Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term? - Antsmarching.org Forums - Dave Matthews Band Discussion

Go Back   Antsmarching.org Forums - Dave Matthews Band Discussion > General Discussion > nDMBc Discussion


Want to hide all ads on Ants? Click here
View Poll Results: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?
Yes 18 36.73%
No 31 63.27%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-22-2017, 07:47 PM   #1
AlexK79
Let There Be Rock
 
AlexK79's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Zip City
Posts: 14,172

Shows Seen: 92

DMB Hub Stubs: 24

My Tour Central Stats

Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

A friend of mine is a project manager and currently in NYC working on a large project where he and his team have been putting in a lot of long hours.

His CEO, who is black, asked him tonight if he was going to take everyone to dinner, and my friend jokingly replied "No, I'm a slave driver." He said his CEO seemed offended by his use of the term.

I never thought of that phrase in a racial context before. When I was a kid, my mom, who is in no way prejudiced, would say it all the time when I'd complain about having to do some trivial chore - 'Oh yes Alex, I'm such a slave driver!"

While I never though of that term as racial before, I suppose I can see how someone would.

What say you, Ants? Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?
__________________
My Discogs Collection

DMB 2023: Nashville, Milwaukee, Deer Creek x2, Chicago x2
AlexK79 is offline   Reply With Quote

  • Want to hide all ads on Ants? Click here
  • Old 05-22-2017, 07:50 PM   #2
    justink
     
    justink's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2002
    Location: Weir Everywhere
    Posts: 35,081

    Shows Seen: 51

    DMB Hub Stubs: 16

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    not in the least.

    for the record, neither is "porch monkey".

    my grandma used to call me a porch monkey all the time. i'm taking it back.
    justink is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 07:53 PM   #3
    recentlyJTR41
    Boognish
     
    recentlyJTR41's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2007
    Location: Empire State of the South
    Posts: 26,875

    Shows Seen: 12

    DMB Hub Stubs: 8

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Nah, but you can't use the word "slave" anymore in mixed company. People are too sensitive/want attention for being offended nowadays
    __________________
    "I've been to a lot of parties here in Atlanta, and I've uh been to a lot of big parties here, but I think this might be the biggest one I've been to in Atlanta" - DJM 9/8/07
    recentlyJTR41 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 07:57 PM   #4
    TwoStep2888
     
    TwoStep2888's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2004
    Location: WI
    Posts: 71,089

    Shows Seen: 7

    DMB Hub Stubs: 8

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Context is important. On its own I'd say no but a white person saying it to a black person might be uncomfortable.
    __________________
    trouble get behind me now, trouble let me be
    TwoStep2888 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 07:58 PM   #5
    justink
     
    justink's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2002
    Location: Weir Everywhere
    Posts: 35,081

    Shows Seen: 51

    DMB Hub Stubs: 16

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by recentlyJTR41 View Post
    Nah, but you can't use the word "slave" anymore in mixed company. People are too sensitive/want attention for being offended nowadays
    there was a black lady in a friend's office who went ape shit over the term "rebel". went to HR and everything.

    white female office lady was busy with something and went to lunch late.

    black female office lady called her out saying "you HAVE to take lunch at 11, if you don't go to lunch at 11, yadda yadda..."

    white female office lady said something like "yeah, i know that's what the policy says, but i was busy working and went to lunch a bit late, not a big deal... i'm such a rebel, aren't i?"

    black female office lady lost her god damn mind and called her a number of names and reported her to HR for being a confederate flag waving racist. for using the word "rebel".

    guess black female office lady never saw any of the 8 star wars movies.
    justink is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 08:14 PM   #6
    recentlyJTR41
    Boognish
     
    recentlyJTR41's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2007
    Location: Empire State of the South
    Posts: 26,875

    Shows Seen: 12

    DMB Hub Stubs: 8

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by justink View Post
    there was a black lady in a friend's office who went ape shit over the term "rebel". went to HR and everything.

    white female office lady was busy with something and went to lunch late.

    black female office lady called her out saying "you HAVE to take lunch at 11, if you don't go to lunch at 11, yadda yadda..."

    white female office lady said something like "yeah, i know that's what the policy says, but i was busy working and went to lunch a bit late, not a big deal... i'm such a rebel, aren't i?"

    black female office lady lost her god damn mind and called her a number of names and reported her to HR for being a confederate flag waving racist. for using the word "rebel".

    guess black female office lady never saw any of the 8 star wars movies.



