my kids love them and I always have them in the house.
they like the chicken and the beef
I also use them to make broccoli slaw. (awesome recipe)
....but thats another post!
-CCL

I hate, hate, hate the smug usage of the word "ghetto" by middle class white people.

I didn't mean it like that. My neighbor called it that and it stuck. I live in a housing complex where most people here aren't white, and i consider it a priviledge to live here cuz i was extremely ignorant when i moved here 9 years ago. If you saw my hometown, you'd understand. I didn't mean to cause offense. And p.s. i didn't start calling it that, my friend told my kids and it stuck. So i'm sorry if you got offended.
-the happy gemini

The language we choose to use, reveals more about us sometimes, than what we realize.

I was a moderator on a board many years ago, and had to ask an individual to either change his user name (it had a slang label in it) or be banned. He replied that he "was one" and if he didnt mind it why should I. He wound up changing the username after a lengthy discussion on word associations and the sociology of labels.

Don't get me wrong, I believe people can say what that want to say, call theirselves what they want to call theirselves or sing what they want to sing, BUT I dont have to respect or hold anything else they say with any regard after that. And for censoring others from using offensive or potentially offensive language, it might be helpful to say "Your right to swing your arm ends at my nose" (or others' noses as the case may be). If you question your own use of the term, as mild as it may be, then that may indicate you do indeed feel it was a "bad reference".

It is one of the milder words i've seen people get offended by, but still, there are way too many noses on this website to be swinging an arm so casually.

There have been several phrases lately used on the AQ forums that are potentially offensive, yet no one else has questioned (at least in public) their use. I have several friends that go into complete meltdown if the word Nazi or Hitler is used in any other connotation that to refer to the real things. They feel anyone who uses those words in a joking manner or as a term to describe someone as being "bad" deminishes the truely horrific evil that Hitler and the Nazis were. Yes, they had grandparents that were sent to concentration camps, so to them... you can see how the word "soup nazi" would make them just cringe. We are so far removed from that generation, that it's easy to make slang usage out of a name or a group of people..... or a place.

Which brings me to another interesting fact... you may have been concerned about offending one group of people with the word ghetto, when in fact, you may want to look the word up and see exactly where the word comes from.

But, someone will be offended by anything that someone else says/types. That is human nature. The best we can do, is to try to be a little more aware and considerate and at the same time, a little more forgiving when others tread without malice on our sensitivities.

cam

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There have been several phrases lately used on the AQ forums that are potentially offensive, yet no one else has questioned (at least in public) their use. I have several friends that go into complete meltdown if the word Nazi or Hitler is used in any other connotation that to refer to the real things. They feel anyone who uses those words in a joking manner or as a term to describe someone as being "bad" deminishes the truely horrific evil that Hitler and the Nazis were. Yes, they had grandparents that were sent to concentration camps, so to them... you can see how the word "soup nazi" would make them just cringe. We are so far removed from that generation, that it's easy to make slang usage out of a name or a group of people..... or a place.

Actually, the Nazi reference is not viewed that way by everyone who has been harmed by them. My sister and I use the term "body Nazis" about people who are so concerned about fitness that they have called us names because we are fat. It seems appropriate to us because there is hatred involved, which is part of what made the Nazis so terrible. We use that term advisedly--my family, alas, is not far removed from the generation that was hurt by Hitler; our father was a Polish immigrant directly affected by Nazi hatred. The Nazis perpetrated most of their horrific acts--and much of the worst of them--on the Jewish people; but they hated many other groups as well, including slavs (that would include Poles, Czechs, etc.), gays, and those with disabilities.

I very much support your idea of being sensitive. Because of not wanting to minimize the horrors of the Nazis, we use the term "body Nazis" when speaking with those who know something of our history. Just wanted to point out that sometimes, people who feel strongly on a subject may use terms that seem odd to others, but it is because they are acknowledging their own pain, not because they are being flippant about it.

Pied Piper

Hey Pink!! We haven't seen you for a while.

I like ramen noodles. anything but chicken...and maybe pork. I usually boil them then put the noodles in a bowl and THEN put the seasoning over them.

