Comments on: Michael Gerson understands neither anti-semitism, bigotry, nor the internet http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/2009/09/29/michael-gerson-understands-neither-anti-semitism-bigotry-nor-the-internet/ Hanoi, Lomé, Amsterdam, NYC -- and beyond Sun, 08 Aug 2010 10:24:43 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brian In NYC http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/2009/09/29/michael-gerson-understands-neither-anti-semitism-bigotry-nor-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Brian In NYC Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:05:25 +0000 http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/?p=328#comment-157 Context is important, sometimes you have to be careful you don't lose the forest for the tree. Context is important, sometimes you have to be careful you don’t lose the forest for the tree.

]]> By: Jessica Faye Carter http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/2009/09/29/michael-gerson-understands-neither-anti-semitism-bigotry-nor-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Jessica Faye Carter Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:38:52 +0000 http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/?p=328#comment-156 I used to have that same understanding, but over time found that those who would otherwise be the target of the slur just didn't like seeing/hearing the word bandied about. These days I just say "slur" directed towards "whomever." I do appreciate the adjustment, though. I used to have that same understanding, but over time found that those who would otherwise be the target of the slur just didn’t like seeing/hearing the word bandied about.

These days I just say “slur” directed towards “whomever.” I do appreciate the adjustment, though.

]]> By: Matt Steinglass http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/2009/09/29/michael-gerson-understands-neither-anti-semitism-bigotry-nor-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Matt Steinglass Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:57:16 +0000 http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/?p=328#comment-155 Yyyeah...that's getting into a whole other territory. Yyyeah…that’s getting into a whole other territory.

]]> By: Matt Steinglass http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/2009/09/29/michael-gerson-understands-neither-anti-semitism-bigotry-nor-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Matt Steinglass Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:52:58 +0000 http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/?p=328#comment-154 I may be unclear about this, but my understanding is that, just as it would be fine for anybody to say "you cannot use the word 'kike'" because what you're saying is simply that you can't use the word, one of the few allowable ways to use that word is in referring to the word itself, rather than in using it to refer to anything else. I believe it should have had quotes around it, though. And you're right, at some level it's unpleasant to see the words in print at all, so it probably would have been better to say that it's just <del datetime="2009-09-29T15:54:07+00:00">a stylistic error</del> a no-go for white people to toss around words that refer in a derogatory manner to black people, even in fun. I may be unclear about this, but my understanding is that, just as it would be fine for anybody to say “you cannot use the word ‘kike’” because what you’re saying is simply that you can’t use the word, one of the few allowable ways to use that word is in referring to the word itself, rather than in using it to refer to anything else. I believe it should have had quotes around it, though. And you’re right, at some level it’s unpleasant to see the words in print at all, so it probably would have been better to say that it’s just a stylistic error a no-go for white people to toss around words that refer in a derogatory manner to black people, even in fun.

]]> By: Brian In NYC http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/2009/09/29/michael-gerson-understands-neither-anti-semitism-bigotry-nor-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-153 Brian In NYC Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:52:37 +0000 http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/?p=328#comment-153 Good piece Matt, I do know Gerson's family background is Jewish, I don't know when or if his family converted it's not stated in his wiki. I suspect his family converted as he was sent to a private Christian high school. This of course adds another aspect to the entire story in my view. Good piece Matt, I do know Gerson’s family background is Jewish, I don’t know when or if his family converted it’s not stated in his wiki. I suspect his family converted as he was sent to a private Christian high school. This of course adds another aspect to the entire story in my view.

]]> By: Jessica Faye Carter http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/2009/09/29/michael-gerson-understands-neither-anti-semitism-bigotry-nor-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Jessica Faye Carter Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:47:52 +0000 http://trueslant.com/matthewsteinglass/?p=328#comment-152 I think your article is very interesting. I'm just not clear on why you think it's acceptable for you to use the "n-word" in an article that eviscerates a person for overstepping their bounds with regards to your ethnic group. I think your article is very interesting. I’m just not clear on why you think it’s acceptable for you to use the “n-word” in an article that eviscerates a person for overstepping their bounds with regards to your ethnic group.

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