Racist Barnes and Noble Display

[ASTalumna06]

deepimpact, we get that you're upset. Someone obviously did this intentionally, and it was wrong. I'm upset (probably in a minor way compared to you), but yes, it's still sad and it shouldn't be done.

However... no one knows who did this. If an employee was caught, whether it was a stupid 16-year-old high school kid or the owner of all of B&N, I would hope they would be reprimanded for it in some way. But the fact remains... it could have been a customer, it could have been one employee who was just stupid and ignorant, it could have been your mom, but you can't punish one of the largest national book stores for something that can't be directly linked to B&N, or anyone working for them.

Therefore, a discussion about whether B&N should do something about this is moot. It is still your right to be upset (in general), but you can't direct your anger toward anyone when you don't know who did it.

[DSTRen13]

I used to work in a bookstore (another national chain, not B&N). EVERY DAY, we moved porn from the kids section (and the bathroom, but let's not even go there ...). We were constantly moving the books on evolution out of the fiction section and back into science. Copies of conservative religious books would always "mysteriously" wind up in the gay and lesbian interest section.

The brick-and-mortar bookstore is a dying business, and they are all understaffed. Trust me, the employees try their hardest to keep the books where they belong and looking neat, at the same time as trying to help the customers (who are often completely insane). But it's essentially a losing game - you are talking about thousands of books in these stores, which all have a very precise correct placement. They can't all be right all the time.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

I used to work in a bookstore (another national chain, not B&N). EVERY DAY, we moved porn from the kids section (and the bathroom, but let's not even go there ...). We were constantly moving the books on evolution out of the fiction section and back into science. Copies of conservative religious books would always "mysteriously" wind up in the gay and lesbian interest section.

The brick-and-mortar bookstore is a dying business, and they are all understaffed. Trust me, the employees try their hardest to keep the books where they belong and looking neat, at the same time as trying to help the customers (who are often completely insane). But it's essentially a losing game - you are talking about thousands of books in these stores, which all have a very precise correct placement. They can't all be right all the time.

That's been my experience as well - even at the national chains in Boston, it never seemed like there was enough staff to effectively police the store activity. Now, the stores had detectors and cameras to dissuade theft, but I'm surprised more garbage like this didn't happen (not necessarily just racially-motivated stuff, but vandalism in general).

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

That's been my experience as well - even at the national chains in Boston, it never seemed like there was enough staff to effectively police the store activity. Now, the stores had detectors and cameras to dissuade theft, but I'm surprised more garbage like this didn't happen (not necessarily just racially-motivated stuff, but vandalism in general).

You raised a good point about stores and cameras. I'm sure that store has cameras. Why didn't they at least LOOK at the cameras to see what occurred?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

You raised a good point about stores and cameras. I'm sure that store has cameras. Why didn't they at least LOOK at the cameras to see what occurred?

Could be that the cameras weren't functioning, could be that it happened in some gap in time during the incident. Or it could be that they know the culprit, but aren't releasing the name for that person's safety (and the whole innocent until proven guilty thing).

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

It doesn't matter if they FEEL that way. What matters is when they start doing things to SHOW it. Blatantly associating the President with a monkey isn't something that should be tolerated. I don't know, but your attempt to make a point fails because you are talking about someone's THOUGHTS, not their actions.

At any rate, I shouldn't be surprised at some of the reactions. Even though you would never admit it, most of you probably share the same sentiment as the people who continuously compare the President of the United States to a monkey. I'm not saying definitively that this is the case, but based on previous comments around here, it's not unlikely.
ETA: I'm not angry. don't want anyone to think I'm sitting here with steam coming out of my ears. I'm just saddened and perplexed that people are so desensitized that things like this are tolerated and brushed off.

I'm not sure where you get this. Most of the people who have posted in this thread (heck, most of the people who post on the board) were/are supporters of President Obama. Out of the remainder, most of us haven't stated anything racist (either overt or subtle) that would allude to us comparing the President to a monkey. I think most of us have explained pretty well why we didn't vote for the current President, either because of issues with his foreign policy, his economic plan, etc.