Shiloh

does anyone like ramen noodles? i'm just curious. =DDDD I love them to death.</end quote>

My whole family loves them. The favorite flavors here are shrimp and creamy chicken. I have also used them in a chinese coleslaw(very yummy). I have the recipe if anyone wants it.

I used to have a friend that would use the noodles as bread and put peanut butter on them. Not sure if I could do that, but I do like them uncooked:)

Trish;)

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have also used them in a chinese coleslaw(very yummy). I have the recipe if anyone wants it.

I want it! I want it!

Pied Piper

"Actually, the Nazi reference is not viewed that way by everyone who has been harmed by them. My sister and I use the term "body Nazis" about people who are so concerned about fitness that they have called us names because we are fat. It seems appropriate to us because there is hatred involved, which is part of what made the Nazis so terrible. We use that term advisedly--my family, alas, is not far removed from the generation that was hurt by Hitler; our father was a Polish immigrant directly affected by Nazi hatred. The Nazis perpetrated most of their horrific acts--and much of the worst of them--on the Jewish people; but they hated many other groups as well, including slavs (that would include Poles, Czechs, etc.), gays, and those with disabilities."

My grandparents were in a concentration camp and my mother was born in a war refugee camp. Yet I call myself a "camera nazi" all the time due to my own camera habits, and do not take offense at other's usage of the term nazi, or camp, or holocaust or whatever.

In terms of the refernece to ghetto -- sometimes it is "white guilt" as I have heard it called. I grew up in the 'hood and that is what I call it. the 'hood. My mother still lives there. That is home to me. It's the ghetto. I am ghetto-fabulous. When I say "playa please!" to my African American friends and acquaintances, they laugh, they don't take offense. But I have had middle class suburban white people who have never seen the 'hood in their lives get all offended. Supposedly because I am insensitive or ignorant? Playa, please, you don't know me!

I appreciate the intent behind the original post was to say "gee maybe we should be careful to not hurt peoples' feelings." In general, I agree. But if someone cries to me "don't say nazi, my grandparents were in a camp!" I am gonna say, "yes so were mine. nazi, nazi, nazi." We won the war and now I live here, I am educated, middle class and have the ability and knowledge to post on an internet message board. Who won that? Me.

Anyway that is how I feel about it. YMMV.

Thank you Freelance.

I'm from Arkansas. Sometime back...the '30's maybe? there was a radion show with Bob Burns. He portrayed the people of Ar as a bunch of backwoods inbred illiterate hicks. To this day the whole world still thinks of us this way. It doesn't bother me when people joke about it...I do that myself but when it's used an insult I take it that way.

Shiloh

And I can appreciate that. I never said that I've never used the word ghetto or nazi for that matter (for me, it's the women who came in my hospital room after i had james that 'forced' me to breastfeed the "right" and at any mention of additional 'formula' as a supplement, i was verbally and emotionally assaulted that earned them the name "breastnazi") but i've used those words in private conversations (until now.. oops), like Pied Piper, among people that i know "get me" and know the personal history there.

but my original post really wasnt to say "gee maybe we should be careful not to hurt peoples feelings" it was basically to say.. "EVERYONE gets offended, and most nearly EVERYTHING can offend. Why not minimize the chances, and then when it does happen, be tolerant enough to overlook the UNINTENDED casual remark that may have offended. " I hope that was clear in my first post.

Sometimes, when I discuss things like this it comes across wrong. Like the time when I suggested Wayne Brady was a funny comedian to my co worker, and she remarked.. "oh.. he's too white for me!" and I wanted to discuss it further and said "If I said Chris Roc was "too black" for me, what would you think of me? " She was a close enough friend that we laughed about it (and she knew i was only making a point), but other co workers looked at us with HUGE eyes to see what would happen next LOL. Or the time yet another co-worker was outraged when an elderly black man came in and asked me to go get "that colored lady that works here" (meaning her).. she was so angry at use of "colored" and when I pointed out the fact that the man's age had alot to do with his language choice she told me she felt that reference was inexcusable in this day and age from anyone at any age. I think I made even her uncomfortable when I wanted to talk about it further, but she knows me and knows that my interest in knowing how she felt and why was out of wanting to be better informed and respectful of her and others feelings.

