Skinhead Mission

Oh, man, the skinhead thing again? I thought this got pretty comprehensively dealt with in a previous thread about Oi and DMs and that.

Ska, anyone? You know, proper ska, Jamaican and English music mashing decades ago. Who was into that? Skins. Take a look at the haircuts of the people who turn up to beat neo-Nazis. They're not bloody hippies are they? I know a load of people who would take extreme offence at the idea that anything about them indicated that they were racist.

The fact that the mass media has picked up on the exploitation of the scene by a tiny, tiny group of fash is no justification. Tabloid cliches should not be anyone's guide.

Thank you Ordinal. I tried to explain that to some of these closed-minded bigots a few pages back, but now they're arguing about a war that took place 150 years ago. Go figure.

They fail to see that when they talk about Nazis and the KKK with reference to skins, they are following down the same close-minded path that led to the formation of the aforementioned groups.

Oh sweet irony.

I don't know where you people are from, but I know and have known skinheads since the early 80s, here in MN, and in CA and TX, and not one is a racist. Many are hispanic, in fact.

Are there racist skins? Yes. Does that mean all skins are racist? No. Most are not. This is really dangerous thinking people. It's what enabled dictators in the past to convince others that entire groups of people were bad. How you miss the irony in that, is astounding.

Anyone who uses lame-ass rhetoric about a group of people like "I don't know of any skinheads that are not racist", or, "I don't know anyone who doesn't think skinheads are racist", really needs to buy a clue and shouldn't even be talking about such topics in the first place, because they obvioulsy have no idea what they are talking about, and are falling back on the old standby "They say". Weak.

As long as people base their perceptions groups on info culled from Jerry Springer's show and others like it, we are fated to be treated to this sort of bigotry.

That's all I have to say about it, so flame away you closed-minded dimwits.

i have never seen one of those flags so i can't say exactly, i have no problem with them waving thier flags, but when they kill innocent civilians i get mad. its not so much there beliefs that i frown upon, its the killing of innocents to make a political/religious point.

closed minded bigot eh? why don't you read up on how it still affects the US to this day, especially in the south. and here's another suggestion, drop the insults, they only make you seem immature and irrelevent.

I'm glad this thread was started. Until I read this thread, the only references I had heard to skinheads were of the racist variety. The wiki link was especially enlightening. So, contrary to popular belief, sometimes people learn things by reading threads in this forum. Thanks.

I am perfectly aware of how it affects the south.

No need for me to read up on it, I've lived in the south, in more than one state, and I have a plethora of relatives there.

There you go assuming again.

If you think that people should all be lumped into one group because SOME of them are bad, you are a closed-minded bigot, and no better than what you are accusing that group of.

I noticed, by the way, that you skipped over the bulk of my post only to blather more about your off topic north v. south stuff, and to whinge about my pointing out that people who are blinded by their own self-assured notions, whereby they pigeon hole entire groups because of the actions of a few, are no less bigots than those they are calling bigots.

If the shoe fits, wear it. I guess I hit a little to close to home eh?

And no, as long as people insult an entire group by writing them off as racists, I will insult them back.

Thats ok, I'd rather not argue over the flag of a concentration camping country that tramples on the rights of its citizens. That would be the US flag, btw.

Better a freedom fighter than a traitor to civil rights.

Will agree to diasgree though.

actually i never said anything about skinheads, and you lumped me into the bigot category. so practice what you preach. the only thing i reacted on was the confederate flag thing. so I am the one lumping people into categories?

No Billy, you assumed I was talking about you. I never quoted you.

If you didn't fit into BOTH categories, then it wasn't about you. I was speaking of those who-

1) want to lump all skins in the racist category

and,

2) are carrying on about the north v. south issue

Please see my comment about if the shoe fits.

If it doesn't fit, then we have no quarrel. Furthermore, I'll point out that your reaction made me think that maybe you fit that category, only AFTER you replied to me with indignance. That's probably because I skimmed or did not read most of the north v. south stuff, because it is so far off-topic.

Who's to say who is an innocent civilia? HAs't the north and the south killed a bunch of people who, to one group were civilians, to anoter were enemy sympathizers?

civilians can't fight back, thats why they are called civilians. thats the definition i have always used to define them

the ironic thing is, your "if the shoe fits" was in your SECOND post, not your first. so what happened was, you lumped us into the bigot category and then when you got called out on it you said that your statement wasn't all inclusive, when in fact it was. now the saddest part of all this, I have a shaved head

Even better. You're condeming a group of people *you know nothing about*. Way to be open minded.

Ordinal Malaprop and Nolan Nash covered it all really. Respect, guys.

Yeah there are racist groups out there that call themselves skins. Most of us refer to 'em as boneheads, and in places like New York, New Jersey, Chicago and Boston, they (boneheads, that is) don't tend to make themselves known, lest they become the guest of honor at a boot party.

So until you know better Burnman, you probably shouldn't talk crap about people. "Better to remain silent and have people think you're ignorant, than open your mouth and confirm it" (apologies to whomever I just misquoted. Mark Twain, maybe?)

-S

Huh? I had two posts before you entered the thead, and one after, before you replied to me. It was then that you assumed that I was addressing you. I don't think it's unreasonable that I might take your assumption to it's logical conclusion, and at least somewhat assume that you felt that way about skins, because for that statement to apply to you, you would have had to have generalized, or spoke to others beliefs, with regard to skinheads.

In fact, I still don't know how you feel about skinheads. So, let me clear this up, again. There were two qualifiers - you had to have voiced a generalizing opinion about skins, and you were veering well off-topic, into a civil war debate.

If you do not feel that way about skinheads, then I wasn't speaking to you, whether or not you were talking about the civil war. Therefore, there is no need to respond to me with indignation, if you were not.

