Since its creation in 1992, only one rule has been stated and restated consistently: No racism on FIBS. I believe the following quote an all-too common violation of this rule, and I'd like a discussion on the topic. I've left names out and changed language to avoid using FIBSboard for an individual flame AND to accomodate FIBSboard's built-in editor/bowdlerizer.
Quote
Saturday, January 28 15:51:23 PST ( Sat Jan 28 23:51:23 2006 UTC )
[note: I have substitutud *ruser* for the name of the shouter of racist remarks in this quote.]
[note: FISboard made me substitute [four-letter word for fornification] for actual text.]
*ruser* shouts: you want a rematch, jew[four-letter word for fornication] ?
You shout: It's a sad day for FIBS when "*ruser* shouts: you want a rematch, jew[four-letter word for fornication] ?", is tolerated.
*ruser* shouts: it is sad, don, now stfu while kikeboy thinks it over
I think *ruser* should not be tolerated on FIBS.
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don
Fibs has a "gag" feature. Use it.
socksey
"Every time someone predicts the date of the end of the world, God pushes the date back a little just to be funny." - Anonymous
Would you tell Rosa Parks to just use her "gag" feature?
No, but I'll betcha that's what Patti would say to don. ^_^
socksey
"I can make the distinction between religion and superstition very easily. If I believe in it, it's religion. If you believe in it, it's superstition." - Mellie
It don't matter if we're green, blue, orange, hindu, jew, muslim.. etc..
We're all humans and we should treat each other respectfully.
So guys and dolls....
BEHAVE !!!
The world is bad enough as it is, don't make it worse... !!!!!
I personally think that any FIBS user sending 27 messages to another, all using the F-word, shouldnt be tolerated.
I prefer also to not divulge that user's name; let's just call him donuser.
NIHI
Even when don has a reasonable point, one instinctively wants to throttle him! Removing people who use shouts for mindless insult (racist remarks are invariably mindless) means censorship don. This is something that you are opposed to isn't it? Keep fibs shouts free I say, even if he have to put up with an occasional halfwit boring us with an offensive epithet.
We all have an idea of those that we would rather not hear. It's only a guess, but I suspect that don appears on most of them! Gag or ignore, the choice is yours.
Perhaps the only reasonable solution would be to remove the hypocritical comment about "all sorts of racists" from the FIBS' intro. Then there would be nothing to complain about.
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don
For what it's worth, FIBS is the single most racist environment I have encountered since I left Alabama in the late 1970's. I'm sure that a lot of it has to do with the anonymity that the FIBS community enjoys, but it doesn't change the fact that it is a racist community and even the non-racists among us allow this hatred to grow and foster. It doesn't take much effort to not tolerate racism, but still bicker and banter in the dysfunctional style that we all enjoy here.
QuoteIt doesn't take much effort to not tolerate racism
Unfortanately that is still more than the average fibster is prepared to give :(
Not agree with you at all.
I met there many pleasant, interesting and enjoyable fellow. I don't care about all the other ones, even if it would be the majority.
And I never understood why so many people seem to complain always about Fibs and are staying here. Is it the human being nature ?
In that case I must be an extraterrestrial :tears:
QuoteI met there many pleasant, interesting and enjoyable fellow. I don't care about all the other ones, even if it would be the majority.
Why do you think we are all still here? I am not saying there arent lovely people here - this is what brings us all back despite all the bad stuff.
The point being, idiots can be idiots here because it is not only tolerated - but because enough fibsters enjoy it. These losers are like the clowns in a schoolroom - acting up because there is always someone to laugh at their nonsense - if you all stop paying attention - I promise they will stop. Since we cant take away their forum - all we have is to take away their audience - their reason for doing it.
Dont validate their existence with attention.
QuotePerhaps the only reasonable solution would be to remove the hypocritical comment about "all sorts of racists" from the FIBS' intro. Then there would be nothing to complain about.
This was suggested by 'someone' :rolleyes: as long as two years ago change the intro (http://www.fibsboard.com/index.php?showtopic=209&view=findpost&p=957) and I am sure it wasnt the first time then. It isnt within any of our powers to do that - and I think if it were going to be done - it would have been. Without wanting to sound defeatist - I think we have to find another route - and keep repeating their words is not reducing the amount of racism on fibs - is it?
This is really pretty funny stuff. According to ronquixote, FIBS is the most racist environment he's experienced since his segregated lunch-counter days in Alabama. Tomawaky disagrees completely.
Diane pontificates about "idiots" on FIBS while, at the same time being, herself, perceived as an idiot, and worse, by a large number of FIBSroids, including myself.
Don "I'LL ARGUE WITH A TREE STUMP " Hanlen chastises me for addressing resh in, what he considers, a racist manner while never saying a word about the "racist" response resh gives to me.
Did anyone ever consider that people shout the words they do just to jerk people like Don off ? Has anyone ever asked resh if he considers my shouts racist ?
It's a very easy thing to leap to erroneous conclusions based on words on a screen that lack inflection or facial expressions which might show true malice. At the end of the day, your conclusions are your own. That doesn'tmean they're accurate.
