Idiotic question about West Virginia

powhound84 wrote: So would it be OK to call her an "ass clown" for jumping to negative conclusions about an area she had never visited? Is it only wrong because the word "bitch" was used?

Point of clarification before I grab some more popcorn: I don't actually have a conclusion. What I said was, “Here’s the crazy image I have in my head: I know it’s wrong (“hysterical BS”), so can you help me replace it by using your superior knowledge of the area to recommend some good spots?”

Buuut I obfuscated that question with, you know, humor, so clearly the point was lost. Now I must suffer my liberal guilt and the crippling knowledge that people on the Internet think I’m a Dumb Bitch™. :,(

Alia S wrote: Point of clarification before I grab some more popcorn: I don't actually have a conclusion. What I said was, “Here’s the crazy image I have in my head: I know it’s wrong (“hysterical BS”), so can you help me replace it by using your superior knowledge of the area to recommend some good spots?” Buuut I obfuscated that question with, you know, humor, so clearly the point was lost. Now I must suffer my liberal guilt and the crippling knowledge that people on the Internet think I’m a Dumb Bitch™. :,(

Thanks for keeping your sense of humor in face of the name-calling. And it's a smart thing that you trademarked "Dumb Bitch." You might make some good coin off that name...someday.

Hagerstown, now it all makes sense!

youtube.com/watch?v=s8m7CQ8…

Bill Kirby wrote:Many years ago My wife and I ... I wrote this whole story down so when I call you a dumb b!tch ...

See Guideline #1

Alia S wrote: Point of clarification before I grab some more popcorn: I don't actually have a conclusion. What I said was, “Here’s the crazy image I have in my head: I know it’s wrong (“hysterical BS”), so can you help me replace it by using your superior knowledge of the area to recommend some good spots?”

You left out your incredibly stereotypical, ethnocentric, somewhat inflammatory characterization scenario of what you think you might find:

Alia S wrote:Shitty rental car breaks down, possibly in the snow. No cell reception. I knock on the door of the shack from Deliverance. I forget that I look a) vaguely like an immigrant and b) vaguely like a lesbian. Out-of-work coal miners and/or meth-heads set their dogs after me while screaming, "THANKS, OBAMA." My body is fed to the pigs.

So you tried to let yourself off the hook by claiming it was humor:

Alia S wrote:Buuut I obfuscated that question with, you know, humor, so clearly the point was lost.

That's the same as a politician who makes a racist/misogynist/sexist/etc remark and then "apologizes" by claiming it was a joke. That's why people have been jumping down your throat. It wasn't humorous unless you think all WV people are backwards, out of work, meth-head hicks and you think that is funny. And you just couldn't restrain yourself and tossed in a Deliverance reference just for good measure.

Here's a hint: if you find yourself typing "I totally realize this is hysterical BS,...", perhaps rethinking what you're writing is in order before posting it?

powhound84 wrote: I get a good laugh out of everyone's desire for political correctness.

A bit of thread drift (maybe):
I understand what you're saying (and this is not directed at you personally) but I have a problem with how a lot of people on this site define political correctness. Being polite or courteous is not being politically correct. That is showing manners. Not using misogynist or racially loaded terms is not being PC; it's showing that you're not a misogynist or racially insensitive A-hole. On the current political scene, it's interesting that many Trump supporters say that they like not having to be so PC in that crowd and can say what they want without fear of recrimination. However, when you have a racist group like while supremecists using the same language as people who claim that they are simply not being "PC", how is a person supposed to distinguish between the two?

Marc801 wrote: You left out your incredibly stereotypical, ethnocentric, somewhat inflammatory characterization scenario of what you think you might find

I hear you. Just so you know, this is the MP page on West Virginia right now ...



Not sure how easy that is to read, but it says: "Due to rainy weather, crazy locals, a depressed economy, and Deliverance most climbers don't ever consider West Virginia much of a climbing destination."

Since you seem to feel pretty strongly that jokes like that aren't funny -- and since that page is probably a lot of visiting climbers' first stop for info --maybe you want to submit some edits? To be clear: I'm making an actual suggestion, not a joke.

Alia S wrote: Point of clarification before I grab some more popcorn: I don't actually have a conclusion. What I said was, “Here’s the crazy image I have in my head: I know it’s wrong (“hysterical BS”), so can you help me replace it by using your superior knowledge of the area to recommend some good spots?” Buuut I obfuscated that question with, you know, humor, so clearly the point was lost. Now I must suffer my liberal guilt and the crippling knowledge that people on the Internet think I’m a Dumb Bitch™. :,(

Alia- don't worry you are not a dumb bitch for asking these question. Your depiction is not hysterical BS, it's actually quite accurate . Be careful there are many 'friendly' WVer trying to give you a false sense of security so they can do deliverance like things with you.

When I go to WV i always carry these things in case of emergency:
1. Marriage licence showing that i have in fact married my cousin.
2. Bobble head Jesus on the dashboard.
3. A little bit a meth
4. Loaded concealed handgun.

So far the only thing I didn't need to use was the shot gun.

Better you just go home. Nothing worth climbing in the southeast. Tell your friends.

Fat Dad wrote: A bit of thread drift (maybe): I understand what you're saying (and this is not directed at you personally) but I have a problem with how a lot of people on this site define political correctness. Being polite or courteous is not being politically correct. That is showing manners. Not using misogynist or racially loaded terms is not being PC; it's showing that you're not a misogynist or racially insensitive A-hole. On the current political scene, it's interesting that many Trump supporters say that they like not having to be so PC in that crowd and can say what they want without fear of recrimination. However, when you have a racist group like while supremecists using the same language as people who claim that they are simply not being "PC", how is a person supposed to distinguish between the two?

