Race Relations And Hardline

Guys, race relations in this country are worse right now since the 1960's. I was born in 1957 and, while young, remember some of what went on. Things have changed with the advent of the internet and the ability to "make things happen" with social media.

I have always been an advocate of say what you want here without being censored. That is still my belief. However, if it got out to social media about race baiting on this site, we could have a "board war" like no other. It could easily bring this board down, or at least not worth reading if 1,000s came from a shared social media post to comment on everything here. There is no way it would be easy to stop them like is is most of the spammers, which takes a lot of my time.

I love Hardline, it has become a large part of my life. One of the reasons there are no banner ads or paid vendor advertising is that this board owes no loyalty to anybody. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Even if the business model sucks, as there is absolutely zero income from this site.

So, while I believe in free speech, and complete support it here and elsewhere.

I must ask for some cooperation. Please do not hurt this site by race baiting. Please refrain from making this a racist site.

I am constantly amazed with the way Google picks up on this site in the search engines. Many times, even just yesterday, in a Google search, I was pointed back here for my answer. I would hate for Google to pick up on some things posted here since Ferguson.

I banned JOC today for race baiting. While only for 10 days and he can read, just not post. I have formally warned him about it before.

As much as I hate censorship, I am asking for your cooperation.

well said and couldn't agree more.

Well said..... Gives me a better understanding of the situation.

Just so I am clear, what is race baiting? (Legitimately asking, I've always wondered.)

I think you are right in doing this, maybe I should be banned also for kind of starting it all. (Although I don't feel like my analogy in that Dynamite thread was that far off.) I've always felt that the :afro: smiley itself was kind of worse than the word. To me it was like saying "Here's a stereotypical pic of the word I am too chicken-**** to say directly." I got tired of people using it and thinking it was OK so I just started using the word since, if a pic is OK, the word should be too. Why not just ban the word and the pic? I've always felt that some people here are hypocrites. You have Jesus freaks here posting porn. People buying shirts and stuff that are anti-hate and then posting 17 pages of pure hate. People who say they aren't racist and then using the :afro: every time they mean the n-word but are afraid to say it. My use of a racial analogy was a passive-aggressive attempt at bringing some of this out to the forefront using a topic that I knew would be sensitive. Maybe it was in bad taste and I apologize if so. But I do think you are doing the right thing.

I think often times folks say stuff just joking or are like most folks in forums and will cloud up but will never rain, but the "outsiders" and folks looking for drama don't get sarcasm. Trust me I have had a situation where things I said were put on paper and presented to me as a form of blackmail and I was shocked at the things I spoke wake and how they looked on paper and were in no way indicative of my heart. It opened my eyes to the power of words spoken to each other and how powerful they are, let alone being pasted on the webs for the world to see. That being said, I would encourage folks not to whine and complain about free speach, and staet hollering "eff them $&!?)(s," ! I have grown to enjoy coming here as this is the only forum I come to, I want it to be here so I can keep shooting the bull with you guys as we get to meet more of you. I don't think what John has asked is out of line at all, personally I think it shows the mark of a good leader. What's right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right!

Urban dictionary:

Race-baiting
1. Baiting a racial group;
2. Baiting people, using racially-inflammatory issues or stereotypes.

I was definitely guilty of #2. I believe my intentions were noble though.

I talk a lot of crap I don't mean. Anyone knows me knows I'm RARLEY serious. (Never grew up). As yall know Hardline has became part of my life to, just ask the misses. Ha. There's a handful of fellas on here that I have A TON of respect for and think they are about as good as folks Ya could ask for. I refer to John G to my misses as our "sensei" :****: before hardline I never messed with any forums other than hours of reading tech/smart ass comments on pirate. It would definitely blow if Hardline was messed up by one of us, ESP ME, even just sayin somthing joking around .. I will definitely do my part and watch my comments... I ain't tryin to piss anyone off. I just fawk around to much. Anyways .. Thanks for all you do keepin Hardline going Mr. John.