And there are others reading this conversation who will be so uncomfortable as to be irritated with me for even talking about it. But if you dont talk about stuff and try to understand, then you wont know them. Once you know something, it changes you, then that's when knowing becomes a social asset (and not just an intellectual asset)-which is great for you but also for a community of diverse people such as the one here on AQ.

Ok, this ends my little philosophy corner for today... we now return you to your regularly schedule forum of miscellaneous oddities... ;-D


cam

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I want it! I want it!

Pied Piper

I just aq mailed it to you:)

I hope you enjoy it.

Trish;)

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I have the recipe if anyone wants it

How about putting it on the *food for thought* board.

Shiloh

I just went and bought a whole case....lol. Shrimp....yummmmmmmmm
Could I aslo have the coleslaw recipe?
TIA,
Kim

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How about putting it on the *food for thought* board

I didn't know there was such a board. I guess I will have to go exploring the AQ message boards more:)

I will post it there once I find it:)

Thanks Shiloh for letting me know.

Trish;)

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I'm from Arkansas. Sometime back...the '30's maybe? there was a radion show with Bob Burns. He portrayed the people of Ar as a bunch of backwoods inbred illiterate hicks. To this day the whole world still thinks of us this way.

Wait, wasn't that "National Geographic" channel? WHat, you mean it's not accurate?


Hehehe just playin' Shiloh. Tho I am wondering what's in the water down there if you have radioN shows...

HP

Ghetto refers to any concentration of a single ethnic group and/or social class.

It's a shame that you immediately think folks of a certain grouping should avoid the word. Personally, the first connection in my mind to the word ghetto is polish.

Everyone is entitled to their own mores and mindsets.

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Could I aslo have the coleslaw recipe

It's now on the *food for thought* board for us all. :)

Shiloh

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WHat, you mean it's not accurate

I just don't need the obvious pointed out. :)

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Tho I am wondering what's in the water down there if you have radioN shows

DependsN on whereN youN getN yourN waterN

Shiloh*see, I really can joke about it*

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"EVERYONE gets offended, and most nearly EVERYTHING can offend. Why not minimize the chances, and then when it does happen, be tolerant enough to overlook the UNINTENDED casual remark that may have offended. " I hope that was clear in my first post.
Sometimes, when I discuss things like this it comes across wrong.

I think your meaning was clear and your words were well spoken :)
I surely hope I haven't been an offender :(

"Ghetto refers to any concentration of a single ethnic group and/or social class."

Thank You for that. I never meant to offend anyone with my "ghetto chips". I just live in subsidized housing and we have people of all types around here and it's just a reference that we use. I'm glad I could only find one post where someone was offended that I said that. I was upset earlier that I offended someone by accident but now I feel better about it.
-the happy gemini

You know, there was a great comedian I saw on Premium Blend who was from a little town called Hickory, North Carolina. He had this really funny bit about how now that he lived in Los Angeles, he found that when people heard him speak they expected him to be an idiot. It was really, really great. Here's a link to the bit on Comedy Central's website. It may take a bit to load, but is well worth it. His name is John Reep, and I just saw that he has another bit on there which I'm going to watch as well.

http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/player.jhtml?ml_video=12283&ml_collection=&ml_gateway=&ml_gateway_id=&ml_comedian=11689&ml_runtime=&ml_context=comedian&ml_origin_url=%2Fcomedians%2Fbrowse%2Fr%2Fjon_reep.jhtml&ml_playlist=&lnk=&is_large=true

I have noticed that in high school aged kids the term "ghetto" is being used (here at least) for anything that is poor looking or looks like it is from impoverished areas or...something that needs replacing.

our old rusty, camo colored Dodge Ramcharger has been called "ghetto"
seems the term is completely different that just saying something is old. if it's old and desirable it vintage or retro...if it's old and rough it's ghetto. LOL maybe I am getting it right *shrugs*

and obviously this is not meant to offend it is just me saying how terms take on new meanings with new generations... I don't neccesarily care for the use or changing of terms sometimes...it's like how kids a year or 2 ago 'round here started refering to themselves as a "gangsta" or saying their buddies were "gangstas" as if it were a good thing. I questioned one kid (14 year old) and sure enough...she had NO idea what a gangster or gangsta really was.

