Hey Piny, when they ask “how do you go to the bathroom?”, do you ever say “I walk”?

Not bad! Not bad at all. I’ll have to remember that one.

Most of the time, in real life, I just answer the questions. Even the ones about my junk. I’m only a badass online.

I think we’re making the same point here: yes, she’d be less likely to do so, which is why it’d be so damned disappointing if she did. Yet for some reason, lately I’ve seen more and more leftists do things like call homophobes “faggots” and behave in ways which, frankly, are antithetical to their core values. This, however, is a tangent–and one covered in the earlier thread no less. (But I’d still be interested to know how you and Nubian would react.)

Speaking just for myself here: I think I might be more likely to call that person out. I would probably be in a situation where I wouldn’t be the only one in the room, and where my right to exist in whatever space wouldn’t be as contested. I would also be able to reference their likely experience with prejudice as a handy comparison.

I’m not saying that I’d be more forgiving of a dyke who asked a question like that, just that I think she’d be less likely to do so.

I think we’re making the same point here: yes, she’d be less likely to do so, which is why it’d be so damned disappointing if she did. Yet for some reason, lately I’ve seen more and more leftists do things like call homophobes “faggots” and behave in ways which, frankly, are antithetical to their core values. This, however, is a tangent–and one covered in the earlier thread no less. (But I’d still be interested to know how you and Nubian would react.)

I ‘m not arguing that this is a deracialized idiocy. As I noted (with, I now notice, a uniquely poor choice of words) earlier: “I think we can all agree that the behvaior in the particular instance Nubian documented falls beyond the pale. ” I think you’re confusing me with another commenter.

You’re right. Sorry about the mistake.

I suppose I’m asking piny this too–vis-a-vis her example that she’d “give a dyke more credit than a straight man when it comes to asking [disrespectful] questions”–because I’m always inclined to be more upset when I find ignorance where it shouldn’t be than when it crops up in the places I expect it.

Just so you know, I’m not a woman. I’m not saying that I’d be more forgiving of a dyke who asked a question like that, just that I think she’d be less likely to do so.

Yes, but nubian isn’t the one arguing that this is about deracialized idiocy. You are. No one sexual orientation has a monopoly on ignorance, either, but I would give a dyke more credit than a straight man when it comes to asking questions like, “So, which one of you does the man’s things?”

I ‘m not arguing that this is a deracialized idiocy. As I noted (with, I now notice, a uniquely poor choice of words) earlier: “I think we can all agree that the behvaior in the particular instance Nubian documented falls beyond the pale. ” I think you’re confusing me with another commenter.

Nubian:

i am quite aware that there is no monolithic blackness. however, i find it hard to believe that a black person (no matter the shade of their skin) would ask another black person if they get hotter in the sun. no matter how dark or light their skin is, it is not white.

I know it’s difficult to believe, but that’s why I included a link to a black person making public statements about the folk-wisdom. I think Wiley’s take-down of Baker concords with your point, however, since he takes Baker’s argument to an absurd extreme. Still, I think the existence of the folk-wisdom in black community as well as white indicates that it’s at least possible for such an interaction to occur today. Then again, there’s really no point in arguing over what supremely ignorant whites and blacks say about the effect of skin color on heat absorption, since we can pretty much agree that supremely ignorant people often say supremely ignorant things.

and the person who asked me the question asked it in relation to whiteness.

I caught that, and it’s a damn fine distinction, one which some of the other commenters should try to understand.

and if a fellow black person did ask if i got hotter in the sun, of course, the dynamics would be different because they were black as well.

Point taken. And you would react differently to their display of ignorance than you would the other woman, obviously. But I’m curious as to how you would react to it. I tend to be more upset when people who ought to know better provide evidence that they really, really don’t. (I covered this in an earlier post Jill linked to last week.)

I suppose I’m asking piny this too–vis-a-vis her example that she’d “give a dyke more credit than a straight man when it comes to asking [disrespectful] questions”–because I’m always inclined to be more upset when I find ignorance where it shouldn’t be than when it crops up in the places I expect it.

i mean to type nubian, of course. numbian wouldn’t even make sense.

ad hominem attacks–i think you need to re-read your blog entry, sarah.