Blogcritics Comments on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Comment by JR on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Mon, 22 Dec 2003 10:15:54 EST

Brian, Comment 38: Spot on. Brilliant! ]]>

Comment by Chris Arabia on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sun, 21 Dec 2003 13:40:06 EST

here on earth, i have met many anti-Wal-Mart people who also despise small business owners (and favor policies that harm small businesses), along with almost anyone of affluence. that was my earthly basis. and if you re-read the other comment that you reference, you will see that i merely refer to "a" pet rabbit, without specifying ownership, so your question seeks irrelevant information. thank you for stopping by. ]]>

Comment by Hal Pawluk on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sun, 21 Dec 2003 12:57:41 EST

Chris: Anyway, many of the anti-Wal-Mart people are also anti-small business What earthly basis do you have for that claim? And as for your last post, do you even have a pet rabbit? ]]>

Comment by Chris Arabia on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sun, 21 Dec 2003 10:46:59 EST

let's see, brian: you dedicate two days of your blog and a kiss of Atrios' ass to me, you have an ongoing and disturbingly public crush on my name, you scour months-old BC archives just for me, and now--on a Saturday night in LA, no less--you honor a few of my throwaway comments with the full satire treatment? what's next--are you planning to boil a pet rabbit on my stove? i guess i'll be flattered if the nausea ever passes. ]]>

Comment by Ms. Tek on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sun, 21 Dec 2003 01:17:07 EST

ROFLMAO!!! *tears* =) ]]>

Comment by Brian Flemming on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sun, 21 Dec 2003 00:39:05 EST

Victoria, You ignorant slut. Call me Arabian, but I am deeply, deeply offended by everything you wrote, plus a few things you didn't but for which I blame you anyway. It is obvious from your demented words that you hate America, hate capitalism, hate war, hate money, hate the chimp and hate everything else that is good and decent in this world. Plus you hate Wal-Mart. Call me a Prissy Chris, but my delicate sensibilities have been nearly shattered by your evil, evil thoughts, which if I had my way would be defined as hate crimes, and would be punishable by law. I am so devastated with offense at your politically incorrect words that I can barely type these. You whore. (Now can I spend a weekend in Amsterdam with you?) ]]>

Comment by Natalie Davis on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sun, 21 Dec 2003 00:17:58 EST

Chris, I was not referring to your squabble with Victoria. I was referring to your viciousness toward me. As for VP's "hate," she hates an inanimate entity. BFD. ]]>

Comment by Ms. Tek on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 20:44:16 EST

But yes, I must confess, I am Mr. PC. I'm offended... by everything, including myself. Awww, Chris... you need to spend a weekend with me in Amsterdam... I cure you of that. And don't worry, I won't suggest anything that would be illegal. ;o) ]]>

Comment by Chris Arabia on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 20:36:58 EST

VP: As I said, those things you said were "no big deal," (Comment 32) and the things I wrote were also no big deal, yet another BC felt the need to attack me and not you. That comment (32) had nothing to do with you. I'd kind of like being a living Wal-Mart, especially if it was one that had a grocery store in it. I'd never have to go anywhere. But yes, I must confess, I am Mr. PC. I'm offended... by everything, including myself. ]]>

Comment by Ms. Tek on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 20:26:32 EST

Oh... get off the PC B.S. All that stuff that you were taught that hate is a bad thing is exactly that... BS. Hate is a feeling like love, happiness, depression, etc... there is a reason why we have these emotions. It's part of being human. The wrong part come when we act inappropreately because of our feelings i.e. killing someone because we hate them. Actions are what can be evil or kind. Feelings are just feelings. ]]>

Comment by Ms. Tek on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 20:23:35 EST

I didn't liken you to a living wal-mart! I asked if you were a living wal-mart because you got so upset with me hating wal-mart!! If you personally were a wal-mart store, I could understand that. Being that you are a human being, I could not understand why my hate of wal-mart would affect you so! ]]>

Comment by Chris Arabia on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 20:16:27 EST