    Hotty Toddy!
    __________________
    "I've been to a lot of parties here in Atlanta, and I've uh been to a lot of big parties here, but I think this might be the biggest one I've been to in Atlanta" - DJM 9/8/07
    recentlyJTR41 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 08:19 PM   #7
    tyler3440
     
    tyler3440's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2014
    Location: Colorado
    Posts: 25,152

    Shows Seen: 17

    DMB Hub Stubs: 6

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by recentlyJTR41 View Post


    Hotty Toddy!
    Ole miss is nothing but a bunch or racist ass holes. Fuck them
    __________________
    I’m a DMB fan, so my expectations are set pretty low.
    tyler3440 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 08:22 PM   #8
    smudge1
    Unreal
     
    smudge1's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2003
    Posts: 45,224

    Shows Seen: 29

    DMB Hub Stubs: 12

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    I prefer the term Master.
    __________________
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dmb9howell View Post
    [URL]
    At the time I didn't think I did.
    I believe now that I do, however... but I don't care.
    smudge1 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 09:26 PM   #9
    Toast and Jelly
     
    Join Date: Oct 2016
    Posts: 117

    Shows Seen: 0

    DMB Hub Stubs: 0

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AlexK79 View Post
    A friend of mine is a project manager and currently in NYC working on a large project where he and his team have been putting in a lot of long hours.

    His CEO, who is black, asked him tonight if he was going to take everyone to dinner, and my friend jokingly replied "No, I'm a slave driver." He said his CEO seemed offended by his use of the term.

    I never thought of that phrase in a racial context before. When I was a kid, my mom, who is in no way prejudiced, would say it all the time when I'd complain about having to do some trivial chore - 'Oh yes Alex, I'm such a slave driver!"

    While I never though of that term as racial before, I suppose I can see how someone would.

    What say you, Ants? Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Yes. Is this a joke? The person who said that to their black boss at all, and then was surprised when his boss was offended, is an idiot. He has apparently zero common sense or self awareness. That language is obviously offensive and inappropriate in a professional or any setting.

    But, alas, many people like to cling to these outdated, historically loaded terms and insist they are not offensive because xyz (aka "I like to say it and it doesn't hurt me"). They're more concerned about justifying their use of these words, (using arguments that focus on extremely narrow, willfully blind semantic meanings) than considering just why they cause offense / discomfort in the people they are communicating with. It's probably worth bringing your vocabulary up into the 21st, or even 20th, century. That way you won't blatantly offend people and then be scratching your head as to why.
    Toast and Jelly is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 09:31 PM   #10
    justink
     
    justink's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2002
    Location: Weir Everywhere
    Posts: 35,081

    Shows Seen: 51

    DMB Hub Stubs: 16

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Toast and Jelly View Post
    Yes. Is this a joke? The person who said that to their black boss at all, and then was surprised when his boss was offended, is an idiot. He has apparently zero common sense or self awareness. That language is obviously offensive and inappropriate in a professional or any setting.

    But, alas, many people like to cling to these outdated, historically loaded terms and insist they are not offensive because xyz (aka "I like to say it and it doesn't hurt me"). They're more concerned about justifying their use of these words, (using arguments that focus on extremely narrow, willfully blind semantic meanings) than considering just why they cause offense / discomfort in the people they are communicating with. It's probably worth bringing your vocabulary up into the 21st, or even 20th, century. That way you won't blatantly offend people and then be scratching your head as to why.
    is this a joke?

    justink is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 09:32 PM   #11
    justink
     
    justink's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2002
    Location: Weir Everywhere
    Posts: 35,081

    Shows Seen: 51

    DMB Hub Stubs: 16

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    is "well i'll be a monkey's uncle" racist?
    justink is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-22-2017, 10:59 PM   #12
    snake911
     
    Join Date: Oct 2007
    Posts: 2,256

    Shows Seen: 27

    DMB Hub Stubs: 13

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    It's certainly a racial term, unless there is non-race-based slavery in this country that I am unaware of. That doesn't mean someone is racist for using it, or has ill intentions regarding another's race, but I would be careful about what context (and around whom) I used it. See also: get you cotton picking hands off that, shucking and jiving, sold down the river, etc...

    Lots of common language has its origins in racial degradation, or what we now call systemic racism.
    snake911 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 04:45 AM   #13
    dontdrink36
    not nice or reliable
     
    dontdrink36's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Feb 2009
    Posts: 30,355

    Shows Seen: 53

    DMB Hub Stubs: 25

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    This thread has a bright future.
    __________________
    2024: Alpharetta
    dontdrink36 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 05:45 AM   #14
    Roose13
    Ring the Bell
     
    Roose13's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2007
    Location: Atlantic City, NJ
    Posts: 35,976

    Shows Seen: 26

    DMB Hub Stubs: 18

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dontdrink36 View Post
    This thread has a bright future.
    __________________
    @ACPress_Russo

