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Post by Consonant*** on Jul 23, 2009 21:33:57 GMT -5
Anyway, whites are often discriminated against, and most see it as almost a payback for the horrible things that we've done in the past as a majority. I don't understand I haven't done anything to any minority.
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TheRoyalWe
Aang
Toph objects to the casting of The Last Airbender.
Posts: 70
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Post by TheRoyalWe on Jul 23, 2009 22:09:22 GMT -5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3hVTPjM_XAJust encountered this at the Racebending Livejournal. The video is great, but look at the comments. After reading just the first few, I had to leave my computer and wander around my house, dumbfounded. I'm not even sure how to react to such comments. It is truly, truly heartbreaking. If that doesn't show discrimination, I don't know what does.
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Splendi
Combustion Man
I've lost my place but I can't stop this story..
Posts: 5,664
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Post by Splendi on Jul 23, 2009 23:03:34 GMT -5
Yeah- that's a powerful video. And these comments show pure ignorance. But honestly, what else do you expect from YouTube comments? They're commonly known as one of the most vulgar, pathetic things on the internet. I post bass clarinet videos (Spediforous- search me. ), and I got put down for expressing my views on California's Prop 8, and being a liberal in general. I don't let it get to me anymore. And I'm sorry to those who care, but The Last Airbender is *just* a movie. Just a movie made by rich people. Just a movie. You don't have to see it. Can't we just be content with the awesome series we had before? It won at life, and they're giving it a bad name.. but if we all ignore it, it'll do the same if not better than screaming at it. ..or maybe I'm just tired of fighting all the obnoxious problems our nation has created for ourselves. *shrug*
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Aanglover
Avatar Yangchen
The Aang Guru
This isn't the end, but rather, a new beginning.
Posts: 1,537
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Post by Aanglover on Jul 24, 2009 6:03:16 GMT -5
unfortunately discrimination will continue in the future because it has been passed down from generations..all we can hope for now is for our generation to join together and accept people for who they are. but there will always be that select group of people out there who think it's okay to discriminate because of the environment they were grown up in. Easy answer to this issue: Stop the cycle yourself. One person that stops can help start a chain and make sure future generations are less discriminatory. i plan to..but most of society doesn't really take it into consideration when they raise the next generation..hopefully, i'm wrong. Yeah- that's a powerful video. And these comments show pure ignorance. But honestly, what else do you expect from YouTube comments? They're commonly known as one of the most vulgar, pathetic things on the internet. I post bass clarinet videos (Spediforous- search me. ), and I got put down for expressing my views on California's Prop 8, and being a liberal in general. I don't let it get to me anymore. And I'm sorry to those who care, but The Last Airbender is *just* a movie. Just a movie made by rich people. Just a movie. You don't have to see it. Can't we just be content with the awesome series we had before? It won at life, and they're giving it a bad name.. but if we all ignore it, it'll do the same if not better than screaming at it. ..or maybe I'm just tired of fighting all the obnoxious problems our nation has created for ourselves. *shrug* and as for those boycott videos..i can see why people would debate about not going to see the movie on "forums"..but why do it on youtube....it will get them no where... i already replied to the one posted about what i think.... (TheAanglover)
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TheRoyalWe
Aang
Toph objects to the casting of The Last Airbender.
Posts: 70
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Post by TheRoyalWe on Jul 24, 2009 8:23:59 GMT -5
Yeah- that's a powerful video. And these comments show pure ignorance. But honestly, what else do you expect from YouTube comments? They're commonly known as one of the most vulgar, pathetic things on the internet. I post bass clarinet videos (Spediforous- search me. ), and I got put down for expressing my views on California's Prop 8, and being a liberal in general. I don't let it get to me anymore. And I'm sorry to those who care, but The Last Airbender is *just* a movie. Just a movie made by rich people. Just a movie. You don't have to see it. Can't we just be content with the awesome series we had before? It won at life, and they're giving it a bad name.. but if we all ignore it, it'll do the same if not better than screaming at it. ..or maybe I'm just tired of fighting all the obnoxious problems our nation has created for ourselves. *shrug* A lot of people have actually said what you just said: "It's just a movie". While this would be a good argument if people were ticked off that Zuko's hair wasn't in a ponytail, it is rendered moot by the fact that this movie is perpetuating a long and horrible tradition of discrimination in Hollywood, and even in the entire country. Now, it is my understanding that media (i.e., movies, TV shows, books, etc.) can be very telling of the society in which it was created. For example, a vast majority of movies made during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union had the villains be either Russian or communist, usually both. So, what will future generations think of us in the future when they realize that we allowed Hollywood to hire white actors to play Asian/Inuit character and go along unopposed or unpunished? Furthermore, movies and other media have a major impact on people. Have you ever cried, laughed, or gotten angry over a movie? Then you were affected by that movie. There are so many movies out there that have made people go "Wow, I should start being like that" or "Dang, why did I ever act like that?". And don't even get me started on how many people quote movies to one another. No matter how much people may not like hearing it, movies really do have a major impact on who we are as a culture, a country, and even a world. /end rant
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Grandi
Bato
Prince of All Cosmos
Posts: 603
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Post by Grandi on Jul 24, 2009 9:43:10 GMT -5
I saw that Avatar trailer and now I hate brown people.
