The Term African American

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

Ok, maybe I am not making myself clear, but I am beginning to think I shouldn't blame myself at this point.

As I have said...repeatedly...if no one wants to discuss it THAT IS FINE. I cannot have a discussion with myself. But I AM NOT obligated to NOT discuss with anyone who cares to because some people think it's stupid. NO ONE IS FORCING ANYTHING. If no one is interested no one will discuss. What a simple solution!

Now we are getting into another interesting discussion...the fact that my posts have (obviously to myself) not been read thoroughly, but skimmed and assumptions made because I said I was "white". Nowhere in my posts have I made the assumption that "all black people think the same" and have pointedly discussed the fact that "all black people" DO NOT think the same...hence the interest in the topic. All "white people" do not think the same either, by the way.

Maybe some are overly sensitive or defensive and on message boards I expect that, but the posts I write are to individual posters and not to an entire ethnic group, and that is the entire point of them. No one person here can speak for all people of a similar ethnic group, and I never have assumed that they could. Now, if anyone wants to respond to what has actually been written, and not to a skimmed over and pre-conceived notion filled version of what is there in black and white, fine. Otherwise, advice duly noted, though it doesn't exactly apply. Should I one day decide to place all people of one particular ethnic group into a category I will take your sage words into account when speaking with the selected spokesperson. But until that day...leave be.

I think y'all made her mad.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Seems an odd comment from someone who wants to hear other people's opinions?

What I am interested in is other peoples' opinions/beliefs on the topic of discussion at hand. What I am not interested in is judgmental, condescending "advice" given on basis of who someone thinks I am and not on basis of what I've written. I am not interested in listening to person after person tell me I should not be able to discuss what I am interested in, and I am not interested in rudeness.

I am also not interested in changing anyone's opinion nor am I interested in someone attempting to change mine.

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

The bottom line is that people are free to identify themselves however they wish based on whatever rationale that makes sense to them. And by the way, being however many years removed does not automatically make you less African, Irish, or whatever.

Overall, people are who they identify themselves to be and who are we to tell anyone how they should view themselves? Why is Obama African American? Because he says he is. Period. The end.

Who said that isn't ok?

That is what the bandwagon members are missing. Personally I never said it wasn't ok to think "This is what I belive, end of story". I just asked questions. No one has to answer them if they don't feel comfortable or if they don't feel like there are any other than "This is who I am". If no one is interested in discussing...then they don't have to.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I think y'all made her mad.

Very amused, not mad. Why bother to write lengthy responses to a construct instead of a poster and their posts? Is that really worth the time it takes to convince no one?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

As I have said...repeatedly...if no one wants to discuss it THAT IS FINE.

What you don't understand, but we've said it...repeatedly, is that there is a sense of entitlement embedded in your posts. Even saying "THAT IS FINE" implies that you have a choice in the matter but are relinquishing it.

Originally Posted by LΩVE

All "white people" do not think the same either, by the way.

ORLY?!?!?! Perish the thought.

And no one is asking a white person to explain anything or asking whites how they should be labeled and categorized. Hmmm...ever wonder why that rarely happens? That was discussed pages ago, nevermind.

Originally Posted by LΩVE

Should I one day decide to place all people of one particular ethnic group into a category I will take your sage words into account when speaking with the selected spokesperson. But until that day...leave be.

Don't be a smartass. You're the one who is seeking answers, not us. You're like the cocky researcher whose subjects are telling her to take a hike. But you won't take a hike.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

Personally I never said it wasn't ok to think "This is what I belive, end of story". I just asked questions. No one has to answer them if they don't feel comfortable or if they don't feel like there are any other than "This is who I am". If no one is interested in discussing...then they don't have to.

Thanks for freeing them from the bondage of your inquiries.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What you don't understand, but we've said it...repeatedly, is that there is a sense of entitlement embedded in your posts. Even saying "THAT IS FINE" implies that you have a choice in the matter but are relinquishing it.



ORLY?!?!?! Perish the thought.

And no one is asking a white person to explain anything or asking whites how they should be labeled and categorized. Hmmm...ever wonder why that rarely happens? That was discussed pages ago, nevermind.




Don't be a smartass. You're the one who is seeking answers, not us. You're like the cocky researcher whose subjects are telling her to take a hike. But you won't take a hike.

That isn't entitlement, that's common sense. I already had posted a long while back questions. If no one wants to answer them that's their business. I'm not going to go delete them because some people post rude, condescending, and bitchy comments.

I'll just say this...if you READ MY POSTS and then care to respond, fine. In the mean time this is a response to a construct and not to an individual poster. It's jumping on the bandwagon to enjoy a good ole mudslinging. It is repeatedly ASSUMED that I am in some way coming to "all black people" demanding answers as to why "they" call "themselves" ______. I'm asking individual people what the identify with and why.

