Grunching obviously, but hilarious that it took this long into the thread for someone to teach @jalfrezi where the term “ghetto” actually originated.
You know in Canada that there is a ton of sensitivity surrounding the manner in which First Nations are described and referenced in the context of Canada’s history and current use of the land, right?
How in the world could it be okay to crudely joke about how the payback for a genocidal conquest by European invaders is the thing that is making you, an Anglo-traveler to Mexico, ill?
The very people who live in the country were the victims of colonization, unlike in the US and Canada by and large. Travelers to Mexico from North America should always be cognizant of that reality, and should afford Mexican people and customs the same respect we would afford to First Nations in Canada. And joking that a sickness that befalls you is a First Nations curse is something you’d never do.
It also reinforces an impression that Mexico is backwards and dirty. I wouldn’t say “Delhi belly” alone for that reason. But “Montezuma’s Revenge” is a far more loaded and problematic phrase.
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Zara, are you suggesting that people in Great Britain never learned about the Warsaw Ghetto?
I don’t think it’s nuts to think about how what you cook effects those around you when you live in a high density community. I live in a townhouse complex. I’ve really wanted a smoker for a couple year’s but have held off because I don’t think it’s fair my smoking food would effect my neighbours.
This isn’t to say the “ethnic food smells” troupe isn’t tinged with some racism.
Just that these kind of externalities can matter.
Well you made up with nunnehi so maybe you and Jalfrazi can one day have a beer and laugh over this, stranger things have happened just this year ffs, mind you if you include Jman into the mix I think it’s a no go, just saying.
Tbh I’m to dumb to get angry at folks nowadays and should step away from this thread after this post. 
I’m sure @Jalfrezi will buy the beers whenever you land in the UK… 
And likewise for you. After all you’re both decent blokes. 
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Just a giant fucking lol at this thread.
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I always predicted that, though. This time, I don’t see it. Nunnehi is a good dude, he just happened to have a habit of giving the establishment way too much benefit of the doubt, so we argued over it constantly. I never thought he was a bad person, though. I figured once that topic was not the dominant topic of discussion, we’d get along just fine.
I am aware of Canada’s history with First Nations. I have a PhD in anthropology and have worked with First Nations my whole career.
I’m not saying the term is ok. It’s not. I don’t use it. I was just making the point I don’t think it’s racist. Racism has to be about some group of people and their physical or cultural characteristics.
Certainly joking about imperialism is terrible form and a kind of imperialism itself.
Your point about it making people think of Mexico as dirty is a good one though.
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I know you know all about First Nations—didn’t intend to undermine that at all. But I meant you should think about it in that same context.
And racist might not be the best descriptor, but insensitive language that is brimming with culturally imperialist undertones is just the same to me.
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If you are not historically ignorant, and you know that the term “ghetto” has always in every country been used to derogatorily refer to the poorer sections of cities where undesirables live, then you should be able at some point to figure out that using it as an adjective is problematic. If you didn’t realize it was problematic when you were a kid in the ‘80s, well then you should be able to realize it’s problematic now when you’re an adult and it’s pointed out to you. He’s either stupid, or he’s acting racist. And honestly, it appears like both to me.
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Indeed the effect is the same for sure. I’m just sensitive to use of the term racism as it’s important, now more than ever, it be wielded with precision.
Your overall point is dead on correct though.
I’ll probably regret wading into this but:
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As a teenager in Ireland when ghettoblasters were a thing, the term would have had zero racist connotations. I doubt I ever reflected on the ‘ghetto’ part.
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At that age, I probably would have associated the word ghetto with Warsaw rather than with anywhere in the US.
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Until yesterday, I hadn’t heard the term ghettoblaster in more than 20 years. If someone had shown me a picture of one and asked what it was called, I probably would have instinctively replied ‘ghettoblaster’.
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As soon as I did think about it, I can obviously see its racist connotations within an American context. I wouldn’t use that term today.
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I suspect most of the argument in this thread has little to do with the term ghettoblaster and more to do with two posters who don’t like each other taking the gloves off.
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Yeah I didn’t even go in on this at the beginning. I considered it, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Now, I’m not so sure it’s warranted.
Yeah, I was so focused on taking apart his feeble arguments that I totally missed that opportunity, too. Even if he didn’t think the term “ghetto” originated in the USA, as some have suggested, he clearly thinks that a negative racial connotation to the term comes from the USA… which is also not a great look.
Right, like jalfrezi pretending that “ghetto” did not carry negative connotation with it was a pretty tremendous claim. I can buy that it wasn’t realized in the 80’s or as a kid, but given the way he carries himself around here, and given that it was (at first) politely pointed out to him… yeah, not buying it.
I may be forgetting some of the nuance in the arguments and as I remember it you did go hard at him, I thought that you’d asked him to leave the forum BUT I’m probably mixing this up with someone else or 2, as many did complain itt about his posts and posting style of walls of text.
I was buzy reading them and catching a quick guide to American politics as I learn more, so I was biased here, as my only objective was to read and learn, so both you and nunnehi provided benifit too me and hence the selfish reason of wanting him to stay + the fact I also understand Nunnehi to be 1 of the good guys.
Maybe there’s a bit of that here too as I respect @Jalfrezi as a poster along with you and as a relitive newbie to forums its been a joy (sometimes ) to read the nuance that does not exist in my world here, in part due to the lack of education on most subjects wrt politics and science.
This forums great is what I’m saying and I hate to see posters I like argue… 
Especially in the 2020 madness we’re living in atm.
Fortunately I’ll be back at work in 2 weeks all going well and no major flair ups, so maybe a semi-return to work will help me in this timeline, as I’m now officially board as.
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I feel like these two bullet points warrant some reflection, especially with regard to the bolded.
Same. Before I saw Top Boy–and it’s sequel, Top Boy 2: Electric Boogaloo–I thought UKers used estate the same way USers do: to describe a big sprawling mansion with acres of manicured lawns… totally changes the context of that show.
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I might have suggested it a time or two. My issue with that posting of his was that I felt it was detrimental to have people believing that sunshine and rainbows stuff about the guardrails of this Trump presidency.
My point is that I would have basically treated ghettoblaster as one word. I wouldn’t have broken it down to ghetto and blaster. If I had broken it down, which I didn’t, then it would be to associate the word with Warsaw during WWII not the US.
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I mean, either way you under stand that ghetto is part of the word, right? And you understand what was going on in Warsaw at that time, right? So how does the word not have a racist connotation in that situation?
The Irish are the blacks of Europe (so says Jimmy Rabbitte), so teenage you is forgivable.
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