A. Caveman making comments that can be misunderstood as offensive

[jmejia1]

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To the question "what's a URM" A. Caveman replied:

A. Caveman
Senior Member
Member # 10782

posted February 27, 2002 11:30 PM
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it's a homonym for "You Are *****."

if you haven't figured it out by this time in the cycle, then you are definitely a URM

I don't mean to start a debate, but this comment can very easily be misunderstood as a racist comment. I bring it up because I feel that if indeed it was purposefully racist, the individual should answer to the people that may take offense to the comment.

 

[A. Caveman]

geez you definitely are a freaking *****.

i posted that sarcastic answer to the question "what is URM?" because at this point in the application cycle, after all these posts, the vast majority of people here know what a URM is. so i decided to be sarcastic and say HE's a URM and that it stands for "you are *****!"

i wasn't implying that URM's are dumb you unbelievable idiot! people that misunderstand plain language, like you do, really piss me off. why? because i have to spell everything out for your little brain ass. do you like being spoon-fed? do you like baby-talkie. i don't like second-guessing myself every time i say something, wondering if the listener is a complete fool and will misunderstand. and even worse, i hate when i DO explain it better. it's like explaining a joke..it just doesn't leave a good aftertaste. but hopefully this post will have made things crystal clear to you.

thank God i got up to mess around on SDN and was among the first to see this crap. DOLT!

 

[Doctora Foxy]

maybe he forgot the word not..think about it;

one would normally say: then you are definitely a URM

or Then you definitely are not a URM

notice the position of the word "are"? In his statement, he most likely forgot the word "not"....i hope! :wink:

 

[Doctora Foxy]

oh, I get it now...U R a *****! ok

 

[A. Caveman]

foxy you are too cute. thanks for looking out. this guy is a particularly corny buttwipe.

NOW THIS is the kind of classmate I don't want to have!! what's worse than a complete *****? an outspoken complete ***** (that would be you)!!

 

[Trek]

I'll give cave the benefit- he's a good cat. Slightly abrasive, but still a good cat :wink: Just gotta watch the company cos a lot can't take the jokes. --Trek

 

[A. Caveman]

by the way..now that i feel so naked...i looked up homonym. it's not exactly the word i was looking for but it's close enough. i guess i should use my dictionary when i make blunt racist comments. <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> 😀

by the way..if you wanna delete this thread and save yourself the embarrassment, you can click on edit for your original post and click delete. just some advice from a nonURM

 

[Doctora Foxy]

haha I didn't even notice---I think the word you're looking for is acronym.

 

[A. Caveman]

you're close..i was looking for a combination of acronym and homonym... a word that is an acronym, but also when spelled out, sounds like the phrase that it's an acronym for. U=you R=are M=*****(this one doesn't work as well as the first two)

 

[katiep]

It's dangerous to make sarcastic comments, especially on a message board where people don't get to see your expressions or intonations. The simple reasons is, whether this person is a ***** or not, he or she was offended, severely enough to post a separate thread about it. Which means other people probably were offended as well.

It isn't worth the risk.

 

[Dr. Don]

alright peeps relax! I know jmejia is a cool homie, so there's no need for that. I'm pretty sure it's just a misunderstanding. As far as A. Caveman's joke, I thought it was pretty clever U R a *****! 😀 Well let's keep it cool people and to be honest with you I wouldn't mind being any of your classmates...I just want in damn it!!!! :wink:

 

[A. Caveman]

oh gosh, don't be offended!

well, honestly, i don't like offending people, and avoid it whenever possible. but if i can't help it, there's nothign i can do. i'm not gonna stop making outrageous comments (if you even think of them as that) just because a few people don't get it.

 

[katiep]

I wasn't offended, I just think you're making some people feel bad.

I'm trying to search for a way in which sucking on a motherly nipple could offend someone, but I can't seem to find it 🙂

 

[MD or Bust]

I am new here but consider myself a down to earth, easy going guy....but reading most of Caveman's post and idiotic replies makes me question how compassionate a doctor u can be, Cavey....saying stuff like "u dont mean to offend people, but cant help it" is more a$$crap than the words coming out of ur stanky mouth......btw, dont bother replying with an assinine post, and dont question my ethics, cuz i think most urm's were definitely insulted by ur reputed "joke"......hopefully med school can see past ur immature mind and horrific sense of humor and offer u a place in a class....BUT hopefully not in UCSF or Hopkins where I am debating to attend......one more thing, good luck with life Cavey..... <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" />

 

[oneironaut]

Dude, even when I read it the first time I didn't think Cave was being serious, and I'm a URM.

heheh- Tripper.

Caveman: Blunt- its the way to be bro ;-)

(and I do mean the Merriam Webster version of the above word, but either way, it translates well.)