Don't be a douchebag and no one will be a smartass. You don't get to tell me I can't discuss whatever it is the thread is about. Well...you do...but I in return get to throw "take a hike" right back at you. Speaking of entitlement, what gives you the right to tell me what I cannot discuss? Talk about some entitlement...

PS-Personally I don't consider fellow posters to be "subjects". But whatever gets ya off.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

That isn't entitlement, that's common sense. I already had posted a long while back questions. If no one wants to answer them that's their business. I'm not going to go delete them because some people post rude, condescending, and bitchy comments.

You're not using common sense right now. No one's talking about deleting the questions that you posed.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You're not using common sense right now. No one's talking about deleting the questions that you posed.

Then what is the problem? Why the many attempts to tell me that (entitlement) I don't have the right to ask them instead of just NOT RESPONDING...if it's that big of a deal why not let it die instead of being a huge tool for funsies?

Maybe I just answered my own question that time.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

It is repeatedly ASSUMED that I am in some way coming to "all black people" demanding answers as to why "they" call "themselves" ______. I'm asking individual people what the identify with and why.

Wow, you completely missed MY point if you think I assumed that.

Originally Posted by LΩVE

Don't be a douchebag and no one will be a smartass.

Hmmmm...my first post (the one that you tried to be a smartass for) was of a neutral tone because these discussions require a degree of objectivity.

You responded a certain way because you've become paranoid and impatient from explaining yourself to a number of posters. Don't attribute that externally. Attribute it internally and figure out why you're receiving the reception that you're receiving.

Originally Posted by LΩVE

PS-Personally I don't consider fellow posters to be "subjects". But whatever gets ya off.

And I don't consider you a researcher. But it's called an analogy.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

if it's that big of a deal why not let it die instead of...i'm an idiot....

So that you will know for your real life interactions that unrelenting probing is silly.

Your questions weren't ignored but you responded with "white isn't offensive to me" and here we are.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Wow, you completely missed MY point if you think I assumed that.



Hmmmm...my first post (the one that you tried to be a smartass for) was of a neutral tone because these discussions require a degree of objectivity.

You responded a certain way because you've become paranoid and impatient from explaining yourself to a number of posters. Don't attribute that externally. Attribute it internally and figure out why you're receiving the reception that you're receiving.



And I don't consider you a researcher. But it's called an analogy.

Oh I don't think so. My point has not yet been considered nor have my posts been read. Enjoy the sensation.

It was not of a neutral tone. This is a circular argument. That entitlement theory swings and rounds about, eh? Continue the pointless baiting or "take a hike". Your move.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

It was not of a neutral tone.

Because the back and forth has made you paranoid.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

My point has not yet been considered nor have my posts been read.

Which of your points/posts have not received a suitable response?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

I am also not interested in changing anyone's opinion nor am I interested in someone attempting to change mine.

Then the point of the "discussion" you want to have would be . . . ?

[AKA_Monet]

LOVE--you sit here and stated the following:

Originally Posted by LΩVE

I know a guy who is actually African-American. As in he was BORN in AFRICA and is now an American citizen. He finds the phenomenon funny because as he points out...and he's right...people who have been here for generation upon generation are American, plain American. In fact, anyone born here is just American. Someone born a citizen of another country who emigrates to America is fdsfdsnjk-American.

First of all, you made an outright presumptuous (and contemptuous), sense of entitlement statement to EVERYONE on GC who CHOOSES to call themselves African-American. I DO NOT GIVE A FUCK WHAT YOUR FRIEND SAID--HE IS A LITTLE PRICK TO SAY THAT TO YOU! (If he truly said that BS). Then you are dumb enough to post some shit like that here... That is what all of us are gently trying to say to you and you are NOT interested in shutting the fuck up, reading a book to get the full story in your University library, and really determining why the idea of changing definitions of people is even occurring...

Let me outright judge you without me knowing you: The comments you just said to those of us who CHOOSE to call ourselves African-American, you are behaving like a white supremacist--because who the FUCK are you to tell us what we should be anyways???

Originally Posted by LΩVE

I can't see why "black" could be offensive...Almost no one is WHITE or BLACK but those are easy lables [sic] that everyone understand to mean someone is of European decent or African decent.

To me "African American" makes as much sense to me for kids of my generation who are in fact just American, as me saying "IrishScottishFrenchItlaianwhoknows American". I'm not. I'm American and I'm classified as "white". That's it.

Being CALLED Black is NOT the issue! Black is not a derogatory term--it is a non-descriptive term. Classifying those of us who have a highly active tyrosinase gene with accelerated granule secretory formations in epithelial cells and short stubby sebaceous cells causing high kinks--as ONLY American minimizes our ancestral, cultural and current experiences and importance of how our culture shapes OUR identity, value, moral and being. WHO THE HAYLE ARE YOU TO TELL US THIS???? And how we CHOOSE to pursue OUR happiness in this country???

Based on your comments and the definite finality of them, you are NOT interested discourse. So basically, we are all telling you LEAVE--I will be more than happy to use more colorful language if you don't get that!

Buh-bye!