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Post by Consonant*** on Jul 24, 2009 11:15:50 GMT -5
Yeah- that's a powerful video. And these comments show pure ignorance. But honestly, what else do you expect from YouTube comments? They're commonly known as one of the most vulgar, pathetic things on the internet. I post bass clarinet videos (Spediforous- search me. ), and I got put down for expressing my views on California's Prop 8, and being a liberal in general. I don't let it get to me anymore. And I'm sorry to those who care, but The Last Airbender is *just* a movie. Just a movie made by rich people. Just a movie. You don't have to see it. Can't we just be content with the awesome series we had before? It won at life, and they're giving it a bad name.. but if we all ignore it, it'll do the same if not better than screaming at it. ..or maybe I'm just tired of fighting all the obnoxious problems our nation has created for ourselves. *shrug* A lot of people have actually said what you just said: "It's just a movie". While this would be a good argument if people were ticked off that Zuko's hair wasn't in a ponytail, it is rendered moot by the fact that this movie is perpetuating a long and horrible tradition of discrimination in Hollywood, and even in the entire country. Now, it is my understanding that media (i.e., movies, TV shows, books, etc.) can be very telling of the society in which it was created. For example, a vast majority of movies made during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union had the villains be either Russian or communist, usually both. So, what will future generations think of us in the future when they realize that we allowed Hollywood to hire white actors to play Asian/Inuit character and go along unopposed or unpunished? Then don't watch it? Your argument is stupid because the show was whitewashed to begin with. They didn't hire inuit voice actors to portray the characters, they didn't go out of their way to make the real-life cultural parallels significant or meaningful, it was just something to BASE the culture on. There isn't any descrimination in Hollywood, THERE JUST AREN'T ANY GOOD INUIT ACTORS IN HOLLYWOOD. They could spend months upon months trying to find a good asian/inuit actor for the role or they could just pick SOMEBODY. You conveniently forget to mention how often African-American characters are artificially shoehorned into films based off of works in which they weren't present. You seem to forget that NO company is in it "for the fans", they're in it for profit. You cannot continually operate at a loss, so concessions need to be made when they realize spending millions upon millions of dollars to find a specific race of actor for a gobstopper childrens movie is a stupid and detrimental waste of time. I don't understand your point. At all.
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TheRoyalWe
Aang
Toph objects to the casting of The Last Airbender.
