So long and thanks for all the fish!

[boosh]

sssss cool that sounds like a hiphop chorus

[sybera]

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

I believe that you have to be looking for that kind of trouble to see it in "Uncle George".

 

You know, look at the scope that other people, not me, want to view this. This simple image of a TV character has caused people to compare it to burning crosses, white hoods, and all sorts of violent racial symbols. If that is what they think this stands for, you can sure bet I am going to defend my position.

I just want to make a point that I don't think anyone's exactly made yet, though perhaps it's implicit in many peoples' responses.

 

You say you're not racist, and perhaps you don't think you are, or perhaps you're not. But just having that avatar there, even if you never refer to it and never express any racist opinions, would be a clever and subtle thing for a racist to do.

 

That kind of image, with the way the man is dressed up, carries implications of primitiveness and savagery. It also ridicules its subject. Images like it have been used over hundreds of years to perpetuate an image of black people that has been useful to those who would like to keep black people down. It doesn't really matter where the picture is from or why you say you use it. Your putting it there is keeping it in front of people when the world would do better to put that kind of distortion and propaganda behind it.

[Duddits]

Well said!

[Nawledge]

wow!

[_Sweet Willie_]

Originally posted by sybera:

That kind of image, with the way the man is dressed up, carries implications of primitiveness and savagery. It also ridicules its subject. Images like it have been used over hundreds of years to perpetuate an image of black people that has been useful to those who would like to keep black people down. It doesn't really matter where the picture is from or why you say you use it. Your putting it there is keeping it in front of people when the world would do better to put that kind of distortion and propaganda behind it.

To think that I spent all that time and all those words on that other thread in an attempt to say what has been said here so succinctly.

 

Word.

 

Peace.

--SW

[Lee Flier]

Sybera RuLeZ.

[ITGITC]

Originally posted by Lee Flier:

Sybera RuLeZ.

Yeah... I called and told Sybera what to say!

 

OK.. I'm lyin' again.

 

I'm glad this has been cleared up and finalized.

 

HENRY... it's safe to come back home now! (I hope!)

 

Is There Gas In The Car?

[Wewus432]

I vow to keep this thread going until Hound Dog removes his avatar, and Henry comes back, and I don't care how long it takes!

[ViLo]

Originally posted by TheWewus:

I vow to keep this thread going until Hound Dog removes his avatar, and Henry comes back, and I don't care how long it takes!

OK, now....I find mr. zzzzzzzzz

Avatar offensive and pornographic, and I don't like it, and I demand the removal of such pic..

 

so, there!

[george costanza]

Haven't had time to read all the posts here yet (& may never!) but I feel compelled to make a couple of points.

What I have to say here is probably going to upset some people for various reasons but I think it needs to be expressed.

 

(1)I've had my own share of conflicts----but also agreements---with HR on these forums but I've never wished he weren't here & I hope at some point he'll return. My guess is that after a while he will & that will be welcome; he's knowledgeable & frequently helpful to others.

I do feel, however, that his dissatisfaction is somewhat inevitable in one way.

Henry, when involved in topics that got to be debates or exchanges of varied opinions seemed, to me at least, to be kinda like a bulldog in that he seems to not be able to just say his peice & let others do so, too, but frequently latched onto things & kept at them as though it were imperative that others agreed with his viewpoint, not just nearly but exactly.

We all have that wish to a degree but, personally, I found that a bit exasperating &, once, it actually caused me to lose my temper with him...however, he always seemed to take these things much more seriously than I &, as stated above, I never lost my respect for his musical knowledge or skill, so, please don't think I'm trying to malign him here.

My point is that that sort of tenaciousness when in disagreement with others is bound to be upsetting to one in the long term.

 

(2) A couple of years ago there was a spate of these "I'm leaving the forums" threads. I can't recall the posters offhand or the various reasons they cited but to me, then & now, they had/have the air of people who call their friends to say, "I can't stand it; I'm gonna off myself!"

