Is black hole a racially insensitive term?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers around the term "black hole" and its potential racial insensitivity, sparked by a comment from Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield during a Dallas County meeting. Commissioner John Wiley Price challenged Mayfield's analogy, suggesting it was racially charged, while Mayfield defended it as a scientific term. The conversation expanded to include various scientific terms and their interpretations, such as "white hole" and "black body radiation," raising questions about context and intent in language. Participants debated the implications of language in both scientific and social contexts, emphasizing the evolving nature of word meanings.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of astrophysics terminology, specifically "black hole" and "white hole."
  • Familiarity with the concept of language evolution and context in communication.
  • Knowledge of racial sensitivity in language and its implications in public discourse.
  • Awareness of the impact of political correctness on scientific terminology.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the scientific definitions and implications of "black holes" and "white holes" in astrophysics.
  • Explore the history and evolution of language regarding racial sensitivity and political correctness.
  • Investigate the role of context in interpreting scientific terminology and its social implications.
  • Read "The Black Hole War" by Leonard Susskind for insights into modern physics and its public perception.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for linguists, social scientists, educators, and anyone interested in the intersection of language, race, and science, particularly in the context of public discourse and communication strategies.

  • #31


At the same time there are words that drifted in exactly opposite direction. In Polish "kobieta" - which means woman, and is used just like word "woman" - it doesn't have any negative connotations nor doesn't raise any questions about its political correctnes - is a modified form of medieval vulgar word used for female genitals. It have long lost original meaning.
 
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  • #32


One time when I worked at McDonald's a black lady was a customer at the front counter, and there was someone in drive through asking for milk. One of the workers asked "what kind of milk?" and another responded "white milk". The lady became furious.
 
  • #34


vociferous said:
What about the Latin word for black, niger, which I believe is pronounced "nig-air"?
Nee-jhair (nee-jère).
 
  • #35


At least the guy said and it was understandable as 'hole'






--some people have trouble pronouncing those 'L' 's
 
  • #36


The word "black" needs to be purged from the English language.
 
  • #37


If that actually took place it is depressing and ridiculous. This is the reason I normally disregard anything a black person is talking about.



Jordan.
 
  • #38


well, it IS Bush's home state, afterall
 
  • #39


Jordan Joab said:
If that actually took place it is depressing and ridiculous. This is the reason I normally disregard anything a black person is talking about.



Jordan.

Would that include astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson?
 
  • #40


rewebster said:
well, it IS Bush's home state, afterall

Actually, Bush is from New England (I want to say Connecticut), not Texas.
 
  • #41


Those Mars colonization ideas aren't looking too bad right now.
 
  • #42


Jordan Joab said:
This is the reason I normally disregard anything a black person is talking about.

Jordan.

So you are saying that since some black people say stupid things, you ignore all black people.

Since some white people say stupid things, do you ignore all white people, or is this purely race driven? And if it applies to white people as well, may we consider your statement to be reflexive?
 
  • #43


Jordan Joab said:
This is the reason I normally disregard anything a black person is talking about.

Jordan.

Wow. Just... wow.
 
  • #44


Jordan Joab said:
This is the reason I normally disregard anything a black person is talking about.



Jordan.

what?---I didn't quite hear you
 
  • #45


Ivan Seeking said:
So you are saying that since some black people say stupid things, you ignore all black people.

Since some white people say stupid things, do you ignore all white people, or is this purely race driven? And if it applies to white people as well, may we consider your statement to be reflexive?

I ignore the majority of black people, specifically those that consider themselves black first and people second. For example, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Mr. Johnson (BET owner), and any other person that saw themselves as black first, people second. Individuals like Colin Powell, Condolezza Rice, Willie Randolph (barely), Elijah Cummings, etc. that see themselves as people first get my attention. You could say it is race driven. And yes, I am a prejudiced person.

Shameless disclosure: I'm a Latino person of mixed Sephardic Jewish, White, Taino, and black ancestry. My skin color is light brown.



Jordan Joab.
 
  • #46


Jordan Joab said:
I ignore [...] people [...] that consider themselves ["whatever"] first and people second.
It does not matter what your exact situation is. As others said : "wow" :bugeye:

You can not reproach somebody with being stupid, and act yourself in the same stupid manner towards this person as what you reproach him with being stupid in the first place. It is self-contradictory. If you were a computer, your screen would be blue. :devil:
 
  • #47


humanino said:
It does not matter what your exact situation is. As others said : "wow" :bugeye:

You can not reproach somebody with being stupid, and act yourself in the same stupid manner towards this person as what you reproach him with being stupid in the first place. It is self-contradictory. If you were a computer, your screen would be blue. :devil:

I don't follow. I didn't think not paying attention to something that didn't interest you was considered a "stupid manner." I simply said that if I'm presented with two sides of an argument I normally ignored the side presented by the black person since it seems to me the "I'm a victim" agenda is always being played.

