CLord

May 7th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^

New hire at my old company about 5 years ago blasted a loud one in the middle of a 30 person sales meeting and his expression didn't change as the entire room turned to face him.  Didn't say a word or flinch.  A god among men.

Muttley

May 7th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^

A salesman at a former firm meant to apologize for his tardiness with a request from a Japanese institution.

He meant to write "I apologize for our incompetence", but the spell-checker had a better idea and replaced it with "I apologize for our incontinence".

I can imagine the Japanese client reading it and saying--in a Japanese accent--"Oh, those stupid Americans have baphroom pwoblem."*

 

 

Before anyone gets on their high-horse, notice who is NOT the butt of the joke, but is reading something ridiculous from a foreigner's perspective.

ChiBlueBoy

May 7th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^

This is a lovely reminder of the sort of world that Tommy and others' grew up in. Racist, misogynistic, and homophobic. As a child, my value as a human being among my peers and myself was largely based on my athletic ability and ability to beat the crap out of other boys. Good times.

I'm not taking responsibility away from Tommy for being a total douche. I'm saying that sometimes progress comes from old people dying and being replaced by more open-minded individuals. Yes, the younger generation could learn some things (could any male under 30 PLEASE hold a door open for a woman?), but in general, there's a lot of hate and ignorance that will go away when I and my generation give up this mortal coil.

ScruffyTheJanitor

May 7th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^

1) The idea that once eveyone over 65 dies life will get better is a complete myth. Racism, sexism, and other terrible biases have a more complicated history and present than "Old people just need to die already."

2) I  am 26 and I used to hold doors for any and all females. You know why I stopped? Its freaking awkward. Seriously, people look at you like you are showing off and on more than one occasion I ended up holding a door open for well over thirty people.  Also, most people assume you are going to just let the door go, so they hurry past you, never acknowledge your presence and usually try to prop the door open anyway.   I hold the door open for my wife and people in my group, but no more for complete strangers based on the idea that y-chromosome deficient persons can't operate a door hinge. 

ChiBlueBoy

May 7th, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^

I agree to an extent, but not completely.

Of course not everything gets better when old people die. We're all born with a tendency toward greed, hatred and a warped view of reality. With time, some grow more tolerant, caring and thoughtful. At the same time, if you think that older generations aren't more prejudiced, you need to hang out with a wider range of generations. I remember how I was raised, and being called a "fag" for wearing corduroys rather than jeans. It was a different time. Many people I know from my generation are still in that mindset. It's sad.

I hold the door for folks all the time. Most seem to appreciate it.

Rabbit21

May 7th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^

To be replaced by new hate and ignorance or a different set of problems.  Same as it ever was.  There's good and bad to be taken from every generation and time period.  Writing it off because it didn't match your preferred values is perhaps not the best approach.

Not happy with what Lasorda said, but he's defending a friend and old guys' PR instincts have never been good.

CLord

May 7th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

Indeed.  Not saying it was better back then, but those generations brought their own set of assets lacking to a greater degree in today's youth - courtesy and politeness come to mind.

This shit goes on just about everywhere though.  The discrimination toward minorities abroad is so far worse than it is here it's laughable.  Especially in countries like Russia and in Eastern Europe, not to mention the obvious Middle East as well as India with their bizaare caste system.

BlockM

May 7th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^

Yep. Racism, etc. is just a manifestation of our desire to see ourselves as better than someone else.

It's interesting to note that sports fandom falls into this category all too often as well. (Obviously on a MUCH smaller scale most of the time.) Is "We're better than them because we went to/root for Michigan," really all that much better or different than "We're better than them because we're a different color/have more money/etc.?"

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

May 7th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^

I'm saying that sometimes progress comes from old people dying and being replaced by more open-minded individuals.

The only problem there is that today's old fuddy-duddies with their closed-minded views are yesterday's progressives.  "Separate but equal" was once considered a progessive enough viewpoint, as it was an improvement over those old unequal standards.  Now it's reprehensible.  Likewise, I don't doubt that when the millennial generation disappears, the replacements will be glad to see their intolerance disappear with them; the only difference is we just don't yet know what that generation will consider intolerant.

lbpeley

May 7th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^

OT for this thread. I've heard of TMZ but this was my first foray into that cesspool. It saddens me deeply that this place not only exists, but apparently is quite popular. What a shitshow.

Everyone Murders

May 7th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^

Without getting into whether Lasorda should have kept his yap shut about Sterling (he obviously should have), I have zero problem with him dissing V. Stiviano.  Every bit of information that I've seen on V. Stiviano makes her seem like an opportunist and a sneak.  And whether the tapes were made with Sterling's knowledge or not, Stiviano made them public without Sterling's consent, for profit.  And she also palled (sp?) around with a racist slum lord for some time without incident until she felt she needed to cash in on the tapes.  To me, that makes her actions seem dishonorable, and I'm amazed she's gotten as easy a ride from the press as she has. 

Should she really get hit by a car?  Of course not.  But do I have a problem with Lasorda jokingly saying that she should be hit by a car?  Not really.  I'm not a big fan of Lasorda's (he's made too many ignorant statements for my taste), but are we really expected to have sympathy for V. Stiviano?  I can't muster it.

 

ijohnb

May 7th, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^

neither.  From the very beginning I have been unable to decide which one I detest more, Sterling or Stiviano.  They belong together.  Hopefully soon they can reconcile so that each can live in each other's world that nobody else has to know about.

Wolverineseath…

May 7th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^

Sterling is racist and his comments are disgusting but Stiviano has to be the scum of the earth, right?  She was completely egging him on in that tape, she was digging for material.  Then she takes it public claiming her friend 'stole it'. And then she has the nerve to do an interview saying she believes in her heart Sterling is not racist.  I don't want her to get hit by a car but I hope she crawl's into a hole and never emerges.  Society will be better place if both are never seen again.

goblue20111

May 7th, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^

Karma's a bitch Donald. After what is known about him and his racism and his history, anyone who feels bad for him or wants to put down Stiviano is as bad as sterling. 'Im not racist but im going to bend over backwards to defend a vile racist'. He got what he deserved m. She made money over screwing him over? Big fucking deal Sterlings life was built on him screwing people over and with deplorable practices. Cry me a river. Sterlings the problem not Stiviano.

Everyone Murders

May 7th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^

"Anyone who ... wants to put down Stiviano is as bad as Sterling."

Word.  I mean that's every bit as true as saying that anyone who wants to put down Eva Braun is as bad as Hitler.  (/boom - Godwin'd/)

Or  maybe, just maybe, it's possible that both Sterling and Stiviano are loathsome.  Not in equal measures, but still both worthy of criticism.

 

ijohnb

May 7th, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^

wanting to put down Stiviano is as bad as Sterling."  You know that cannot possibly hold up. And I know I know, you and I have been down this road before, I know how you are going play it.  But I can think Stiviano is deplorable without "being a racist" or "supporting a racist."  Yes, it can be done.

Mr. Yost

May 7th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^

Can you please put Shakey Jake: (your thread title) like how we do "OT:"???

That way we'll know it's a TMZ type thread ahead of time.

Please and thank you.