"Tired of the Wet Backs?"

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Darthvoy

Golden Member
Aug 3, 2004
1,825
1
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: buck
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
This is fucking ridiculous.

Edit: The 'public outcry,' not the headline.

Almost forgot it's ok to offend Hispanics on AT.

How is this offensive to hispanics? If anything, it's offensive to backs.

I guess you wouldn't understand if you're not Hispanic.

are you Hispanic? if so, enlighten us as to why it's offensive.

Yeah I am.

Wet back refers to people who migrated from Mexico to the US via the Rio Grande. Anyways the term started to be used to identify all Mexicans by white americans (even to those that came here legally). You'll only really here this in the South western states. But like MrPickins said, Wet Back = beloved patriot/N*word/FOB/etc.

I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet. I'm not being cynical here. I just think people LOOK to get offended far too often.

How about the word beloved patriot. Do you want to tackle that one? Do you call white people Gringos from time to time?

beloved patriot is not a derogatory term for white people. It was merely a word for Hispanics to refer to white people without white people knowing they were being referred to. Here look at some of the history behind the word http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/beloved patriot.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Originally posted by: MrPickins
LOL!
I'm surprised I haven't heard about it in the local news.

For those that don't know, beautiful ray of sunshine refers to people who illegally crossed the Rio Grande, and is considered extremely offensive to hispanics here in TX.

I'm from Texas and it's not used as a slur against only illegal immigrants, but all Latinos
 

SacrosanctFiend

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2004
4,269
0
0
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: HammerCurl
I like how there's 4 question marks at the end of backs. And "Wet Backs" is capitalized in the ad. No way it was going to be a sent out advertisement. Someone was probably f'in around and hit send on accident from the joking advertisement.

Bullshit. The ad is for air conditioned seats. Without the air conditioned seats, in hot weather, what would your back tend to do? Sweat? Would that cause it to get wet? And what would you call a back that was wet?

Wet Backs is capitalized because it is in a fucking headline.

I think it's naive to think it was accidental. Sounds like a pretty lame attempt at a joke. If it wasn't intended to have a double meaning, the word "the" wouldn't be in there.

Right, because the word 'the' has no other purpose than to create double meaning. Oh wait, an acceptable place for 'the' happens to be before a modifying adjective.

I'm done with this thread. /
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
What was the original point of the ad, it doesn't say in the article?
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
24,117
2
0
Train wreck thread full of morons who think it's OK because:

1) They are acting dumb and claiming to not see the use of Wet Backs is clearly used in the context related to South American immigrants.
2) It's 'OK' to rag on Hispanics.
3) People are closed minded bigots most of the time.

If the car ad was worded properly it should have been, 'Tired of a wet back???'. Using 'The' clearly addresses a group, not an individual or an individual experience, which having a wet back in a car can only ever be.

Twenty blinkered dipshits will disagree with me and nit pick my post after this, but it won't change a thing. It was a deliberate use of a political hot potato to sell cars. Pretty fucking sad.
 

Ktulu

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2000
4,354
0
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: buck
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
This is fucking ridiculous.

Edit: The 'public outcry,' not the headline.

Almost forgot it's ok to offend Hispanics on AT.

How is this offensive to hispanics? If anything, it's offensive to backs.

I guess you wouldn't understand if you're not Hispanic.

are you Hispanic? if so, enlighten us as to why it's offensive.

Yeah I am.

Wet back refers to people who migrated from Mexico to the US via the Rio Grande. Anyways the term started to be used to identify all Mexicans by white americans (even to those that came here legally). You'll only really here this in the South western states. But like MrPickins said, Wet Back = beloved patriot/N*word/FOB/etc.

I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet. I'm not being cynical here. I just think people LOOK to get offended far too often.

How about the word beloved patriot. Do you want to tackle that one? Do you call white people Gringos from time to time?

But it's all in how the word is used. When Mexicans were being called Wet Backs it wasn't done casually, it was done with hate and malice.

 

thepd7

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2005
9,423
0
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: buck
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
This is fucking ridiculous.

Edit: The 'public outcry,' not the headline.

Almost forgot it's ok to offend Hispanics on AT.

