Mexicans, Flu and Blame

[Red Irish]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2298415&enterthread=y

Even as a hypothetical situation, I do not feel that this thread warrants any consideration or coverage. Moreover, the fact that it has been considered leads me to question the intentions of the original poster.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Comment noted

Thread has been re-analyized. Phobic reactions are part of human nature.


Futher action is not deemed needed at the present time.


Senior Anandtech Moderator
Common Courtesy

 

[Rio Rebel]

These threads really bother me. I am completely disgusted by the amount of Latino-bashing (under the guise of "I'm just talking about the illegals")

That being said, while I agree with your assessment, I think we should err on the side of allowing expression of ideas. Like CC above, I see nothing that would warrant taking action.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I have to agree (as a completely unbiased outsider who has no stake in this) that Latino-bashing on this forum is bordering on the offensive at times.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I have to agree (as a completely unbiased outsider who has no stake in this) that Latino-bashing on this forum is bordering on the offensive at times.

once it catches up with religion or heterosexuality let me know.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I have to agree (as a completely unbiased outsider who has no stake in this) that Latino-bashing on this forum is bordering on the offensive at times.

once it catches up with religion or heterosexuality let me know.

what is hetrosexuality??

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I have to agree (as a completely unbiased outsider who has no stake in this) that Latino-bashing on this forum is bordering on the offensive at times.

once it catches up with religion or heterosexuality let me know.

what is hetrosexuality??

i'm thinking he meant homosexuality??

 

[Pulsar]

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I have to agree (as a completely unbiased outsider who has no stake in this) that Latino-bashing on this forum is bordering on the offensive at times.

once it catches up with religion or heterosexuality let me know.

The only issue there is that organized religion deserves the derision it gets....

Interesting that you put religion and sexual orientation in the same sentence, considering the religious standpoint toward sexual orientation.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I have to agree (as a completely unbiased outsider who has no stake in this) that Latino-bashing on this forum is bordering on the offensive at times.

once it catches up with religion or heterosexuality let me know.

what is hetrosexuality??

i'm thinking he meant homosexuality??

No it was meant as I said. Homosexuality is a banner child here in AT land while hetero is another fundamental bashing point.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I have to agree (as a completely unbiased outsider who has no stake in this) that Latino-bashing on this forum is bordering on the offensive at times.

once it catches up with religion or heterosexuality let me know.

what is hetrosexuality??

i'm thinking he meant homosexuality??

No it was meant as I said. Homosexuality is a banner child here in AT land while hetero is another fundamental bashing point.

wat? you think people get bashed here for being heterosexual? i don't think so.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: lupi
No it was meant as I said. Homosexuality is a banner child here in AT land while hetero is another fundamental bashing point.

wat? you think people get bashed here for being heterosexual? i don't think so.

He's projecting.

 

[OCGuy]

There are countries in Europe that have actually branded this "The Mexican Flu", so I dont know how you can seperate the country of Mexico and this flu strain.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: OCguy
There are countries in Europe that have actually branded this "The Mexican Flu", so I dont know how you can seperate the country of Mexico and this flu strain.

My company just sent out a notice that employees are not allowed to return to work until a minimum of 4 days have passed, if they are currently in Mexico or have just returned.

The two are undeniably intertwined. It's unfortunate and it does seem to bring the racism out of certain individuals, but that is inevitable when this kind of thing happens.

KT

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: lupi
No it was meant as I said. Homosexuality is a banner child here in AT land while hetero is another fundamental bashing point.

wat? you think people get bashed here for being heterosexual? i don't think so.

He's projecting.

No, I think the bigot brigadiers do that quite well on their own.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: lupi
No it was meant as I said. Homosexuality is a banner child here in AT land while hetero is another fundamental bashing point.

wat? you think people get bashed here for being heterosexual? i don't think so.

He's projecting.

No, I think the bigot brigadiers do that quite well on their own.

I'm going to call shens unless you can come forth with direct evidence of hetero-bashing...

 

[Capt Caveman]

Is Krylon alright to make comment like this then:

Thread

Originally posted by: krylon

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: krylon

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: ChanHo78

Originally posted by: Turkish
Well, the good thing is, unlike birds (birdflu), pigs can't fly... so we're relatively safe.

except its the dirty Mexicans bringing over....

:roll:

Chanho dont be a gung-ho racist, this is a worldwide concern not just a regional one.

The Mexicans made it worldwide so it seems like an accurate statement to me. Maybe you're the one being racist? Racist!

Labeling them "dirty Mexicans" is uncalled for.

If they were clean, they wouldn't be spreading swine flu. Why are you so racist?

 

[herm0016]

Originally posted by: Pulsar

The only issue there is that organized religion deserves the derision it gets....

hypocrite.

what if it is my opinion that all people with ear rings deserve to be bashed? does that make it right? slavery was a majority opinion at one time also, did that make it right?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: herm0016

Originally posted by: Pulsar

The only issue there is that organized religion deserves the derision it gets....

hypocrite.

what if it is my opinion that all people with ear rings deserve to be bashed? does that make it right? slavery was a majority opinion at one time also, did that make it right?

if you are saying,

religion = slavery

Then you are correct - the majority of people believe a fairy tale without any questioning; it is incredibly hypocritical - but that is the very nature of organized religion

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: OCguy
There are countries in Europe that have actually branded this "The Mexican Flu", so I dont know how you can seperate the country of Mexico and this flu strain.

I am not asking anyone to separate the flu and the country where it originated. What I am asking is that people refrain from creating a thread wherein the main focus is whether or not the Mexican people will be subjected to discrimination or blamed as a result. Racists, and there appear to be plenty of these idiots active on this forum, should not be afforded any further opportunities to put two and two together and get five, whereby the original poster could perhaps pay a bit more attention to the world around him/her and post in consequence.

