Aaah I see. I feel like we take political correctness too far sometimes, but there’s no real right answer. I’ve also heard ‘yellow monkey’ as a racial slur so perhaps even Lee Seung Gi would not be able to pull it off. Unless Son Oh Gong of course.
As this is a slur that was and is still used to disparage African Americans (oh the things said about Michelle Obama and Serena Williams for example) I’m not sure I would say this is taking political correctness too far.
Makes sense to recall the ad then. Also, I feel compelled to clarify because I’d hate to be misunderstood on something like this, so I’ll just say:
I don’t often hear such racial slurs because there aren’t ANY African people around me. So it’s possible I regard it too lightly. [Which makes me like a K-drama such as Man Who Dies To Live?]
Yes, the few African people in my part of the world face massive discrimination; but the overwhelming race/discrimination narrative is couched in a different language – lower caste, tribals, religious, linguistic and/or regional groups, reservation.
I appreciate your clarification. Sometimes I forget that not all experiences/knowledge/cultural contexts are universal, and what can be discriminatory and offensive in my country may seem innocuous elsewhere. This was a good reminder. Thanks.
The whole time I wrote the clarification, I was thinking that I wrote the earlier comment far too lightly. What can seem relatively innocucous in my country, may be for good and valid reasons, offensive elsewhere. So thanks as well. 🙂
transient
January 9, 2018 at 11:49 PM
I read the news about H&M pulling back the ads of their t-shirt with the caption “The coolest monkey in the jungle”.
If only they had used Lee Seung Gi as the model, then everyone will be very happy.
…and maybe a spike in sales too.
greenfields
January 10, 2018 at 1:06 AM
but why are they pulling them back? I can’t see what’s wrong with the line?
beesgiggle
January 10, 2018 at 2:42 AM
The model was an African American boy so a lot of people got offended by it. 🙁
greenfields
January 10, 2018 at 3:01 AM
Aaah I see. I feel like we take political correctness too far sometimes, but there’s no real right answer. I’ve also heard ‘yellow monkey’ as a racial slur so perhaps even Lee Seung Gi would not be able to pull it off. Unless Son Oh Gong of course.
egads aka Dame Maggie
January 10, 2018 at 8:25 AM
As this is a slur that was and is still used to disparage African Americans (oh the things said about Michelle Obama and Serena Williams for example) I’m not sure I would say this is taking political correctness too far.
greenfields
January 10, 2018 at 9:11 AM
Comment was deleted
greenfields
January 10, 2018 at 9:24 AM
*eeks deleted by accident, types again*
Makes sense to recall the ad then. Also, I feel compelled to clarify because I’d hate to be misunderstood on something like this, so I’ll just say:
I don’t often hear such racial slurs because there aren’t ANY African people around me. So it’s possible I regard it too lightly. [Which makes me like a K-drama such as Man Who Dies To Live?]
Yes, the few African people in my part of the world face massive discrimination; but the overwhelming race/discrimination narrative is couched in a different language – lower caste, tribals, religious, linguistic and/or regional groups, reservation.
Okay done.
egads aka Dame Maggie
January 10, 2018 at 9:35 AM
I appreciate your clarification. Sometimes I forget that not all experiences/knowledge/cultural contexts are universal, and what can be discriminatory and offensive in my country may seem innocuous elsewhere. This was a good reminder. Thanks.
greenfields
January 10, 2018 at 9:43 AM
The whole time I wrote the clarification, I was thinking that I wrote the earlier comment far too lightly. What can seem relatively innocucous in my country, may be for good and valid reasons, offensive elsewhere. So thanks as well. 🙂
silvermists
January 10, 2018 at 2:23 AM
Lol yes! 😛