Posts: 70
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Post by TheRoyalWe on Jul 24, 2009 19:04:23 GMT -5
Then don't watch it? Your argument is stupid because the show was whitewashed to begin with. They didn't hire inuit voice actors to portray the characters, they didn't go out of their way to make the real-life cultural parallels significant or meaningful, it was just something to BASE the culture on. There isn't any descrimination in Hollywood, THERE JUST AREN'T ANY GOOD INUIT ACTORS IN HOLLYWOOD. They could spend months upon months trying to find a good asian/inuit actor for the role or they could just pick SOMEBODY. You conveniently forget to mention how often African-American characters are artificially shoehorned into films based off of works in which they weren't present. You seem to forget that NO company is in it "for the fans", they're in it for profit. You cannot continually operate at a loss, so concessions need to be made when they realize spending millions upon millions of dollars to find a specific race of actor for a gobstopper childrens movie is a stupid and detrimental waste of time. Don't worry. I, like many people, am going to boycott this film. Oh. Since Hollywood is doing this for the profit, I shouldn't be surprised that this happened, and thus shouldn't care? Your logic is mind-boggling. There aren't any good Inuit actors? Really? Since you've never seen any, they must not exist, right? Or are you truly under the impression that there are literally no actors of Inuit descent in existence? Did you know that the movie "The Fast Runner" (which is actually mentioned by Mike and Bryan in the commentary for The Day of Black Sun) was casted entirely with Inuit actors? As for the voice actors: did you know that Spongebob is actually voiced by a human being, and not a sponge? Shocking, I know. And did you also know that Tommy from Rugrats was voiced by a woman? The fact is, there isn't an inherently Asian/Inuit accent. Unless you were expecting them to change all of their "L"s to "R"s and barely speak English? And the only reason African-Americans are usually brought in to play characters who are racially ambiguous is usually to actually bring some diversity to the film. Oh, but excuse me. I was unaware that there were so few positions for white actors these days. Perhaps they should audition for this upcoming movie called The Last Airbender. I hear they have roles for white people out the wazoo! (Oh, just to let you know: I'm white. So it's not just Asian/Inuit-Americans complaining because they didn't get to be in the movie.) I don't understand your point. At all. Hm, I agree, I was in a rush when I wrote that part. :/ Let's try this again. My main point: movies (and all other forms of media) can have major impacts on people. I was simply dispelling the idea that this is "just a movie" and that we shouldn't get so worked up over it. This site should help answer any other questions you may have.
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Leaf
Gran Gran
Posts: 585
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Post by Leaf on Jul 24, 2009 19:27:18 GMT -5
I recall someone on one of the forums I go to claim to know a girl of Inuit decent. Ironic that he also said her name was Katara. Everyone didn't believe him, but he guarantees he is telling the truth and is going to try give us pictures when she visits him. He also says he is going to show her Avatar just so he could see her response when she sees there is a girl with the same name as her on the show.
A lot of people asked why he didn't talk her into auditioning, to which he replied by saying she never heard of the show nor has any acting abilities. She also apparently wears her hair the same way Nicola does in the screenshot.
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Post by Consonant*** on Jul 24, 2009 20:49:17 GMT -5
Don't worry. I, like many people, am going to boycott this film. Oh. Since Hollywood is doing this for the profit, I shouldn't be surprised that this happened, and thus shouldn't care? Your logic is mind-boggling. There aren't any good Inuit actors? Really? Since you've never seen any, they must not exist, right? Or are you truly under the impression that there are literally no actors of Inuit descent in existence? Did you know that the movie "The Fast Runner" (which is actually mentioned by Mike and Bryan in the commentary for The Day of Black Sun) was casted entirely with Inuit actors? As for the voice actors: did you know that Spongebob is actually voiced by a human being, and not a sponge? Shocking, I know. And did you also know that Tommy from Rugrats was voiced by a woman? The fact is, there isn't an inherently Asian/Inuit accent. Unless you were expecting them to change all of their "L"s to "R"s and barely speak English? And the only reason African-Americans are usually brought in to play characters who are racially ambiguous is usually to actually bring some diversity to the film. Oh, but excuse me. I was unaware that there were so few positions for white actors these days. Perhaps they should audition for this upcoming movie called The Last Airbender. I hear they have roles for white people out the wazoo! (Oh, just to let you know: I'm white. So it's not just Asian/Inuit-Americans complaining because they didn't get to be in the movie.) I think you're missing my point now. The color of their skin isn't what's important. At all. The entire point of paralleling the Water Tribe with the Inuit people is to convey their culture. Are you telling me that if somebody is brought up in a Navajo family, taught in Navajo schools and eating Navajo food but they're skin is white they're not a Navajo? These aren't Chinese people, they aren't Korean, they aren't Inuits, they're Fire Nation, Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom. If the culture is conveyed correctly, who gives a dam n about the color of their skin? The entire point of this show is to immerse yourself in a fictional universe occupied by fictional people with their own fictional culture. Avatar doesn't take place in Asia. Honestly you sound like a self-hating white weeboo who is convinced that Asia is superior in every way. My point about African Americans is that casters, producers and directors will take any name who sells, REGARDLESS of race. Samuel L. Jackson was in Jurassic Park when his character in the book was white. You know why? To add a NAME, not a RACE. You're convinced this cast is some sort of conspiracy to exclude minorities, when it's just another loving shortcut in a movie that is going to be full of compromise. The lack of effort by Shyamalan and friends is because he doesn't care, doesn't know and doesn't understand. This is a live action movie based on an animated childs' show. I guess Dragonball Evolution sucked because Goku wasn't Asian, right? I actually thought it was WORSE OFF because of their attempts to integrate Asians.
