en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/767924 Comments by Jharred_Tulloch https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68903931 For once I find a topic that I actually don’t have to think hard about answering. When it comes to society and its views of fashionable and “relevant” most seem to think that it is all based on the viewer’s opinion and what they see as attractive. But the truth of the matter is that there are a very small percentage of people in the United States who don’t look to the media to determine what they do in their personal lives. The media is what builds a society. From music, magazines, and movies, to the commercials, infomercials, and programs on the television, all of these modes of media all play a part in molding and creating the communities we live in. I also believe that the main audiences for these media outlets are between the ages of 13-18, the adolescents of our societies. These adolescents then grow up to become the next college generation, where again, we are even more effected by the media. So when the question arises, if men are affected as much as women by the media, the answer is plain and simple. Yes. The media’s purpose has, and always will be to “affect” the masses. They want us to do what they want us to do, they want us to wear what they want us to wear, so what would be the purpose of just focusing on women? The reason why society seems to focus on women being the main bitch of the media is that women are the primary consumer, however men on a daily basis see things in the media that affect in the same way women are affected. When women see a half naked swim suit model with her ribs showing with huge boobs they think that that’s what the norm should be and that’s what they need to look like to fit in, or better yet, stand out. Men do the same thing when they see the cover of Men’s Health Magazine. They wonder how the men get that ripped, what they need to do to be that ripped, why do those men get more women than me, etc. Men aren’t in the gym usually for themselves, there in the gym because they are trying to conform to society’s view of perfection set by the media over the years. I know I probably sound like a radical political supremacist of something but this is what I see as the truth. The main reason I think this to be true has to do with the amount of men and women around the world that starve themselves and work themselves raggid trying to conform to what they see on tv or in a magazine. It’s foolish and unhealthy, and the day we allow ourselves to love us for who we are and not try to go with what the media portrays as great, then we’ll be fine. Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:57:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68903931 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment67787933 This entire discussion I found to be very funny, somewhat immature, and extremely out of control. Again, I found myself questioning Sams way of making us think. Because at in one hand, hes showing us how dumb it is to be squirmish about a womans menstrual cycle and the like, but on the other hand, was that discussion really necessary in a Race Relations class? To be honest before this entire thing happened in class I was somewhat falling asleep in the back of class, because sometimes I feel as if some of the discussions that take place are more of a common knowledge kind of thing instead of something I needed to be taught. The reactions from the other students in the classroom however caught my attention so I started to pay attention to see what was actually taking place. Sam is very very good at causing, or creating, a reaction out of an audience, and again, that is what he tried to do, and again, he succeeded. I found that during the class the people that were most offended were the female students that were listening to what he was saying. And I also found that the students that were most disgusted were the male students found in the classroom. I am not exactly sure how I felt during the class because I found myself laughing A LOT during the entire thing. Not at what Sam was saying though, but actually at the reactions of the students around the class. I saw girls leaving the classroom, and guys making gagging faces. I dont see why this was such a huge deal. It made no sense to me to make something that is natural and healthy, a disgusting and offensive thing. Which brings me to my point that I dont believe it was the actual menstrual cycle that people were reacting to, but the fact that Sam was calling it bleeding that through people off. Also his statements about his wife, who also happens to be a teacher at Penn State, that we have to respect and adhere to, seem to cause people to feel awkward and uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel like he brings the comments that students make about his wife upon himself by dropping lines about her bleeding being beautiful, or how they have sex twice a day. Either way, I would be okay with NOT hearing about bleeding, sex, and any other activity between him and his wife during a Race Relations class. If this class was a sex education class, then I would be more understanding towards his comments, and jokes, but what he was saying has NOTHING at all to do with the subject the class was created for. Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:04:28 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment67787933 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-six__trashed/#IDComment62015743 First, I have to agree with her that it seems that the lesbians are definitely more accepted than gay men within society, especially the more feminine lesbians. To think that there is only one reason as to why this is would be foolish, mainly because, although men might have a very similar mind set towards certain things, at the same time, they all think and act differently towards certain situations they might be put into. To begin with, there is clearly already a very obvious double standard between the actions of women, and the actions of men. Of course I’m talking about the way men can sleep with numerous people and not be considered a whore, but a woman could do the same, and will be ridiculed and treated as a slut. With this question that she posed however, I am still somewhat confused as to why this is. The first reason I would think this double standard is so, I believe, would have to be a man’s natural attraction to women to begin with. I guess the more women the better? Unfortunately, this subject is hard for me because I personally do not see why society likes lesbians more than gays. I may be a tad bit biased because I just so happen to be a gay man myself. I guess one reason it may be more widely accepted in society has to deal with girls doing very “lesbian” things in public on a normal basis. I cannot count the number of times I have seen two girls kiss for no reason at parties. However, the chances of seeing two men kiss at a party for no reason are very slim, to none. Other than that reason, I cannot think of any other reason as to why lesbians get a pass and gays get the boot. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:59:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-six__trashed/#IDComment62015743 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment62012571 So after watching the video and listening to the question posed more than twice, I still continued to smirk each time. Not because what she’s saying is funny, but at the hypocrisy of what she was saying. I have always said that Penn State is its own world. And within this “world” that we attend, there is different “countries” and each country will celebrate and party in their specific ways. Obviously the school is, and will continue to be a predominantly white school. So when she says that majority of white people have “themed” party that make fun of black people, I can’t help to wonder, aren’t the majority of parties at Penn State thrown white people anyway? Another question that came to mind after hearing her question was, why do you automatically believe that these themed parties are “generated towards black people”. I am a black person, and I have been to countless “themed” parties during my time here at State, and yes some were “Hip Hop” themed, or “Coming to America” themed, but I have never considered these parties to be negative towards my race. If anything I always found these themes to be comical and somewhat poking fun at how “white” the people throwing the party were, than how “black” the actual theme of the party was. I actually believe that white people at State poke more fun at themselves when setting these themes, than they do black people. “Jersey Shore” parties, “Red Neck” parties, these are all themes that are geared towards the embarrassing things that white people may do or act, not blacks. And the main reason why I found her statement to be somewhat funny, and hypocritical, was the blacks at Penn State throw themed parties on a weekly basis. From “Caribbean” night to “Biggie Small v. Tupac” themed parties, blacks, just as often as whites, throw themed parties, and majority of the time, they are geared towards “black themes”. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:30:05 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment62012571 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/another-reason-why-gay-marriage-matters__trashed/#IDComment62010161 First I would like to comment my first reaction to this video. As I began to watch the video my first thought was that it would be the typical gay marriage argument. However this is the first time I have ever considered the lives of not only the two gays attempting to marry but also the children they are raising. And another variable that I found in this video that most wouldn’t care to think about when arguing for or against gay marriage was the deportation laws. I found it absolutely absurd that the government of the United States of America felt it necessary to split up a family who have never committed any crime or caused any disruption. While I do understand the reasoning behind the laws of immigration and deportation, I do feel there should be and needs to be a clause that will deal the issues that will arise when dealing with households ran by gay couples. The reaction of the kids and the spouses in the video alone shows not only that this is pressing issue, but also that its immoral and injustice to take someone from a home in the manner that the government attempted to do in this case. This is also brings up other problems that gay couples must face on a daily basis, such as who controls the estate after the death of a partner, who makes the decisions for a spouse in the hospital, and who can be claimed in taxes and such. As a gay man myself, I understand that I may be very biased in my thoughts on the subject but at the same time I cannot find one reason for the U.S. government to not allow gay marriage. How can we claim as a country that we are a free country, but limit a certain group on how they live their lives, and show their love for each other? Someone in another post mentioned something that may seem comical at first but it really is a great point. If two people can get drunk in Vegas and marry, why can’t two people of the same sex who LOVE each other be segregated and treated differently. Again, I may be biased being a gay person myself but as hard as I try to be as neutral as possible when discussing the subject, I still to this day, can’t find a valid excuse as to why I won’t be able to marry the man I have fallen in love with. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:07:19 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/another-reason-why-gay-marriage-matters__trashed/#IDComment62010161 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment58498246 And to those who think that we are "more respectful" to the black athletes in America. The fact is, although fans dont' take it to the extent of those found in Europe, racism and taunting happen in our Country too. Comments such as "he's black so he should run faster" and the like, may not seem as racist as say tossing a banana at a black man on field, but they are still remarks towards a colored individual that is seperating him or her from the rest of the population. Racism is not something that will ever stop, however it can be regulated, and controlled, to icolated incidents. Once the higher up powers realize this situation in Europe and finally do something about it, then maybe we can see a change one day soon Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:13:52 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment58498246 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment58498234 ____I'm not saying that because the athletes are being payed so much money they should take the abuse though. But what should be done is regulation and stricter rules put in place, to control the fans of the more outragious clubs. Every league in Europe has a governing body who every week place restrictions and deal financial penalties for things as small as taking your shirt of on field. Although I do know of cases where governing bodies have enacted financial penaties to clubs for the actions of their fans, these penalities are not enough. What FIFA and the individual league's regulators need to do, if they ever hope to stop the rediculous treatment of such talented athletes, is start to take away wins/points from the teams with these fans. Fans, no matter how racist, or how bigoted they are, are still fans, that want their respectvie club to do well. By taking away points from these teams (majority of the teams that have fans that do things of this nature are on the lower to middle half of the league rankings) fans will realize that what their doing will no longer be tolerated. ____. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:13:43 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment58498234 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment58498212 I also know that colored individuals were not the only group discriminated against. Jews, Muslims, and Asians are all groups of athletes that the "white man" has for years, ridiculed and taunted. ____The funny part to this entire situation however, is that it is these very fans that are paying these very athletes, millions and millions of dollars to do what they love. Play soccer. The meer fact that they have to deal with such hate to do job they enjoy doing is horrible in itself, it is as if a person would be heckled and ridiculed for working at a bank because they were short, but at the same time, these athletes are being payed millions and millions of dollars, that re coming out of these very fans pockets. So in the end, what goes around comes around. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:13:25 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment58498212 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment58498097 First, I would like to say that soccer has and will always be one of my favorite sports/past times and although I do not understand why so many people across Europe chose to act in such a disgusting and unacceptable manner, I do however understand the cultural standpoint that comes with the chants and bigotry the audience and fans of European soccer clubs partake in. This however, does not mean I condone, at all, the things that are being said, and done. Sam does have a point in that this is possibly the "white mans" way of regulating what seems to be the immigrants from more southern/african countries "taking over" of the sport. It is a fact that a decent portion of the more talented soccer players are colored. Theese athletes do nothing to encite the reaction of the crowds, but after studying this topic in past classes I know that in the past, people of color were not always allowed to participate in soccer matches. I also know that colored individuals were not the only group discriminated against. Jews, Muslims, and Asians are all groups of athletes that the "white man" has for years, ridiculed and taunted. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:12:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment58498097 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/dont-ask-dont-tell-please__trashed/#IDComment53484937 After watching this clip I realized something. I realized just how ridiculous our country can be. Of course I have heard of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, and I have always been somewhat outraged by it. But at the same time I never really did see why it would be so hard to keep one’s private life to them while at work. I mean that’s what being a soldier is, it’s a job, an occupation. I realized though, that while most people have a 9 to 5 job working in a cozy office, these soldiers are risking their lives across seas for us. Their jobs aren’t 9 to 5, they don’t get to clock out whenever they feel sick. They are on the job 24/7, and therefore their private lives will eventually conflict with that of their jobs. Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:09:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/dont-ask-dont-tell-please__trashed/#IDComment53484937 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/dont-ask-dont-tell-please__trashed/#IDComment53484418 After watching this clip I realized something. I realized just how ridiculous our country can be. Of course I have heard of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, and I have always been somewhat outraged by it. But at the same time I never really did see why it would be so hard to keep one’s private life to them while at work. I mean that’s what being a soldier is, it’s a job, an occupation. I realized though, that while most people have a 9 to 5 job working in a cozy office, these soldiers are risking their lives across seas for us. Their jobs aren’t 9 to 5, they don’t get to clock out whenever they feel sick. They are on the job 24/7, and therefore their private lives will eventually conflict with that of their jobs. Now as a gay man myself, I do think that this policy is beyond prejudiced. For someone to say, don’t be yourself, even though you’re going into a alley where you can possibly ambushed by a bunch of terrorists with guns. It makes utterly no sense whatsoever. The mere fact that the government is wasting our tax money and their resources to investigate the sexual orientation of a soldier who is fighting for their country, alone, is not only ridiculous but also stupid and unimaginable. Most homosexuals in the army are most likely stressed enough as it is knowing that they could die at any moment, but to also have to spend precious thought on hiding something that they have no control is not only harmful to that particular soldier but to his platoon mates who are counting on them to have their backs. We’re in a war, let’s face it, a war that a good portion of our country does not want us to be in. If someone, who happens to be gay, wants to fight for us, and potentially die for us, who are we to tell them they can’t because they were born liking the same sex. The army needs to get off their high horse and realize that in today’s day and age, they can’t control everything. They need to utilize what they have instead of making them leave. Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:03:57 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/dont-ask-dont-tell-please__trashed/#IDComment53484418