NIHI
Being percieved as 'worse than an idiot' by NIHILST is high praise indeed :D
Nihilist....
In the literary arts, it is commonly acknowledged that once the writer is done with his words, he is also done with how they are interpreted. Furthermore, it is a rare day when the reading public does interpret a writer's words in the exact manner in which they were intended. The point is that words are powerful, and usually concise... intentions are vague and ephemeral at best.
You present yourself as an intelligent man, but I have my doubts. If you are capable of independent thought, then you will be able to see that your words are racist quite frequently. And, unfortunately, that makes you a racist too... no matter how noble or funny your intentions are.
Later....
The writer may be done with how his words are interpreted, that doesn't mean his READERS are.
What makes your interpretation any more more accurate than Tomawakys ? What makes Diane more or less of an idiot than those she considers as such ?
I doubt you have a clue regarding what I consider myself to be since we've never chatted one-on-one.
None of it matters; we aren't exchanging Christmas cards, we aren't going on a cruise together. Your opinion is your own and it is no more or less valuable or accurate as anyone else's.
Shalom.
NIHI
KKKihilist....
If you don't like the way you are perceived by others, then change your words. It really is that simple.
You miss the point, I don't care how others, especially faceless names on a screen perceive me. I have no more intention of changing my words than you do.
NIHI
And you have missed my point entirely too....
What you perceive yourself as being has nothing at all to do with who you really are. It is your words and actions that define you, not your intentions. Consider yourself precisely defined.
Actually it is unlikely that anyone is being very objective here. Personally speaking, my standpoint is that racism is utterly disgusting and repugnant. However, I can't say that fibs is particularly racist. People come out with stuff from time to time, some of it satirical, some meant to hurt, some no doubt indicative of deep seated racism, but it isn't particularly important. If you don't like it, turn it off. Millions of people all over the world are thinking racist thoughts, saying racist things, worst of all taking direct racist action continuously. It's good to oppose it, but we should also keep a sense of perspective. Nihi, or anybody else for that matter, calling resh kikeboy or something like it, may be offensive to some, but resh comes it with some pretty offensive stuff himself from time to time, so I guess that he can take it. What anybody else thinks of it is not really relevant and on a scale of importance in racist matters, it gets about a 1 out of 10. I suggest that we would all do better to save our energies for things that matter.
Looking at ourselves is a good start. I am for racial harmony and anti-racist as an intellectual choice, but it doesn't mean that everything that I think, say and do is squeaky clean PC and I suspect that this is common to us all. Perhaps we should all keep our own houses in order and not spend so much time minding other people's business.
Well I agree with Dirtyharry. We should treat each other respectfully...
At issue is not whether a person is a racist. but whether a person's behavior is racist. It is not reasonable to expect a user or a SYSOP to make a judgement call about the character or intent of the author these shouts. In cases such as the one I cited, the general consensus here is that the shouts seem racist in content.
That said, it was clearly marvin's intent when he created FIBS that racist behavior not be permitted on the server. Indeed, it is the only written rule of FIBS. There are unwritten rules that are enforced (somewhat haphazardly). I believe the only stated rule should be enforced consistently.
Arguments about the availability of the gag command and the silent toggle are irrelevent or worse, discriminatory. Gee, you don't have to listen to or be a victim of racism on FIBS, you can go to the back of the bus! In fact racial harassment is illegal in many countries, and in some the mere expression of racism is a crime. But I don't see this as an issue of free speach, I see it as an issue of the general character of an international server, clearly stated by its author.
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don
On another thread, burper referred to http://blogophob.twoday.net/20060209/
(http://blogophob.twoday.net/20060209/), which says the following (poor translation from German to English courtesy of Google):
Quote2. The second reason find however by far worse I: A pronounced racingism is to be found in the Chat. For this an interesting contribution on the ââ,¬Å"Fibsboardââ,¬Â:
"For what it's worth, FIBS is the single most racist environment I have encountered since I left Alabama in the late 1970's. I'm sure that a lot of it has to do with the anonymity that the FIBS community enjoys, but it doesn't change the fact that it is a racist community and even the non-racists among us allow this hatred to grow and foster. It doesn't take much effort to not tolerate racism, but still bicker and banter in the dysfunctional style that we all enjoy here."
socksey replied to burper:
QuoteI haven't found that reference yet, but thx for getting me searching! I'm really having fun reading some of the old stuff!
Thanks to all the contributors for the memories!
Oh, and, yes, it appears Fibs is a racsist place, but I think it's all in fun, at least that is how I choose to view it. I really don't approve of rascism anywhere. For instance, donz often shouts that he's black, but we all know he is an albino black really!
I'm sure I have some black genes. After all, the kids did call me "nigger lips" when I was in grade school! Consequently, the "N word" was always declared off limits to my children when they were growing up even though that taunt turned in to "sexy lips" in my later school years.
I enjoy people of all races and hope they can enjoy me the way I am.
socksey
I think a response on
this thread is appropriate (thread found thanks to webrunner). My only comment is: socks, you can see from the contents of the blog that many people don't think or know that racist shouts are jokes.
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don