You really need to go back and reread my post shortly before you replied to me, and then my response to your initial post directed at me. I use words like "if", and "anyone who", and so forth. At no point did I indicate that anyone who was talking about the north and south stuff was a bigot.

Then, if you feel like responding again, perhaps you could tell me what your stance on skinheads is, so that we may determine whether or not I was speaking to you. Maybe then we can also determine whether or not you misinterpreted or if you just want to argue.

He can't be racist. His shoelaces aren't white. (for Hiro)

(For the OP)You know, this is crap. This whole thing. I'm 38 years old and have never ever heard of a skinhead being anything but racist and violent. Why? Because the majority of them are. So you have a few who aren't. Majority rules. If you want to call yourself a skinhead but aren't the stereotypical skinhead, that's YOUR problem. I dare you to announce to the general public that you're a skinhead.

Linden Lab is not a democracy. It is a corporation, and as such, it must not condone that which will cause negative press for them.

Instead of splitting hairs with monikers such as "skinhead", you might want to take up knitting or something else that will occupy your time.

That's my four-and-a-half cents. Love it or lump it.

it depends on how they are dressed and things like that, if a man with a shaved head walks in wearing a white power tshirt than its obvious, but i try not judge people based on appearance unless its obvious like in the aforementioned scenario. like i have stated elsewhere on this forum, I am a former Marine, so shaved heads are nothing new to me.

oh and its this line here that really got me irritated at you
you implied that everyone talking about the Civil War was a closed minded bigot. and we started discussing the Civil War because someone brought up the Rebel Flag and used it in a comparison and i find that very offensive.

I am former service too, I know about bald and cropped heads. But, I don't know what bald people who aren't skinheads, or are shaven have to do with skinheads, and whether or not they are "mostly racists", as some are claiming, something I know to be markedly incorrect. It these types of generalization based upon media presentation that are the worst. People like Geraldo get people all whooped up into a frenzy over smallish, radical and controversial sects of the skinheads, and it's a real disservice. This does not only apply to skins, there are other groups in society that people commonly hold misconceptions about. Bikers, goths, hippies, are a few examples.

Is it important to highlight racist skinheads? Yes. But this is a clear case of an entire culture getting pigeon holed because of some sects, who they don't even see as real skinheads. All because the media has fixated on the sensational fringes.

As far as the meat of what you said above, I agree.


So you are still claiming that I was talking to you in the in that post? Ok, tell me this - did you read the paragraphs that follow that one? Because they clearly imply that I was making an if/then statement.

I did not imply, nor mean to imply, that anyone who talks about the civil war is a bigot. *I* talk about the civil war. So I guess you caught me! I am calling myself one too! Be logical man, I would never issue a statement of that nature, it doesn't even make sense.

I'll not engage in a game of semantic gotcha. In fact, I won't respond to anything to do with the issue of you claiming I was addressing you. I'll talk about skinheads, hell, I 'll even talk about the civil war, if you start a thread for it.

Hey! I'm still into that! Looking for ska music and concerts constantly. I've been lucky enough to attend some classics acts like Skatalites, The Specials, Selecter and Desmond Dekker live. And yes, the attendants are mostly skinheads.

Although it was originally a british/jamaican phenomenon, there have been some excellent ska bands from the US. Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Reel Big Fish and New York Ska Jazz Ensemble are some of my favorites, Sublime and NoDoubt may be more well-known though.

The ska scene is still very much alive, although far from mainstream.

That said:

The complete ignorance of our cultural history, and blind prejudice from some of the posters in this thread is truly scary. Way scarier than a Nazi bonehead.

I feel the need to post this link again: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinhead

ok side question, has anyone ever seen a female skinhead?

Yes, many. If you had ever been close to a punk concert, you would have seen them too. Here's more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_girl_%28culture%29

The fact that you would make a statement that people who have been looked down upon for using the term "skinhead" are scarier than white supremists is a little off color, don't you think?

My whole life, the term "skinhead" has pretty much equated to "white supremist". Not because *I* determined that, but rather it is the accepted definition of the term in the area I live. I would also like to point out that I shave my head.

I just call it bald.

i don't listen to punk, i prefer country. its just that you always hear about the males.

I have never seen so many ignorant people in one thread in my life, and for these forums that's saying something

Oh this is nothing... you should see the EQ2 forums.

The whole bootlace/brace color-code thing is crap. It never really existed in any widespread or accepted way back in the day and it certainly doesn't exist now. Me, I wear red laces in my Docs. Why? Because I like the look of red on black. No other reason.




You don't have a single clue how wrong you are, do you? Majority? Not even close. The boneheads have *always* been a vocal minority, and as a matter of fact their numbers have gotten smaller. Many neo-nazi/WP groups have abandoned the whole shaved-head/boots-and-braces look, to better blend in. Just like they originally adopted it to try to fit into the existing subculture back in the 70s and 80s.




I have, and do. As do all the skins I know. Any time you see a guy walking down the street with a #1 shaved head, boots and cuffed jeans, sideburns and a Fred Perry polo shirt, that's a skinhead. Or maybe he's wearing Samba sneakers and a band t-shirt. Bands like Cock Sparrer, or The Templars, or The Business. Skinhead, and skinhead bands. I go to skinhead shows, hang out at skinhead bars. Like I said, it's not a haircut, it's a lifestyle. If you want to remain ignorant of the facts of it, that's your problem.

I've got a dare for you. Find a group of skins, and tell 'em that they're racists and white supremicists. You may get laughed at, or maybe you'll get this same lecture in person. Or just maybe, you'll get a beer bottle to the face and boot to the ribs for your troubles. Either way, you've just learned a lesson, haven't you?

-S