Wars of Armageddon") to the break room karaoke machine." - Condoleeza Rice

No wonder the Republicans have turned this into a whole "Liberal Teacher Jab vs Republican Black Leader"; it's to cover up their whole mess they first made! Geez, we have Reverse-isms all over the place here!

:D

- N

Well, I decided not to go to bed since 2 hours of sleep would just make me groggy for work. I gotta leave in a little over an hour, so I have time to respond in this thread again. :)No, the reason you couldn't sleep is because I keep calling you an idiot. If me calling you an idiot is enough to keep you from sleeping at night, maybe you should try a med. FYI, I haven't been on any med since last October. Oh, and...Idiot.

P.S. What gave you the idea that I don't like the French?

I love you too, Bobo.

<3

- N

You calling me a clown now? Cause, you better not be calling me a clown now.

P.S. What gave you the idea that I don't like the French?

I coulda swore you used to make some cracks about em in the Worlds Events or Politics forums along with a few other people, unless I'm confusing you with someone else with your older posting style.

FYI, I haven't been on any med since last October

Good. :)

Enjoying the sex life now? :D

- N

You calling me a clown now? Cause, you better not be calling me a clown now.

Nah, y'see, cause Homey don't play dat. *bops you over the head with a sock*

Idiot. :p

- N

I coulda swore you used to make some cracks about em in the Worlds Events or Politics forums along with a few other people, unless I'm confusing you with someone else with your older posting style.I don't think it was me. My last and best girlfriend was French.

Enjoying the sex life now? :DYeah, Rosy is still doing me right.

Smidiot.

I don't think it was me. My last and best girlfriend was French.

Heh, well one of my close co-workers is married to a Mexican lady and every day he bitches about Mexicans around here at work speaking nothing but Spanish and blah blah blah [insert other common complaints]. It's funny whenever someone gets defensive and tries to call him a racist and he tells em he's married to a Mexican.

Heh, I guess that's why he married her. Later on when you become disgruntled and the hubby and wife bicker non-stop at each other or end in divorce, ya may as well do all that with someone ya hate since these days with over a 50% divorce rate, it's inevitable. :p

Yeah, Rosy is still doing me right.

Not an inanimate object, I hope? ;)

- N

Heh, well one of my close co-workers is married to a Mexican lady and every day he bitches about Mexicans around here at work speaking nothing but Spanish and blah blah blah [insert other common complaints]. It's funny whenever someone gets defensive and tries to call him a racist and he tells em he's married to a Mexican.Well, I've got nothing but the highest regard for the French that I've known. Her whole family was awesome. I went to France with her for a month (She and her brothers and sister lived in Austin, TX when I dated her), and everyone I met there was awesome. She was actually part Italian, Colombian and something else, in addition to the French. So, she was a quarter French.


Not an inanimate object, I hope? ;)Not unless you want to call my hand inanimate. :p