Do you consider the word "Tar-Baby" to be offensive?

[ontheroad]

Real good to have you posting, Rufus Roosevelt; just want to gently remind you we here have some rules about posting, and one is no name calling. Talk your talk; walk with pride and share away, but no personal attacks. Okay?

Originally Posted by Rufus Roosevelt

You white folks get so messed up with language you pretend to understnd. If a man clls a man a n...ger, it don't matter what he says its how he said it. A little true. The funny thig for this ole black man is girlish talk about obvious things. I was born in 1925. I raised 11 children, one is a doctor. I worked a farm for fifty years and made my boss man money and in return I have wonderful successful children. My daughter taught me to type and turn on a computer. I taught myself to read and write and type fifty year ago. I have more quality time at the supper table than most of you have on life. Is tar baby offensive? Are democrats lyin hippocrits? Tha onli negrose I knos is tha negrose that follows lyin democrats around like ignorant mice runnin after the pied pied peiper. Tar Baby,huh,every man that has posted here I bet it all is a democrat. Independent people have too much class. Even ole n..ers like me got more class than that.

[Yeledaf]

I am the offender, I guess. What can I say? I'm old. I remember when such expressions were not meant as racial slurs, but in reference to the characters in the Uncle Remus stories (specifically Br'er Rabbit). In that context, I used it to refer to a nemesis which is difficult to discard, and not in some racist fashion.

But I got negative reps, and a scolding from the Mod, all because someone applied politically correct false outrage to the characterizations of someone who was young when their parents were not yet born. In short, I got gotcha'ed. That sort of thing passes for ethical vindication these days.

Maybe ths whole thread should be subsumed into the PC conversation.

[ontheroad]

Gracious response, Yeledaf and I thank you for it.

I think it is best not to incorporate this into PC-talk, but rather put it to bed.

Originally Posted by Yeledaf

I am the offender, I guess. What can I say? I'm old. I remember when such expressions were not meant as racial slurs, but in reference to the characters in the Uncle Remus stories (specifically Br'er Rabbit). In that context, I used it to refer to a nemesis which is difficult to discard, and not in some racist fashion.

But I got negative reps, and a scolding from the Mod, all because someone applied politically correct false outrage to the characterizations of someone who was young when their parents were not yet born. In short, I got gotcha'ed. That sort of thing passes for ethical vindication these days.

Maybe ths whole thread should be subsumed into the PC conversation.