Especially you. This thread is a great example of what is wrong in America. People are confused why a picking cotton reference directed at a black man is offensuve. Seriously.
I think we are confused because we are constantly beat over the head to 'not see color' and then in the next sentence, we are being crucified for not being sensitive to a certain group. Which is it? Should we look at people, see all their differences, and go through a mental check list on how we could offend this person? We are not confused why the term could be offensive (to the ignorant). What we are confused about is why everyone else is being offended for him. This is a great example why America can not get past this racial anvil. People like yourself look for every opportunity to get offended.
I would argue that most realize that it's not offensive, but there's always the select few morons who will try to spin non-stories like this. If the announcer had called Westbrook a "cotton picker", then that would be offensive, that didn't happen so calm your t***.
I think this is an area where a little information could help solve this whole issue. The statement was never meant as derogatory towards any race or people who pick cotton. If anything it is sympathetic to the hard monotonous work of picking cotton. It was something that people of any race who grew up around the cultivation of cotton would understand. So since it wasn't intended to be directed at or used to lump people of any race into any category that knowledge would hopefully keep people from using it as a racial attack and also keep people from feeling attacked at a racial level. It is understandable that people might mistakenly think it was an insult towards a race. Our nation's history is rife with examples of that kind of thing. So it makes sense. I think understanding why some might take it as an insult would also help alleviate some of the problems.
Any person working in a professional team-oriented environment in any field needs to have good social and cultural awareness, including a solid understanding of what's currently acceptable and unacceptable in social discourse. You have to know when to play it safe and when you can get away with being cruder with your communication and language. This is especially true for anyone working in a public-facing position (such as a broadcaster). I don't think Brian Davis is a racist and I don't think he intended to harm or offend, but what he said was definitely inappropriate and an unwise choice of words. Davis's apology and a brief suspension were necessary. Learn from it and move on. To be extra safe, maybe consider attending a sensitivity training class, similar to what Yuli Gurriel did this past MLB offseason. That said, some of the outrage in response to it was ridiculous and over-the-top (e.g. people stupidly yelling for him to be fired and his life ruined). I strongly dislike this "outrage culture" and "triggering" that's infecting our society lately.
I don't think there was a malicious intent behind it, but if someone finds it offensive who am I to say it isn't. i've never heard the saying. does picking cotton make you insane that you would use it like that in a sentence? Making top hats in the 17th century that led to insanity as hat makers endured mercury poisoning. many many many people don't know that. Can you believe there are some Millennials that are wearing fedora hats and no 3 piece suit? Westbrook should not have won mvp last season! disgraceful. Western media lies lies LIES! Forever big yao!
I always thought out of your cotton picking mind came from heat stroke victims who had been cotton picking. Seems like a crazy thing to go after someone for. If players were offended they should just tell him to stop it, people are being way too sensitive on this one.
The apology was enough. There was no ill intent with his words, but he acknowledged that it could be mistaken that way. The faux outrage is enough to avoid using that phrase again. The suspension was excessive punishment. No need to financially hurt the guy for a silly mistake that harmed nobody.
My great-grandfather had 400 acres in East Texas and grew cotton for a time, as well has owning a store in a small town up there, and I remember my grandfather talking about picking cotton when he was a teenager. He said everyone pitched in. The family lost it all during the Depression. As for the phrase, I heard it often enough growing up.
You are confused. It's not complicated. Don't discriminate. That's what it means to not see color - don't see it when it comes to how you interact with someone. As for offensive words...you can say whatever you want honestly. But don't be upset if you upset someone. I mean you are complaining about someone complaining about what you may say. Do you realize how petty you sound? If you accidentally offend someone you can claim ignorance or you can not care. It's your choice whether you want to be sensitive and respectful of other people. You may think someone shouldn't be offended by what you say and I agree, but it still doesn't hurt to stop being a prick and stand in other people's shoes on occasion.
Even high school children understand that referencing "the blacks" and cotton picking is offensive. Maybe some of you dopes will come around. A teen made a promposal with a joke about blacks 'picking cotton.' People aren't laughing
If you can't see the difference between the situations then.....Well, then it would just be more of you being you Tariq Nasheed
5 years x 365 days x 24 hours = 43,800 hours 43,534 posts bobrek was right, you are nearly at 1 post per hour every day for 5+ years and a sociopath to boot. You are a special kind of special.
I don't think someone should be punished for being a stupid racist idiot. What they should do is make him explain why he thought this was funny to a bunch of black students and then have him listen to them tell him why it's not funny. Then everyone can let it go.
I agree that that is offensive and racist. I just want to point out that "out of our cotton picking minds" isn't really a reference to black people picking cotton. Like I've said before I understand about giving a wide berth when referencing cotton picking and if it offends someone by all means stay clear.
