Politics, Racism & Business

What the fuck are you on? And no, I REALLY don't want any.

And to the rest of you - people like this are a shining example that proves, no matter what you say or do, someone will always seek to be offended. So as long as you know in your own mind that they're talking out of their rear ends, treat posts and accusations like these with the contempt they deserve. I rarely AR posts, but I've AR'd these as a baseless personal attack on Torley. I hope I'm not the only one.

I expect you all to come running to Torley's rescue. I am glad to see a wonderful sense of community in the SL Forums. Please continue your attack. I have said my peace on the subject. I wil just sit back and watch. I am just as entertained with all of your rants as you are.

Bladyblue, as far as I see it - you are the one who require a lesson in culture insensitivity.

The watermelon is a sign of great cultural significance to Torley. Demanding that he removes this symbol would be offensive to his culture - a culture which has nothing against you or your own culture.

Torley has apologised for the possibility of mis-understanding. He explained the meaning of the symbol, which is not there to offend you or has anything to do with the African American culture. Therefor, honestly - maybe you need to be alittle more conciderate about the social backgrounds of others before pointing fingers.

Oh puurleese!

Mention of watermelons = racism? No way could any reasonable person think that Torley intended some racial slur by his forum post. To find that there you must be *seeking* to be offended. This reminds me of the mayor's aide who was disciplined for using the word 'niggardly' by some imbecile who didn't know the etymology.

If you're offended by Torley's love of watermelons, build a big bridge and get over yourself!

This is without doubt the most ridiculous thing I've read on these forums or anywhere else.

This *trivialises* racism. Fight on issues that matter: racial bias in hiring and promotion, casual racist stereotyping by the police and media, racial slurs, assaults and murders in the real world. But for crying out loud keep your powder dry for something real. Attacking Torley for some fantasised racist intent behind his watermelon reference weakens the anti-racist cause.

Honestly, this must be a joke, because I can't see how anyone could have missed the Torley Watermelon Thing.

I don't see anyone laughing. Well, not at the 'joke', anyway.

Think Mr Gumby.

Cultural sensitivity class = enforced groupthink quasi-racism, just so we're all clear.

I've been forced to take them before.




Torley and watermellons are like college professors and bad fashion sense. They just go together. You can't seperate them. If you *at all* knew Torley, you would know that.

The whole watermellon thing is a *very* weak stereotype. I had never even *heard* of it until I was forced through one of those fucked up brainwashing classes you aspouse.

Do you get it?

Prior to being "educated" about how to be sensative, I could never have used "watermelon" as a racial sterotype. It's still the most dumbass thing I think I came away from that class with. *Black people* in the class (Its a college requirement where I go to that you take SOME sort of racial sensativity class, and since there is no "white people sensativity class, minorities have to be trained to be sensative to themself, apparently) thought it was the silliest thing they had ever heard.It's people like *you* who empower the sterotype. It has no real meaning to the world at large.



Sterotype and hyperbole much?

The fact that you said that after one post shows your true intention here.

This thread is wonderfully surreal.

Torley has that effect. It's like the story about the guy where everything he touched turned to gold, except torley has the touch of surreality.

That's a good thing, mind.

The effect Torley has on conversations can be compared to a fractal stereogram mints lost in the depth of outworldly photonic baobab trees as delicious as a lemon pie.

See? CrystalShard has been TorleyTouched.

Wow bladyblue, I am absolutely stunned by your accusations. I don't often subscribe to hero worship, but I'll admit to being a huge fan of Torley's. Torley is unfailingly positive, charmingly upbeat and quickly responds to any question or concern one might have. I have NEVER heard Torley express any form of racism, or any type of negative comment in regards to anyone. Not only that, but as another poster stated, watermelons are synonymous with Torley Torgeson Linden.

You owe him an apology.

Seriously some of us didn't know that. It's an international group here on the forums.

And Torley's RL self is also not American, I seem to recall. I may be wrong.

Canadian I believe.

That was craziness. Torley is the last person I can imagine ever making an intentionally racist statement.

IME, almost everyone who uses it is a racist scumbag. They'll claim "it's just about heritage" only when confronted by people who aren't intolerant scum. They're "offended" only to the extent that they've been outed in their petty inbred bigotries, and realize that all decent people would hold them in contempt for such views.

Just put yourself in their shoes, and it's obvious. Why would anyone want to fly the Confederate flag? What was going through their mind when they chose this decoration? What message could they possibly think anyone would ever take from it?

Don't apologize for racist, slavery-wanting villains, it makes us wonder if you have a white robe and hood in your closet.

This new Spike Lee film is sure to cause more controversy on the subject:

http://www.csathemovie.com/

I've heard that referring to someone as a melanzana (eggplant) is racist, but how is a watermelon racist? They are red green and black, the colours of most African flags, if you think about it. Does eating watermelon make one racist? Perhaps throwing one into the shopping cart is a symbol of hatred to the black cashier? This has to be one of the craziest things I've ever heard of.

I was born in West Virginia, and my family has been kicking around that general area for centuries. My family background was a classic example of the "brother against brother" nature of the American Civil War, quite a few sided with the Confederacy. But I also had relatives who were in the Underground Railroad, and of course WV was created when the western counties of Virginia refused to secede from the Union, and John Brown at Harper's Ferry was an important point in history classes at school when we covered the Civil War.

In either case, while I'm sure my family tree had its share of bigots, I'm fairly sure none of them owned slaves, if only because they were poor Appalachian farmers. I am not in the habit of displaying flags of any type, but I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from calling half of my ancestors "racist, slavery-wanting villains" when it was rather more likely they objected to Federal troops invading their land. Save your contempt for those that deserved it; the rich slave-owners who sold a bill of goods to the citizenry.

How dare you?

You make a blanket assumption about a ton of people, calling them "racist scumbags", suggesting if they deny they are racist scumbags they are just lying to hide their "petty inbred bigotries", then then 'kindly' have the hypocritical gall to hint that if I defend them it suggests I'm a KKK member or other similar mindset?

If you want to ignore reality and call anyone who doesn't agree with your preconcieved world view a lieing inbred bigoted scumbag, fine. But next time kindly leave me out of your snide sterotyping.

I'll tell you *exactly* what the flag means for a lot of people. "Don't tread on me". That's *it* for many people.

Here you have put into words what I've been thinking. My farm in Western Virginia, almost in West Virginia was a small town until the War and the people who lived there were Quakers, all of them. That was actually pretty common in that part of the Shenandoah Valley. Being Friends and non-slave owning farmers, probably pro-Union didn't help them a bit. The Federal troops rode in and burned the town, killing most of the people who lived there. Not every Southerner owned slaves and a good percentage were never much in favor of secession. Judging them now, for something they believed was right, it really serves no purpose. They are old bones now and we live in a different time and culture.

I love watermelons. I love the confederate flag.

Am I racist? No.

I am just a fan of my heritage who likes a succulent fruit.

The Stars and Bars or the Confed Naval Ensign?

The battle flag of the confederacy (stars and bars if you will). A relative from my fathers side fought and died in that war.