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Yukon 
"Co-editor of FWFR book"
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 Posted - 03/25/2007 : 13:46:01
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I wanted to get some input from other FWffers on the latest review I submitted (it hasn't been approved yet)
For Glory: "Spades of Glory"
The film is about black soldiers fighting in the U.S. civil war, and the it's a pun on the phrase Blades of Glory.
My only concern is 'Spade.' Is it a derogatory term for a black person?
I think of it as one of those awkward terms, like when my grandmother refers to black people as 'darkies.' She's not prejudice, that's just the term she used during her time.
I'd never want to submit something that's blatantly racist because I don't want anyone to read the review and think "That guy should change his name to YuKKKon!"
I'm not looking for a debate on offensive reviews. I just want to know if you consider spade offensive? |
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redPen 
"Because I said so!"
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 14:14:08
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Yuk:
I'm 100% white-as-hell, but my oldest son is black and my two younger sons are 25% black. I find any term that refers to race in a derogatory way offensive.
The question here is: where does the line get drawn on offensive? I've read (and WRITTEN) reviews involving references to gays, sex, mental capacity, etc., which many others would find offensive. It's sort of an implied agreement in here that we wear thick skins. While I would find many reviews offensive in the "outside world," I don't take them as seriously in here. (For example, in your review, it would be obvious you were playing off "Blades.")
I suppose benj will have to play referee on the rules, if there are any. |
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Josh the cat
"ice wouldn't melt, you'd think ....."
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 14:32:14
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I am white anglo saxon and although I am not white like paint I am classified as white, I don't find the term spade offensive and I knew exactley what the review meant but I am white.
If a coloured/black etc person finds it offensive I don't know but I assume that a large number would.
Good luck with your decision, fwfrers like Sean would say that the review if it is accurate correct and clever should stand I imagine, I believe that it is your choice.
Sean if I'm wrong then I apologise.
Good luck
Josh the cat |
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MisterBadIdea 
"PLZ GET MILK, KTHXBYE"
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 15:35:26
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Speaking as a non-white person:
1) Yes, "spade" is a derogatory term for black people
2) But who gives a shit?
But, on second thought, you are effectively submitting an FWFR that says, basically, "Niggers of Glory." Ask yourself: Is it really that funny?
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Edited by - MisterBadIdea on 03/25/2007 15:37:26 |
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bife
"Winners never quit ... fwfr ... "
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 16:06:01
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Whilst I wouldn't consider 'Spade' as derogatory as the N-word, it certainly has negative undertones.
I wouldn't get the 'Blades of glory' pun, and if I didn't know you better I would likely think poorly of you on seeing the review.
In my judgement, you should let this one go. |
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Whippersnapper. 
"A fourword thinking guy."
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 16:22:36
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My straightforward opinion is that the review would be better not written.
Redpen, Benj is strongly anti-authoritarian. He believes in allowing everyone to decide their own limits as much as possible, whether he personally likes it or not.
Therefore we must accept responsibility for our own scribblings and not to fall back on "it met Benj's rules so it's ok" defence. 
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Edited by - Whippersnapper. on 03/25/2007 16:23:31 |
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silly 
"That rabbit's DYNAMITE."
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 16:34:05
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I grew up loving the classic Saturday Night Live skit where Richard Prior is doing word association with Chevy Chase (in case you aren't familiar, the transcript is here).
I found THAT to be funny then, and still do now, because it is set up from the get go to be over the top and Richard is wonderful in it.
That said, as a movie review, it's not as funny to me.
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm white, my oldest is black, and my youngest is half-black (we think). They don't know what a spade is, however, being under the age of ten. That's ok. |
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Shiv
"What a Wonderful World"
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 16:55:03
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| I had never hear of Blades of Glory, so I did wonder what 'spade' referred to. |
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demonic
"Cinemaniac"
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 17:40:02
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I'm white, and I live in a predominately black part of south London. I think if I walked onto my street now and approached the gang of kids who often hang about on the corner and in jest called them "spades" I would definitely get stabbed. I'm of the opinion that it is definitely a derogatory term, at least in these parts.