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there was a great comedian I saw on Premium Blend who was from a little town called Hickory, North Carolina

I know that place...but it's not very little!! Least not in my standards.
Heck far, they had a Hooter's ...like at least 6 years ago :)

*taking a deep breath, and wading into this....*

I thought, for clarification purposes, perhaps it would be in the best interest of this conversation to define what school age kids (of ALL genders, ethnic backgrounds and ages, by the way) are meaning when referring to something as 'ghetto'

We all know the more traditional defination for a ghetto:

(n.) an impoverished, neglected, or otherwise disadvantaged residential area of a city, usually troubled by a disproportionately large amount of crime

In the reference of the adjective use, however, this is generally the definition:

(adj.) jury-rigged, improvised, or home-made (usually with extremely cheap or sub-standard components), yet still deserving of an odd sense of respect from ghetto dwellers and non-ghetto dwellers alike

I would debate the 'odd sense of respect' component, as it's meant in a derrogatory fashion. It's the modern "Yo mama".

Some examples of things that may be referred to as 'ghetto' by American school children:

> Stepping down on the backs of your shoes to make slides

>Replacing a broken window with a trashbag and ducttape

And, not that it's the end all, be all of urban culture, but the Urban Dictionary does have a reference to 'ghetto chips'.

That's my little bit of educating the masses for today.

*ducking back in my little corner...*

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ghetto: home-made (usually with extremely cheap or sub-standard components), yet still deserving of an odd sense of respect from ghetto dwellers and non-ghetto dwellers alike

Hmm..this doesn't quite apply to my ample ghetto booty..... :)

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"

I think it's all in how you apply the definition....lol

JPMcD

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I thought, for clarification purposes, perhaps it would be in the best interest of this conversation to define what school age kids (of ALL genders, ethnic backgrounds and ages, by the way) are meaning when referring to something as 'ghetto'

I am talking Mtns of NC, african american and whites alike, teenaged, and around here...kids come from all over. We have transplants from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, California and on and on...because the beauty of the mountains and the college brings folks in. My son is friends with a large number of kids at the high school. so...I didn't misunderstand what they meant by it... I hear it first hand and in the context that it is used...not reading it online or out of context.

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In the reference of the adjective use, however, this is generally the definition:
(adj.) jury-rigged, improvised, or home-made (usually with extremely cheap or sub-standard components)...
Some examples of things that may be referred to as 'ghetto' by American school children:
> Stepping down on the backs of your shoes to make slides
>Replacing a broken window with a trashbag and ducttape

I am sure those things fit perfectly and yet our old Ramcharger is not "jerry rigged"
or changed in anyway except paint scheme to camo...
which is something that the kids DO like.
Camo is hot (as in sought after and thought to be cool).
The old truck is just an old truck but being called ghetto because it is wore out and needs replacing...
or looking poor (impoverished).

That is how most mean it when it was said in reference to the truck and such items but
I remember laughing at a conversation my boy had with a girl from school while showing her the truck. He was telling her that it was his to fix and how cool it is etc ...The talk continued and she giggled and seemed to enjoy the old truck but said "that's too ghetto" as if "ghetto" can be cool but that was a bit too raggedy. LOL

just like everything else there is not one clear cut way to interpret the intentions or meanings of some of these words that are revisited across such a wide and vast population but hearing it in context first hand helps :)

dixie
who never stops learning and gets her ongoing education from life and almost constantly seeks out new info...
shhhh!! I use books and computers too :)

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home-made (usually with extremely cheap or sub-standard components), yet still deserving of an odd sense of respect from ghetto dwellers and non-ghetto dwellers alike

Oh, like the "ghetto koolaid" that we learned about from my son's friends. You use two different flavors of koolaid and a cup and a half of sugar. Grape with Black Cherry is awesome. Zane and Billy called it 'ghetto koolaid', so that's what we call it. Try it, it's cheap and tasty.

Chickadee

Hey, Hickory's not little at all compared to Sylva! :-P *waving at Dixie from big, ol' Asheville*

Knit Wit