What exactly is your basis for that statement?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I'm not sure where you get this. Most of the people who have posted in this thread (heck, most of the people who post on the board) were/are supporters of President Obama. Out of the remainder, most of us haven't stated anything racist (either overt or subtle) that would allude to us comparing the President to a monkey. I think most of us have explained pretty well why we didn't vote for the current President, either because of issues with his foreign policy, his economic plan, etc.

What exactly is your basis for that statement?

And she's conveniently ignoring the fact that a few of us in here are black/African American/African Diasporic. Surely we wouldn't compare Obama to a monkey on racial grounds.*


*versus the notion that everyone looks like some animal and some people of every race and ethnicity resemble primates

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

I'm puzzled as to why people think that if an employee had been caught doing this, that they would have punished. There have been numerous incidents that have been traced back to employees and nothing was ever really done. For example, I have done some research to find out what happened with that employee involved in that incident where the word "n*^&%#" was written on a customer's return receipt. From what I know, they found out who it was, but never fired that individual. They just waited for everything to die down, and business resumed as usual. That's typically what happens in there types of situations.

Also, I think based on the rep's attitude alone on the Joyner show, there is more to the story. I still don't understand why he wasn't more apologetic. He was VERY nasty when he was on there. He certainly was quick to pass the buck however. A little too quick. Like I said, he was counting on the notion that people don't know the layout of the store.

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

You raised a good point about stores and cameras. I'm sure that store has cameras. Why didn't they at least LOOK at the cameras to see what occurred?

As someone else stated, that whole innocent till proven guilty. And some things are done behind closed doors and are NOT your business. If I fire one of my employees and a customer asks about it, I am not allowed to say "Yeah we fired her". It's the same if someone calls for a reference for a future employee. You are legally not allowed to say "yes this person was a horrible employee do not hire them".

Originally Posted by DrPhil

*versus the notion that everyone looks like some animal and some people of every race and ethnicity resemble primates

I kinda think Bush looks like a monkey...


If this does blow up, and B&N takes a hit, I wonder if there will be any claim to defamation.

[sjsoffer]

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

I used to work in a bookstore (another national chain, not B&N). EVERY DAY, we moved porn from the kids section (and the bathroom, but let's not even go there ...). We were constantly moving the books on evolution out of the fiction section and back into science. Copies of conservative religious books would always "mysteriously" wind up in the gay and lesbian interest section.
.

This is definitely true. I have a photo of '50 years of playboy' and such that were in the "bargain priced children's books"..and that was our B&N. This was in view of the front counters, but I highly doubt the employees did it.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

deepimpact, we get that you're upset. Someone obviously did this intentionally, and it was wrong. I'm upset (probably in a minor way compared to you), but yes, it's still sad and it shouldn't be done.

However... no one knows who did this. If an employee was caught, whether it was a stupid 16-year-old high school kid or the owner of all of B&N, I would hope they would be reprimanded for it in some way. But the fact remains... it could have been a customer, it could have been one employee who was just stupid and ignorant, it could have been your mom, but you can't punish one of the largest national book stores for something that can't be directly linked to B&N, or anyone working for them.

Therefore, a discussion about whether B&N should do something about this is moot. It is still your right to be upset (in general), but you can't direct your anger toward anyone when you don't know who did it.

I'm puzzled as to why people think that if an employee had been caught doing this, that they would have punished. There have been numerous incidents that have been traced back to employees and nothing was ever really done. For example, I have done some research to find out what happened with that employee involved in that incident where the word "n*^&%#" was written on a customer's return receipt. From what I know, they found out who it was, but never fired that individual. They just waited for everything to die down, and business resumed as usual. That's typically what happens in there types of situations.

Also, I think based on the rep's attitude alone on the Joyner show, there is more to the story. I still don't understand why he wasn't more apologetic. He was VERY nasty when he was on there. He certainly was quick to pass the buck however. A little too quick. Like I said, he was counting on the notion that people don't know the layout of the store.