Y'know the suicidal personality that wants others to realize how unhappy they are & how badly we'll miss them when they're gone.

I'm not accusing HR of being so juvenile but I certainly hope he's not sitting at his desk like Tom Sawyer in the chuch attic listening to his own funeral.

 

Why can't people just take a break when they feel the need & return when they want to return? Why all the drama like they're walking the plank from our little ship?

If they have some legit grips they can go to the moderators or post what's up their nose & see who agrres but why the need to make a pint of it?

 

I've frequently been off-line for extended periods for reasons ranging from busy-ness to boredom/annoyance with content---something that I'm sure applies to everyone (well, maybe not Tedster! )---but I never worried that anyone missed me or that there was a need to announce my departure or return.

Why not just come & go as you will & leave it at that?

What's that old song? "How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?"?

 

(3) As I guessed above there may well be those who attack me for voicing these thoughts but before you get too exercised, please go back & note that I do sincerely respect Henry & await his return, I just think this is a bit melodramatic for him or anyone.

 

Remember: Fun will take the long way around!.

[george costanza]

Well, I went back & read this thread's content (at least most of it).

I'm really surprised HR let something so minor (to me) get his goat but, as I've observed, he's always struck me as unbending once he set his mind.

 

Personally (& as I've hinted but never said outright, I'm an Afronaut, too) I find humor in Hound Dog's avatar---except that it does cause a huge waste of space in threads. I've never noted the content of what he says enough to have an opinion of his consistent attitude---something I did early-on with HR & his musical knowledge.

 

To me, more than anything else this is an example of how some seem to view the forums here as a place to splash their egos & "thinking" around in a way that indicates to me that they may be a bit lonely & need some place to be noticed. It's also indicative of the sort of pretence toward free speech that some cite as defences for their "humor" & name-calling (that latter best observed on the Political forum, perhaps)...

 

Anyhow, I don't suggest that HD change his avatar other than to make it smaller.

 

As far as HR, as said in previous post, I've always respected his thinking but do believe he could lighten up a bit....& I hope someday to hear him play some PFunk tunes.

[Super 8]

Originally posted by george costanza:

as I've hinted but never said outright, I'm an Afronaut, too)

Really?!

 

Hmmmm...

 

For some strange reason, I always had you pegged for this guy:

 

http://phonogram.us/images/viewpoint/george/georgeds.jpg

 

I'm going to miss Henry. I really liked him. He's one of the guys here that I always thought it would be a real pleasure to meet in person. I do hope he comes back sometime.

 

Well, at least we still got George Costanza...

[Nawledge]

glad you chimed in George, was wonderin where you were. I think i'm the only person who knew you were black haha, now i kind of imagined that your

take on the matter would be something like that, but the there are several things goin on here, should henry have left absolutely not imho, and I wish he didn't let this avatar thing get to him so

much but that's my personal opinion, you never can

really tell how such things of this nature will effect someone, i mean we are basicly talking about hatred which is no simple matter to say the least, so although I wish he reacted differently

I won't trivialize what the avatar, what it represents, and it's associations mean to him.

 

which brings us to the avatar. my stance was diff

than henrys, my point was why is this guy trying to act like it isn't what it is, and then later he

basicly admitted what it is but said that it didn't represent that to 'him' so f_ck the rest of

you.

I just don't agree with that stance, like he doesn't agree with mine. simple as that. if a picture of child pornography doesn't offend you personaly , that's cool, but it's still child pornography and maybe you're a pediphile... thats an analogy of my take on the situation. I don't see any mystery involved with this.

[Hound Dog]

Originally posted by george costanza:

Well, I went back & read this thread's content (at least most of it).

Personally (& as I've hinted but never said outright, I'm an Afronaut, too) I find humor in Hound Dog's avatar---except that it does cause a huge waste of space in threads.