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TheRoyalWe
Aang
Toph objects to the casting of The Last Airbender.
Posts: 70
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Post by TheRoyalWe on Jul 24, 2009 21:13:53 GMT -5
I think you're missing my point now. The color of their skin isn't what's important. At all. The entire point of paralleling the Water Tribe with the Inuit people is to convey their culture. Are you telling me that if somebody is brought up in a Navajo family, taught in Navajo schools and eating Navajo food but they're skin is white they're not a Navajo? These aren't Chinese people, they aren't Korean, they aren't Inuits, they're Fire Nation, Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom. If the culture is conveyed correctly, who gives a dam n about the color of their skin? The entire point of this show is to immerse yourself in a fictional universe occupied by fictional people with their own fictional culture. Avatar doesn't take place in Asia. Honestly you sound like a self-hating white weeboo who is convinced that Asia is superior in every way. My point about African Americans is that casters, producers and directors will take any name who sells, REGARDLESS of race. Samuel L. Jackson was in Jurassic Park when his character in the book was white. You know why? To add a NAME, not a RACE. You're convinced this cast is some sort of conspiracy to exclude minorities, when it's just another loving shortcut in a movie that is going to be full of compromise. The lack of effort by Shyamalan and friends is because he doesn't care, doesn't know and doesn't understand. This is a live action movie based on an animated childs' show. I guess Dragonball Evolution sucked because Goku wasn't Asian, right? I actually thought it was WORSE OFF because of their attempts to integrate Asians. A weeaboo? Hardly. I'm proud to live in America, and would never exchange that to live in any other country. I'm white, and am perfectly fine with that, and will never try to be something I'm not. I am not, as you claim, under the impression that this is a conspiracy. This is simply a product of Hollywood's genuine ignorance. I'm growing a little of weary of hearing people say "It's a fantasy universe! They don't actually live in Asia!" So, you're saying that since this is a fantasy world, they must automatically default to white? That it's perfectly acceptable to deny the overwhelming amount of cultural cues from their environment? I never actually watched Dragonball, and thus didn't see the movie. And you're saying that it was worse off for trying to at least keep a little of its cultural heritage? That's... unsettling. And, no, if I were raised by African-Americans, it would not make me African-American. You seem to be confusing race with country (don't know the noun for this... anybody know it?).
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Post by Musogato on Jul 24, 2009 21:24:11 GMT -5
Would it be nationality? Anyway. Getting a little heated in here, guys. ^^; Also, watch the name calling, alright? Ah, and while I'm here, I'd like to post something responding to this: ...With this quote from Ursula K. Le Guin, the author of the Earthsea books. (from this interview regarding the whitewashing of the SciFi Earthsea mini-series) "I think it is possible that some readers never even notice what color the people in the story are. Don't notice, don't care. Whites of course have the privilege of not caring, of being "colorblind." Nobody else does. I have heard, not often, but very memorably, from readers of color who told me that the Earthsea books were the only books in the genre that they felt included in—and how much this meant to them, particularly as adolescents, when they'd found nothing to read in fantasy and science fiction except the adventures of white people in white worlds." Just because some people may not care what color the actors playing ethnic roles are, doesn't mean it's the same for everyone. That's all.
