Bad Jokes & Ebonics

[deedle at loop.com]

Gary Elshaw writes:

>After considering things I think i'll make this the last post.

Damn, this really bugs me!  I would hope that we all, lurker or
participator, feel we have a right to post our views without the threat of
getting *immediately* scorched to a cinder.  This list is a fascinating mix
of minds, and I adore reading what you folks have to say, but I have
trouble with a forum that causes this kind of wounded retreat...   Gary
even apologizes to all of us for his post!  No, Gary, *you're* owed the
apology.  Oh man...  I'm just agog.

-- deedle


>Thank you grip. I mean that very sincerely. I've felt very ashamed,
>confused and angry all afternoon. I sincerely meant the apology to Bonnie
>and John earlier, but being accused of being a racist left me feeling
>nauseous to tell the truth. I wasn't trying to pass this off as a 'funny'
>or even mildly humourous joke. I thought that may have been clear by the
>title of the post.
>
>Until recently i had been reluctant to post anything to the list, due to
>the en masse flamings that seemed to constitute the daily posts of the
>list. Everyone appeared to be asked which side they wished to defend in the
>conflict. I guess i just happened to subscribe at just the wrong time. And
>now, instead of folks asking me directly why i posted the item, they would
>appear to be scrutinising the possible motivations as to why i posted it.
>
>'The Joke' had been passed on to me, (as these things usually are these
>days) from a friend of a friend of a friend. It had been bounced around so
>many isp's that it took up half a page of various international legal
>firm's, addresses &C.
>Recently the P-List had a discussion of ebonics. I thought it might be
>interesting to show how far reaching/corrupted ebonics has been taken. New
>Zealand is a very small country, as probably most of you know. When I see
>things like this make it here, for some reason i believe it IS news.
>Unfortunately i just didn't manage to make myself clear of my intentions.
>After considering things I think i'll make this the last post.
>
>Upon reflection it was my own insecurity of wanting to contribute to the
>list, and feeling i wasn't able to before, that brought about this
>misguided compulsion to send something. Unfortunately this happened to be
>the aforementioned 'Joke.' To make a further confession, I am not a racist,
>have never been a racist, and, I hope, shall never be one. Much to the
>chagrin of my Father, who is a racist. In '94 I did a great deal of work
>writing for the U.N. on the international year of indigenous people. Work i
>have yet to live down with him. Funny the way life works.
>
>Thank you, and apologies again.
>
>Gary