In any case, if people want to brand me as racist or prejudiced I have no problem with that.



Jordan.
 
  • #48


Let me take an example. If I made the same decision as you, being racist towards racists, I would do the following :
Jordan Joab said:
I don't follow.
I did not expect you too o:)

See ? :smile: That would be stupid of me.
 
  • #49


humanino said:
Let me take an example. If I made the same decision as you, being racist towards racists, I would do the following :
I did not expect you too o:)

See ? :smile: That would be stupid of me.

Ok, you got me, I'm being stupid. Now what?



Jordan.
 
  • #50


Jordan Joab said:
Ok, you got me, I'm being stupid. Now what?



Jordan.

well, Ghandi may say, adopt a black child
 
  • #51


Jordan Joab said:
Now what?
Well, if you just want to think about it, honestly that would make my day ! :cool:
 
  • #52


humanino said:
Well, if you just want to think about it, honestly that would make my day ! :cool:

I can think about it all you want but that's not going to erase how I was raised nor radically change my belief system. I'll grant you that ignoring someone due to their skin color is idiotic but so far it has worked for me and I don't intend to change that anytime soon.

Let me give you some unnecessary background info. I was raised in a upper-middle class Dominican family that did not encourage learning our African ancestry (just like Dominican culture in general). Matter of fact, one of my aunts is undeniably of sub-Saharan African descent. Matter of fact, Dominican culture ignores most of it African heritage. So, to me ignoring a black person is not a big deal.



Jordan.
 
  • #53


Jordan Joab said:
I can think about it all you want but that's not going to erase how I was raised nor radically change my belief system. I'll grant you that ignoring someone due to their skin color is idiotic but so far it has worked for me and I don't intend to change that anytime soon.

Let me give you some unnecessary background info. I was raised in a upper-middle class Dominican family that did not encourage learning our African ancestry (just like Dominican culture in general). Matter of fact, one of my aunts is undeniably of sub-Saharan African descent. Matter of fact, Dominican culture ignores most of it African heritage. So, to me ignoring a black person is not a big deal.



Jordan.

I'm curious what you mean by "ignore." Do you mean race doesn't matter to you when you meet someone, i.e., you ignore race and just judge the person on the content of their character? Or do you mean you ignore a person altogether, because of that person's race?
 
  • #54


lisab said:
I'm curious what you mean by "ignore." Do you mean race doesn't matter to you when you meet someone, i.e., you ignore race and just judge the person on the content of their character? Or do you mean you ignore a person altogether, because of that person's race?

Bingo.

If a person approaches me and the first thing out of their mouth is "I am black/white/yellow" I will treat that person how I think "black/yellow/white" should be treated. If someone approaches me and they are not self-conscious about their skin color I will treat them like normal people.

I am prejudiced against black people. I am not prejudiced against people. I see Elijah Cummings as a man whose arguments should be respected. I see Al Sharpton as a black person I should ignore.



Jordan.
 
  • #55


Jordan Joab said:
I am prejudiced against black people.
Maybe it would already help if you said
Jordan Joab said:
I am prejudiced against people calling themselves black.
To which I should say I rather agree. We had a woman candidate for president last time in France. She kept saying "I am a free woman" to which I could not help but think "she is the one being sexist". I can't really keep my nerve in front of people calling themselves woman. True. But sure enough, I still like being around ("normal") people of female sex.
 
  • #56


Jordan Joab said:
I can think about it all you want but that's not going to erase how I was raised nor radically change my belief system. I'll grant you that ignoring someone due to their skin color is idiotic but so far it has worked for me and I don't intend to change that anytime soon.

You are acting like a child.
You don't yell out everything that comes in your mind :smile:
I also discriminate a lot and once made a mistake of yelling that out:
"I hate all humanities/arts people".
It's natural to discriminate but you cannot optimize your life if you let it get in your ways ... What if you get a black boss who can pay you far more than any other person.

I must say that your words might be offensive to many people.
 
  • #57


You have to understand the Dominican Republic. I understand what Jordan is saying. Learn about where he's from and the hispanic/black culture there.

I'm not saying that I condone racism of any kind, I spent two years here fighting daily to get racist threads stopped. But we also need to know something about the world. Do you know that the Dominican Republic and Haiti are the same island culturally split in two?

You have to understand before you can hope to change.
 
  • #58


This world is going mad.

What's next? Anything color black or uses that term is racist now or what?
 
  • #59


BryanP said:
This world is going mad.

What's next? Anything color black or uses that term is racist now or what?

Some people can't let go.
 
  • #60
Like this person...


Atlanta Stripped of 'Men at Work' Signs After Complaints of Bias
Political correctness rules the road in Atlanta — which is replacing all its "Men at Work" signs with gender-neutral ones after a women's magazine editor complained of bias.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,379842,00.html
 
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