Nat, okay. We can just chalk this one up to a bad exchange. But how come you praise Victoria? She mentioned "hate," she called me pissy, she likened me to a living Wal-Mart (I don't know what that means, but it sounds negative to me), and made the unfortunate trailer trash reference (which she did address). These things are no big deal, but they are at least as inflammatory and/or vicious as anything I did--but you choose to give her a pass and call me "nasty." Your blanket endorsement of her and blanket dismissal of me was inconsistent and unnecessary. "Load of crap" was not my finest rheotorical moment, but I still object to your assessment. Not only that, but the Victoria-Chris debate had wrapped up on amicable terms around post #19. ]]>

Comment by Natalie Davis on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 19:59:59 EST

I just noticed that my previous statement, addressed to Phillip, was fouled up. It is supposed to say, "I have many reasons for eschewing Wal-Mart, but tops on the list are its use of overseas sweatshop labor (while for years professing that its products were Made in America) and the death blow it has dealt to many small businesses. Personally, I have seen no reason to see the enterprise as pigmentationist." ]]>

Comment by Ms. Tek on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 18:51:37 EST

You know... the whole this is that as a whole, I don't think walmart is racist... nor is this really a race thing per say. This is more of an issue with feeding into stereotypes. Wal-Mart is an equal opportunity company. The only color they really care about is green. The point is that the ads really aren't fair and do feed into stereotypes. Personally, I am sick of the stereotype that blacks come from bad neighborhoods. None of the chicks I went to high school with who were black and that I would hang out with came from these kinds of environments. Hell, they had more money than my parents did. (But I remember one of them was always trying to steal my boyfriend. I mean he WAS an adonis... I don't blame her... but still. BITCH! I digress here...) "You know, this really does become a racial issue, and as a white male, none of my comments are likely to be accepted..." "What I do hate however is when you question a race or racial stereotype we occasionally see this "poor persecuted white people" mentality. It's a cop out. "Poor me, what I have to say doesn't matter because I am a white male." By saying something like that, you yourself have made it a racial issue. So long as you make your points in an intelligent and thought out manner, your opinon is as valid as anyone elses. Bullshit. Sorry but that is bullshit. Some people may be ignorant and feel that way but anyone with an ounce of sense knows not to pass a judgment like that unless they know that you are a card carrying member of the klu klux klan. It is wingeing. You haven't proven to me yet that you are a racist so why should you insult me by saying that I would discredit what you have to say without me even knowing you? As far as projects being done for poor whites... I have seem some specials with that group that builds houses for impoverished people. I believe Jimmy Carter started the program though I might be wrong on that. Every time I see them asking for money, they are up somewhere in Appalachia. At the same time by saying that, you are proving my point. Poor people come from all over... Not just black people. However when a company decides to show it's altruistic side, they decide to show black people when every other ad has been of white people. "A much higher percentage of black people will identify with the commercial you've described (based on the frequent coverage of similar events I've already mentioned)..." Why? Because a higher percentage of black people come from the ghetto? On my mother's side which is black and native American, they are either farmers, or have successful businesses. They should identify more with the Black Wal-Mart commercial because it's set in the ghetto? Huh? Once again, as a company, I am not saying that Wal-Mart is racist... hell no... Even if it were, they are too smart about buisness to piss off the black community... think of the lost revenue. By the same token, maybe they need to think a little harder at the messages it's media department is sending out. ]]>

Comment by Natalie Davis on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 18:24:49 EST

Chris, I didn't say that anyone was worthless and certainly not that I was brilliant. God knows I am not. It's a waste of time, IMO, because it only engenders nasty retorts such as yours. Where is the good in that? As for those who disagree with me, the few friendly participants I have found here run the gamut of political opinion, so that accusation of yours is the "load of crap." When in the world did you become so vicious? Philip, I have many reasons for eschewing Wal-Mart, but tops on the list are its use of overseas sweatshop labor (while for years professing that the death blow it has dealt to many small businesses. Personally, I have seen no reason to see the enterprise as pigmentationist. ]]>

Comment by Phillip Winn on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 17:03:59 EST

