Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT strips 3931-3935 (4th to 8th February 2019)
soulofthereaver:
--- Quote from: BenRG on 08 Feb 2019, 00:11 ---Basically, Brun's ethnicity shouldn't matter. He's defining her by her racial background and, at the very least, that is a bit dehumanising.
--- End quote ---
I get where you're coming from, but that makes quite a few assumptions about the asker's motivations. Sure Paco here is just interested because he thinks her perceived exoticness is sexy (which is blargh of him), but what about someone who asks out of simple curiosity, or just honest desire to know more about the other person?
Is it fair to suspect racism, dismissal, or even such strong a word as dehumanization, just from that kind of question?
Milayna:
--- Quote from: Gore17 on 08 Feb 2019, 00:09 ---
--- Quote from: soulofthereaver on 07 Feb 2019, 23:39 ---OK, question from a confused non-american:
Leaving aside Pierre's obvious continued flirting with Brun, which was pretty douchey, why was it an issue that he asked Brun where she was ethnically from?
From this forum topic it sounds like it's a bit of a taboo to do so in the states, if i'm reading this correctly. In earnestness i ask: why? It's a country with firm melting-pot status with many many people tracing their lineage to immigrant forebears in living memory, or relatively few generations. You'd think it'd be a more common topic of discussion, of people getting to know eachother.
What am i missing?
--- End quote ---
Not an American, but taking a guess from what I can infer: America has a history of racism. Such comments can imply that they do not view those of a different ethnicity as "True" Americanstm. There's also likely a privacy violation component, with your family history being your business, not others, and so inquiring is like inquiring into a persons sex life, something not to be done outside specific circumstances. Asking is therefore inappropriate, and likely indicates a racist motivation.
--- End quote ---
Pretty much this. White American douchebros view this country as "their house" (a phrase that's part of our political language) and "everyone else" as guests to be entertained or evicted at pleasure. Asking the ethnicity of people you aren't friends with or who have otherwise signaled they're comfortable talking about it is an "othering" act. And especially in THIS context, he's reducing Brun to a slab of meat with a brand on it. So, pretty forwardly racist.
Thrillho:
--- Quote from: soulofthereaver on 08 Feb 2019, 00:20 ---
--- Quote from: BenRG on 08 Feb 2019, 00:11 ---Basically, Brun's ethnicity shouldn't matter. He's defining her by her racial background and, at the very least, that is a bit dehumanising.
--- End quote ---
I get where you're coming from, but that makes quite a few assumptions about the asker's motivations. Sure Paco here is just interested because he thinks her perceived exoticness is sexy (which is blargh of him), but what about someone who asks out of simple curiosity, or just honest desire to know more about the other person?
Is it fair to suspect racism, dismissal, or even such strong a word as dehumanization, just from that kind of question?
--- End quote ---
Yes. Are you a person of colour? Or if you're white, have you been to a country for a prolonged period where you are a minority?
Racism is sewn into the fabric of society, and that question is an enormous warning bell because of how often it develops into something else, but also because of 'other'-ing. 'Hey, you are different from the norm! So what are you?' is what is being asked.
And the rest of conversation indicates pretty well that Renée's response was on the money.
On a related note, I would like to join with some personal disappointment in people's judgement of the casual sex also.
Toe:
--- Quote from: Gyrre on 07 Feb 2019, 23:15 ---
--- Quote from: Tova on 07 Feb 2019, 19:54 ---Just to save others from my confusion:
1. Yes, the above post refers to a new comic.
2. Lawrence is a place.
--- End quote ---
Yes, but which one?
I'm guessing Lawrence, Massachusetts and not Lawrence, Kansas based on location. But, it'd be interesting if she were a Kansan.
--- End quote ---
My thought as well. Lawrence, KS is a big college town, so I guess a transplant from there would fit right in.
neurocase:
I feel like Renee got offended a panel too early. Papalymo overstepped his bounds after that for sure, but just asking where someone is from as casually as that seems a little early to get combative without any context.
He's still a massive dick, I just don't get why Renee was already exclaiming with boldface emphasis type before he actually showed his hand.
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