:afro: = pimp I thought.....lol seriously

I still think we need a hand slap emoticon. Insert hand slap here lol

I am not one for censorship, but I understand the points being made by our fearless leader. This is an open forum and not a camp fire where we could pimp smack someone and tell them to go away. If we are targeted it could make this forum useless. So I agree. If you can't act like adults and talk about off road and general chit chat without starting racial fights.

Funny this got brought up. I had a black guy message me on my Madram11 Facebook page and he was interested in attending some events. He wanted to know where the best place to keep up with everything was and I was going to tell him hardline but I didn't feel comfortable with all the recent post in the last little while. One of the first things he asked me was it ok for black people to attend the events I filmed at. Our sport is growing and probably being watched closer than ever right now.

Hover your mouse or finger over the :afro: Smilie. It's not a reference to African Americans anyway, it was originally here to make fun of me for various reasons...

Cole said:

One of the first things he asked me was it ok for black people to attend the events I filmed at. Our sport is growing and probably being watched closer than ever right now.

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it's a serious shame that even had to be asked.

I'm embarrassed by a certain slogan that gets called out at events. It may have been funny a time or two but since it "caught on" its too much for me personally.

Thanks for doing this John.

There is a big black line between personal beliefs and political correctness. Although the line can be turned gray and/or fuzzy at time, things made public and permanent can damage for eternity.

I attempt to draw my line a good bit before my professional life or outside perception can be severely tarnished. A public forum or mixed crowd of acquaintances can destroy the character of a man when statements are taken out of context or misinterpreted. I simply can not afford this in any manner even if the correctness isn't my personal belief. Just a word of caution, Google is a powerful research tool even if you think you are shielded from the magical powers of HL.

Hell, we found out about Bill's secret cigar escapade and Barry's birthplace. It's out there for all to see and there are people that would destroy a man solely for entertainment purposes.

In a nut shell, I couldn't agree more with JG. It's not worth the potential damages. Pick your battles, there are plenty of them around...


2010 Jim's Garage 4429
2012 Jim's Garage YJ
2013 Wide Open Design WFO

patooyee said:

Just so I am clear, what is race baiting? (Legitimately asking, I've always wondered.)

I think you are right in doing this, maybe I should be banned also for kind of starting it all. (Although I don't feel like my analogy in that Dynamite thread was that far off.) I've always felt that the :afro: smiley itself was kind of worse than the word. To me it was like saying "Here's a stereotypical pic of the word I am too chicken-**** to say directly." I got tired of people using it and thinking it was OK so I just started using the word since, if a pic is OK, the word should be too. Why not just ban the word and the pic? I've always felt that some people here are hypocrites. You have Jesus freaks here posting porn. People buying shirts and stuff that are anti-hate and then posting 17 pages of pure hate. People who say they aren't racist and then using the :afro: every time they mean the n-word but are afraid to say it. My use of a racial analogy was a passive-aggressive attempt at bringing some of this out to the forefront using a topic that I knew would be sensitive. Maybe it was in bad taste and I apologize if so. But I do think you are doing the right thing.

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I :-* you no homo

Cole said:

Funny this got brought up. I had a black guy message me on my Madram11 Facebook page and he was interested in attending some events. He wanted to know where the best place to keep up with everything was and I was going to tell him hardline but I didn't feel comfortable with all the recent post in the last little while. One of the first things he asked me was it ok for black people to attend the events I filmed at. Our sport is growing and probably being watched closer than ever right now.

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Agree...this sport is literally exploding in front of our eyes.

Re:

So are we all going to go back and "clean up" the posts/board so we don't all look like a bunch of racists?

Re: Re: Race Relations And Hardline

Speeding said:

I'm embarrassed by a certain slogan that gets called out at events. It may have been funny a time or two but since it "caught on" its too much for me personally.

Thanks for doing this John.

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I know what you are taking about and I couldn't believe it when I first started hearing it. I had to ask John g if I was hearing it right.

Speeding said:

I'm embarrassed by a certain slogan that gets called out at events. It may have been funny a time or two but since it "caught on" its too much for me personally.

Thanks for doing this John.

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A lot of us belong in the shop or the woods, not in front of a computer screen trying to articulate thoughts