I still don't understand. I'm skipping all of the rest of the comments, but I'm hung up on exactly what Wal-Mart did wrong. They were involved in a particular community and did a commercial about it. That community happened to be primarily populated by black people. And so you argue that Wal-Mart should seek out poor white communities and engage in similar projects and make similar commercials out of them to be "fair"? Am I reading that correctly? You know, this really does become a racial issue, and as a white male, none of my comments are likely to be accepted, but I have repeatedly seen projects just like the one you describe in the Wal-mart commercial described in glowing terms on NPR and TV newsmagazines. I can't recall ever seeing a similar piece done on a "white" community. Maybe I missed them? See, this is where you get into identity politics. Though my skin is light, I don't identify in the slightest least little bit with to sort of poor white people you insultingly refer to as "trailer trash," and I would simply think that Wal-mart was wasting their time being involved in any project designed to help them. A much higher percentage of black people will identify with the commercial you've described (based on the frequent coverage of similar events I've already mentioned). More importantly, Wal-mart is already #1 with "trailer trash," and they're expanding closer and closer to inner cities, where the demographics trend to darker skin, so they want to counter the popular image that people who don't normally go to Wal-mart seem to have of a lily-white clientele. I can tell you for a fact that white people are in the minority at the Wal-marts nearest my house, but then I live in a racially diverse area. When people write articles espousing the idea that Wal-mart is all about "trailer trash," I don't think that it is accurate, but that's the image that spreads. ]]>

Comment by Chris Arabia on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 16:51:59 EST

What a condescending load of crap, Nat. Of course, were I as brilliant as you, I'd no doubt agree about the worthlessness of all who dare disagree with you, myself included. ]]>

Comment by Natalie Davis on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 16:44:08 EST

Long live Independents. Victoria, you rock, but in going round and round with these guys (with all due respect to them), you're wasting your time. Trust me. As for Wal-Mart: Don't shop there, never have, hopefully never will, proud of it. ]]>

Comment by Ms. Tek on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 16:22:00 EST

HW, On a personal note... as I got older I became aware that names really don't affect me. I don't care- they're just name and maybe the other person is trying to insult by saying them but in the end, they are just that... words. The word c*unt used to be a fighting word with me. Then one day I woke up and realised... "Basically you are calling me name because you don't like me". That being said... let's go back to the level of what is expected and accepted on a daily communication level. In a round about way... I think you might be seeing my point. "Poor white trash", "trailer trash", are also epithets in a way. HOWEVER, when you think of "trailer trash" or "poor white trash" you are thinking of the stereotype that you list. It is a stereotype. The difference is that when you use the term nigger, kike, etc... you are referring to a race as a whole. I cannot think of anywhere in western, English, language where there is something equally as offensive for whites... besides maybe "cracker". If Wal-Mart is going to resort to using stereotypes, then at least use them all and not single anyone out please!! Perhaps if Wal-Mart gets in the business of auto parts, we can have an ad with an Asian couple who barely speak English who are coming into Wal-Mart to save money on car parts since they are always smacking up the family car. (Stereotype in play here: Asians can't drive.) As far as the rest of your post- "...Does it make your white liberal guilt feel a little better? Or maybe it justifies in your mind the use of racial epithets about people of color since you bash white folks too?..." Yes, I have a college education. I also have done my share of white collar and blue collar work. I tend to prefer blue collar because I like working with my hands and being outside... however the travel benefits I've had working white collar were nice too. Yes. I am white. Yes. I am black as well. ;) As for "liberal guilt"... well I still have the guilt instilled in me from a Catholic upbringing and although now I am not a proponent of organized religion, I certainly never seemed to shake that concept of "guilt" out of my mind. Has nothing to do with race, however. I've been called a nigger, a honky, and an oreo. I've gone to all black schools and all white schools. I can tell you first hand that racism is the same from both side of the tracks. I am not putting down anyone of any race in my post. More what I am saying is what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If you are going to show blacks in that light in an ad, then best you show the same kind of whites. Once again, when you refer to the term "ghetto" one almost exclusively thinks of blacks and in some aspects Hispanics. If you are referring to whites, people normally say "the trailer park". Is this right? Is this correct? Does this mean that everyone who comes from the ghetto or trailer park is bad? Absolutely not! Many blacks who hold powerful positions now came from the Robert Taylor homes in Chicago. I am sure the same can be said about some whites from the where the "poor whites live" (white gehtto... no we don't say that... we say "trailer park") Don't worry... I didn't take your post personally nor was offended. It kind of amused me considering that I consider myself "mixed" since I have a white father and a black mother. My whole ideas on race are probably vastly different than the current mainstream. As far as being a liberal... Why is it as soon as someone doesn't agree with one or more points that means they are a liberal? I'm independent. I pick and chose individually what my position is on certain points. When it comes to children, immigration,and language, I think you would find me extremely conservative. ]]>

