Racism

[powderpuff]

Jing I'm just wondering how you would react to a line of brushes called "Gayman" ?

[transam]

Jing I'm just wondering how you would react to a line of brushes called "Gayman" ?

Depends on the handle shape, l wager.

[cardholder]

Jing I'm just wondering how you would react to a line of brushes called "Gayman" ?

Depends on the handle shape, l wager.

The mind boggles !

[transam]

Jing I'm just wondering how you would react to a line of brushes called "Gayman" ?

Depends on the handle shape, l wager.

The mind boggles !

Depends on the shape.

[bifftastic]

African men in Thailand wouldn't be granted WORK PERMITS to do cleaning work in Thailand.

So the products are stereotyping a group of people to do this lower level work in a country where you never see them doing this lower level work?

It really doesn't mean the same thing it would in a western country racialized on black-white grounds.

Next ...

Exactly

[bridge]

It's political correctness that ruined Golliwog biscuits (I use to love them) now they are known as dam_n Scalliwag's. They just done taste the same anymore.

[transam]

It's political correctness that ruined Golliwog biscuits (I use to love them) now they are known as dam_n Scalliwag's. They just done taste the same anymore.

Exactly

BUT, call them white mans fancy, NOOOOOO problem eh.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

I once saw a boy in Carrefour wearing a t-shirt with NSDAP (and the full text of what it stands for in German) along with a big swastika.

Now THAT can be called offensive.

But I am quite sure the poor boy didn't have a clue what kind of shirt he was wearing.......

Not necessarily. The Swastika design was stolen from Tibetian buddhists who considered it sacred geometry or something.

It's too bad the sign has a bad association now because its a cool shape.

Swatika wiki

[Sparkles]

Swastika Bungalows, at Sanur Beach, in Bali, is my favourite place to stay along with many other folk including people from all over Europe .In the Hindu culture it,of course, means something totally different, the meaning of which I can't remember but the resort has been there for 20 years at least.They sell quite a nice polo shirt with the name on the crest.

[bully]

Sorry nothing better to think about, we are living in a different century. Poor you.

[transam]

Swastika Bungalows, at Sanur Beach, in Bali, is my favourite place to stay along with many other folk including people from all over Europe .In the Hindu culture it,of course, means something totally different, the meaning of which I can't remember but the resort has been there for 20 years at least.They sell quite a nice polo shirt with the name on the crest.

Run by the SS eh.

Weeeeeell, most disappeared somewhere eh.

[whatsupdoc]

I once saw a boy in Carrefour wearing a t-shirt with NSDAP (and the full text of what it stands for in German) along with a big swastika.

Now THAT can be called offensive.

But I am quite sure the poor boy didn't have a clue what kind of shirt he was wearing.......

Not necessarily. The Swastika design was stolen from Tibetian buddhists who considered it sacred geometry or something.

It's too bad the sign has a bad association now because its a cool shape.

Swatika wiki

I always thought that the orientation of the swastika symbol used by the Nazi's was opposite to the Hindu one, but apparently in the latter case both orientations were used.

The case of the T-shirt was clear though, especially in combination with NSDAP.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

I once saw a boy in Carrefour wearing a t-shirt with NSDAP (and the full text of what it stands for in German) along with a big swastika.

Now THAT can be called offensive.

But I am quite sure the poor boy didn't have a clue what kind of shirt he was wearing.......

Not necessarily. The Swastika design was stolen from Tibetian buddhists who considered it sacred geometry or something.

It's too bad the sign has a bad association now because its a cool shape.

Swatika wiki

I always thought that the orientation of the swastika symbol used by the Nazi's was opposite to the Hindu one, but apparently in the latter case both orientations were used.

The case of the T-shirt was clear though, especially in combination with NSDAP.

I see asian people wearing english shirts and obviously not clear on what it means. Goes the opposite way with westerners who get Tattoo's with Chinese characters.

The guy or company that made the shirt should know better but maybe not. It's bad taste even if by mistake. Do some research before selling product.

They are getting closer with Iphone applications that allow the user to point at a sign/paper etc and will automagically translate. Haven't seen it for Thai yet but it's coming.. Will be a nice tool for those not literate in languages.

