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quote:
almost impossible not to know someone who is affected.
true. i just got this email from my friend..
OMG. One of the cleaning guys here in our office has a wife and child in Haiti. He cannot get ahold of them, and has no idea if they are alive or not. L
very sad. but at the same time i dont think i made an callous remarks. aloof, yes. callous, NO. i think people have a tendency to just read everything thru dramaqueen spectacles.
CGar, I have a very accepting sense of the absurd, and what I consider to be a very good sense of humor. I, too, can see the absurdities in horrible situations, and can make light of them. Remind me to tell you all about funeral parlors and my mother’s death. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for humor’s ability to help us get through situations that are too big to stare in the face without going insane.
I even gave Rob an “out”, by granting that his remarks were his way of coping. He is, as we all are, free to say whatever he wants, a right he takes full advantage of. I am also free to say that there are times, and this is one of them, that one should consider putting their finger on the delete button, and do some self editing. Rob is seemingly incapable of that, and I don’t think it is above my own right to have a little righteous indignation about it. I really don’t care about the voodoo remark either, it’s ignorant, but Rob can be the prince of ignorance on many topics.
I agree, soon the news will be all over some other cause, but there is a big difference between Harry Reid, the trials and tribulations of whatever pop star, and a disaster of biblical proportion affecting thousands of people only a three hour plane ride away. The larger problem of the media is not that they will give this unlimited coverage, ad nauseum, for a week, it’s rather that after that week, we won’t see or hear about Haiti until the next disaster, and that is wrong. Nonetheless, for now it is big news, and I can’t help but think how horrible it is for all of the Haitians blocks from me in Crown Heights and Flatbush, or wherever, who don’t know if their families are alive or dead, or trapped underneath the rubble. They are glued to the tv, the only source of information, to see if they can get a glimpse of their neighborhood, or their loved ones. I would hate to be in their position, and if it inconveniences Rob, or anyone else, to have that coverage on right now, because it’s not going to be on for all that long, then so be it.
I find it unthinking for someone to be so unaware of the implications of these careless comments, and I do not think that it’s ok to dismiss them as simply Rob being Rob. Some of you have become his official enablers and apologists, and excuse his “oops,(hand over mouth stifling a giggle) did I say THAT?” remarks, as they get more and more outrageous. His remarks the other day about Mrs. Flowers in the Gowanus Houses were inexcusible. I’m glad he apologized later in the day, but the damage was done. He called that woman and her family horrible names and accused them of actions and behaviour with no proof, no evidence, and no reason, other than his long standing problem with people he sees as having something he doesn’t or they shouldn’t. First amendment rights – sure, he can say whatever he wants. My first amendment rights, and bxgrl and anyone else’s, allow us to call foul. We can all chose to scroll down, or react. I react, because I think Rob is a highly intelligent person who can do better.
In general, I think the discourse here on Brownstoner can be insightful, often very funny, and often full of heart. It can also be full of comments coming from everyone’s – me, you, anyone’s, own baggage of background, education, life experiences, hidden and not so hidden prejudices, assumptions and expectations. Considering the alternatives, most of us manage to edit out most of the negatives, we are not as bilious as Curbed, or worse, the comments given on newspaper sites, or other venues. Most of us know when a comment is just not cool to post, for whatever reason. We have found real friends, and in finding those friends, have developed expectations as to those friends expressing themselves in ways that we approve of. It therefore become more hurtful to find out that we can have deep disagreements on certain topics, certain people, certain core aspects of what is acceptable or not acceptable in oneself and others. I do not presume to dictate what is allowable on Brownstoner, but since we all have equal voices, we will all agree to disagree, sometimes quite loudly and stridently, for the foreseeable future, and will continue to call ’em as I see ’em. I’m sure everyone else will do so too, so this long exercise of mine won’t really mean a thing.
“DH – wow I had no idea about those charity organzations keeping most of the money donated, really makes you wonder”
I’ve done quite a few financial statement audits of not-for-profit charitable organizations and it’s amazing how highly compensated their employees are, and how little of the money actually goes to the cause.
Can’t say anything about the Red Cross with regards to that – but it definitely pays to do research when donating to see where your money is going.
I do that in my potato salad Dave. I don’t usually tell people though or no one would eat it. People think adding mayo is bad enough if I told them about the bacon fat they’d run away in horror instead of licking out the bowl which is usually the case.
quote:
almost impossible not to know someone who is affected.
true. i just got this email from my friend..
OMG. One of the cleaning guys here in our office has a wife and child in Haiti. He cannot get ahold of them, and has no idea if they are alive or not. L
very sad. but at the same time i dont think i made an callous remarks. aloof, yes. callous, NO. i think people have a tendency to just read everything thru dramaqueen spectacles.
