Blue Hero:
I'm dressing up as Hitler, my friend is Stalin. Can we have someone launch a post campaign against us?

You would be the most awesome people in the world if you staged a light-sabre duel and shouted dialogue from Downfall at each other (humerus subtitles added in later).

My best reply, don't dress as a zombie as it makes fun of european (and pretty much any) culture.
Start on that bandwaggon and anything can be included.

Yes Racisim is BAD, but racisim is based on a choice to degrade or consider another group less than. These costumes do not do that at all. The Geisha one is actually very thought out and well done and that level of work, and Jap culture is mainly viewed as a good thing. Pointing out oddities with-in a culture is not wrong, using those oddities to degrade that culture is wrong.
Hence the very insistance that everything is racist (and using White Europeans as the base example) makes these people racist as well, as they are using a cultural oddity/history, as a point to suggest that it applies and acts as a negitive to the white european race.

Simply put, dressing as a mexican bandit or robin hood is not wrong so long as you don't go of saying look I am 'THE every-mexican/european). The protesters however, are acting racist because they are saying everyone dressing up as shown is being racist (couldn't find an easier way to put it).

Thos are my thoughts, I don't disagree that sometimes they have a point but this is one of the more harm than good situations.

Just a fun report that has a lot of campaign supporting comments: http://boingboing.net/2011/10/25/anti-racism-awareness-campaign-inadvertently-spawns-meme.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29

I personally fall in the "Leave me the hell alone, it's just Halloween" camp.

Hahahahaha that costume was hilarious, i wouldn't have ever thought of doing something like that.

Treblaine:

999realthings:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053134/Students-launch-poster-campaign-racist-Halloween-costumes.html
I gotta this have to one of the most pointless and trying to hard to be politically correct things I have seen in a while.
While the Arab suicide bomber costume is offensive and probably shouldn't be worn, everything else is quite tame. The geisha outfit, the Mexican outfit and maybe the ghetto outfit.
Personally, I'm Asian and I went to Halloween as a Viet Cong. So people need to get over and have laugh in life or am I being to racially insentive

"As a Tranyslvanian I am incensed at the insinuation that all people from this region are blood sucking creatures of the night. I am a culture, not a costume..."

I don't know if that arab kid even exists or if he is just a model posing for this psy-ops campaign but the "This is NOT my culture" is weasel word claim ANYONE EVER THOUGH IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS CULTURE!

He is making light of ONE ASPECT of a condemned practice in a region you happen to come from. And people have to make light of horrible things or else we go crazy.

Dressing up as Dracula is NOT stating in any kind of racist way that that all people of Eastern Europe are vampires!

I hope this starts a meme of parodies of this, like photoshop Bela Lugosi holding up a pic of the Muppet Count.

It did.

gotta learn to laugh people! i work at a party store, and we sell TONS of costumes, some are a little racy (sexy) and some are a little goofy, and some are a little weird. Its just a costume. If you cant learn to laugh about things sometimes, youre gonna go nuts.

I do note, all the girls and womens costumes tend to be "sexy" and ive had quite a few girls and women coming in looking for something else and finding nothing that they like or want to wear.

chiggerwood:
This is stupidity on the grandest of scales. If you're that offended by a Halloween costume, please get your head out of your ass. There are real racist in the world that you could be protesting; there are actual injustices that you could stand up against. Sex slavery, starvation, AIDS and holocaust denial, human rights violations the list goes on and on. Why not put your time, money, and energy into something worthwhile!?

I have no idea why this got me so worked up.

You have every right to be worked up. Shit like this is half the reason real racism still exists. It acts like a screen and distracts people from the real problems that they should be trying to fix.

I'm a big fan of the pic btw, very nice touch.

im not sure if its been posted yet but....

chiggerwood:
There are real racist in the world that you could be protesting; there are actual injustices that you could stand up against.

What the fuck do you expect people to do? Lobby the government to send a peacekeeping mission to the DRC (which it won't do because there's no political will) or set a goal which might actually be achieved and make a difference to people.

If you care about injustice, what are you doing about it? Oh right, nothing because you don't feel you have to care - you just feel obliged to tell other people how they should care.

canadamus_prime:
Besides correct me if I'm wrong, but was a geisha girl not at one time a prominent part of Japanese culture?