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Post by Gran Gran on Jul 26, 2009 9:48:49 GMT -5
How dare you guys start a discussion while I am gone! Anyhow, all kidding aside (many good questions to cover) First, yes, as stated before, anybody can be discriminated against. people of 'other than white' color, as well as 'whites'. it's no different if the 'N' word is dropped or the assumption is made because you live in XYZ state you just must be racist. My mom just told me how she was initially ignored in a tiny clothes store, and only after the proprietors realized she was not a white American she was being waited on. A very nice lady once pointed to her dark skin color, 'how can I be racist?' A well educated one, too. Anyhow, where was I.... right. Prejudice is natural. Viewing people that are not like us with reserve. Discrimination is not though. I grew up in a pretty 'colorless' environment, the only darker faces belonged to the sons of the local optometrist, certainly the upper crust in town. To this day I assume characters in books to be 'white', unless otherwise specified, and I get surprised when 'other than white' people do some things, even if under closer consideration it is not really an odd thing: the Asian lady with a GSD dog, or the black guy on a motor cycle (but when you see one on a Harley, it's a rare thing still tho! ) The secret is, to actively work on oneself to not act on these primal feelings: in the Hollywood of old, there were no 'ethnic' actors, Indians (ok, native americans) were plaid by dark skinned whites (like italians) with lots of makeup, same as Asians (still jet-lagged, can't remember the Asian detective hero, with 'Son #1' doing all the leg work) No telling how many folks had to endure the deep brown theater makeup to portray Porky& Bess or Othello. Disney made an effort as of late to have the non white characters voiced by actors of the ethnicity in question. But honestly, you could not tell.... But we are talking about 'The Movie' good, bad or ugly. I do not really see where it matters what color the actors are. The tribes are such a conglomerate of real existing cultures, from the far east to influxes of the Western hemisphere. Like the nerds rebelled when they had a 'Vulcan' in Star Trek 5.0 or something, forgot the incarnation's name, that was 'black' - Couldn't get Nimoy cloned, I am afraid.... (Oh, and Splendi, Love.... conserve your energy, you gotta pick your battles, can't save the world all by yourself! )
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Sheogorath
Kyoshi Azula
Lord of the Never-There
Yeah, an Avatard and a brony. Got a problem with that?
Posts: 2,223
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Post by Sheogorath on Aug 10, 2009 23:21:47 GMT -5
I need to know something, is it really possible for whites to experience discrimination? Because apparently, in some corners of the Internet, the casting issue of The Last Airbender has reached new heights by claiming that due to the massive amount of hatred toward the "whitewash" casting, many people are saying they hate whites and others saying it's not bordering on racism toward the majority. I really need to know, is it really possible for whites to be discriminated against? Well, when race does come in to play when I'm dealing with someone who isn't white, if it's on the street, I pull a John McClaine (Bruce Willis' character in the Die Hard movies, as I'm certain I didn't spell his last name right) and ask them if I ever personally oppressed them or tried holding them back in any way (He did that to Samuel L. Jackson's Zeus in Die Hard With A Vengeance). Now, if I'm at work, which I haven't been in almost two years, but if I am, I hold my tongue. Guy could get fired these days for engaging in a racial debate while on the clock (And why not? Indiana's an at-will state. I still don't know why they fired me). Anyway, no one but the truly mean spirited actually says anything to me, but I can feel the scrutiny. It's not racial, but it still hurts when people say something to me or look at me in a particular way because I'm so big. I'm 5'8" come to find out and I weigh 268 lbs. last time I weighed myself. I'm actually in really good shape compared to some other people, if I do say so myself. Big gut, sure, but not as big as it could be. Yeah, I'm heavy, and while I make jokes about my own weight and am capable of recognizing a light-hearted jest when I hear one, sometimes people mean it when they say something to me about my weight. Or those who choose not to, I know most of them must think I'm incredibly lazy because I let myself get this big. The truth is, I'm actually a much harder worker than a good number of people I know who are in better shape than me. The consensus among most people however is that because this person or that is in better shape than me, then that person must be a harder worker than me. I'm more than fairly certain that despite the fact that places are supposed to be "Equal Opportunity" these days, I've actually lost out on jobs because I'm so big. And most of the jobs I apply to don't even require a person to be in the best of shape to do. How hard is it to stock a shelf or flip a burger, anyway? It's not racial, I know it's not. And I know weight discrimination isn't the same as race discrimination, but I'm white, and to answer your question, yes, in this way at the very least, white people are capable of being discriminated against.
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Post by Gran Gran on Aug 12, 2009 0:14:13 GMT -5
Well, fat people are the only group you can still make fun of. Nice to know, right? (sarcasm here)
But at least (sure nice to know, too) companies have a small reason to not hire overweight people (though other groups might actually rock the boat) because of health care providers...or rather insurance providers. But it's a gray area. And sure not helpful.
Hang in there, don't give up, there are jobs out there, and folks who still hire by merit and not PCness.
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