How is this offensive to hispanics? If anything, it's offensive to backs.

I guess you wouldn't understand if you're not Hispanic.

are you Hispanic? if so, enlighten us as to why it's offensive.

Yeah I am.

Wet back refers to people who migrated from Mexico to the US via the Rio Grande. Anyways the term started to be used to identify all Mexicans by white americans (even to those that came here legally). You'll only really here this in the South western states. But like MrPickins said, Wet Back = beloved patriot/N*word/FOB/etc.

I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet. I'm not being cynical here. I just think people LOOK to get offended far too often.

How about the word beloved patriot. Do you want to tackle that one? Do you call white people Gringos from time to time?


My understanding is that it's a reference to the sweaty back you see on someone doing manual labor, ie if you look at someone doing yard work they normally have a spot on their back soaked. I don't think it was ever a term for those that crossed the rio grande only, rather all Mexicans.

It doesn't really matter, though. What matters is it IS as offensive to Hispanics as those other words are and it's obvious that the ad intended to use the term in that way.
 

HammerCurl

Senior member
Apr 3, 2007
651
0
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Can I ask a serious question? Where does the term "beautiful ray of sunshine" come from? Does it have to do with boatloads of foreigners swimming to get to the United States?

And then the word beloved patriot. I've always wondered is that just as derogatory to a white person as beautiful ray of sunshine is to a Hispanic person?

As far as the original topic, frickin ridiculous that there were complaints about the words "Wet Backs" when they were not being used in a derogatory manner at all. It reminds me of the school teacher who used the word, niggardly, (an adjective meaning "stingy" or "miserly") and got reprimanded and told she had to attend sensitivity training. :confused:

Niggardly isn't that common of a word used in today's mainstream vocabulary. Sure it wouldnt be offensive in an SAT test or something, but you can't see that it would confuse some people? How old was the classroom that she was address, if this was college I wouldn't see a problem but younger kids I wouldn't expect a classroom to understand. If jewardly was an old English word that meant stingy, you don't think that would be offensive. People are ignorant, so do your best to not offend.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: buck
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
This is fucking ridiculous.

Edit: The 'public outcry,' not the headline.

Almost forgot it's ok to offend Hispanics on AT.

How is this offensive to hispanics? If anything, it's offensive to backs.

I guess you wouldn't understand if you're not Hispanic.

are you Hispanic? if so, enlighten us as to why it's offensive.

Yeah I am.

Wet back refers to people who migrated from Mexico to the US via the Rio Grande. Anyways the term started to be used to identify all Mexicans by white americans (even to those that came here legally). You'll only really here this in the South western states. But like MrPickins said, Wet Back = beloved patriot/N*word/FOB/etc.

I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet. I'm not being cynical here. I just think people LOOK to get offended far too often.

How about the word beloved patriot. Do you want to tackle that one? Do you call white people Gringos from time to time?

I've got to side with Ktulu on this one. It is definitely a derogatory term.

well, i never use it, but i just didn't think it had as severe a negative connotation to it as the N-bomb.

Sidenote: My sister-in-law is Mexican. She has called me a beloved patriot before, complained about my "beloved patriot music". I just took it in jest, but she is VERY sensitive to anyone saying anything even remotely insulting about her nationality. The door really shouldn't just swing one way.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,592
988
126
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Train wreck thread full of morons who think it's OK because:

1) They are acting dumb and claiming to not see the use of Wet Backs is clearly used in the context related to South American immigrants.
2) It's 'OK' to rag on Hispanics.
3) People are closed minded bigots most of the time.

If the car ad was worded properly it should have been, 'Tired of a wet back???'. Using 'The' clearly addresses a group, not an individual or an individual experience, which having a wet back in a car can only ever be.

Twenty blinkered dipshits will disagree with me and nit pick my post after this, but it won't change a thing. It was a deliberate use of a political hot potato to sell cars. Pretty fucking sad.

FTR-I never said it was okay. Just wanted to point that out. :)

It was really a stupid thing to put in an advertisement.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Train wreck thread full of morons who think it's OK because:

1) They are acting dumb and claiming to not see the use of Wet Backs is clearly used in the context related to South American immigrants.
2) It's 'OK' to rag on Hispanics.
3) People are closed minded bigots most of the time.

