Gilman Statement
- Thread starter ih8iast8
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Sorry, didn't see this was already posted on one of the PSU threads on this board; I should have looked there first.
It deserves a thread of its own. Hopefully this puts that issue to rest so we can get back to talking wrestling.
Just another example of the point I've made several times in recent weeks.
You are a special breed of idiot. Go drink your koolaid by yourself you moron
That was really fricking stupid. How many times in the past few days have you fallen down and hurt your hollow head?
Why you all didn't have that doucher on ignore long ago is beyond me.
And if not on ignore, why even respond to him. He's getting exactly what he is craving when we respond to him. #stayclear
Now everyone can crawl out of their safe space.
I kinda cringed when he said that...kid was excited and coming off his biggest tournament win ever...mouth got ahead of his brain a little....figured somebody would have a problem with it.....wonder whos directive it was to have him make a statement
- It's ridiculous that Gilman felt he had to release a statement on this Jap comment. Anyone with half a brain realizes he didn't mean anything derogatory by the comment AND in fact was giving respect towards the Japanese wrestler.
And we wonder why people (especially young people...can I say young people or is that wrong too?) don't know how to react to things these days! We are putting them in a bubble and "protecting" them from anything/everything "we" feel is offensive. Then they hit the real world and they can't handle it.
I'm sure glad I was raised in a time that gave me the self esteem to realize that words didn't hurt you...lol For the love of God, whatever happened to not worrying so much about what others thought or said about you? Call me whatever name you want, chances are...I'm not going to give one rats azz!!!
We have so many more things to be "offended" by than perceived racial slurs!
Great job Thomas Gilman, hell of a weekend "kid" (not meant to be offensive stud).
Sincerely,
One F** Loving White Honkey
I hope I didn't offend anyone by my rant.
- P.S.
I offended myself by using the word f**
apparently neither did Gilman I feel like he was just using an abbreviated term for Japanese and from what I've heard there hasn't been any complaints from the Japanese wrestlers....but during world war11 the term was derogatory....I havent heard anyone use it in 30 years....I knew though when he used it somebody was gonna have a problem with it...its the world we live in.....I dont think he meant it derogatory....he made a?simple statement said that and its time to move on
After the last comment by a PSU fan, I hope everyone understands why I post the ped state stuff. I want them all to go away and if it gets one to leave, I have accomplished my goal.
- no complaint from Japanese wrestlers, but somebody - ah, one of those I am offended for you situations..
Many things in the world have changed from past to present. People these days worry too much about something being offensive rather then toughening up and doing something about things that really matter. He or She is offensive to some people, yes, really. I am fine with him being a little ignorant on what some people find offensive. Much of it deals with the context and intent on how it is delivered.
A man who shot and killed my friends wife in front of their kids while they were driving on the interstate was just sentenced to 40 years in a mental health institution, however he can be released in as early as 6 months. I have witnessed what this has done to my friend, and while it is in the news again I am sure you will hear nothing about it. This is just one instance of far greater things going on in the world we live in that need to be fixed.
We can call the British "Brits", the Swedish "Swedes", the Polish "Poles" but we can't call the Japanese "Japs"? This is getting really confusing. I'm glad he issued an apology like a man, but I can't understand why the comments were offensive in the first place.
The comments were offensive because the actual term IS offensive. Having lived in Japan for 6 years... yeah, it's a really hurtful comment.
When I heard him say it, I winced. I know what that word means to a lot of people. He CLEARLY didn't realize that. He was being absolutely complimentary towards Higuchi. It really is no different than saying the N-word. It just shouldn't be used. It was good that he apologized, because his intent wasn't that he was insulting a race. He literally didn't know. There's a difference between innocent ignorance, blatant ignorance and racism. Gilman's comment was completely innocent. I don't think he knew. But part of being a good person is admitting that your words can affect other people, whether that was your intention or not.
