Comments on: Racist remarks in public, apology in private?

By: sumac

sumac — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:03:03 +0000

In reply to Joseph. Thank you for that explanation! So he heard "Good Feeling" and at first thought he was hearing "Levels." If he had smashed that iPod, maybe this stupidity could have been nipped in the bud right then. If his parents had stepped up.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:56:07 +0000

A note on the peculiar tweet: It’s about a 2011 electronic dance song called “Levels” by a Swedish DJ named Avicii. After it was released, the rapper Flo Rida used it as the backing track for a song called “Good Feeling,” which became a huge hit (#3 in the US, #1 in the UK and Germany, etc.) Ironically, given Tanner’s reprehensible point of view, both songs prominently feature a sample from “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” by Etta James.

By: sumac

sumac — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:59:53 +0000

In reply to tanita. You're right, "insensitivity" is a ugly bit of minimizing. And the problem needs to be tackled RIGHT NOW.

By: tanita

tanita — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:49:14 +0000

The word “insensitivity” in the father’s apology especially rankles. It’s not the insensitivity of saying these things aloud that’s problematic. It’s the wizened little mean dried pea brain behind them. Which – yeah. Fifteen. Pushing the line, trying to be cool, yes. But, wow – there’s a problem, there.