    NHL Thread Banner
    -2013-14 Keith Yandle Award winner-
    -2014-15 Buccigross Award winner-
    -2015-16 Darren Dreger Award winner-
    -2016-17 Damien Cox Award winner-
    Roose13 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 05:46 AM   #15
    aeroshady
    Look up at the sky..
     
    aeroshady's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2003
    Location: Across the Rio Grand-eo
    Posts: 13,009

    Shows Seen: 46

    DMB Hub Stubs: 15

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Went with my gut on this and my gut says no.
    __________________
    ~Greg
    Henrik Lundqvist Award Winner 2016/17!
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by fonzz41 View Post
    This might be one of the single greatest solo posting performances in NHL Thread history. Well done, Greg, and congrats on the win. Was a fun game.
    aeroshady is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 06:01 AM   #16
    GSUdawg521
    hbtd
     
    GSUdawg521's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2004
    Location: Southeast of disorder
    Posts: 25,114

    Shows Seen: 28

    DMB Hub Stubs: 11

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Recently was out to a restaurant with my wife and her parents. My father-in-law was talking about all the work he's been doing on their house and he said something like "slave driver" or himself being slave driven, I forget exactly. And he was saying it while our black server was dropping something off at the table or picking something up. I immediately picked up on that and thought ooh, that's awkward. Then I remembered, well, we're Jewish. Maybe we're allowed to say it?
    GSUdawg521 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 06:26 AM   #17
    Rodey
    Fiesta, Forever
     
    Rodey's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2005
    Posts: 85,151

    Shows Seen: 16

    DMB Hub Stubs: 10

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TwoStep2888 View Post
    Context is important. On its own I'd say no but a white person saying it to a black person might be uncomfortable.
    Pretty much this.

    By definition it's not racist, but it's too closely tied to slavery in this country to just go freely slinging the term around.
    __________________
    Jordan
    "I'll tell you what: I'm never eating at Benihana again. I don't care whose birthday it is."
    Rodey is online now   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 06:35 AM   #18
    dontdrink36
    not nice or reliable
     
    dontdrink36's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Feb 2009
    Posts: 30,355

    Shows Seen: 53

    DMB Hub Stubs: 25

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Context is always important. In the context of this thread the use of the term was in poor taste.
    __________________
    2024: Alpharetta
    dontdrink36 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 06:45 AM   #19
    DMBstandUP1984
    Seemingly Ranch
     
    DMBstandUP1984's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2005
    Posts: 95,583

    Shows Seen: 34

    DMB Hub Stubs: 12

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    I'm not sure if it is a racist/racial term but I probably haven't heard anyone use it in 20 years.
    DMBstandUP1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 06:48 AM   #20
    Rodey
    Fiesta, Forever
     
    Rodey's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2005
    Posts: 85,151

    Shows Seen: 16

    DMB Hub Stubs: 10

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dontdrink36 View Post
    Context is always important. In the context of this thread the use of the term was in poor taste.
    Didn't really read the OP. I would agree that yes, in the context of the story in the OP it definitely was in poor taste.
    __________________
    Jordan
    "I'll tell you what: I'm never eating at Benihana again. I don't care whose birthday it is."
    Rodey is online now   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 06:51 AM   #21
    AlpineValley804
    Casey
     
    AlpineValley804's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2004
    Posts: 30,240

    Shows Seen: 9

    DMB Hub Stubs: 8

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TwoStep2888 View Post
    Context is important. On its own I'd say no but a white person saying it to a black person might be uncomfortable.
    This is the correct answer.
    __________________
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34 View Post
    Something about power boosts with anal plugs didn't quite put it above Shawshank Redemption for me
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Route_2 View Post
    Both movies do have anal, though.
    AlpineValley804 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 08:09 AM   #22
    aeroshady
    Look up at the sky..
     
    aeroshady's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2003
    Location: Across the Rio Grand-eo
    Posts: 13,009

    Shows Seen: 46

    DMB Hub Stubs: 15

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    I think context is important as well. All though location maybe plays a role to. Black people were not the only slaves in history. I also agree that I have not heard this term used in decades.
    __________________
    ~Greg
    Henrik Lundqvist Award Winner 2016/17!
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by fonzz41 View Post
    This might be one of the single greatest solo posting performances in NHL Thread history. Well done, Greg, and congrats on the win. Was a fun game.
    aeroshady is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 09:29 AM   #23
    coldengrey12
    Listen to St. Vincent
     
    coldengrey12's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2003
    Location: Emerald City
    Posts: 44,831

    Shows Seen: 70

    DMB Hub Stubs: 24

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Rodey View Post
    Pretty much this.