<img src="http://www.theunholytrinity.org/cracks_smileys/contrib/ed/muccawhore.gif" alt="" />

 

[matthew0126]

agree... i wish people weren't so dang sensitive about race issues like that

•••quote:•••Originally posted by oneironaut:
•Dude, even when I read it the first time I didn't think Cave was being serious, and I'm a URM.

heheh- Tripper.

Caveman: Blunt- its the way to be bro ;-)

(and I do mean the Merriam Webster version of the above word, but either way, it translates well.)

<img src="http://www.theunholytrinity.org/cracks_smileys/contrib/ed/muccawhore.gif" alt="" />•••••

 

[Ceelo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by matthew0126:
[QB]agree... i wish people weren't so dang sensitive about race issues like that
••••When you grew up in the South like I did and heard the N-word left and right, and went to school with redneck racists, you can't help but be sensitive to race issues.

 

[FLY]

•••quote:••• i posted that sarcastic answer to the question "what is URM?" because at this point in the application cycle, after all these posts, the vast majority of people here know what a URM is. so i decided to be sarcastic and say HE's a URM and that it stands for "you are *****!" ••••Wow, thats original and you have to have a lot of creative juice floating around in your system to come up with something like that.

A.Caveman is my hero.

 

[SicVic]

slightly funny but a careless act

 

[DAL]

Ceelo-

I grew up in the South and I rarely heard the N-word. In fact if you turn on the t.v. or watch a movie you're likely to here the N-word much, much more than you will in everyday conversation. Also, I highly doubt there are a large number of "redneck racists" at any higher institution of learning.

 

[Optimistic]

When I read it I did'nt find it funny . I thought it was rude and Iam not even a URM.

 

[DAL]

When I read it I was surprised because I find it inappropriate to demoralize anyone just because they are asking for answers. To say A. Caveman was making blatant racist comments is going off to an extreme. Although harsh, in no way did I consider his comments racist. I've read many of A. Caveman's posts over the past couple weeks and he tells it like it is. He's very open and honest about everything which is great, but some people can not handle and misinterpret such full force honesty. He's seems like a good guy for the most part, and in no way should his interpretation of URM be taken as a racist comment.

 

[reesie0726]

DAL, you are so very lucky to have grown up in the south and have rarely heard the n-word and I assume other racist comments. Look I spent half of my life in TX and half in NYC, I have come across racist jerks in both places. So it's great if you have not experienced that, but trust me it is out there.

 

[Mary Jane Watson]

I don't think racism is ONLY in the South - it's everywhere. We have to fight it EVERYWHERE.

Can't we all get along? 😎

 

[DAL]

I'm fully aware that it is out there, but I do not think the existence of racism is as widespread as some would think in the South. Most relate the South with racism because of the rebel flag, Civil War, among other issues. I'm just trying to give an example of one who does not think it is that bad in the south. I've lived up north (Mass.) and visited many places in this country, and while I think the southern lifestyle is on the whole a bit more relaxed, and perhaps a bit more friendly, I do not think racism is anymore prevalent here than anywhere, except maybe Cali. and a few other western states.

 

[Trek]

Damn, cave took a beatin overnight :wink: Look folks- it was A JOKE. He was saying that the poster he replied to was a *****. Granted, not the nicest thing to say, but to say it was a racist comment is flat out wrong. --Trek

 

[jmejia1]

"....I'll give cave the benefit- he's a good cat. Slightly abrasive, but still a good cat Just gotta watch the company cos a lot can't take the jokes." --Trek

I can definetly take jokes. I'm pretty liberal and actually like being around individuals that "tell it like it is". However, I don't like individuals that reak of biggotry.

Last count, I think A. Cavemen called me about six differnt adjectives, all refering to me as an "idiot" in his reply. Obviously, I wasn't the only one to feel his initial comment was tasteless. "If you don't know what one is, you most me one" How in the hell can this not be an open insult to URMs? I can take saracasm, and even if you smiled and laughed saying that, I would think its an insult. I'm not the stupid one, if anything, you simply need help in presenting humor.

 

[charleb32]

I'm not going to get into the racist debate, but in reagrd to the original question asked, many new pre-meds (juniors) are now starting to enter the board for next year, that is probably who asked the question. Therefore, at this point they would have no reason to know what a URM is. I think we all should think before we type, because I'm sure that A. Caveman didn't condider this fact when he was being so clever.

 

[BushBaby]

Can't we all just get along?

Next time someone posts a questions in a thread......if you don't have the answer and cannot offer any useful advice.....then just be quiet.

