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HelpRe: African-American section
in reply to a message by Kitandkat
Yeah, you're just going to have to get over this one.
There are some names that are used primarily or exclusively by African Americans. No where does it say "These names are trashy and ghetto". That's you. We're not going to pretend African American culture doesn't exist because you have a preconceived notion about names used in that culture.
Rosalie Quentin Larkin
Starlight Nocturne Silver
www.behindthename.com/pnl/59411
There are some names that are used primarily or exclusively by African Americans. No where does it say "These names are trashy and ghetto". That's you. We're not going to pretend African American culture doesn't exist because you have a preconceived notion about names used in that culture.
Starlight Nocturne Silver
www.behindthename.com/pnl/59411
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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yes
i would suggest though that there should a note among the comment guidelines advising people not to use words like trashy and ghetto, not to mock foreign names, etc.
i would suggest though that there should a note among the comment guidelines advising people not to use words like trashy and ghetto, not to mock foreign names, etc.
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Exactly. A few anti-racist statements can go a long way.
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No.
I could see moving the "Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy." to the top of the page and adding a disclaimer that they don't reflect the views of the website.
Still, just because something appears in print doesn't mean anyone but the author believes it.
It's still informative, to know that some people who'd comment on a name here, think it's "trashy" or "ghetto" or laughable or seems pathetic, or is "tacky" or "pretentious" or whatever. Someone might like to know such opinions exist. Letting people say them doesn't imply approval or agreement.
I could see moving the "Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy." to the top of the page and adding a disclaimer that they don't reflect the views of the website.
Still, just because something appears in print doesn't mean anyone but the author believes it.
It's still informative, to know that some people who'd comment on a name here, think it's "trashy" or "ghetto" or laughable or seems pathetic, or is "tacky" or "pretentious" or whatever. Someone might like to know such opinions exist. Letting people say them doesn't imply approval or agreement.
This message was edited 6/19/2018, 11:46 AM
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i'm not saying that it implies approval of any kind. more that hearing these opinions are far more hurtful than helpful. i doubt hearing "this name sounds ghetto literally just because it has a sh sound" is something anyone wants to hear about their name, their baby's potential name, etc. african american names are mocked enough as is.
providing that guideline (saying that to mean a serious suggestion, not a punishable offense-unless it's incredibly malicious), also helps serve this site's purpose. that is, to educate people about the etymology of names. asking to please refrain from mocking names of other cultures, consider the weight of mocking them, helps remind people that these names are, well, names. more often than not with complex meanings and histories.
a lot of people who use words like "ghetto" don't even realize they're being racist. suggesting not to use that word because, well, it is racist, makes people stop and think.
when i was younger, i made a crass comment on the religious meaning of one name (i was an edgy atheist who didn't fully realize that it didn't give me the right to look down on religions i wasn't raised with). a while later, i noticed that my comment got deleted. though i had grown up a bit by then, it still made that made me realize "oh, that was wrong of me to say", on another level. granted, i was a tween, but i think plenty of adults who make these comments can also rethink their values if it's brought to their attention.
providing that guideline (saying that to mean a serious suggestion, not a punishable offense-unless it's incredibly malicious), also helps serve this site's purpose. that is, to educate people about the etymology of names. asking to please refrain from mocking names of other cultures, consider the weight of mocking them, helps remind people that these names are, well, names. more often than not with complex meanings and histories.
a lot of people who use words like "ghetto" don't even realize they're being racist. suggesting not to use that word because, well, it is racist, makes people stop and think.
when i was younger, i made a crass comment on the religious meaning of one name (i was an edgy atheist who didn't fully realize that it didn't give me the right to look down on religions i wasn't raised with). a while later, i noticed that my comment got deleted. though i had grown up a bit by then, it still made that made me realize "oh, that was wrong of me to say", on another level. granted, i was a tween, but i think plenty of adults who make these comments can also rethink their values if it's brought to their attention.
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yes
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This.
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