Comment by Chris Arabia on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 16:10:46 EST

I just posted on W and the Chimp name thing. ]]>

Comment by Chris Arabia on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 16:08:40 EST

Good point, H.W., and coincidentally: ]]>

Comment by TDavid on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 15:56:58 EST

My wife likes Walmart, but I'm not a big fan. The store in our area always seems to be too damn chaotic. Good for them, I suppose. ]]>

Comment by Ms. Tek on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 15:49:16 EST

Ah Eric... you bring up another point that I was thinking about. Wal-Mart where you are didn't drive out smaller places. Okay good... it fit a gap and a nitch in the community there. Lets take a place that does have stores that serve it. Couldn't Wal-Mart instead perhaps work in partnership with these stores instead of driving them out? What if they became more like an "associate"... Kind of like what Amazon does but in reverse? That way they may be able to supply mom and pop with some of the goods that they cannot otherwise get easily... In return, they get a percentage of Mom and pop... Sure... not as much as if they drove mom and pop out of there... but they would get some never the less. ]]>

Comment by HW Saxton Jr. on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 15:46:21 EST

SPICK! NIGGER! GOOK! RAGHEAD! KIKE!!! Hey Victoria, Do you find any of these terms offensive??? I find them ALL to be deplorable,stereotypical,just plain old mean terms that no self-respecting man or woman would ever think of using as a descriptive regarding those of another racial or religous background. So,with that said,why is it that you and so many others feel it is OK to use the term "White Trailer Trash"? This isn't just as offensive? You would never ever dream of calling a poor African American "Black Trash" would you? I hope not and really doubt it.Does the working class caucasian frighten you? Or remind you of where you could be(IE:Working in an old dirty factory somewhere for 6 bucks an hr.) w/o the benefits and blessings of a college education? assuming you have one that is,and by the general tone of your writing I'm guessing that you do.Or does it remind you of where you could maybe end up? Why do you feel that it's OK to bash poor whites? Do you think that it's any different than it is calling an Arab a "camel jockey"? or calling Puerto Rican's "greasy spicks"? What's the difference? There isn't one.A stereotype is a stereotype is a stereotype.Does it make your white liberal guilt feel a little better? Or maybe it justifies in your mind the use of racial epithets about people of color since you bash white folks too? Not everyone who lives in a trailer park is a gap-toothed, crystal meth shooting,truck driving,lice ridden,Jerry Springer watching,welfare collecting "hillbilly" ready to pimp out the kids for parts for the GTO that is sitting on blocks in the front yard of the double wide.This is just as offensive as tagging African Americans as all being a bunch of crack dealing,watermelon eating, basketball playing,break dancing,lazy ass food stamp recipients,ready to rob and rape you the moment you step out of the door. Now don't take this more personal than you have to because it's not just you I'm referring to.I have seen the term used in Newsweek,TV Shows, so called liberal weekly newspapers,my local media and so on ad nauseum.But how is there any real difference between stereotyping whites,than there is in the stereotyping of any other color(s)of human being? I'm very curious,enlighten me if you please. ]]>

Comment by Eric Olsen on Wal-Mart Gets Multicultural by Embracing Stereotypes

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 15:38:13 EST

I love watermelon and I like Wal-mart's prices and selection. I do not support all of their practices. The store we go to is neat and clean and the people are very nice - they always tell me how beautiful my children are. I understand that in some environments they drive other stores out of business but the one we go to is the anchor of a large shopping center that wouldn't be there without the Wal-Mart draw, so I think it cuts both ways. I totally understand hating the idea of Wal-Mart but the reality in our case is just about all positive. ]]>