Gilman is a good dude. Period. He wasn't trying to offend a group of people. That's not pussification. That's maturity and understanding that there is a bigger world than being able to say whatever you want, whenever you want, and the consequences be damned. Sure you COULD live that way, but history will not be on your side.
When I heard him say it, I winced. I know what that word means to a lot of people. He CLEARLY didn't realize that. He was being absolutely complimentary towards Higuchi. It really is no different than saying the N-word. It just shouldn't be used. It was good that he apologized, because his intent wasn't that he was insulting a race. He literally didn't know. There's a difference between innocent ignorance, blatant ignorance and racism. Gilman's comment was completely innocent. I don't think he knew. But part of being a good person is admitting that your words can affect other people, whether that was your intention or not.
Gilman is a good dude. Period. He wasn't trying to offend a group of people. That's not pussification. That's maturity and understanding that there is a bigger world than being able to say whatever you want, whenever you want, and the consequences be damned. Sure you COULD live that way, but history will not be on your side.
Sure, you might get one or a few to leave, but which kind of poster is more likely to bolt first -- the one looking for genuine discussion and banter, or the one who wants to push your buttons? And how many button-pushers come out of the woodwork BECAUSE of the ped state references?
Yes, I know you want ALL Penn State fans off of this Rivals forum. But more realistically, if you had to prioritize a faction to drive away, which would it be, and what might be the most effective way?
Ignore vs. Incite -- one may bring more desirable results than the other. Just saying.
Nothing to see here. He clearly did not mean it in a derogatory way.
I'm just glad Gilman didn't say F**. That would have ruined our reputation
Serious question... is it offensive to Japanese people if someone outside of the US calls them "Jap" or is it a WWII thing?
This times 1000. For those of you who say BFD, please use this as your "now you know" moment. Even though you (or clearly Gilman) may not use it with bad intent, others very much are. Please respect that it would be considered offensive.
I find it offensive when people call me skinny, but no one gives a crap. If I call somebody fat then I'm the ahole!
Very good post. But I disagree with equating Jap with the N word. Jap can be totally innocent (using it as shortened form of Japanese) or can be used to show racial separation (like WWII). The N word is never innocent (unless you are black, which I disagree with).
This distinction of the word Jap is why you and I know Gilman is innocent. Now if Gilman were to use the word "gook" or "chink"....no different from the N word
I get what you're saying. And it can certainly go too far, in regards to our sensitivity. But calling a Japanese person a "jap" is not being over-sensitive. It's a pejorative term that has no place in public discussion. Defining racism is as easy as: any terms, actions or systems that make one race (and based solely on race) a villain or a species lesser than any other. I'd like to think there isn't a poster on this board that could say that about any other person on this planet (I'd probably be wrong, but I'd like to think so).
Using that word to describe a person you don't know personally and weren't with in a private conversation fits the bill. The term was created and has its roots during WWII and the illegal internment of actual American citizens. There was an irrational fear and hatred that that particular word was used for. It was wrong then, it's wrong now.
This misplaced anger at how other people should feel about racist terms being used in baffling. And the thing is, I don't think anyone is or was mad at Gilman. It was more of a "whoa" moment. He clearly was told that what he said was offensive and he apologized. There's no false outrage, other than the false outrage at the POSSIBILITY of false outrage. Grow up guys. Gilman did.
But is it racism if he didn't know it was a racist term? hell no! Ridiculous world we live in now. I am of German decent and you can call me what ever you want. I really don't care.
But is it racism if he didn't know it was a racist term? hell no! Ridiculous world we live in now. I am of German decent and you can call me what ever you want. I really don't care.[/QUOTE]
That is obvious from you screen name.
You're not paying attention. Ignorance is not an excuse. There is certainly grace. And he received that both prior to his apology and definitely after. Trust me, there's a lot you could say to me, because, you can't offend me. But that doesn't mean everyone is like that. Is every Japanese American offended by the term? Probably not. But for a majority of them, and, this is really, really important, in the historical context it IS a racist term and shouldn't be used in a world of acceptance. No one is mad at Gilman, no is calling him a racist. It's just an educational moment at this point.