This may come as a shock to all those consipiracy theorists that think I must me making some kind of a "unintentional racist statement" or what ever you believe and think that the size of the avatar is the determinant evidence of your position:

 

I also think it is too big.

 

When I found a picture of "Uncle George" that I liked, I put it up. It was bigger than I wanted, but I just haven't taken the time to find a smaller one or try to make this one smaller. I will get around to it one of these days, hopefully soon. I am amazed, but not pleased, at the number of people who insisted that the size of the avatar alone was "the proof" I was racist. Many people came out and said so. Sorry to disappoint those, but that is not true, and again, the true answer was much simpler then the fantasies other people dreamed up.

[Base]

Hound, you aren't a bit of a jazz fan are you? Maybe not too keen on rock...?

[ViLo]

Originally posted by Base:

Hound, you aren't a bit of a jazz fan are you? Maybe not too keen on rock...?

5 pages??? for an avatar?? "Only in America, Baby"

Don King.

[Hound Dog]

Originally posted by Nawledge:

my point was why is this guy trying to act like it isn't what it is, and then later he

basicly admitted what it is but said that it didn't represent that to 'him' so f_ck the rest of

you.

I just don't agree with that stance, like he doesn't agree with mine. simple as that. if a picture of child pornography doesn't offend you personaly , that's cool, but it's still child pornography and maybe you're a pediphile... thats an analogy of my take on the situation. I don't see any mystery involved with this.

I can see why you might have thought that at first I acted as if I didn't know what it was. But,I know what "Uncle George" is, (I didn't know what stepinfetch was, I learned something there). I am and have been aware that some people think blacks have been portrayed in a derogatory manner in all medium for many years. I also know and knew that this is also true of every race - Asian, Native Americans, etc. even Caucaisions! When I was questioning how everyone must automatically know what is racist, I was not trying to imply that I did not know. I was trying to imply that in an international forum with people of all cultures, how significant must it be for someone from Denmark, for example, to be aware of all of the cultural taboos that a person such as Henry, for example, defines as "racist". Many people of course just said, "well, look at what happened in this nation, people should just know what is racist and what is not. Thanks to the masses of people who refuse to move on with their lives in a positive direction, many of us are reminded daily of these things and reminded daily that we are expected to make compenstation for these things. But, many are not.

 

This argument that eveyone is expected to "automatically know" the nuances and scope of all things racist will become harder to support as time goes by and as the "melting pot" ingredients change from their current proportions relevant to each other. Will "Uncle George" be the evil racist symbol in 100 or 200 years that folks here have made it out to be in this forum now? Probably only to those that have chosen to hold on to it as a racist symbol. Most of us will hopefully have moved on. In fact, and getting back to the point, it is possible that some of us have already "moved on" and no longer choose to dwell on it to the extent that others do. This is the basis of my saying that it is each person's definition.

 

There was also a great deal of discussion about my "insensitivity" and "lack of compassion" for others feelings. From the minute I entered these forums, I have never detected that sensitivity and compassion are to be required of anyone. I formed this opinion through observation. The very people who are saying that I lack compassion or sensitivity have demonstrated the same at one time or another. I have witnessed rudeness in some people's responses for no apparent reasons, I have witnessed a "lack of compassion" for new people to the forum in the way of jokes and insults, and I have witnessed written racial comments that I would consider in an entirey different league than a picture of "Uncle George". I'm not so naive as to think these things are not going to happen in an internet forum. So, I don't buy the "sensitivity" and "compassion" bit from so many of you, because I see you doing the same. I just think Henry was being entirely too sensitive and alot of people are always ready to jump on the bandwagon in a racial situation.

[Hound Dog]

Originally posted by Base:

Hound, you aren't a bit of a jazz fan are you? Maybe not too keen on rock...?

I don't really understand what prompted the question, but I am not really a jazz fan and I mostly listen to and enjoy rock.

 

Thanks

[KenElevenShadows]

I just found this thread now. I agree with what Craig and others have said. Take a break, come on back. I will miss your posts.