Also, like Shiv, I never heard the phrase "Blades of Glory" so it wouldn't be a clear reference to me. |
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randall 
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 18:02:28
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The other classic instance is in THE BLACK BIRD, an otherwise failed comic remake of THE MALTESE FALCON, wherein George Segal as Sam Spade is in a jail cell with a bunch of other guys, all of 'em black. The guard comes up to the cell and asks for Segal: "SPADE!" Everybody in the cell stands up. Sorry, but that's just funny.
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Sean
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
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Posted - 03/25/2007 : 23:49:04
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I think if you get that one approved, wrath might be heaped upon you in spades. 
If I saw a review like that I'd make no assumptions about the attitude of the writer (i.e, whether or not Yukon is actually YuKKKon), but there will be plenty who would see it and hate it (as the above posts have suggested).
I wouldn't personally submit that, (believe it or not, I do self-censor) as I know there will be plenty of people who will have an adverse reaction to it, and I'd see it as not worth the bother and aggravation. Call it "submission to the will of the many". |
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Downtown 
"Welcome back, Billy Buck"
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Posted - 03/26/2007 : 01:40:01
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| Spades and darkies are definitely slurs, albeit very dated ones. I suppose on the ladder of slurs they're not as bad as others, if one believes such a thing is possible. |
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Yukon
"Co-editor of FWFR book"
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Posted - 03/26/2007 : 02:38:39
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Thanks for your input. I'm killing it.
I've been philospohical about racial slurs after a story I wrote for the newspaper I work it. It contained the phrase "midget." A 'little person' called me up screaming, saying midget to a dwarf is like calling a black person a nigger.
I apoligized, but remember thinking "Who made you the language police? Who are you to suddenly decide that word is offensive?" I still hear the word used all the time.
It made me realize that some slurs are obvious (eg. nigger) and some are not. (Some Native Americans find the term Indian offensive while others think its acceptable.)
And no wonder why my Blades of Glory review a few weeks ago in the FYC got so few votes. People haven't heard about the movie yet. You'll be seeing it soon because it opens this Friday and I'm betting its going to be a blockbuster. Will Farrell and Jon Herder play a competitive all-male pairs figure skaters. I'm not the biggest Will Farrell fan but this looks funny! |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 03/26/2007 : 08:36:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Yukon
And no wonder why my Blades of Glory review a few weeks ago in the FYC got so few votes. People haven't heard about the movie yet. You'll be seeing it soon because it opens this Friday and I'm betting its going to be a blockbuster. Will Farrell and Jon Herder play a competitive all-male pairs figure skaters. I'm not the biggest Will Farrell fan but this looks funny!
I saw the trailer, and it did look reasonably funny ...so it should be on gen release in the UK soon. Title, of course, is a play on "blaze of glory."
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damalc
"last watched: Sausage Party"
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Posted - 03/26/2007 : 11:50:47
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spade is a derogatory term. and as long as we're talking about that word, i'm curious about Salopian's review for "Blood Diamond": "Diamond, spade." i suppose in that case Salop' could be talking about an actual digging tool.
being offended is an occupational hazard in a free society.
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 03/26/2007 : 12:15:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Yukon
And no wonder why my Blades of Glory review a few weeks ago in the FYC got so few votes. People haven't heard about the movie yet. You'll be seeing it soon because it opens this Friday and I'm betting its going to be a blockbuster. Will Farrell and Jon Herder play a competitive all-male pairs figure skaters. I'm not the biggest Will Farrell fan but this looks funny!
Um... hope you all enjoy it. I, on the other hand, will avoid it like the plague. I totally dispise Will Farrell, and nothing anyone can say will convince me that he's any different in this one than in any of his other films. Hell, one of my reviews of The Wedding Crashers proves that (and if I had known he appeared in the film, I might have changed the channel LONG before his scenes came on).
(Blech! and  x 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000) |
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Calling a spade a spade