Can I take offense that internationally they say "USA" as one word instead of U-S-A? Maybe they do not do that anymore but they used to back in the day. Of course I am kidding
So if someone calls me Whitey, i can be offended...but because not everyone is offended by it, it doesn't matter....however, everyone knows that the term, "Whitey" in historical context, is used as a racist term?
trying to educate myself...
You're asking a purposely rhetorical, redundant and facetious question. So while your question is a great troll question, break down exactly what you're trying to say.
I'm not saying that it doesn't matter. I said it's the opposite. A racist term, used in public discourse, is a big deal. How big of a deal it is, or can become is a case-by-case basis. In THIS case, I don't think many people were mad simply because wrestling fans could tell Gilman didn't mean it to be racially insensitive. He meant the opposite actually. He was complimenting the Japanese wrestler, but used a term where he clearly didn't understand the implications. THAT is the educational moment.
Now, whether you choose that to be a educational moment for yourself, is, again, up to the individual. But let's all stop acting like a greater community and communities don't exist.
Spot on. On the west coast there is a sizeable community of Japanese-Americans. The term J*p would be considered offensive.
That said, I don't think Gilman was aware, and didn't mean to offend. And he has since apologized.
Time to move on.
So, every time that a rapper that is of dark skin says the phrase Whitey in a song, it's ok to not be offended....
but a 22 yr old uses a phrase that 70 years ago was considered racially insensitive and since has also evolved into an abbreviation of a longer full nationality, much like many counterparts in the world seem to have accepted as OK, that is when we can make a big deal of it.
This discussion has rotated away from Gilman - and that is good, as it was pretty much universally accepted by anyone rational that he meant no offense and was oblivious to its use - and become a debate on the attitudes of intolerance.
As someone astutely posted before, you don't get to decide what another race/nationality finds offensive. Unless someone is playing possum in this discussion, I'm not aware that there are any Japanese or Japanese-Americans contributing. So what we have here is a bunch of posters, of which the majority I would surmise as being white, acting offended by being told what another race/nationality may find offensive.
Again, I'll point out that I find it hard to believe that many of the posters here would use the term "the Jap" directed at a person of this heritage or within earshot of them. Being socially aware and not rude and offensive, is not some example of the pussification of our society or political correctness run amok.
Luther Ace's example included. If an African American poster referred to you as "whitey" on this board, I find it hard to believe you would not find this aggressive and offensive. Unless, of course, you were very good buddies and it was busting stones. The fact that an African American rapper may use it in a song and many caucasians may not take offense while listening does not make the word any less offensive or acceptable in public discourse.
As someone astutely posted before, you don't get to decide what another race/nationality finds offensive. Unless someone is playing possum in this discussion, I'm not aware that there are any Japanese or Japanese-Americans contributing. So what we have here is a bunch of posters, of which the majority I would surmise as being white, acting offended by being told what another race/nationality may find offensive.
Again, I'll point out that I find it hard to believe that many of the posters here would use the term "the Jap" directed at a person of this heritage or within earshot of them. Being socially aware and not rude and offensive, is not some example of the pussification of our society or political correctness run amok.
Luther Ace's example included. If an African American poster referred to you as "whitey" on this board, I find it hard to believe you would not find this aggressive and offensive. Unless, of course, you were very good buddies and it was busting stones. The fact that an African American rapper may use it in a song and many caucasians may not take offense while listening does not make the word any less offensive or acceptable in public discourse.
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"African American rapper" lol...Such a wonderbread, er Caucasian/European-American way to say it
1984 Randy Lewis beat a Japanese for the Olympic gold medal and afterwards called him a Jap. Probably meant nothing by it and had heard it at home. However its 33 years later, things change, and I am glad Gilman apologized.
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