Best of the Week
of July 21, 2002
Best of Week
Archives
Here are the most intriguing cross-cultural exchanges
either begun or advanced during the week of July 21, 2002, as
selected by Y? These postings, as well as "Best of the Week" entries
from previous weeks, also can be found by accessing Y?'s database
using the search form, or, in the case of
answers posted before April 24, 1999, in the
Original Archives (all questions
from the Original Archives have been entered into the database as
well). In the Original Archives, as well as in the database, you will
find questions that have received answers, as well as questions still
awaiting responses. You are encouraged to answer any questions
relevant to your demographic background, as well as to ask any
provocative question you desire. Answers posted are not necessarily
meant to represent the views of an entire demographic group, but can
provide a window into the insights of an individual from that
group.
First-time users should first make a quick stop at Y?'s
guidelines pages for asking and
answering questions.
The book
on Y? is here!
"Why Do White People Smell Like Wet
Dogs
When They Come Out Of The Rain?"
Order it here!
Read the
Associated Press story on "Wet Dogs"
Question:
Why is it that Corporate America seems to have given the edge
to hiring minorities over white males? Everywhere you look, there is
a disproportionate number of minorities being represented by
Corporate America.
POSTED 7/21/2002
Adam R., North Chicago, IL, United States, 42, Male, Catholic,
White/Caucasian, Bisexual, Accountant, 4 Years of College, Middle
class, Mesg ID 720200262820
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respond
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Question:
A classmate told me white people's butts are so flat because
during slavery they sat on them all day doing nothing, while black
people worked all the time. I agree, but I want to know if any white
or black people have ever heard of this.
POSTED 7/22/2002
Lisa, Brooklyn, NY, United States, 16, Female, Catholic,
Black/African American, Straight, Less than High School Diploma,
Middle class, Mesg ID 722200295009
Responses:
What I have heard has
nothing to do with the flatness of white people's butts, but rather
why they look flat compared to black people's. As I understand it,
the larger black butt is due to the fact it was used as a water
storage location needed to sustain life in the harsh hot climates of
Africa. It is left over from that. With respect to white butts: yeah,
I guess white people have had more opportunity to sit down and work
while the labors of slaves was that of hard field work, very physical
in nature. Also, not all whites have flat butts. It just depends on
the genetic background.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Matthew, New York, NY,
United States, 43, Male, Middle class, Mesg ID 7232002102811
Director's Note:
After 40,000 postings, Y? thought it had seen and heard it all until
receiving this question and response...
Talk about a blatantly
provocative post. I assume you are aware that the majority of white
people didn't own slaves? That the majority were poor and worked
their asses off as much as anyone else? Obviously, having their
freedom, their situation was infinitely better than that of enslaved
people, but please, you really think that every single Caucasian in
the States at that time was a wealthy landowner whose only exercise
was to occasionally arise from his chair to beat his slaves? You do
neither yourself nor those who share the same heritage any favors by
spouting ill-informed revisionist 'history' around the place.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Iteki, Smalltown, NA,
Sweden, 26, Female, Recovering Catholic, White/Caucasian, Lesbian, 2
Years of College, Lower middle class, Mesg ID 7232002110958
How did racist tripe
like this appear on Y? Forum? I've had albeit divisive but
nonetheless genuine questions 'moderated' out, and yet overtly
provocative racism like this passes muster? Why?
POSTED 7/23/2002
Blammo, Ipsilate, MI,
United States, Mesg ID 7232002111050
Director's Note: As
our long-time users are aware, Y? occasionally posts submissions that
fall outside our general guidelines, to keep all of us taking part in
this experiment honest. Rather than risking our users (and us)
becoming lulled into the false sensibility that everyone submits
"perfect" questions or is ready to engage others in a civil manner,
we aren't averse to shaking things up a bit from time to time with a
submission such as this. Usually, questions that aren't posted are
either repetitive, or simply have not been viewed by the (lone)
Director, as Y? receives hundreds of submissions per week.
Are you trying to live
up to the ignorant black stereotype? You sure seem to make a good
argument for it.That is like saying your lips are so big from sucking
on watermelon seeds and chicken bones.
