Racist announcement over Wal-Mart loudspeaker

[Policenaut]

Pulling a relatively harmless prank like this at age 16, and having it make national/international headlines is Awesome!

If anything inflating the importance of this utterly un-newsworthy story will cause copycats. This isn't even important enough to report on in local news but now it's a national race incident.

 

[FreshHat]

Has Al Sharpton chimed in yet?

 

[Marduk]

The 2010 Census form lists both "black" and "negro" as choices for "race" on question 9, as well as "African Am.".
There have been problems raised about that.

If it doesn't list Homo Sapiens then its factually incorrect anyway

 

[332nd]

lol this is pretty funny. If I was in the store and heard the announcement I would chuckle, shake my head and move on. And besides myself most of the other black folks I know would do the same thing.

It depends on if I saw him do it. If I did, I'd have to mess with him. Get a lil "ghetto". "Why I gotta get out? Naw, naw, naw, naw! Why I gotta get out?!?! I'm messin wit ya man go'head wit that ****."

 

[Juniversal]

lol

 

[GreyICE]

If you are not aware of how the US census is used to apportion entitlements, I don't have the time to explain it to you..

Well this is a compelling argument.

"I'm insane, but I don't have the time to explain my insanity to you. Therefore I'm right."

Greg, ignoring race isn't racist. What it is is a denial of reality. Like claiming nukes don't work because you don't like nuclear weapons. It exists, its worth tracking and determining trends, deal with it.

 

[portlandatheist]

The Census deserves its own thread. I'll answer mine truthfully.

As far as this prank is concerned, anything beyond banning the teenager from the store or all Wal-marts is overkill. Its a prank, and obviously, a very successful one at that.

 

[Ladewig]

On a local talk radio program, a caller claiming to be a cop insisted that the perp could be charged under terrorism statutes because he was trying to cause panic.

 

[bigred]

As stupid as that is, in this day and age, perhaps it is not so far fetched. Saying or doing anything even remotely racist, no matter how tame or benign, seems almost enough to start WW III.

All we're missing are a few jugglers and a brown bear in a skirt riding a tricycle. wheeeeeeee

 

[Brian-M]

The 2010 Census form lists both "black" and "negro" as choices for "race" on question 9, as well as "African Am.".
There have been problems raised about that.

How is "Black" a race? But I suppose that option does give people from the non-negro black races such as Māori and Australian Aborigine something they can tick.

I've always thought that Americans calling people "African American" somewhat bizarre. Logically, shouldn't that mean Caucasians should be referred to as "European American"? Or should that mean Afrikaners who emigrate to America should be referred to as "African American" even though they're Caucasian?

 

[Ferguson]

Wal-Mart management called the incident "unacceptable," and said it's working to make sure nothing like this happens at any other stores.
Washington Township police and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office are investigating the incident as a possible bias crime."

It is unstoppable, unless they are willing to exterminate all males age 12-16. I preferred "Price reduction on slightly damaged bottles of KY Jelly" and things of that nature. But "are investigating the incident as a possible bias crime" -- hahahaha, hilariously absurd.

 

[TraneWreck]

How is "Black" a race? But I suppose that option does give people from the non-negro black races such as Māori and Australian Aborigine something they can tick.

I've always thought that Americans calling people "African American" somewhat bizarre. Logically, shouldn't that mean Caucasians should be referred to as "European American"? Or should that mean Afrikaners who emigrate to America should be referred to as "African American" even though they're Caucasian?

Well, we could have saved ourselves the burden of dealing with awkward descriptives if we hadn't enslaved African people for 300 years, spent another 100 beating, lynching, and segregating, then begrudgingly allowed them to be a part of society.

The words are obviously dumb--look at Harry Reid, the word that was polite during his formative years is now a slur, without obvious reason.

But all things considered, I'll jump through those hoops, it's quite literally the least we can do.

 

[Ferguson]

I've always thought that Americans calling people "African American" somewhat bizarre. Logically, shouldn't that mean Caucasians should be referred to as "European American"?

I actually prefer European American, and is what I use in formal contexts. "White" I use informally.

Or should that mean Afrikaners who emigrate to America should be referred to as "African American" even though they're Caucasian?

One man thought so...
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143058

I agree, that the terms used are somewhat bizarre.

 

[Uncayimmy]

On a local talk radio program, a caller claiming to be a cop insisted that the perp could be charged under terrorism statutes because he was trying to cause panic.

Who was supposed to panic? All the people who were not asked to leave?

This reminds of a discussion board I'm on where a member misunderstood what I was saying and thought I meant that people should ignore their senses. This member, who was wacky but harmless and nice guy, replied in effect, "If you think ignoring your senses is a good idea, go walk along the railroad tracks and ignore what you see and here. See how that works out for you." He was suspended for advocating suicide.

 

[Brian-M]

I actually prefer European American, and is what I use in formal contexts. "White" I use informally.

I've never actually heard the term European American used before. But then again, most of my knowledge about America comes from watching American TV shows. We don't use that euphemism over here. If someone was to use the phrase "African Australian" or "European Australian", many of us would probably assume they were talking about someone who emigrated from another continent.

One man thought so...
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143058

Interesting thread. Thanks for the link.

 

[sgtbaker]

How is it unconstitutional?

I shouldn't have put that because it's a whole other topic and worth it's own thread if one doesn't exist already. Sorry I was on a soapbox with a rant ready to go. I don't want to be accused of not answering; Because motive is already accounted for during the trial for the original crime, then a second sentence is added if it's deemed a hate crime.

 

[WildCat]

I shouldn't have put that because it's a whole other topic and worth it's own thread if one doesn't exist already. Sorry I was on a soapbox with a rant ready to go. I don't want to be accused of not answering; Because motive is already accounted for during the trial for the original crime, then a second sentence is added if it's deemed a hate crime.

It's not motive, it's an aggravating circumstance to be considered during sentencing. Like selling illegal drugs within 500 feet of a school.

 

[dudalb]

And as suspected it was a 16 year old kid, not a store employee: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/nyregion/21walmart.html

It's only news because it was WalMart, and of course WalMart is evil and hates black people and of course their store managers would say such things over the PA. Direct orders from HQ.

Ain't I a great Prophet?

As for punishment: Cut his allowance, ground his butt, and no X BOX 360 or PS3 for a month.
Seriously, as much as I find the act disgusting, jail for a stupid teenage prank in which no one was physically hurt is a bit much.

 

[Accidental Martyr]

Conversation between my brother-in-law and father-in-law on this topic:

BIL: "I don't know why they're making such a big deal about this. They're acting like this kid killed 20 people or something."
FIL: "Yeah, all he said was he wanted all the ******* to leave."

Edited by LashL: 

Removed inappropriate content. Please see Rule 10 and do not partially mask words to avoid the auto-censor.

 

[Skeptical Greg]

Sounds like a nice family you have married into ..

Thanks for sharing..