2018 mid-term election

[acbytesla]

A good upbringing, I am sure.
My parents were more liberal perhaps. I was raised not to presume that I knew how someone else would feel about something, just tell the truth and don't call other people names.

I don't know about that. But I was taught to be courteous. Please and thank you and opening doors for others. Females are Miss or Mam and Sir for males , a group of males of almost any age are "gentlemen" and females are "ladies".. I don't presume I know how people will feel but giving respect garners respect.

 

[Regnad Kcin]

Me either. America's racial politics are weird.

However, even I know De Santis is being racist that's how obvious it is.

I’m less inclined to see the use as “obvious.” It would be interesting to know, for instance, if the term is part of the candidate’s vocabulary. If so, then the likelihood it’s his catch-all, polite-company way of saying screw up (which we know is the now-accepted way of suggesting the F word). If “monkey up” is not a regular figure of speech by the man, it would add weight to the possibility he got a bit, well, racy.

 

[Brainster]

Then you're clueless. A man of color can use the 'N' word. We can't. A father can call his son 'boy'. A white man can refer to young white child boy and frankly they better be like under say 8. I'm not even sure I would do that. Me, I prefer the term 'son' or 'young man'. Boy isn't even a term most youngsters of any color would appreciate being called. And I assure you someone of color certainly wouldn't like it from a Caucasian.

If nothing else, it's about respecting others.

Sweet Jeebus, you certainly are the sensitive soul, if you think a black male under the age of about 13 cannot be referred to as a boy. It is certainly racist to refer to an adult black male as boy, and that's where the offense lies. And a lot of men in their 20s and 30s seem to use the term "son" as a term of derision; better be careful.

 

[kellyb]

Sweet Jeebus, you certainly are the sensitive soul, if you think a black male under the age of about 13 cannot be referred to as a boy. It is certainly racist to refer to an adult black male as boy, and that's where the offense lies. And a lot of men in their 20s and 30s seem to use the term "son" as a term of derision; better be careful.

Even with kids, it can be racist if you you refer to the kid himself as "boy" in the context of shouting "Hey, boy!" to get the kid's attention.

It becomes REALLY racist if you say the same thing to get a teen or man's attention, or say it in the third person about a man.

 

[Belz...]

My parents taught me to care about the feelings of others.

Yes, well... there's a difference between caring for feelings and catering to them, though. I wonder if sometimes we're tiptoeing too much, and making people even more sensitive to things in the process.

Like, back when Gone With the Wind came out, "give a damn" was seen as some egregious breach of etiquette. Nowadays we don't care, because we've been desensitised to swear words. If we're to use these words less, they're given more power.

I don't know, just a thought.

Please and thank you and opening doors for others.

Opening doors? Why, you know that just implies they can't do it themselves! How offensive!

Females are Miss or Mam and Sir for males , a group of males of almost any age are "gentlemen" and females are "ladies"

Why do you assume their gender?

 

[Matthew Best]

I've also used the term monkey wrench or monkey it up but never, never, never ever would I use it when referring to an African American or African.

You've used the phrase "monkey it up"? I'd never even heard of the phrase before this, never mind used it myself.

How common is it in the US exactly?

 

[acbytesla]

You've used the phrase "monkey it up"? I'd never even heard of the phrase before this, never mind used it myself.

How common is it in the US exactly?

No, my mistake. I have said, thrown a monkey wrench into it.

But I have NEVER used 'monkey it up'. In fact, now that you mention it. I don't think I have ever heard anyone use that phrase.

 

[Craig4]

And perhaps he is gambling that a larger number of undecideds will be pushed away from his opponent if they perceive them as being too quick to cry "racist"

Assuming, of course , that it was a calculated statement

Of course it was calculated. He's a Trump Republican so we know he's a racist. You can't live in the Southeast of this country and not know that "monkey" is a racially loaded word. Even the whitest, most sheltered, gated community living rubes in Florida know not to use that word in any relation to a black person unless you're trying to be racist.

 

[gregthehammer]

No, my mistake. I have said, thrown a monkey wrench into it.

But I have NEVER used 'monkey it up'. In fact, now that you mention it. I don't think I have ever heard anyone use that phrase.

I've actually used that phrase quite a bit in my lifetime. Never in reference to anything racial, more as in if it ain't broke, don't fix it sense. For example, back in the day when using rabbit ear antennas on the TV, one would fiddle with them to pull the signal. Finally, you would get the big game to come in at acceptable quality. All of a sudden, your wife or kid comes along and starts to fiddle with it some more to try and get better reception, only to make it worse. That would be the time to pull the monkey phrase out.

I don't exactly know where the phrase comes from, I'm guessing I picked it up from my folks. I assume it has to do with monkeys mimiccing human behavior, but not knowing exactly what they are doing?

 

[Distracted1]

I've actually used that phrase quite a bit in my lifetime. Never in reference to anything racial, more as in if it ain't broke, don't fix it sense. For example, back in the day when using rabbit ear antennas on the TV, one would fiddle with them to pull the signal. Finally, you would get the big game to come in at acceptable quality. All of a sudden, your wife or kid comes along and starts to fiddle with it some more to try and get better reception, only to make it worse. That would be the time to pull the monkey phrase out.

I don't exactly know where the phrase comes from, I'm guessing I picked it up from my folks. I assume it has to do with monkeys mimiccing human behavior, but not knowing exactly what they are doing?

If a million monkeys typed for a million years........

 

[Craig4]

I've actually used that phrase quite a bit in my lifetime. Never in reference to anything racial, more as in if it ain't broke, don't fix it sense. For example, back in the day when using rabbit ear antennas on the TV, one would fiddle with them to pull the signal. Finally, you would get the big game to come in at acceptable quality. All of a sudden, your wife or kid comes along and starts to fiddle with it some more to try and get better reception, only to make it worse. That would be the time to pull the monkey phrase out.