[jackers]

Well Brommers I applaud you for your stance but I think

1. Your fighting a losing battle from the word go. Thailand and many other countries in the region are very backward on race issues and it's not going to change any time soon. Dark skin bad, light skin good, no doubt someone will say it has nothing to do racism with at all, it's to do with wealth and poverty rather than race but that's just being blind. I think you're better off fighting the battle somewhere else.
2. Kind of a waste of time posting this here as you can seen from some of the replies, there are some posters who wouldn't know what racism was if it kicked them in the face and many don't give toss anyway. Some of these expats are far more racist than your average Thai.

[powderpuff]

You should have seen all the Osama Bin Laden t shirts after 9-11 down around Soi 3. More than one or 2 Arabs got their asses kicked.

The Thais were oblivious.

Ever notice how popular the mass murderer Che Guevara is?

[Jingthing]

Jing I'm just wondering how you would react to a line of brushes called "Gayman" ?

With indifference. What's the joke? Sounds like a stupid business plan.

[OldeBellPedr]

If you are not a Thai national you will not be treated with equality most of the time and the more time you spend here the more you will see this.

Even if you are a Thai national, you will experience inequality. That's the way the culture is and has been forever. I've heard it said that you can take the entire population of the country and line them up, and always someone will have to show deference to a superior, whether because of age, education, skin tone, wealth, family name, military or police rank, monastic order, and so on. And they like it that way, or it wouldn't be so.

They like it that way?!? They tried to get away from it, but the military and judiciary trampled all over the peoples wishes. They should have saved their protests until this year. With the revolutions going on around the world, maybe they'd be understood now.

Brings something to mind.

Some years ago, one of the Bond girls was named ' Honor Blackman '.

By the opinion of some, she should be entitled to a double whammy.

Black as to objectional color/colour

&

Man and gender specificity

Her name perhaps would be better or more P/C as

Honor Transparentperson

Gonzo- the actresses name is Honor Blackman, not the character. Poor girl couldn't do much about her name! And a fine actress she is - aged 85 and still going strong!!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

You should have seen all the Osama Bin Laden t shirts after 9-11 down around Soi 3. More than one or 2 Arabs got their asses kicked.

The Thais were oblivious.

Ever notice how popular the mass murderer Che Guevara is?

Don't be silly. Objective background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara

[Jingthing]

The real history of Che isn't really the point. The image of Che has become a global icon, and will likely have eternal appeal for rebellious youth of many countries.

[wales01]

This has to be a joke....... what do you think the SA embassey are going to do! They cannot even sought out their own problems do you really think they will be bothered by this! i don think so

[jez56]

"As a person who has lived in South Africa and been through all the racism there I found that for a Thai national chain to stock & display such a blatantly derogatory brand was deeply offensive."

==========================================

Why don't you blacklist them?

[brommers]

In would like to recognise that the store has now withdrawn these offensive items, and I commend their swift response.

Try living under Apartheid and see what negative stereotyping feels like. It has permanently damaged the economic success of the majority of South Africans and poisoned relationships between races. To harbour such attitudes on the personal level is one thing but for a commercial enterprise to promote it through branding is another and must be stamped out.

To those who find my attitude difficult to swallow, so be it. I have endured much worse than your words when I worked against the system in South Africa. I will continue to espouse tolerance of race, of gender, of orientation, ageism etc no matter where it manifests itself.

[endure]

I think you have too much time on your hands.

Thailand is as racist as anywhere I have been - I stopped being shocked when my girlfriend referred to blacks as 'chocolate men' .

That's because they're lovely to lick...

[Jingthing]

In would like to recognise that the store has now withdrawn these offensive items, and I commend their swift response.

Did they really? That's silly and I feel sorry for that store to be abused like that for basically nothing. Those are good products with a long history in THAILAND and in the context of the racialism in Thai society, which is massive but not related to South African issues, those Black Man cleaning products are meaningless.

[Naam]

I think you have too much time on your hands.