[Mr.WOW]

5 pages?

[Base]

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

I don't really understand what prompted the question, but I am not really a jazz fan and I mostly listen to and enjoy rock.

 

Thanks

Oh, you just reminded me of someone else.

 

They had no respect for anyone else's opinions, views or beliefs either...

[Groovepusher Sly]

Hey Hound Dog,

Somebody told me that's not a picture of Uncle George, but a picture of.......

 

YO MAMA!

 

Sly

[Hound Dog]

Originally posted by Base:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

I don't really understand what prompted the question, but I am not really a jazz fan and I mostly listen to and enjoy rock.

 

Thanks

Oh, you just reminded me of someone else.

 

They had no respect for anyone else's opinions, views or beliefs either...

Evidently you are late to the party or you haven't read the material on which you are making a comment. I do respect your right and everybody's right to your own opinions, views and beliefs. What I do not believe in is Henry or anyone else trying to decide for me what my opinions, views and beliefs should be, or that my opinions, views and beliefs have to mirror his because he is sensitive about a picture. That is what this whole thing has been about.

[Duddits]

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

What I do not believe in is Henry or anyone else trying to decide for me what my opinions, views and beliefs should be, or that my opinions, views and beliefs have to mirror his because he is sensitive about a picture. That is what this whole thing has been about.

No it's not.

 

This thread is about Henry deciding to leave the forum due to an irritant (you).

 

It has nothing to do with your opinions, views or beliefs.

[Jeff Klopmeyer]

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

I also think it is too big.

 

When I found a picture of "Uncle George" that I liked, I put it up. It was bigger than I wanted, but I just haven't taken the time to find a smaller one or try to make this one smaller. I will get around to it one of these days, hopefully soon.

I got to it for ya, Patrick.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~jeffannak/borneo3.jpg

 

Nice and small. Please don't link to it from my server, though. Just grab it and pop it back on your Geocities site.

 

- Jeff

[Hound Dog]

Originally posted by Jeff Da Weasel:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

I also think it is too big.

 

When I found a picture of "Uncle George" that I liked, I put it up. It was bigger than I wanted, but I just haven't taken the time to find a smaller one or try to make this one smaller. I will get around to it one of these days, hopefully soon.

I got to it for ya, Patrick.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~jeffannak/borneo3.jpg

 

Nice and small. Please don't link to it from my server, though. Just grab it and pop it back on your Geocities site.

 

- Jeff

Thanks, Jeff. Who is Patrick? Now how do I "grab it" and pop it back on my geocities site? I don't know how to get to my geocities site.

[Philip OKeefe]

Right click on the picture above.

 

Select "save picture as" to copy and save the picture to your local hard disk drive.

 

Upload that file to your server.

 

That's assuming you're using a Windows based machine, but the basic steps are probably similar for Macs.

[Jeff Klopmeyer]

Oh, I assumed the site on which the image was hosted was yours. Apparently it's a guy's named Patrick, and you're jacking his bandwidth. Never a great idea.

 

But if you want to take the image I re-sized for you and put it up on some web space, you're welcome to.

 

- Jeff

[Philip OKeefe]

A little reminder / warning: Remote linking to someone else's site without their permission is generally a no-no around here. If the person who's bandwith you are jacking takes notice and decides they want to retaliate, they can swap the image to something else - something inappropriate and uncool that you wouldn't want as your avatar - right Jeebus?

 

For further info, please read this thread:

 

http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=25;t=000012

[Hound Dog]

Originally posted by Jeff Da Weasel:

Oh, I assumed the site on which the image was hosted was yours. Apparently it's a guy's named Patrick, and you're jacking his bandwidth. Never a great idea.

 

But if you want to take the image I re-sized for you and put it up on some web space, you're welcome to.

 

- Jeff

Thanks Jeff, I'll probably have some time to do all of that over the weekend.