If the car ad was worded properly it should have been, 'Tired of a wet back???'. Using 'The' clearly addresses a group, not an individual or an individual experience, which having a wet back in a car can only ever be.

Twenty blinkered dipshits will disagree with me and nit pick my post after this, but it won't change a thing. It was a deliberate use of a political hot potato to sell cars. Pretty fucking sad.

I was worried when I made my post about the word "the" that I'd be attacked for nitpicking about insignificant words, like Bill Clinton questioning what the definition of the word "is" is. I'm glad that someone else has enough familiarity with the English language to recognize that the word was out of place. It always amazes me how many people choose to be blind and ignorant in threads about racism. It's as if people refuse to accept that racism still exists.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Train wreck thread full of morons who think it's OK because:

1) They are acting dumb and claiming to not see the use of Wet Backs is clearly used in the context related to South American immigrants.
2) It's 'OK' to rag on Hispanics.
3) People are closed minded bigots most of the time.

If the car ad was worded properly it should have been, 'Tired of a wet back???'. Using 'The' clearly addresses a group, not an individual or an individual experience, which having a wet back in a car can only ever be.

Twenty blinkered dipshits will disagree with me and nit pick my post after this, but it won't change a thing. It was a deliberate use of a political hot potato to sell cars. Pretty fucking sad.

you have proved once again that you are a total retard.

1) who is acting dumb? i, for one, was asking sincere questions about the word(s), and trying to get some honest answers.

2) No one in this thread is even remotely saying it's 'OK' to rag on Hispanics

3) You are doing nothing but trying to stir the pot with that ill thought out comment

 

Ktulu

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2000
4,354
0
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: buck
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
This is fucking ridiculous.

Edit: The 'public outcry,' not the headline.

Almost forgot it's ok to offend Hispanics on AT.

How is this offensive to hispanics? If anything, it's offensive to backs.

I guess you wouldn't understand if you're not Hispanic.

are you Hispanic? if so, enlighten us as to why it's offensive.

Yeah I am.

Wet back refers to people who migrated from Mexico to the US via the Rio Grande. Anyways the term started to be used to identify all Mexicans by white americans (even to those that came here legally). You'll only really here this in the South western states. But like MrPickins said, Wet Back = beloved patriot/N*word/FOB/etc.

I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet. I'm not being cynical here. I just think people LOOK to get offended far too often.

How about the word beloved patriot. Do you want to tackle that one? Do you call white people Gringos from time to time?

I've got to side with Ktulu on this one. It is definitely a derogatory term.

well, i never use it, but i just didn't think it had as severe a negative connotation to it as the N-bomb.

Sidenote: My sister-in-law is Mexican. She has called me a beloved patriot before, complained about my "beloved patriot music". I just took it in jest, but she is VERY sensitive to anyone saying anything even remotely insulting about her nationality. The door really shouldn't just swing one way.

Agreed. I've noticed that it seems to be universally excepted that white folks can be the butt of any racial joke and they have no choice but to take it. Seems wrong to me.
 

xdreadpiratedoug

Senior member
Jul 25, 2007
261
2
0
Originally posted by: Darthvoy
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: buck
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
This is fucking ridiculous.

Edit: The 'public outcry,' not the headline.

Almost forgot it's ok to offend Hispanics on AT.

How is this offensive to hispanics? If anything, it's offensive to backs.

I guess you wouldn't understand if you're not Hispanic.

are you Hispanic? if so, enlighten us as to why it's offensive.

Yeah I am.

Wet back refers to people who migrated from Mexico to the US via the Rio Grande. Anyways the term started to be used to identify all Mexicans by white americans (even to those that came here legally). You'll only really here this in the South western states. But like MrPickins said, Wet Back = beloved patriot/N*word/FOB/etc.

I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet. I'm not being cynical here. I just think people LOOK to get offended far too often.

How about the word beloved patriot. Do you want to tackle that one? Do you call white people Gringos from time to time?

beloved patriot is not a derogatory term for white people. It was merely a word for Hispanics to refer to white people without white people knowing they were being referred to. Here look at some of the history behind the word http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/beloved patriot.