If all you have to add are insulting, nasty remarks, go somewhere else. As the old saying goes, if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

 

[dlbruch]

The URM comment seems to be a joke, maybe an insensitive one. But what alarms me is Caveman's reply:

"geez you definitely are a freaking *****.

i posted that sarcastic answer to the question "what is URM?" because at this point in the application cycle, after all these posts, the vast majority of people here know what a URM is. so i decided to be sarcastic and say HE's a URM and that it stands for "you are *****!"

i wasn't implying that URM's are dumb you unbelievable idiot! people that misunderstand plain language, like you do, really piss me off. why? because i have to spell everything out for your little brain ass. do you like being spoon-fed? do you like baby-talkie. i don't like second-guessing myself every time i say something, wondering if the listener is a complete fool and will misunderstand. and even worse, i hate when i DO explain it better. it's like explaining a joke..it just doesn't leave a good aftertaste. but hopefully this post will have made things crystal clear to you.

thank God i got up to mess around on SDN and was among the first to see this crap. DOLT! "

Cave- You can plead bad taste or ignorance about the URM comment, but I think the condescending tone and direct insults of the above post clearly show who you are! I am much more concerned about having you as a medical colleague than someone who is not sure what a URM is!

 

[Trek]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by jmejia1:
•"....I'll give cave the benefit- he's a good cat. Slightly abrasive, but still a good cat Just gotta watch the company cos a lot can't take the jokes." --Trek

I can definetly take jokes. I'm pretty liberal and actually like being around individuals that "tell it like it is". However, I don't like individuals that reak of biggotry.

Last count, I think A. Cavemen called me about six differnt adjectives, all refering to me as an "idiot" in his reply. Obviously, I wasn't the only one to feel his initial comment was tasteless. "If you don't know what one is, you most me one" How in the hell can this not be an open insult to URMs? I can take saracasm, and even if you smiled and laughed saying that, I would think its an insult. I'm not the stupid one, if anything, you simply need help in presenting humor.•••••jmeija- the difference is you say "tasteless" in this reply, but open the thread by calling cave a racist- that will elicit a strong response by anyone, especially defending themselves, which is why cave replied in such a manner. Racist is a much worse aspersion to cast than just tasteless- hell, i'm tasteless and that's fine. But i would be greatly insulted if i was called a racist.

As to the joke, lemme try to explain. Cave was trying to insinuate to this new person that URM meant U Are a ***** (URM). Then he says to the kid "you must be one" indicating that he thought the kid was a *****. I didn't see where he says that being an UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY is being a *****, but maybe i missed that. Don't let your emotions get you on this- it really wasn't racist. --Trek

 

[charleb32]

I understand the joke, what I don't understand is why anyone's question should be looked down upon, like I said before there are people coming behind us. Why isn't anyone addressing the fact that instead of being helpful to the person he was trying to make them feel dumb for asking? If we want this to be an open forum people have to feel like they can ask anything without being made fun of. It's not about being sensitive, it's about wanting help with something no matter how dumb someone might think it is.

 

[Trek]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by charleb32:
•I understand the joke, what I don't understand is why anyone's question should be looked down upon, like I said before there are people coming behind us. Why isn't anyone addressing the fact that instead of being helpful to the person he was trying to make them feel dumb for asking? If we want this to be an open forum people have to feel like they can ask anything without being made fun of. It's not about being sensitive, it's about wanting help with something no matter how dumb someone might think it is.•••••I agree- that's why i said cave can be abrasive. But it takes all kinds and the anonymity of the internet adds to the willingness to be more blunt and forthright. I'd take everything i read with a grain, hell a tablespoon, of salt.

 

[Original]

I can't believe that almost half the people that have responded here think it was o.k for A.Caveman to post a "Joke" saying being a URM means "you are a *****". If anyone can't see how extremely racist such a joke is then it's just a damn shame. If you think it's o.k to make racist remarks, or even worse, racist jokes, then you need to check yourself ASAP. This is disheartening to say the least. For A.Caveman, I hope you get into med school, but I also hope you change drastically in the way you interact with people in general.

BTW I'm not a URM, and hopefully not a ***** either.

 

[DAL]

URM = You are a *****

How does that statement equate to a blantantly racist comment? I did not take the statement to mean he was calling all URM's *****s, only that he was making a play on letters to give it a different meaning. Yes, it was inappropriate but not racist in my mind.

 

[jmejia1]

I'm not one to hold a public execution so I'll be deleting this thread in the next hour or so to give anyone else a chance to say anything.

Hey Trek, thanks for trying to explain the joke to me--Trust me: I understood it at many different levels. I'm really not stupid. The problem is that it has a double meaning, and the one meaning at least half of us see was tasteless and had racist connotations.

Hey, Cave I didn't mean to present the matter like I did (out in the open), so I apologize for that. Maybe I should've PMed you voicing my opinion on your comment.