    By definition it's not racist, but it's too closely tied to slavery in this country to just go freely slinging the term around.
    coldengrey12 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 09:45 AM   #24
    zajDmB1
     
    Join Date: Oct 2003
    Location: New York City
    Posts: 30,837

    Shows Seen: 44

    DMB Hub Stubs: 17

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by justink View Post
    there was a black lady in a friend's office who went ape shit over the term "rebel". went to HR and everything.

    white female office lady was busy with something and went to lunch late.

    black female office lady called her out saying "you HAVE to take lunch at 11, if you don't go to lunch at 11, yadda yadda..."

    white female office lady said something like "yeah, i know that's what the policy says, but i was busy working and went to lunch a bit late, not a big deal... i'm such a rebel, aren't i?"

    black female office lady lost her god damn mind and called her a number of names and reported her to HR for being a confederate flag waving racist. for using the word "rebel".

    guess black female office lady never saw any of the 8 star wars movies.
    This never happened. You have a made-up story for everything. It's gotten pretty obvious.
    zajDmB1 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 09:48 AM   #25
    thebridge15
     
    thebridge15's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2008
    Posts: 75,098

    Shows Seen: 20

    DMB Hub Stubs: 8

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    went with my gut as well, which is "no"

    I honestly picture the building of the pyramids first when I hear "slave driver"

    as a general term in itself, I wouldn't say it's racist
    __________________
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Rebecca De Mornay View Post
    bills are paying the jags o-line coach 4 million this year.

    that will be a tough one for the aliens to figure out.
    thebridge15 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 09:55 AM   #26
    zajDmB1
     
    Join Date: Oct 2003
    Location: New York City
    Posts: 30,837

    Shows Seen: 44

    DMB Hub Stubs: 17

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    I imagine it's a person by person thing. The biggest problem is you can't really ask a bunch of white people if theoretically-derogatory-words-towards-minorities are racist or not. Obviously slave driver refers to white people, so it IS about us, but I mean, South Park had the best view of it. We just don't understand.
    zajDmB1 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 09:56 AM   #27
    neumdogg
    Happy birthday, Paulie!
     
    neumdogg's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2004
    Location: Los Angeles, CA
    Posts: 46,058

    Shows Seen: 69

    DMB Hub Stubs: 18

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    How is it racist? So many people (of all colors) have been slaves throughout history. Def not racist.
    neumdogg is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 09:57 AM   #28
    neumdogg
    Happy birthday, Paulie!
     
    neumdogg's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2004
    Location: Los Angeles, CA
    Posts: 46,058

    Shows Seen: 69

    DMB Hub Stubs: 18

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by thebridge15 View Post
    went with my gut as well, which is "no"

    I honestly picture the building of the pyramids first when I hear "slave driver"

    as a general term in itself, I wouldn't say it's racist
    I am Jewish. I am offended by your comment. You have been reported.
    neumdogg is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 09:57 AM   #29
    scrock25
     
    scrock25's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2002
    Posts: 85,590

    Shows Seen: 26

    DMB Hub Stubs: 11

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Dem heebz?
    scrock25 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Old 05-23-2017, 09:58 AM   #30
    AlexK79
    Let There Be Rock
     
    AlexK79's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2008
    Location: Zip City
    Posts: 14,172

    Shows Seen: 92

    DMB Hub Stubs: 24

    My Tour Central Stats

    Re: Poll: Is "slave driver" a racist/racial term?

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by zajDmB1 View Post
    I imagine it's a person by person thing. The biggest problem is you can't really ask a bunch of white people if theoretically-derogatory-words-towards-minorities are racist or not. Obviously slave driver refers to white people, so it IS about us, but I mean, South Park had the best view of it. We just don't understand.
    Very true. I wasn't looking for a definitive answer per se, but rather to see if there was some kind of consensus on how people view the term. I never thought of that term in a racial sense, but I absolutely see how it is derived or interpreted that way. It's not a phrase that I really ever use, but did hear a lot when I was younger. Kind of one of those things that really isn't on your radar and then something like this happens and you think "Hmm, yeah, I suppose that is kind of a racial term."
    __________________
    My Discogs Collection

    DMB 2023: Nashville, Milwaukee, Deer Creek x2, Chicago x2
    AlexK79 is offline   Reply With Quote
    Reply

    Thread Tools
    Display Modes

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is Off
    HTML code is Off

    Forum Jump


    Want to hide all ads on Ants? Click here

    All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:09 AM.


    Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.14
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.


       
    Site LinksAbout AntsAnts MobileTweet Tweet
    Home
    Ants+
    Tour Central
    Search bar
    RSS Feeds
    About Us
    Contact Us
    The Ants Blog
    Advertise on Ants
    Privacy Policy
    Ants on your cell phone
    iAnts
    mobile news
    mobile setlists
    antslive!
    Ants' Twitter
    DMBLive Twitter
    Ants Facebook
    Ants Instagram