Call me a beloved patriot, and I'll call you a beloved patriot or a beautiful ray of sunshine. Same for a person who calls me a cracker, they'll get a racial insult back. My fiancee is hispanic, and I warned her that if any of her family calls me a beloved patriot, they'll get it right back in their face. Everyone in the south knows a beloved patriot is a white person, so your little bullshit sentence of "It was merely a word for Hispanics to refer to white people without white people knowing they were being referred to." is such crap.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: buck
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
This is fucking ridiculous.

Edit: The 'public outcry,' not the headline.

Almost forgot it's ok to offend Hispanics on AT.

How is this offensive to hispanics? If anything, it's offensive to backs.

I guess you wouldn't understand if you're not Hispanic.

are you Hispanic? if so, enlighten us as to why it's offensive.

Yeah I am.

Wet back refers to people who migrated from Mexico to the US via the Rio Grande. Anyways the term started to be used to identify all Mexicans by white americans (even to those that came here legally). You'll only really here this in the South western states. But like MrPickins said, Wet Back = beloved patriot/N*word/FOB/etc.

I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet. I'm not being cynical here. I just think people LOOK to get offended far too often.

How about the word beloved patriot. Do you want to tackle that one? Do you call white people Gringos from time to time?

But it's all in how the word is used. When Mexicans were being called Wet Backs it wasn't done casually, it was done with hate and malice.
alright, i understand. thanks for your point of view.
(you didn't answer my question about beloved patriot though)
 

TheAdvocate

Platinum Member
Mar 7, 2005
2,561
7
81
Originally posted by: moshquerade
I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet.

Mosh, you're one of my favorite posters here, so I'll ask you seriously: You really don't know the origin of that term?

And for that matter, did wikipedia really say it was swimming the river or whatever? Good lord, I've gotta promise myself never to go there again.

beautiful ray of sunshine is derogatory for the same reason calling blacks "cotton pickers" was (used to be a huge no-no, now no one does it cause the N word is so popular), and calling poor white laborers "rednecks", because all three referred to the menial labor that these social/ethnic groups used to perform (with the inference that that's all they were good for). Wet back is simply descriptive of the wet back that these latino laborers got after a hard day in the sun, doing manual labor for a pittance. It was one step removed from the slavery inference of "cotton pickers", and just below "rednecks" because that group was still white.

People do understand the origin of "redneck", right? Ever been out in the sun, bent over in the garden without a hat or SPF 45?

For those of you who think this was an innocent mistake (like the person who wrote it was unaware of the meaning) - PUHLEASE. I'll buy that it was a poor taste joke that was never meant to go out, but no way did the guy not know what he was doing.
 

MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
9,125
792
126
Originally posted by: moshquerade

well, i never use it, but i just didn't think it had as severe a negative connotation to it as the N-bomb.

Maybe not in other parts of the country, but it definitely is here in TX (where the ad was run).
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
24,117
2
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Train wreck thread full of morons who think it's OK because:

1) They are acting dumb and claiming to not see the use of Wet Backs is clearly used in the context related to South American immigrants.
2) It's 'OK' to rag on Hispanics.
3) People are closed minded bigots most of the time.

If the car ad was worded properly it should have been, 'Tired of a wet back???'. Using 'The' clearly addresses a group, not an individual or an individual experience, which having a wet back in a car can only ever be.

Twenty blinkered dipshits will disagree with me and nit pick my post after this, but it won't change a thing. It was a deliberate use of a political hot potato to sell cars. Pretty fucking sad.

you have proved once again that you are a total retard.

1) who is acting dumb? i, for one, was asking sincere questions about the word(s), and trying to get some honest answers.

2) No one in this thread is even remotely saying it's 'OK' to rag on Hispanics

3) You are doing nothing but trying to stir the pot with that ill thought out comment

*YAWN* 1/20.
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,124
12
81
In looking at the ad, I do not think that Hispanics should get offended. However, given the current state of the PC world, the author should have known that he was going to catch hell for the ad.

There is plenty of stupid to go around on this one.

