Racist T-Shirts?

[ClubMed]

One shirt shows Chinese laundry workers with conical hats and the phrase, "Wong Brothers Laundry Service: Two Wongs Can Make It White." Current bids on eBay were as high as $249.

A second design pulled by Abercrombie & Fitch showed a smiling Buddha and read, "Buddha Bash: Get Your Buddha on the Floor." Bids were also at $249 on eBay. The shirts retailed for about $25.

Is Abercrombie & Fitch being racist in greed for more money?
Or are Asians and Buddhists lacking in a sense of humour?

Is it acceptable for firms to start using stereotypes to make money?

Could this add to racism?

links:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/04/20/abe...rts/index.html
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...p?story=286976

Thoughts ?

[NoCtrl]

I think people should learn how to laugh at themselves.

[ironforge]

I'm all for free speech

[willy_ph]

I think that the they (the shirts) were somewhat offesive. The company should have had more sympathy or understanding towards the minorities involved in the shirts.

Sure free speech is good and all, but there comes a point when it impedes on the right of people to live without being subjected to humiliating treatment. Which in the case of the shirts, whether intentional or not, would be quite humiliating to those specific groups.

I think they are funny. The moment we lose the ability to stand back and laugh at ourselves, we stop living. They have jokes poking fun at all religions/races: Irish, Polish, Jews, Arabs, Sardar (India Turbaned Gentlemen with beard and ferocious eyes), African Americans, Scots,.......

Tell me who is not at the receiving end? Just do a google on ___ jokes and you'll hit like 17,000 web pages.





PS: Two wongs do make a white. But only in English do two positives make a wong (negative). Yeah, Right!



Bottom Line- Laugh if its funny. So what if it's on you.

[Atomic Rooster]

Remember that two wrongs don't make a right, BUT three rights make a left!

By the way, one of my customers has the "Wong Brothers Laundry Service" shirt. He is Korean.

[Graham]

In these days of PC it is difficult to say anything that wont offend someone, there is a fine line between humour and insult.
I sure you know many jokes that are very funny but based on some supposed ethnic trait, that doesnt stop them being funny. It is only when someone believes the stereotype to be true, or takes offence, that problems arise.
As NoCtrl said we need to "lighten up".

G

Originally posted by shahani
I think they are funny. The moment we lose the ability to stand back and laugh at ourselves, we stop living. They have jokes poking fun at all religions/races: Irish, Polish, Jews, Arabs, Sardar (India Turbaned Gentlemen with beard and ferocious eyes), African Americans, Scots,.......

Tell me who is not at the receiving end? Just do a google on ___ jokes and you'll hit like 17,000 web pages.





PS: Two wongs do make a white. But only in English do two positives make a wong (negative). Yeah, Right!



Bottom Line- Laugh if its funny. So what if it's on you.

i second what sahani said!

[Jonty]

LOL, I'm not PC either.

I'm sure there are more serious things to worry about.

[ironforge]

Yes.. I hate PC...
too many people get offended too easy..

PC is for people who can't handle the real world.. heh