*rob*
What’s up? I went to have a drink at Blogacide on 47th, between Lex and Third. It’s on the north side of the street between FUBAR and STFU.
CGar, I have a very accepting sense of the absurd, and what I consider to be a very good sense of humor. I, too, can see the absurdities in horrible situations, and can make light of them. Remind me to tell you all about funeral parlors and my mother’s death. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for humor’s ability to help us get through situations that are too big to stare in the face without going insane.
I even gave Rob an “out”, by granting that his remarks were his way of coping. He is, as we all are, free to say whatever he wants, a right he takes full advantage of. I am also free to say that there are times, and this is one of them, that one should consider putting their finger on the delete button, and do some self editing. Rob is seemingly incapable of that, and I don’t think it is above my own right to have a little righteous indignation about it. I really don’t care about the voodoo remark either, it’s ignorant, but Rob can be the prince of ignorance on many topics.
I agree, soon the news will be all over some other cause, but there is a big difference between Harry Reid, the trials and tribulations of whatever pop star, and a disaster of biblical proportion affecting thousands of people only a three hour plane ride away. The larger problem of the media is not that they will give this unlimited coverage, ad nauseum, for a week, it’s rather that after that week, we won’t see or hear about Haiti until the next disaster, and that is wrong. Nonetheless, for now it is big news, and I can’t help but think how horrible it is for all of the Haitians blocks from me in Crown Heights and Flatbush, or wherever, who don’t know if their families are alive or dead, or trapped underneath the rubble. They are glued to the tv, the only source of information, to see if they can get a glimpse of their neighborhood, or their loved ones. I would hate to be in their position, and if it inconveniences Rob, or anyone else, to have that coverage on right now, because it’s not going to be on for all that long, then so be it.
I find it unthinking for someone to be so unaware of the implications of these careless comments, and I do not think that it’s ok to dismiss them as simply Rob being Rob. Some of you have become his official enablers and apologists, and excuse his “oops,(hand over mouth stifling a giggle) did I say THAT?” remarks, as they get more and more outrageous. His remarks the other day about Mrs. Flowers in the Gowanus Houses were inexcusible. I’m glad he apologized later in the day, but the damage was done. He called that woman and her family horrible names and accused them of actions and behaviour with no proof, no evidence, and no reason, other than his long standing problem with people he sees as having something he doesn’t or they shouldn’t. First amendment rights – sure, he can say whatever he wants. My first amendment rights, and bxgrl and anyone else’s, allow us to call foul. We can all chose to scroll down, or react. I react, because I think Rob is a highly intelligent person who can do better.
In general, I think the discourse here on Brownstoner can be insightful, often very funny, and often full of heart. It can also be full of comments coming from everyone’s – me, you, anyone’s, own baggage of background, education, life experiences, hidden and not so hidden prejudices, assumptions and expectations. Considering the alternatives, most of us manage to edit out most of the negatives, we are not as bilious as Curbed, or worse, the comments given on newspaper sites, or other venues. Most of us know when a comment is just not cool to post, for whatever reason. We have found real friends, and in finding those friends, have developed expectations as to those friends expressing themselves in ways that we approve of. It therefore become more hurtful to find out that we can have deep disagreements on certain topics, certain people, certain core aspects of what is acceptable or not acceptable in oneself and others. I do not presume to dictate what is allowable on Brownstoner, but since we all have equal voices, we will all agree to disagree, sometimes quite loudly and stridently, for the foreseeable future, and will continue to call ’em as I see ’em. I’m sure everyone else will do so too, so this long exercise of mine won’t really mean a thing.
White Chocolate isn’t chocolate!
Wake up, Dave and go get some real chocolate with at least 60% cocoa.
“DH – wow I had no idea about those charity organzations keeping most of the money donated, really makes you wonder”
I’ve done quite a few financial statement audits of not-for-profit charitable organizations and it’s amazing how highly compensated their employees are, and how little of the money actually goes to the cause.
Can’t say anything about the Red Cross with regards to that – but it definitely pays to do research when donating to see where your money is going.
DIBS:
I have to admit, am not a fan of white chocolate at all….
I’ve probably achieved troll status Lech – SCORE!!
“CGar, pull a 11217 and come back.”
Homo?
– Posted by: Biff Champion at January 13, 2010 1:13 PM
My post (admittingly) was a set-up for CGar, to entice him to post a naught comment.
hhhmmmm, let me see, what else can I say?
I do that in my potato salad Dave. I don’t usually tell people though or no one would eat it. People think adding mayo is bad enough if I told them about the bacon fat they’d run away in horror instead of licking out the bowl which is usually the case.