Thailand is as racist as anywhere I have been - I stopped being shocked when my girlfriend referred to blacks as 'chocolate men' .

reminds of a time many rainy seasons ago when i was a tourist. was sitting at a bar and talking to a black American when one of the girls grabbed his hand and said "oh you chocolate man. i like chocolate too mutt".

the American replied with a big grin "yeah, and i've got a big chocolate bar for you to taste."

p.s. in the 80s there was another nice one to hear "you Austalya, same kangaloo hop hop hop."

advice for the OP: "get a life for God's sake!"

[Diablo Bob]

In would like to recognise that the store has now withdrawn these offensive items, and I commend their swift response.

Try living under Apartheid and see what negative stereotyping feels like. It has permanently damaged the economic success of the majority of South Africans and poisoned relationships between races. To harbour such attitudes on the personal level is one thing but for a commercial enterprise to promote it through branding is another and must be stamped out.

To those who find my attitude difficult to swallow, so be it. I have endured much worse than your words when I worked against the system in South Africa. I will continue to espouse tolerance of race, of gender, of orientation, ageism etc no matter where it manifests itself.

Wow, a super hero Do you use a phone booth to change into your mask & cape.

[jackers]

In would like to recognise that the store has now withdrawn these offensive items, and I commend their swift response.

Try living under Apartheid and see what negative stereotyping feels like. It has permanently damaged the economic success of the majority of South Africans and poisoned relationships between races. To harbour such attitudes on the personal level is one thing but for a commercial enterprise to promote it through branding is another and must be stamped out.

To those who find my attitude difficult to swallow, so be it. I have endured much worse than your words when I worked against the system in South Africa. I will continue to espouse tolerance of race, of gender, of orientation, ageism etc no matter where it manifests itself.

Well fair play to you. What made them withdraw? Was it pressure from the South Africa embassy? Yes it is a small drop in the ocean compared to what is around in around Asia, I'd have at a guess many stores still stock these products and the darkie toothpaste which is apparently popular, but it's better than nothing. Such products wouldn't be allowed nowadays in England or U.S and many other places.

Hey if you thought some of the replies in this thread were bad, just look at this thread below. It's a shocker.

http://www.thaivisa....usters-etc-etc/

Like I say many expats are much more racist than the natives. With Thai's and other Asian's I feel that with many their racism comes from more of from a position of ignorance due lack of exposure to black people and a lack of race education with the expats the majority know that these products are wrong and wouldn't be allowed in their home country, their intend is much more nasty, they really mean to offend..as you can see from the threads.

[Dellboy218]

In would like to recognise that the store has now withdrawn these offensive items, and I commend their swift response.

Try living under Apartheid and see what negative stereotyping feels like. It has permanently damaged the economic success of the majority of South Africans and poisoned relationships between races. To harbour such attitudes on the personal level is one thing but for a commercial enterprise to promote it through branding is another and must be stamped out.

To those who find my attitude difficult to swallow, so be it. I have endured much worse than your words when I worked against the system in South Africa. I will continue to espouse tolerance of race, of gender, of orientation, ageism etc no matter where it manifests itself.

You keep telling us about your fight in S.Africa. I used to be a regular visitor into Capetown and Durban when my ship used to call there and I admit it used to be awkward going ashore with the Celyonese 2nd Mate (he never accepted the Sri Lanakan bit) and finding somewhere we both could have a drink. I don't know how you can equate that system of Government with a brand name. I will be very surprised if that company has taken the slightest bit of notice of you as everyone sells that brand. Am I racist, well being married to a woman from another race for the past 20 odd years would indicate otherwise. If your not deliberately trying to wind people up then you seem to be a crusader in search of a crusade. Good luck with it but there is no need to tell us about it. Honest!

[jackers]

Post if you want to post Brommers, this is a forum for discussion. Just be aware your very unlikely to change the stick in the mud racist attitudes of many posters here.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

In would like to recognise that the store has now withdrawn these offensive items, and I commend their swift response.

Did they really?

Really realy. .

Let's see, Brommers posted about this great injustice at 6:15pm last night, and this morning at 6:40am he reports the store acted swiftly to Mr. Irate Farang's complaint and removed all unsold stock, then informed him by 6am-ish, well before store opening!

And who says Thailand doesn't do proper customer service! Eh! eh!!

I'm especially envious to get a three-pager out of it just overnight. Respect!!

So there it is: Alles sal reg kom as ons almal ons plig doen.