MotionMan
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
Originally posted by: moshquerade
I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet.

Mosh, you're one of my favorite posters here, so I'll ask you seriously: You really don't know the origin of that term?

And for that matter, did wikipedia really say it was swimming the river or whatever? Good lord, I've gotta promise myself never to go there again.

beautiful ray of sunshine is derogatory for the same reason calling blacks "cotton pickers" was (used to be a huge no-no, now no one does it cause the N word is so popular), and calling poor white laborers "rednecks", because all three referred to the menial labor that these social/ethnic groups used to perform (with the inference that that's all they were good for). Wet back is simply descriptive of the wet back that these latino laborers got after a hard day in the sun, doing manual labor for a pittance. It was one step removed from the slavery inference of "cotton pickers", and just below "rednecks" because that group was still white.

People do understand the origin of "redneck", right? Ever been out in the sun, bent over in the garden without a hat or SPF 45?

For those of you who think this was an innocent mistake (like the person who wrote it was unaware of the meaning) - PUHLEASE. I'll buy that it was a poor taste joke that was never meant to go out, but no way did the guy not know what he was doing.

I really didn't know. (I suppose I could have looked it up, but I chose to ask here). I really did think it had to do with getting their backs wet while trying to swim to the U.S. Honestly.

Why would a guy put that in an ad if he meant it as derogatory to Hispanics? That's plain ignorant, and he might as well just have went out and shot himself in the foot instead.
 

CrackRabbit

Lifer
Mar 30, 2001
16,642
62
91
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: buck
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
This is fucking ridiculous.

Edit: The 'public outcry,' not the headline.

Almost forgot it's ok to offend Hispanics on AT.

How is this offensive to hispanics? If anything, it's offensive to backs.

I guess you wouldn't understand if you're not Hispanic.

are you Hispanic? if so, enlighten us as to why it's offensive.

Yeah I am.

Wet back refers to people who migrated from Mexico to the US via the Rio Grande. Anyways the term started to be used to identify all Mexicans by white americans (even to those that came here legally). You'll only really here this in the South western states. But like MrPickins said, Wet Back = beloved patriot/N*word/FOB/etc.

I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet. I'm not being cynical here. I just think people LOOK to get offended far too often.

How about the word beloved patriot. Do you want to tackle that one? Do you call white people Gringos from time to time?

I've got to side with Ktulu on this one. It is definitely a derogatory term.

well, i never use it, but i just didn't think it had as severe a negative connotation to it as the N-bomb.

Sidenote: My sister-in-law is Mexican. She has called me a beloved patriot before, complained about my "beloved patriot music". I just took it in jest, but she is VERY sensitive to anyone saying anything even remotely insulting about her nationality. The door really shouldn't just swing one way.

While I agree with you Mosh. I grew up in Texas, and have heard this phrase to refer to Hispanics quite often and always with a degree of prejudice.
To think that no one bothered to consider that the use of the term at all in any manner, especially where there is a fairly large Hispanic population, would offend someone is naive.
 

MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
9,125
792
126
Originally posted by: TheAdvocate
Originally posted by: moshquerade
I don't see how that word can be compared to beloved patriot/N*bomb. So these people had to swim so their backs got wet.

Mosh, you're one of my favorite posters here, so I'll ask you seriously: You really don't know the origin of that term?

And for that matter, did wikipedia really say it was swimming the river or whatever? Good lord, I've gotta promise myself never to go there again.

beautiful ray of sunshine is derogatory for the same reason calling blacks "cotton pickers" was (used to be a huge no-no, now no one does it cause the N word is so popular), and calling poor white laborers "rednecks", because all three referred to the menial labor that these social/ethnic groups used to perform (with the inference that that's all they were good for). Wet back is simply descriptive of the wet back that these latino laborers got after a hard day in the sun, doing manual labor for a pittance. It was one step removed from the slavery inference of "cotton pickers", and just below "rednecks" because that group was still white.

http://www.google.com/search?q=etymology+beautiful ray of sunshine

Every etymology I see refers to crossing the Rio Grande.

Maybe wikipedia is the one that's right. ;)

In either case, I'm just nitpicking. :D