POSTED 7/23/2002
William, Columbia, SC,
United Kingdom, 38, Male, Methodist, White/Caucasian, Straight,
sales, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
722200230746
C'mon Lisa. You can't
possibly be serious. I have never heard of this theory before,
neither in earnest nor in distasteful jest. Even if the greater
likelihood of white people to have 'flat' bottoms could be researched
and quantified well enough to be called a biological fact, the
evolution of such a trait would have taken thousands of years, at
least. So the slavery idea is impossible as well as silly.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Jennifer, St. Paul, MN,
United States, 31, Female, Christian, Black/African American,
Straight, Non-Profit, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
722200243032
Surely that is a joke
(and on a surface level, a bit funny). Only a small percentage of
'whites' have ever owned slaves (I'd venture to say, historically
speaking, more had probably been on the slavery end; just look at
early European history). Hell, German companies have paid reparations
for using Polish slave labor during World War II, and I don't see any
difference in the size of their butts. So that doesn't make a whole
lot sense. Also, slavery is not entirely a 'white' vs. 'black' issue;
history is awash with stories of people enslaving each other, of all
cultures and races.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Vittrad, Chicago, IL,
United States, 35, Female, Christian, White/Caucasian, Straight, Over
4 Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID
722200250557
I am a black female and
am embarrassed by the tone of your question. It is so ignorant and
racist. I'm sure you already know there are many differences between
the races and that Europeans and Africans have different body
structures, hair textures, etc. However, your question reads more
like slander than a question seeking an intelligent response.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Alea, New York, NY,
United States, 22, Female, Christian, Straight, student, Lower middle
class, Mesg ID 722200273450
Lisa, That is THE
dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. You are just mocking
whites, this site, and showing what an incredible waste of resources
a good education is on you. Spare your teachers. Drop out and go get
pregnant now. Maybe your children will redeem you.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Jesse R., New york, NY,
United States, Mesg ID 722200282237
I have to admit, I've
never heard of this, though it did give me a giggle. Take my word for
it; I've seen many white women with enormous rears. And by the way;
not all whites have slavery in their past. My family, though white,
were poorly treated servants. Slaves, no. But they certainly didn't
sit on their keesters. Just thought I would clarify.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Laura, Small Town, AZ,
United States, 24, Female, Christian, White/Caucasian, Straight,
Technical School, Lower middle class, Mesg ID 7222002113218
If this were true -
that a way of life 300 years ago would manifest as physical changes -
then wouldn't African Americans' brains be underdeveloped,
considering the lack of 'work' their brains were required to do
during slavery? The statement could also be reversed - that white
people work so hard that they burn off all excess body fat, whereas
African Americans do so little work that they retain all of their
body fat. These, of course, are riduculous statements, to mirror you
ridiculous question
POSTED 7/23/2002
Jay, New York, NY,
United Kingdom, Female, White/Caucasian, Middle class, Mesg ID
723200272433
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respond
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Question:
What is the
difference between a bisexual and a homosexual (who doesn't find
women attractive)? And why are some homosexuals or bisexuals
cross-dressers, while some are Mr. Universe contestants?
POSTED
5/6/2002
Jack P., New York,
NY, United States, Male, Mesg ID 54200260851
Responses:
Why are there
heterosexuals? Find out the reason for one and I think we will find
the answer for all. Kinsey came out with a study that gave a scale
from Heterosexual at 0 to Homosexual at 6. Most of us are bisexual,
with some of us not being able to function with a male if we are
totally straight (a 0) or with a female if we are totally gay (a 6).
Everyone else falls somewhere in the other groups, with 4 being
equally attracted to both. You may be asking what is the difference
between a bisexual in a relationship with a guy and a homosexual. The
simple answer is nothing. There is another scale that deals with
emotional issues and really is better but too complicated to get into
here. Too often we only think of the sex act as determining our
orientations. Again, you forgot to ask why are some heterosexuals
cross-dressers. A cross-dresser is a person who enjoys wearing the
clothes of the opposite sex. Common use, though, is for a man who
enjoys dressing in women's clothes since the reverse is accepted. The
reason can be for sexual or emotional reasons. It has been estimated
that 1of every 48 U.S. males is a cross-dresser. These individuals
can be any sexual orientation, although most (about 90 percent) of
all cross-dressers are heterosexual. The main difference between
cross-dressers and transsexuals is that cross-dressers are satisfied
(happy) being male.
POSTED 7/21/2002
Bo, Shreveport, LA,
United States, Male, White/Caucasian, Gay, Cattle, Rental Property,
Over 4 Years of College, Mesg ID 721200214448
To
respond
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Question:
To men: Why do some of you make an attempt to cover your
balding heads with a 'comb-over'? This style does not fool anyone,
and you all would look much more attractive if you would get a decent
haircut. My current gentleman friend reacted like I asked him to cut
off his you-know-what when I suggested he would look much better if
he changed his style.
POSTED 7/19/2002
Jo, Ft. Wayne, IN, United States, 53, Female, White/Caucasian,
Straight, Programmer, 2 Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID
7192002121026
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respond
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Question:
To women: How would you show a male that you wouldn't mind
talking to him if he decided to approach you?
POSTED 7/16/2002
Charles, Davis, IN, United States, 19, Male, White/Caucasian,
Straight, student, 2 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
714200233540
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Question:
I would like to
understand the caste system in South Asia (India, Pakistan,
Bangladash). I have come across numerous references in books
referring to Brahmin, etc., and just wanted a better
understanding.
POSTED
6/26/2002
Kenya E., Atlanta,
GA, United States, 25, Female, Christian, Black/African American,
Straight, Over 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
6262002120414
Responses:
For India there are or
were primarily four races. From 'highest' to lowest are Brahmin,
Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra. The caste without a caste were called
untouchables.
POSTED 7/22/2002
Chetan, Philadelphia,
PA, United States, Mesg ID 7222002121455
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Question:
Why do so many nail salons have Korean manicurists, managers
and owners?
POSTED 7/16/2002
Tracy, Edmond, OK, United States,
<lavenderlilycuao@hotmail.com>, 30, Female, White/Caucasian,
Straight, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID 715200234532
Responses:
I noticed the same thing.
So I asked my nail technician. She is Vietnamese. She indicated that
the Vietnam community tries to stick together. Since she did not have
strong language skills when she arrived, she went with what she knew:
beauty care. Also, many times families pool their money together to
buy a business and employ relatives. It keeps them all employed and
they own something of their own. Most shop owners take great pride in
the fact that they own and run their own shops. I have had better
service at a small Asian-owned shop compared to a large 'spa'
atmosphere. The girls at the small shops try to get to know you
because it is your repeat visits that keep their business
going.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Kathy, Pasadena, CA,
United States, 32, Female, Catholic, American Indian/Mexican,
Straight, advertising, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
7222002101904
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