Same shit, different day.

[hackthis_archive]

I don't know how many of you use gmail, but those of you who do know that gmail has this little feature where they offer ads and news stories and links based on the contents of your e-mail. Today, I sent ethrosdemon an e-mail about The Roots album 'Game Theory' and the Notorious B.I.G's 'Greatest Hits' -- to which gmail decided that the best sponsored link response was:

Nigga - www.eBay.com - Great deals on Nigga Shop on eBay and Save!.

Oh really.

For those of you who don't know, both The Roots and Notorious BIG (Biggie Smalls) are rappers. So, naturally, when gmail thinks of rappers they think of 'nigga.' Never mind that nowhere in the e-mail was 'nigga' used as I tend to abbhor the use of this word and find is seriously offensive. So, naturally, I think anybody could understand why I might take a moment to say 'wait. WHAT?' Not just as a black person or as a black women, but as a person in general.

Do they do this for Asian people and Latinos? Have I missed something? Has Google been bought by the ignorant and callous? Naturally I went to Customer Service to complain, but since gmail doesn't seem to have a Customer Service area that isn't just 'Tell us How Much You Love Us,' you can see why I'm a little pissed off.

In 2007 you would think a international conglomerate could show a little fucking TACT. Apparently not.

I was just going to let this slide, but you know, my day is already fucked up, might as well go for broke.

The thing is that I really am of two minds about posting this, because on one hand, it's just so fucking typical of American society these days that I shouldn't be surprised. It's the new 'norm.' Everywhere you go people think it's okay to use the n-word (nigger) because their friends use it, or because it they heard it in a song, or because black people use it, so why can't they? Aren't black people past that whole slavery & racism thing? Why are they still harping on about old shit? Hmmm. Let me think on that for a moment.

I don't know if its a generational issue or maybe I'm just pissed off because it's a racial slur no matter how you spell it. Every time someone says "Well, I used 'nigga' instead of 'nigger', and that's not the same thing" I want to slap them, because guess what?

It is the same thing.

Cracka is the same as faggot is the same as spic as the same as chink. No matter what you try to disguise it as, a slur is a slur is a slur. If you don't want somebody else using it, how about you not use it either? How about people step up and admit when they're fucking wrong for a change?

Anybody know of a good competitor e-mail service?

Comments

[slodwick.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

I'm sorry, babe. I wish I knew a way of collectively slapping the world upside the head until they at right, but so far, no luck. :\

At least we'll always have Shawn&Gus (tonight).

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

At least you are awesome, so you know, that goes a little ways to making me feel better. Also, I would like to say that I don't think 'awesome' came up nearly this much in my vocabularly prior to your little mailing to Mr. Hewitt (?) Hewlett (?), so you know, many teachers are cursing your name right now. Awesome, no?

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

True dat. Naturally on this you are not going to get an argument from me.

In from friendsfriends.

[thecuckoo.livejournal.com]

Despite using many, many Google products, I've invariably shied away from Gmail because of the context-(in)sensitive ads. It just skeeves.

At any rate, if you really want this to get some play, I HIGHLY recommend sending a copy of your email to Google to the good people over at Consumerist.

tips@consumerist.com


They've been riding Wal-Mart for 16 weeks on those totenkopf T-shirts, so I'm sure they'd give this the spotlight.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Term of endearment. SERIOUSLY? Sweetheart is a term of endearment. "My, nig" is NOT an endearment. Are these not intelligent people. Do they think that 'nigger' is like any other word? Like yellow or sky or stupid-ass (excuse me the last is a hyphenate)? Do you go around saying "My, cracker!" Or "My, spic?" No. And why not? Because it's offensive. If that's a term of endearment may I never be endeared to anyone.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

It always amazes me when people say "well, I didn't mean that in a derogatory manner, so me using it isn't a bad thing", or "the rappers use it, so obviously it can't be bad." First of all, if the word is derogatory, then guess what, it doesn't matter what your intetions are. Second of all, if rappers are your role models, or you think they're an acceptable standard of anything, then you have bigger issues.

One more thing.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

If rappers are your role models, or you think they're an acceptable standard of anything, then you have bigger issues.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy rap as much as the next person. This whole issue was started because I was discussing The Roots and Biggie Smalls, but I can appreciate someone as a word-smith, which is truly what Biggie was, with out thinking he's an acceptable standard for a young child or the sort of person to aspire to be, because truly, being shot to death in LA is NOT something anyone should aspire to be.

Re: In from friendsfriends.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the suggestion, at the moment though I'm waiting to see how some other things pan out. I think in a lot of ways I'm just at this point of 'irritated fatigue' as one woman I know calls it, where you're so tired of banging your head against the wall that you just cannot be bothered anymore. Having said that, I'd never heard of Consumerist before, but *my* is it interesting. Do you know if they have an LJ feed?

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I have come bringing caramelized rice cakes and green tea. You cannot say no to air and water.

Indeed they do.

[thecuckoo.livejournal.com]

http://syndicated.livejournal.com/consumerist/

[zoetrope.livejournal.com]

Dude, I will take anything you want to give me if you rec me Eric/Vince.

I've already inhaled all of your wonderful Entourage fic which, *fangirls you like woah*, and now I need mooooooore!

[moonystone.livejournal.com]

Is it just me, or are people getting increasingly unaware of slurs in language? Maybe I'm just overly sensitive due to what I have to listen to when working in a school where the children (or their parents) come from everywhere in the world and feel 'proud' and 'cool' when applying slurs to themselves.

Yes, it is an often-practiced tendency by minority groups to take offensive terms used to describe them and make them their own. Be that as it may, it shouldn't be taken over into everyday language, and especially not used for official names like ebay shops.

[vylit.livejournal.com]

I'm really shocked that google would be that *dumb*. I'm sorry, hon, but if you find a good email service, let us know.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

astolat wrote several stories last month, which will have you chomping at the bit for more (esp, Home Sweet Home). Also, check the yuletide archives, this year was awesome for stories. Let's see, um, check the_guesthouse, which isn't really active these days, but it's coming up for the second half of season three in April, so it should pick up. I think wearemany has written some, but I could be wrong. Does that help?

[zoetrope.livejournal.com]

Very much, thanks. And I'm right this second reading Home Sweet Home for the second time today *g*

Have also now finished the first season of Entourage, and am seeing whether or not I can persuade 2am to let me watch the second season tonight.