I don't exactly know where the phrase comes from, I'm guessing I picked it up from my folks. I assume it has to do with monkeys mimiccing human behavior, but not knowing exactly what they are doing?

If you're in what used to be the Jim Crow South, there are certain things a white person should never say to a black person. Because of what went on here, there are some words that carry such a weight of history that a white person just can't use them. Monkey is pretty high up on that list.

 

[gregthehammer]

If you're in what used to be the Jim Crow South, there are certain things a white person should never say to a black person. Because of what went on here, there are some words that carry such a weight of history that a white person just can't use them. Monkey is pretty high up on that list.

Grew up southeast of Green Bay along lake Michigan in Wisconsin. My grandma, of Czech descent, used to call us grandchildren her "little monkey shines". I think there's just a general fascination with monkeys where I come from.

 

[acbytesla]

Yes, well... there's a difference between caring for feelings and catering to them, though. I wonder if sometimes we're tiptoeing too much, and making people even more sensitive to things in the process.

Like, back when Gone With the Wind came out, "give a damn" was seen as some egregious breach of etiquette. Nowadays we don't care, because we've been desensitised to swear words. If we're to use these words less, they're given more power.

I don't know, just a thought.

Nobody is ******* catering. And it ain't hard and it's not being politically correct. I'm not a sensitive soul either. And I would hardly say I'm tiptoeing around either. Being polite and respectful to others is a good first step with anyone.

Why do you assume their gender?

Who assumes?

And by the way, I can be as coarse and crude as anyone. It's called being aware of your surroundings. You don't curse and swear in a country club or church or in a retirement home with a bunch of women. But I'm sure I probably would on a hunting/fishing trip or whenever I'm in Boston.

 

[Slings and Arrows]

I've actually used that phrase quite a bit in my lifetime. Never in reference to anything racial, more as in if it ain't broke, don't fix it sense. For example, back in the day when using rabbit ear antennas on the TV, one would fiddle with them to pull the signal. Finally, you would get the big game to come in at acceptable quality. All of a sudden, your wife or kid comes along and starts to fiddle with it some more to try and get better reception, only to make it worse. That would be the time to pull the monkey phrase out.

Don't monkey with it -- I've only heard that expression about ten thousand times.

 

[Fudbucker]

In the information age, everyone who's not a total idiot can spot a political "dog whistle" a mile away. The point of them nowadays is plausible deniability: What's wrong with saying monkey when referring to my black opponent? I'm not racist! (wink, wink).

Trump's base is unapologetically racist, and to win a close race, a candidate has to appeal to them, but they also can't turn off the non-racist moderates and independents. It's a delicate balancing act.

 

[Foolmewunz]

My first grade teacher would begin each day with: "Good morning boys and girls." The woman was obviously a rabid white supremacist, she even made us stand while saying the pledge of allegiance.

I have never got over the horrible trauma of those early years.

We knew there had to be a reason. It's beginning to make sense, now.

 

[acbytesla]

In the information age, everyone who's not a total idiot can spot a political "dog whistle" a mile away. The point of them nowadays is plausible deniability: What's wrong with saying monkey when referring to my black opponent? I'm not racist! (wink, wink).

Trump's base is unapologetically racist, and to win a close race, a candidate has to appeal to them, but they also can't turn off the non-racist moderates and independents. It's a delicate balancing act.

EXACTLY!!!! Just look at the posts. It's a mixture of claims of faux innocence and accusations of others being overly sensitive. Its like Trump's claims that he doesn't lie or cheat on his wives. 'Who, me?'

 

[Brainster]

EXACTLY!!!! Just look at the posts. It's a mixture of claims of faux innocence....

I can understand why people think it might have been racist, and if he had said Gillum is a monkey you'd have me agreeing 100%. What I don't get is why you think it would be sensible for the GOP candidate to use a dog whistle against a black candidate. Do you think that he wanted to tell any blind racists who were thinking of voting for Gillum that he was African-American?

Or is this all part and parcel of John McCain's insidious plan to create "a political environment that is inciting hate and hate speech?"

You guys are like the boy pre-adolescent male who cried wolf.

 

[acbytesla]

I can understand why people think it might have been racist, and if he had said Gillum is a monkey you'd have me agreeing 100%. What I don't get is why you think it would be sensible for the GOP candidate to use a dog whistle against a black candidate. Do you think that he wanted to tell any blind racists who were thinking of voting for Gillum that he was African-American?

You guys are like the boy pre-adolescent male who cried wolf.

Hardly. Trump was successful at winning Florida by blowing that dog whistle and Desantis has gone 'all in' with following that blueprint. Now, I have no idea if it will be successful, but there already is a PAC making racist robocalls.

I believe Gillum's only choice is to ignore it in the way that Obama did who also carried Florida.

But I think we have only seen the beginning of the symphony of dog whistles to come in that race.

 

[Brainster]

Hardly. Trump was successful at winning Florida by blowing that dog whistle and Desantis has gone 'all in' with following that blueprint. Now, I have no idea if it will be successful, but there already is a PAC making racist robocalls.

I believe Gillum's only choice is to ignore it in the way that Obama did who also carried Florida.

I could buy the dog whistle argument against Trump (provided you have some examples) because he was not running against a black man. There you could at least argue that he would pull some racist voters away from Hillary by subtly reminding people that she was married to the first black president (per Maya Angelou).

But I think we have only seen the beginning of the symphony of dog whistles to come in that race.

Yeah, I am sure that when DeSantis says how he wants to lead the Sunshine State into a prosperous future you folks will all be yelling, "He said shine! That's a dog whistle!"