Subject:
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Re: WTB Train Parts
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Sun, 1 Aug 1999 00:37:10 GMT
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Viewed:
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497 times
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Larry,
I think this may be a misunderstanding based on differences in meanings of
phrases. Either one of us doesn't know the true definition or the definition
has changed in different locales.
When one is generosity is described as "being mighty white," it does not mean
that non whites are less generous. It means that they are giving something to
somebody that is not theirs to begin with. When you said I could have all the
xyz pieces (I forgot what they were), they were not yours to give in the first
place. To say that I can have them is to give me something that isn't yours.
That is what it is to be "white." This probably comes from the history of the
proliferation of the "white man" into other Native American territories
and "giving" the Indians reservations of land that was theirs to begin with.
I just asked my wife what it meant (she is from Tennessee- I am from
California). Her interpretation is that it is a racial statement. I think
that the true and original meaning would be mine. However, over time, it has
come to be a racial insult. That would most likely appear in the South, as
there is more racial tension there.
Until today, I had never heard of any other meaning. I suppose that if we
can't all agree on how to call a macaroni brick, how are we all going to agree
on the meaning of "mighty white."
I hope that clears everything up, Lar. I wasn't really even planning on
reading your post, but I was curious (good thing). From my wife's definition,
you would probably have a justifiable reason to take offense. From my
definition, I was baffled by your response. Just a misunderstanding, I
suppose.
Mike
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> Insulting is an art form. One needs to choose the proper sized brush.
> This is an example of unintended splatter, I think.
>
>
>
> In market.buy-sell-trade Mike Poindexter wrote:
> > Larry Pieniazek <lar@voyager.net> wrote:
> > > Mike Poindexter wrote:
> > >
> > > > Well, that is mighty white of you.
> > >
> > > I find that statement racist and highly offensive. Just thought you
> > > might want to know. Certainly you're not constrained from using it, but
> > > it is important to realise that other people share my view as well, so
> > > you may want to consider that. No one has the right not to be offended,
> > > of course, but were I someone that wanted something as badly as you say
> > > you do, I'd be careful of who I offended.
> >
> >
> > As for the statement "mighty white of you," it would be offensive to anyone • it
> > is directed at, as it usually points out poor behavior. I have never seen
> > anybody actually take it as a racist slur.
>
> If you'd said "that is mighty generous of you", it would be offensive in
> an acceptable way, in context... that is, you'd be insulting me and me
> alone, and that would be fine, after all, we're sparring.
>
> But when you say "that is mighty white of you" it is racist and
> insulting to more than just me, because there is an implication there
> that to be nonwhite is to not be generous, or to not be <whatever
> characteristic you're (using sarcasm) accusing me of not having>.
>
> Another example:
>
> Were I tofeel like insulting all non christians, not just the person
> (christian or not) that I need to insult, in similar circumstances,
> where someone was not being forgiving or charitable, I would say "that
> is mighty christian of you" for the same effect. But I know I would be
> insulting non christians when I do so.
>
> Did you mean to insult all non whites, or did you truly not know what it
> implies when you said it? This is really a curiousity question, not a
> slam, and I am also curious as to whether others see this distinction.
> To me it is very clear that to say "mighty white of you" is to insult
> non whites.
>
> --
> Larry Pieniazek larryp@novera.com http://my.voyager.net/lar
> - - - Web Application Integration! http://www.novera.com
> fund Lugnet(tm): http://www.ebates.com/ Member ref: lar, 1/2 $$ to
> lugnet.
>
> NOTE: I have left CTP, effective 18 June 99, and my CTP email
> will not work after then. Please switch to my Novera ID.
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Message has 3 Replies:
 | | whiteness (was Re: WTB Train Parts
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| Fascinating. To reiterate, I have always understood "mighty white" and "mighty christian" to be equivalent insults (to non whites and non christians, respectively). There isn't a dictionary per se to go look these up in. we build our understanding (...) (25 years ago, 1-Aug-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: WTB Train Parts
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| (...) I was born and grew for a while in California and grew up to adulthood in Tennessee. I've heard people say "mighty white of you" in both ways you describe. Any kind of attempt to assign a meaning to a phrase like that is doomed without (...) (25 years ago, 2-Aug-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: WTB Train Parts
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| IIRC, from my undergraduate folklore and linguistics classes at UC Berkeley, the phrase "mighty white" originated in the southern states before the War Between The States, and carried the DENOTATION (exact meaning) of "honorable in business (...) (25 years ago, 3-Aug-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: WTB Train Parts
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| Insulting is an art form. One needs to choose the proper sized brush. This is an example of unintended splatter, I think. (...) If you'd said "that is mighty generous of you", it would be offensive in an acceptable way, in context... that is, you'd (...) (25 years ago, 31-Jul-99, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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