If anything, I'm a little surprised, much like Original that not more than half of the replies didn't find the post offensive.

Anyway,

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by DAL:
•URM = You are a *****

•••••allow me to write the above quote in words.

"If you are african american, native american, mexican american, or main-land puertorican, then you are a *****"

Correct me if you think my interpretation is wrong. 😕

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by jmejia1:
•I'm not one to hold a public execution so I'll be deleting this thread in the next hour or so to give anyone else a chance to say anything.

•••••I wish you wouldn't delete it. I think it's cool to discuss race relations every now and then. Besides how else would I have found out that possibly half of all pre-meds don't have any qualms with racist jokes 😀 .

 

[Coalboy]

•••quote:•••"If you are african american, native american, mexican american, or main-land puertorican, then you are a *****"
••••If you take his comment to mean that, then yes, it is extrememly racist. If I thought that's what he was trying to say, than I'd be right there with you, clamoring to string him up. However, I don't think he intended it that way. As I see it, the worst his is guilty of is poor judgement and lack of tact. That's a long way from being a racist, though.

 

[Jalby]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Original:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by DAL:
•URM = You are a *****

•••••allow me to write the above quote in words.

"If you are african american, native american, mexican american, or main-land puertorican, then you are a *****"

Correct me if you think my interpretation is wrong. 😕 •••••I actually couldn't find the original posting of this thread. I think that was taken out of context (just the quote you have). I think he was directing that solely to the person who asked "what is a URM?" (at least that is what I think was asked) I might be wrong, but cave basically told the guy he was a *****. Granted, it's not a nice thing to say, but I don't believe that it is racist. He shouldn't have used an = sign.

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••
•Innocent poster: "what is URM?"

A.Caveman: it's a homonym for "You Are *****."

if you haven't figured it out by this time in the cycle, then you are definitely a URM

•••••Where is the ambiguity in the above comment? It is crystal clear! There are no two ways to read it. If there are, please enlighten me. 😛

 

[DAL]

Original-

If you look at it like that then yes, you see it as a racist comment. However, I do not think that is how Caveman intended. If you refer to the first page where he discusses acronyms and homonyms I believe you will see how I and others took his statement.

U = You
R = Are
M = *****

He meant it as a joke and said it with no real reference to the actual meaning of a URM. Yes, you can take that and see it as a racist comment. But after seeing Caveman talk about his actions further you should see how he actually meant for the statement to come across. Still, I do believe it was inappropriate, but do not believe he meant for it to be interpreted as a racist comment.

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by DAL:
•Original-

If you look at it like that then yes, •••••Like I said previously, if there's any other way to look at it, I'm all up for enlightenment. One would need to do a PhD thesis in anthropology on Caveman's above quoted comments to get any other meaning out of it. But like I said, I'm open minded and all ears. 😛 --those are my ears flapping out of curiousity, not my arms flapping out of excitement.

 

[P60001]

BANG!! I think this horse is dead. Why are people still beating it. Caveman seemed to explain his post rather well. Let's not infer something that he said was not there. I did not see the reference in a bad light, however some did, and he explained what he meant.
Chill.

 

[Coalboy]

•••quote:•••Like I said previously, if there's any other way to look at it, I'm all up for enlightenment</font>•••Caveman first defined URM as "You are a *****," but not meaning that Underrepresented Minorities were *****s. In that last statement, using the first "definition", he was simply saying that if you don't know by now, you are a *****. Not "you are an underrepresented minority."

Again, bad judgement, not racism.

 

[Original]

Right! anyone can say anything and not be held accountable so long as they say the meant something different 😛 . That might actually be fun though if you think about it.

 

[Trek]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Original:
•Right! anyone can say anything and not be held accountable so long as they say the meant something different 😛 . That might actually be fun though if you think about it.•••••Yes. You've never said "i'm gonna kill _____ (insert person you're messing with, mad at, etc)"?? I find it hard to believe you haven't. If you have- are you writing from a jail cell where you're serving time for attempted murder? --Trek

 

[Original]

Trek:
I say stuff like that all the time. But I have no problems admitting that they somewhat connote violence.

 

[DAL]

Original-

In Caveman's very first statement he said he was using a homonym to make URM = You Are a *****. Now forget your previously knowledge of what a URM actually means, and take it like he wrote it. U = You, R = Are, M = *****, nothing to do with an under represented minority being a *****. He meant as a play on words, or letters I suppose, to change the meaning of a word into a joke. Just take it like it is, a misinterpreted, inappropriate joke. That's it.

 

[Original]

DAL-
Let's take it from there. When he said "If you haven't figured IT out by now then you're definitely a URM", your analysis fell apart. According to you, by "IT" he was referring to his defined meaning of URM. Why should anyone have figured out something so arcane? 😕