Tuesday, July 27, 2010

THAT'S RACIST!


Remember that old predicament about people shouting "FIRE!" in a theater?

Well here's another one: If someone goes onto an internet thread and shouts "RACIST!", is it racist?

Alright, so the deal is that Cybersocket released a list of the 40 Biggest porn stars of 2010 (well, so far anyway) and the list doesn't include a single black man. Obviously, judging from some of the more (*ahem*) questionable entries on the list (You know who I'm talking about, bitch.) and some obvious oversights, the list is kinda ... well, it's not great. Bad even. But is it racist?

Now admittedly, as a white Canadian, I'm not exactly in a position to go into detail about the struggles of being a black man (or really, any other visible minority) in America. But here are a few things I do know:

If you don't find black guys sexually appealing, that doesn't mean you're necessarily racist. The same basic idea applies to every colour of man you can think of, it really doesn't matter. Fact of the matter is, one person's level subjective sexual attraction to another doesn't have anything to do with civil rights. What, do you think Martin Luther King Jr.'s message would have gotten across better if he looked like Taye Diggs? I'm gay and I don't want to have sex with women (yeah, what a shame); that doesn't mean I believe in ending women's suffrage or that I'm not pro-choice. Likewise, just because someone doesn't find black men attractive doesn't mean they believe in white supremacy.

It just means you have terrible taste in men. Hang your head in shame.

That being said, there's a limit to this. It's one thing to have your own personal standards for sex appeal, but when you start making shout outs about not being into guys of colour, then we're starting to toe the line between "personal tastes" and "being an asshole". It's okay to let a guy down nicely by explaining that he's not your type. But when one of the first lines out of your mouth (or on your Manhunt profile) is along the lines of "I'm not into black guys", then that's a douchey thing to do. Not necessarily racist, but still a dick-move.

Now, back to the list: is it racist? No. Is it an imperfect list? Yes. But fact of the matter is, the list is based on the personal opinions of someone else, so yes: chances are your tastes probably won't be completely in sync. But you know what? That's okay. You're as entitled to your own opinions as the writers of Cybersocket are to theirs. You may not agree, but it's not like they're making you.

If you don't like it, write your own list. That wasn't meant to be sarcastic or snarky; write your own list. Voice an opinion. Create a social message instead of just social commentary. It's a matter of freedom of speech, so you might as well use it.

(Oh, and P.S.: I will never get tired of that gif. Thank you Wonder Showzen, you were awesomely fucking insane in the membrane.)

7 comments:

LeNair Xavier said...

Spoken like a typical racially insensitive White male. No wonder "The Sword" posted a link to your blindness.

You're right Cybersocket isn't forcing you to abide by their list, BUT PAY ATTENTION!!!!

If you are going to promote yourself as "The leader in Gay & Lesbian online information!", like Cybersocket does, then IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ALL INCLUSIVE. Or else every media outlet that isn't makes the Rainbow of the gay flag a FRAUD.

This is NOT just about this list, this is about Cybersocket's and OTHER GAY AMERICAN MEDIA OUTLETS' overall behavior of shunning men of color, Black men especially. As I have said on other sites, the only reason Diesel Washington and Eddie Diaz got any recognition was because those were names that they knew their racist cohorts would know.

And don't give me the "preference" vs "racism" speech. I already wrote a post proving how that is a bunch of bullshit.

Mikal said...

Tre you are a one trick pony. And a sorry one at that. Anyone that has different view than yours is branded a racist. Anyone that uses logic that you don't understand is a racist. Anyone that challenges you is a racist.

Then you try to support your point by saying that you "wrote a blog" about whatever topic, suggesting that makes your blog dribble right and the other guys point of view -- wrong.

It's unfortunate that you don't have the skill of civil discourse. No, you are much more comfortable being a flame thrower and then jumping back into your rat hole, only to emerge again when the sensitive subject of race comes up.

Cybersocket's list was a poorly written piece of crap and the conclusion you grasp is that Cybersocket is racist? That's not even high school level logic.

If you weren't so jealous of Diesel Washington, you would know that Cybersocket's coverage of him is more "tongue in cheek" than anything else.

But, little man, go back into your hole and reload. In the next day or so you will surely find another Comments Section in which to throw your "racist" torch.

LeNair Xavier said...

Mikal,

You don't know me well enough to make a call. I don't call things like I see them, I call them as they are. And I don't call every disagreement is out of racism. I will say that it is always out of narrow-mindedness, which does light the fuse to racism among other problem. If you really read my blog to any degree, you would know that. So stop lying to these people. Now, if you can't deal with that, that is your problem, not mine.

And me jealous of Diesel Washington?! This is how I know you're either drunk, high, or BOTH. There is NOTHING to envy abut Diesel Washington. He lives a life I have bettered myself to have no need to live. At last I checked, he gets but so loud on issues that need to be addressed in the industry, because he doesn't want to ruffle the feathers of "Mista Massa Sir". I know this because he actually once advised me to do the same, but I wouldn't lower myself to it. I have never gave a fuck, because it is just porn.

Now, you're probably about to ask if it's just porn, then why make a fuss? It's because it's a sign of a bigger problem in the LGBT community. A problem that has gotten to the point that I don't even watch American gay porn anymore. I watch porn from everywhere else on the globe that I come across, but the U.S. because the American gay porn industry has let this consumer down by its racial stereotyping, of not just Blacks, but all races. I want an Asian top in my porn, but America won't give it. I want more White to top Blacks, but American gay porn won't give it.

So Mikal, look at my track record of the issues I've addressed before you go having diarrhea of the mouth that makes you spread falsehoods. And I never run into a rat hole. At least I have a place to make my voice heard. Where's your link to your blog, so I can get to you directly? I thought so. Now who's running into a rathole.
Do you want sewage with that?

Mikal said...

Xavier, I have looked at your record, that's why I'm calling you out as a one trick pony!

By the way, you have a couple of misspelled words in your post. How's that spell check working out for you?

-blessed holy socks, the non-perishable-zealot said...

God blessa youse -Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL

Jon said...

Hi, interesting blog you got. I have one insight to share if you don't mind. You wrote:

"But when one of the first lines out of your mouth (or on your Manhunt profile) is along the lines of "I'm not into black guys", then that's a douchey thing to do. Not necessarily racist, but still a dick-move."

I agree that is is a dick-move and douchey for someone if they are so compelled to write that they are NOT INTO BLACKS or whatever race. But in this instant, I think this person who feels the need to write that is probably a racist as well. Why can't he just write that he is into white and latin guys? Why does he have to single out the blacks? There is a core dislike and intolerance for blacks that compels him to have to put it in his profile. That is racism. I personally do not feel attracted to black men but I do not go around broadcasting it in my profiles. If a black man tries to hit on me, I say thank you and just take it as a compliment. BTW, I am an asian man and i have seen my fair share of profiles announcing that they are NOT INTO ASIAN. Sometimes that is the only thing they put in their grindr or MH or A4A profile. So I know how it feels to be singled out as a race that those people find so repulsive that there is a need for them to announce it so that they do not have to hear from a single asian. My own experience has taught me to be more tolerant to other race that I do not find sexually attractive.

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