FOT Forum

The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: JonFromMaplewood on June 02, 2011, 12:37:13 PM

Title: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on June 02, 2011, 12:37:13 PM
Tom has mentioned this delightful phrase on the show several times.  You know when someone opens their face and utters these words, something bad is coming.  Below is a link to a horrifying collection of real examples.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/im-not-racist-but (http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/im-not-racist-but)

Another phrase that kills me is "I know it's not politically correct, but..." because it refers to a such a strawman; no one has used the phrase "political correctness" since the early 90's except for the people claiming to rebel against it!
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Christina on June 02, 2011, 12:47:21 PM
Another phrase that always telegraphs that the absolute opposite will follow is: "I'll be honest with you: ..." I hear this a lot from the executive class.

Also, totally with you RE the use of "politically correct"... it's a really good indicator that the speaker has no clue what's happening in the world today.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: cavorting with nudists on June 02, 2011, 01:30:25 PM
Another phrase that kills me is "I know it's not politically correct, but..." because it refers to a such a strawman; no one has used the phrase "political correctness" since the early 90's except for the people claiming to rebel against it!

BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO

That phrase has set my fucking teeth on edge for over twenty years. I still get a barely constrainable urge to hit somebody when I hear or read it.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: buffcoat on June 02, 2011, 02:18:06 PM
#1 bad phrase:

"I shouldn't say this, but..."


Once you've said that, you need to stop right there.  Better to have them guess what awful shit you were going to say than to actually say it.

My former boss was big with this one.  Next thing out of his mouth was ALWAYS brutally inappropriate, including, "... we really hit the client's G-spot with this one."


A little part of me never came back after that.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Sarah on June 02, 2011, 02:23:10 PM
My eldest sister and I used the term "politically correct" as a joke in the late eighties/early, early nineties to describe positions of which we approved.  We were both very annoyed when everyone started to use it in its now-accepted sense.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Key Loser on June 02, 2011, 03:14:10 PM
Another phrase that kills me is "I know it's not politically correct, but..." because it refers to a such a strawman; no one has used the phrase "political correctness" since the early 90's except for the people claiming to rebel against it!

BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO

That phrase has set my fucking teeth on edge for over twenty years. I still get a barely constrainable urge to hit somebody when I hear or read it.

Its one of those phrases that republicans LOVE to throw around

"political correctness is killing this country!!1!!1"

Really?
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on June 02, 2011, 03:57:52 PM
I can always tell when certain people are about to say something racist or otherwise loathsome in public because they pause in middle of speaking and do a quick survey of the room before continuing on to said racist/loathsome thing. I hate that.

Related to this is the people who drop the volume on certain words to near-silent:
"You know who's fault that it is, right? It's all those Mexicans that live over there."

 
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: dave from knoxville on June 02, 2011, 04:03:47 PM
Down here it's a little different, it goes like this; "Don't get me wrong, I DO hate Yankees, but...".
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: cavorting with nudists on June 02, 2011, 04:09:52 PM
My eldest sister and I used the term "politically correct" as a joke in the late eighties/early, early nineties to describe positions of which we approved.  We were both very annoyed when everyone started to use it in its now-accepted sense.

I remember very specifically that it began being used in its current sense during the first Bush's presidency.  I remember this because: 1) G. H. W. Bush made a joke about it and I remember thinking "huh, it's made it all the way up to the damn President," and 2) I had a theory that it was linked to the collapse of the Soviet Union-- I used to call it "Red-baiting Lite for the post-Cold-War era."
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: ~L on June 03, 2011, 10:47:30 PM
When I answer the phone to hear a friend say "I meant to call (insert another friend's name)", because I really need to know that you'd rather be speaking to that friend than me at this moment in time when YOU dialed my number on your phone. Please just spare me, and make something up like "Oh hi, How are you?" Would that much on the spot thinking hurt your brain?
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Sarah on June 03, 2011, 11:21:42 PM
But don't you think that happens because the caller is rattled?  It's really startling to hear a familiar voice that's not the familiar voice you were expecting when you dialed the phone.  At times like that, it's easy to be clumsy.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on June 04, 2011, 10:29:37 AM
Another phrase that often latches on to stupidity is "I'm just saying."  Those might be the three emptiest words in the English language.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Trembling Eagle on June 04, 2011, 05:43:22 PM
listen, I'm about to say something really f'ing offensive
gird ur loins
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Sarah on June 04, 2011, 05:53:56 PM
There is nothing more offensive than fastening or securing clothing with a belt or band.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: fish on June 04, 2011, 06:55:32 PM
Not for nothing, but that's the sort of thing someone would probably say if they were being honest.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Sarah on June 04, 2011, 07:23:50 PM
This thread makes me think of a nonexistent PSA that begins, "I'm not a racist, but I played one on TV."  Perhaps starring Carroll O'Connor.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: fonpr on June 04, 2011, 08:19:12 PM
Sarah Silverman.  Or is she?
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Trembling Eagle on June 05, 2011, 01:15:55 AM
This thread makes me think of a nonexistent PSA that begins, "I'm not a racist, but I played one on TV."  Perhaps starring Carroll O'Connor.

or the guy that played Schillenger on OZ

can't help but think of him as a NeoNazi. Which was about the most interesting thing about Spiderman for me (he played JJJ).
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Sarah on June 05, 2011, 10:07:17 AM
And he's even still alive, which might be helpful.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: nec13 on June 05, 2011, 10:27:46 AM
Another phrase that often latches on to stupidity is "I'm just saying."  Those might be the three emptiest words in the English language.

The phrase "I'm not saying...I'm just saying" annoys me to no end.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: nec13 on June 05, 2011, 10:35:29 AM
Also, in perusing that page, I noticed that an overwhelming amount of those comments came from what appeared to be young people.

If this is really the future of America, then maybe it's time for me to move to Canada.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Joe Rogaine on June 05, 2011, 10:43:09 AM
Im not racist but i own a bar called "Massas Tavern".
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Wes on June 06, 2011, 09:12:07 AM
This thread makes me think of a nonexistent PSA that begins, "I'm not a racist, but I played one on TV."  Perhaps starring Carroll O'Connor.
I don't think it ever came up during any actual Leave It To Beaver episodes, but I always assumed the character of Fred Rutherford was probably a huge racist.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: Paul DeLouisiana on June 06, 2011, 09:34:23 AM
He wasn't saying anyhing offensive but I was talking to a blind friend of mine and he was telling me about an incedent he had with someone who was also at the event. And he motioned like he was looking to his left and right to see if she was around before he leaned in and whispered something to me. I thought it was hilarious. He did it as sort of a joke but I was so curious how he knew about that motion.
Title: Re: "I'm not a racist, but..."
Post by: ~L on June 07, 2011, 02:35:05 PM
@Sarah: You are right about the awkward and clumsy part, and I'd never give the caller a hard time about it, I'm very forgiving.