8.9 Quake + tsunamis strike Japan

[DrPhil]

Yeah I've always hated the terms "white trash" and "trailer trash." Very stupid and classist labels that are based on the premise of white privilege. You're either just like the "good white folks" or you're "trash."

I'm baffled that someone would respond to "no trash" with "looks like trash to me." People are not trash.

As for Walmart, cringe, it's on the same level of the horrendousness of facebook. Not because of the people who shop there but because Walmart has taken over, like facebook has, and it's the epitome of ridiculous consumerism under capitalism. I'll end anti-Walmart/anti-facebook rant there. Cringe.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Yeah I've always hated the terms "white trash" and "trailer trash." Very stupid and classist labels that are based on the premise of white privilege. You're either just like the "good white folks" or you're "trash."

I'm baffled that someone would respond to "no trash" with "looks like trash to me." People are not trash.

As for Walmart, cringe, it's on the same level of the horrendousness of facebook. Not because of the people who shop there but because Walmart has taken over, like facebook has, and it's the epitome of ridiculous consumerism under capitalism. I'll end anti-Walmart/anti-facebook rant there. Cringe.

I get why some people don't like Walmart as a business, but I rarely see that criticism without some pretty disgusting examples of classism along with it. It kind of taints the relatively good points that people have. That said, I'm pretty impressed by some of the changes Walmart's made, it doesn't erase that they're taking over, but it can have positive effects too.

And I agree, people are not trash. I hate the phrases "classy" and "trashy" for the same reason. They really just mean "behaving in a way I approve of" and "behaving in a way that I think beneath me."

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I get why some people don't like Walmart as a business, but I rarely see that criticism without some pretty disgusting examples of classism along with it. It kind of taints the relatively good points that people have. That said, I'm pretty impressed by some of the changes Walmart's made, it doesn't erase that they're taking over, but it can have positive effects too.

That's only a factor of who you're talking to and what you're reading/listening to. For instance, the inequality and work and organization scholars who criticize Walmart are doing so on the basis of how Walmart, in general, treats its employees which is classic capitalism and conflict perspective sentiments. It is also about what happens when Walmarts show up in areas that don't have other options. That's about the social class and race demographics of people who tend to have no choice but to shop at Walmart in some areas; and the social class and race of people who are most likely to have no choice but to work at Walmart. Exploitation of labor, exploitation of the consumer dollar, damn near monopolies in some areas, and an orgasmic capitalism experience on the part of the capitalists. While we are all subjected to this, the working class and poor are more likely than other social classes to be unable to escape it or buffer some of its effects.

Afterall, all "types of people" shop at Walmart. (I've been trying to keep some of my family and friends from it for years to no avail) That's why Walmart has taken over the country. It certainly didn't take over the country only because millions of working class and poor people (who some consider "trash") have no choice but to patron it.

I have a book about the Walmartization of the world. Amazonnnn also has some decent books about the cons and pros (the very few pros that there could be) of Walmart.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

That's only a factor of who you're talking to and what you're reading/listening to. The work and organization scholars who criticize Walmart are doing so on the basis of how Walmart, in general, treats its employees which is classic capitalism and conflict perspective sentiments. It is also about what happens when Walmarts show up in areas that don't have other options. That's not classist. That's about the social class and race demographics of people who tend to have no choice but to shop at Walmart in some areas; and the social class and race of people who are most likely to have no choice but to work at Walmart. Exploitation of labor, exploitation of the consumer dollar, damn near monopolies in some areas, and an orgasmic capitalism experience on the part of the capitalists.

I agree that it's just anecdotally what I'm hearing. But classist comments are, it seems, too often used as an argument among the general population rather than among scholars and academics. There are completely good reasons to oppose Walmart overall or the monster that it has become, I was simply pointing out that classism is frequently intertwined.

Afterall, all "types of people" shop at Walmart. (I've been trying to keep some of my family and friends from it for years to no avail) That's why Walmart has taken over the country. It certainly didn't take over the country only because millions of working class and poor people (who some consider "trash") have no choice but to patron it.

Very true. And personally, I shop there at times. Here they have the best selection of international products around, but they're less convenient than the grocery store (also a chain btw, I don't know many places that don't have regional or national grocery chains) so it's a toss up

I have a book about the Walmartization of the world. Ama_zon also has some decent books about the cons and pros (the very few pros that there could be) of Walmart.

lol at the parenthetical.

Personally I disagree, Walmart has a lot to offer. Are they evil sometimes? Yes. But do they do some things very well? Also yes.

But is it an issue of the 'kind' of person who shops there? Most emphatically no.

[DrPhil]

The devil sent two of its offspring to tear the world apart:

1. Walmart
2. Facebook

God help us all.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

2. Facebook

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

The devil sent two of its offspring to tear the world apart:

1. Walmart
2. Facebook

God help us all.

LOL

Sorry I'm an atheist on these matters

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Repent now and save your soul.

Originally Posted by Drolefille

LOL

Sorry I'm an atheist on these matters

I'm never an atheist.

[sanjiyan69]

just saw the post about people saying Pearl Harbor paybacks. SMH.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

He's so.. needy.

Racism is diametrically opposed to my political/economic philosophies. Me being racist would be like a Commie wearing Lacoste.

It's too collectivist for me.

[PiKA2001]

It disgusts me to see people use this disaster to push their political/social/environmental idealogy. Never let a good crisis go to waste.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

It disgusts me to see people use this disaster to push their political/social/environmental ideology.

That happens with every disaster. This disaster should be no different. The Earth keeps revolving and people's expressed ideologies are a testament to that.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange's plunge and rebound have been a topic this morning with the disclaimer "we hate to discuss the market right now and any positive outcome to this natural disaster...but...." Yeah the Earth hasn't stopped revolving.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I posted it on facebook, but anyone concerned about the alleged 'map of fallout' from Japan to the US. It's bunk. See snopes.com. Just forestalling that.

Well you can thank the media for the nuclear apocalypse concern/border-line hysteria. I can't pull up a news outlet website without nuclear drama being the top story or people from Cali to BOSTON(WTF!) trying to get those iodine-thyroid blocking radiation pills. Do these people understand the concept of NUCLEAR TESTING and the fact that hundreds of nuclear (atmospheric even) detonations have taken place from Nevada to India since the 1940s? The west coast didn't suffer from radiation fallout after we dropped TWO atomic bombs in Japan right?

- Thank God Chernobyl happened before the internets and the 24 hour news cycle.

[AGDee]

I keep hearing the assumption that people on the west coast are buying them because of Japan. My first thought though was that they were purchasing them because.. HELLO, they live on a fault and there are many nuclear plants along the fault. They should have already had them.

Anybody living within a 15 miles radius of a nuclear plant is provided them free by the state of Michigan. I always have enough of them in my house for my family. You're stupid not to.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I keep hearing the assumption that people on the west coast are buying them because of Japan. My first thought though was that they were purchasing them because.. HELLO, they live on a fault and there are many nuclear plants along the fault. They should have already had them.

Anybody living within a 15 miles radius of a nuclear plant is provided them free by the state of Michigan. I always have enough of them in my house for my family. You're stupid not to.

Unfortunately I've seen the quotes in the articles. It goes something like "Experts say that there is no risk. Ms. Doe of Anytown, CA disagrees, 'I'm very certain that we're going to get radiation from Japan,' as she buys 3 huge ass bottles of iodine pills."

That is an approximation.