I refer you to the posts cited by Capt Caveman above.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: OCguy
There are countries in Europe that have actually branded this "The Mexican Flu", so I dont know how you can seperate the country of Mexico and this flu strain.

I am not asking anyone to separate the flu and the country where it originated. What I am asking is that people refrain from creating a thread wherein the main focus is whether or not the Mexican people will be subjected to discrimination or blamed as a result. Racists, and there appear to be plenty of these idiots active on this forum, should not be afforded any further opportunities to put two and two together and get five, whereby the original poster could perhaps pay a bit more attention to the world around him/her and post in consequence.

I refer you to the posts cited by Capt Caveman above.

I agree with you about the need for discretion when discussing topics in a way that remains unbiased towards an entire nation of people. But the topic is not racist on its face. If I ask whether a 9/11 event will cause people to be more prejudiced against Muslims or middle-easterners, that's not racism; it's a valid topic for discussion. If someone replies with a racist comment, that's one person's idiocy, and it is not sufficient cause to deem that an entire thread be locked. If you don't like the discussion, don't participate in it, but if people are simply raising the issue of whether this will spur hostility for a group that may be blamed for the spread of a disease, an overdeveloped sense of political correctness that would prohibit the topic from even being discussed seems grossly out of place. How are we ever going to have a real discussion if any real topic that comes up is deemed "too adult" for us poor immature forum-goers to handle?

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy

Originally posted by: Red Irish

Originally posted by: OCguy
There are countries in Europe that have actually branded this "The Mexican Flu", so I dont know how you can seperate the country of Mexico and this flu strain.

I am not asking anyone to separate the flu and the country where it originated. What I am asking is that people refrain from creating a thread wherein the main focus is whether or not the Mexican people will be subjected to discrimination or blamed as a result. Racists, and there appear to be plenty of these idiots active on this forum, should not be afforded any further opportunities to put two and two together and get five, whereby the original poster could perhaps pay a bit more attention to the world around him/her and post in consequence.

I refer you to the posts cited by Capt Caveman above.

I agree with you about the need for discretion when discussing topics in a way that remains unbiased towards an entire nation of people. But the topic is not racist on its face. If I ask whether a 9/11 event will cause people to be more prejudiced against Muslims or middle-easterners, that's not racism; it's a valid topic for discussion. If someone replies with a racist comment, that's one person's idiocy, and it is not sufficient cause to deem that an entire thread be locked. If you don't like the discussion, don't participate in it, but if people are simply raising the issue of whether this will spur hostility for a group that may be blamed for the spread of a disease, an overdeveloped sense of political correctness that would prohibit the topic from even being discussed seems grossly out of place. How are we ever going to have a real discussion if any real topic that comes up is deemed "too adult" for us poor immature forum-goers to handle?

You make a number of valid points. However, I still feel that this thread can only go in one direction and that direction is ugly. In any event, the moderators have chosen not to take any action.

Originally posted by: txrandom
After 9/11 racism against Arab and Muslim Americans was more prevalent than before 9/11.

Let's say swine flu ended up being a global pandemic that killed millions of people worldwide including many Americans. Do you think Mexicans (or Mexican Americans) would be blamed for the pandemic? Would there be any increase in support for a tighter border restrictions between Mexico and the United States?

Just something to think about before we all die.

Personally, I would prefer a post focusing on aid that could be provided to the Mexican people, rather than a post that focuses on the possible hatred that we should all "think about before we die". Moreover, the original poster leaves his/her opinion of this discrimination open to interpretation. Does the OP offer any possible solutions or express his/her condemnation? Is the original poster Mexican? These points are not addressed. Is it simple curiousity? Why can't the OP direct his/her curiousity to other more productive subjects? Do you feel that we can extract anything worthy of attention from this thread?

I don't understand why there is such a strong desire to address issues of race and nationality throughout this forum. Is this an American thing? The freedom of speech entails certain responsibilities and I feel that the original poster displayed a considerable lack of discretion and common sense by drawing attention to this hypothetical situation in the first place. What do you think?

Incidentally, who are the "we" in "just something to think about before we all die"? Does this "we" include Mexicans and Mexican Americans?

The issue is not whether or not this topic is "too adult", but rather, whether or not this is an adult topic.

In the final analysis, the entire post can be summed up as "do you think discrimination exists in the US and do you think that it will be directed towards Mexicans using the flu as a pretext?" Answers: "yes" and "highly likely" - end of debate. The answers are so obvious that this leads me to question the intentions of the poster and the validity of the thread: I see little opportunity for "real discussion" here.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Nothing is stopping you from creating a new thread with a different slant and then you can control & see the direction it takes.

 

[Red Irish]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Nothing is stopping you from creating a new thread with a different slant and then you can control & see the direction it takes.

Time is stopping me: I have already initiated too many lost causes on this forum.

I feel that you (the moderators) made the correct decision when you decided not to close the thread. However, I also feel that I was justified in drawing this thread and its implications to your attention, if only to make people think a little bit more.

Have a good one.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Nothing is stopping you from creating a new thread with a different slant and then you can control & see the direction it takes.

Good luck with that. 😀

 

[sandorski]

I don't find txrandoms' post offensive, but if that became true I'd just have to shake my head at all that would do such a thing. New Flu strains can pop up anywhere anytime and they have nothing to do with the People where it originates. That said, given the usual way of naming these things, "Mexican Flu" seems a reasonable choice, although so far that's not what it has been named.