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Would you consider the words 'pimp' or 'pimping' racist?

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RoeBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:34 AM
Original message
Poll question: Would you consider the words 'pimp' or 'pimping' racist?
Edited on Wed Apr-14-04 07:48 AM by RoeBear
Would you call a black man a 'pimp' or say he was 'pimping'?

To clarify: I'm not using the word to describe a man who's occupation is procuring women for sex but use of the words like "I see Jackson is pimping for the bosses new program".
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freetobegay Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:38 AM
Response to Original message
1. Why would it only be a black man?
eom
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RoeBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:41 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. It's hard to be racist against white people
eom
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boxster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:31 AM
Response to Reply #2
16. You're kidding, right?
It is certainly not "hard to be racist against white people".

It's actually easier in a lot of ways to be racist against white people than it is to be racist against other groups of people. It's certainly much more socially acceptable.
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Gman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:48 AM
Response to Original message
3. This question is racist
because it assumes only African-Americans or other minorities pimp. I don't think this poll is appropriate.
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RoeBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:50 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. Bear with me for awhile...
...and if it makes a difference to you I am black.
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Gman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:15 AM
Response to Reply #4
14. Ok, but...
I'm curious where you're going with this. I do take a bit of consolation in the fact that you are African-American. I think I know now where you're going.
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RoeBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:50 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. Bear with me for awhile...
...and if it makes a difference to you I am black.
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RoeBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:52 AM
Response to Reply #3
7. triplicate
Edited on Wed Apr-14-04 07:53 AM by RoeBear
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bearfartinthewoods Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:37 AM
Response to Reply #3
17. i agree on both points. the poll question slides very close to racism.
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bearfartinthewoods Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:52 AM
Response to Reply #17
22. you changed the question?
i don't really think that's a good thing to do with a poll. if you change the question you change the answer that people are likely to give and they can't go back and change their vote.
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bicentennial_baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:51 AM
Response to Original message
6. Yay! Another distraction!
:eyes:
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bearfartinthewoods Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:46 AM
Response to Reply #6
19. may i ask a question?
how is it that discussions of long held liberal concerns about racism and sexism are seen as any more of a distraction than the lounge fare? we're up to our necks in testimony. sometimes it's good to talk about something else for a change and, personally, i think stuff like this is most relevant then rah rah sports talk or movies and music.
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Screaming Lord Byron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:54 AM
Response to Original message
8. The word was in use in 18th century London.
Edited on Wed Apr-14-04 07:54 AM by Screaming Lord Byron
Which I would hope answers your question.

On edit: I believe it was in use as far back as the eleventh century.
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RoeBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:02 AM
Response to Reply #8
10. Not questioning the origin of the word...
...but whether or not it sterotypes a black man.

Assuming that you're white would you tell a black man that you see who is dressed up "Hey you're looking like a pimp today".

Google image search the word pimp more thatn half the pics that come up are of black men.
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Screaming Lord Byron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 07:58 AM
Response to Original message
9. From an account of the murder of Thomas a Becket, 1170.
"At this point, FitzUrse, who had been called 'a pimp' by Thomas in this shoving match drew his sword and threatened The Archbishop. De Tracey also drew his sword and called out, "strike! strike!" to the others and delivered the first blow. Then Brito delivered an almighty blow which actually severed the top of the cranium, spilling the brains of the priest on the floor. "

http://www.homestead.com/mstecker/thomasabecket.html

I'd have to root out a contemporary account but it's well documented that Becket referred to his Norman assailants as 'whoremasters' and 'pimps'.
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RoeBear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:04 AM
Response to Reply #9
12. Yes it's ok to call a pimp a pimp
But would you use it to describe any random black man?
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Screaming Lord Byron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:10 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. Clearly, no.
It's amazing to think of the roots of words, that a word like pimp existed in 12th century England.
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playahata1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:02 AM
Response to Original message
11. Prosititution is the world's oldest profession.
Therefore pimping knows no color -- no matter what form it takes.
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slksln Donating Member (49 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:20 AM
Response to Original message
15. Not at all,
In fact, the last time I used the word that I recall was referring to a (white) female friend of mine, she happened to be wearing a furry purple waistcoat (and I believe leopard print lining on the inside). It had more to do with her clothes than anything else.
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bearfartinthewoods Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:41 AM
Response to Reply #15
18. no offense but are you furthering a stereotype
Edited on Wed Apr-14-04 08:48 AM by bearfartinthewoods
of the gaudily dressed black pimp? or do white pimps dress like that too? i dunno.... never paid a hooker and never met a pimp.
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Screaming Lord Byron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:53 AM
Response to Reply #18
23. We'd have to find out how white pimps dress.
As I recall from my history books, those anglo pimps in 18th century London were quite the dandies, so it may just be a pimp thing, rather than a racial stereotype. I couldn't swear to that, though.
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Im a DUmmy Donating Member (10 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:49 AM
Response to Original message
20. YES THEY'RE RACIST
Everything that is deemed slightly offensive is racist, sexist, and homophobic.
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FlaGranny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Apr-14-04 08:51 AM
Response to Original message
21. I have never associated
Edited on Wed Apr-14-04 08:54 AM by FlaGranny
the word "pimp" with a color, only an action, so I don't consider the word racist, but I'm sure that some people might (probably do).

Edit: Unfortunately words evolve in their meaning over time to describe things or actions that they didn't in the past.
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