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

[lilac-way.livejournal.com]

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.

Great -- then can we as a fandom (or society, even) stop using "retard" and "retarded" as a synonym for "stupid?" As the sister of a man with Down Syndrome, and the mother of an Autistic child, I cringe everytime someone uses the word in this manner in fanfic. Try substituting faggot or spic or chink for retarded in that sense and see how people feel.

And yes, I realize I am alone in beating this drum. No one else seems bothered by it.

(here via friendsfriends, btw.)

[marginalia.livejournal.com]

no, you're not alone on that one. it's something i had to be made conscious of before i could remove from my vocabulary, much like wife-beater. so keep on banging that drum. people listen :)

[slodwick.livejournal.com]

I'm totally on your side, too. *nods*

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Word. As someone who works extensively with people who have learning disabilities, and has the pleasure of seeing firsthand what it can do to a 12 year old with a speech disorder to be called retard on a regular basis . . . It's offensive, it's hurtful, and I don't understand why it continues to be considered acceptable.

My brother also fails to understand why I object when he calls things 'gay', nevermind that his sister is indeed gay. Argh!

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I suspect we're all giving society a lot more credit than it deserves in making a concerted effort to change its behaviour. We presume since people know something is wrong or offensive that they'll stop, but history has shown us that that's not really likely is it?