I just always defined political incorrectness, as saying something a liberal would disagree with...

powhound84 wrote: Haha I don't really think you are a dumb bitch, but I do think you need to get out a bit more. The real point of my post was to ask Tim if any other derogatory term would have been acceptable in place of "bitch." I get a good laugh out of everyone's desire for political correctness.

Heh, tell my boss. :) I got to spend some time in Georgia and Tennessee, but that’s about it for that part of the world. So, yes, I’m looking forward Expanding My Horizons (also ™).

Re: Bitch vs. ass-clown – interesting question. I see Tim's point, but actually I think I'd rather be called a bitch. Many admirable women throughout history have been called a dumb bitch, but ass-clown? Yikes. Nothing empowering about "ass-clown."

Stagg54 wrote: I just always defined political incorrectness, as saying something a liberal would disagree with...

And are you doing dumb things, just because your mom told you not to? That's about the same level of maturity.

Tim Lutz wrote: you are white and male, so of course your black friend (congrats on having one!) was treated well. Try wearing a turban or being gay and see how that works out FWIW, I grew up near Hagerstown, MD, so I know what WV is like and I know 'what I'm talking about'.

Umm, no you don't. See the country, see the world, get some perspective, and you'll realize that there are bad and good people everywhere. You may have been forced into a social group growing up, a group with negative values, and now as an adult, living somewhere else, you can pick friends who are more open minded. That doesn't say anything about the real demographics of where you live. As with any population anywhere in the world, large or small scale, there are pockets of good and bad.

To the OP: I thought your post was funny. Maybe clueless, but obviously on purpose, and the climate these days is weird enough that it's fair to question these things. You'll be fine. On your way north, after crossing into WV, you'll be passing through friendly towns that have seen and accepted most every type of person there is. The first real town, though still tiny, is home to hundreds of foreign refugees from all over the world. And, no, I don't mean migrant workers from Mexico and Central America, though we have those too; I mean Ethiopia, Eritrea, Myanmar, and most anywhere that the US takes refugees from. If you're unlucky enough to get injured at Seneca, the next town up the road is the hospital you'll go to, where you'll be attended, quite possibly, by one of several Muslim doctors (turban and all), or another of many staff members who can tick basically any demographic box you can think of.

Long story short, locals in the very smallest places might be curious to see a stranger, but they'll still, as a rule, be kind and respectful. Anyone who thinks that racism is a southern, small town, or poor concept hasn't seen much of the world. FWIW, I spent 20 years 20 minutes from Seneca, so I know what WV is like and I know "'what I'm talking about'."(sic)

Tim Lutz wrote: Does a link with facts fit your definition of 'logic'? Trump has more support in WV than any other state. It is 45% of ALL voters. wvgazettemail.com/news/2016… so, conservatively, racism and sexism are very real concerns for half the population in WV.

No.

Read your own article.

Civis Analytics, a Democratic data science firm, based its research on interviews with more than 11,000 respondents who identify themselves as Republicans or likely voters who lean Republican. The firm is headed by Dan Wagner, who worked as Obama’s chief analytics officer during the 2012 campaign. - See more at: wvgazettemail.com/news/2016…

So still roughly a quarter of the state supports the man with the Yuge toupee and tiny hands.

Jake Jones wrote: I'd like to be the first to apologize for this idiotic statement that was published- not by me. Also, thank you for bringing this to my attention. This bullshit has been deleted.

Ha, I once had to delete some writings from Ladd on the CT page when I took over the CT admin BITD.

Alia S wrote: Point of clarification before I grab some more popcorn: I don't actually have a conclusion. What I said was, “Here’s the crazy image I have in my head: I know it’s wrong (“hysterical BS”), so can you help me replace it by using your superior knowledge of the area to recommend some good spots?” Buuut I obfuscated that question with, you know, humor, so clearly the point was lost. Now I must suffer my liberal guilt and the crippling knowledge that people on the Internet think I’m a Dumb Bitch™. :,(

I like your style. When I called you a dumb bitch I was really hoping to get more than this. Damn you and your high road.

All I reeled into the boat was Tim.

Tim,

I guess I am a little misogynicstic like. I'm always saying women can't drive. On the other hand I love strong women. Really successful or intelligent ladies would my type when most men run from them. So honestly I guess your ass clown comment holds water. Congrats.. Now can the rest of us get back to being Trump loving stereotypical, prejudice misogynicstic ass clown dumb bitches?

Lhotsa wrote: See Guideline #1

Guideline #1? guideline #1? How bout you pimp out your pro deals for 95 cents on the dollar someplace else? Guideline #1.. Haha.

powhound84 wrote: Fact.

+1

I've seen much more racism in big cities than in any most rural areas. From my travels it's almost if people aren't racist if they haven't met or spent time with anyone else with a different skin color.

Jake Jones wrote: I'd like to be the first to apologize for this idiotic statement that was published- not by me. Also, thank you for bringing this to my attention. This bullshit has been deleted.

Thanks for nuking that line. It's been bugging me for years.

Side-Bar:

Everyone should read Abraham Verghese's memoir My Own Country. Abraham, an infectious disease specialist of Ethiopian-Indian descent living in Johnson City, Tennessee during the AIDS outbreak of the 1980s. A nuanced (and masterfully written!)look into the life of minorities and the LGBTQ community in rural Appalachia. Good stuff.

Then maybe look into Will D. Campbell's "With the Rednecks." Will was a "bootleg preacher" who spent the sixties in Martin Luther King Jr.'s inner-circle and spent the latter half of his life seeking racial and economic reconciliation with the type of disenfranchised whites this thread is (or was) largely about. Also, good stuff.