Nope, never..

A tiny cultural and musical tradition confined to one city is not a prominent part of culture. Sorry, the obsession with it is totally unwarranted and actually very base.

justnotcricket:
I go back to my example above - am I not allowed to wear a kimono that I find beautiful because I'm somehow mocking a minority culture?

Only if your intention is to perpetuate a belittling stereotype.

I've seen many, many white girls in Kimono. It's kind of a ritual when you homestay in Japan that your host family will dress you in kimono at one point. The kimono is not the problem, and I'm amazed so many people reading this can't see that.

But if you're just looking for 'me so horny' submissive asian girl sex appeal by dressing as a Geisha, well, maybe consider how it might feel for someone who actually lives under those kinds of stereotypes. Why not dress like a prostitute from your own culture, not a culture which didn't actually exists and was just made up by horny American novelists with a bad case of yellow fever.

Dastardly:

chiggerwood:
I have no idea why this got me so worked up.

Me, neither. So if you can't fight all the causes, you can't fight any of them?

Maybe the reason these folks have picked this particular cause is because this one they may actually be able to change. I can't cure cancer, I can just give money to people who think they can. I can't stop sex slavery -- I could "raise awareness," but who is there among us who doesn't already think it's wrong?

This cause is something that really does demonstrate quite a bit of insensitivity, and yet so many people don't see it as a problem. You realize that's exactly how some people feel about some instances of human trafficking, right? Because it's not a bother to them, it's "not a worthwhile cause."

Yeah, there are "real racists" in the world. The people that think these costumes are hilarious? They're among them. What you mean to say is that there are "worse" racists in the world. Yep. Very true. And those racists are too far gone to listen to anyone, because they fully know and admit they are racist. Someone who thinks it's fine to dress as the "lazy, donkey-riding Mexican" is someone who is a racist-in-denial.

It's not that they hate Mexicans. It's that they don't consider what the other person may feel about it. They consider that other person's culture to be nothing more than fuel for a goofy joke. That's a kind of racism -- it may be a "softer" or more "accidental" kind, but that's exactly what makes it worth pointing out.

If even one person looks at the poster and says, "Hmm... I hadn't really thought of it that way. I guess it is a little more rude than I thought, and for not much 'joke,' either," then this campaign has accomplished far more than a bumper sticker that trumpets some "real" cause that everyone already agrees with.

Whether or not you agree with the topic of the campaign, the fact is that this is exactly the kind of campaign these kids should fight -- because it's something they actually have the power to start changing.

Better examples would be my main criticism. A number of the images shown show a distinct interest in pulling off the look just right (geisha one for instance), and I am not convinced these people are doing it out of racist view, but out of a degree of wanting to be in taht state (a Geisha for a day as such). So using such images simply says to even try and get into the state of another culture is wrong and racist, and that just sends the wrong message completely.
As for the others;
Black 'Gangsta' Costume - Actively promoted way of being 'kool' it should surpise no one that it would be made a joke of, in another setting it would be considered satire of just how bad the image itself is to african american culture. Could be racist but self inflicted, wrong on both sides.
Mexican Bandit - Holywood sterio-type, just as acceptable as Robin Hood (or at least just as racist)
Aerican Indians - The poster attached here does show this to be somehwat insenitive so I would mark it as a good example
Suicide Bomber - This is a spector on society (same as Ghost were in the past) and is a very real application of the spirit of All Hallows Eve. However, person not likely to know that. Equially so, he is dressed in arab garb and not distinctly Muslim (which is the main cultural view of suicide bombers). Not as insenitive as the indians and the casual look and lack of any true identifier suggests there isn't degradation being made of anything, just a last minute choice not aimed to cause any trouble.

There is a fine line between pointing out and using for the purposes of fun and humor aspects of culture; and using those aspects to degrade a culture.

Slippery slopes that leave out one race are suspect themselves (I do not see a white anything holding up a picture, leaving that race out shows a negative view towards the race). And it wouldn't even be very hard; Someone dressed as Mic Dundee would suffice for Austrialians.
(For the record and for some odd reason, Hispanics are considered different from 'white' people. Honestly have no idea why)

*All terms used in this writing are used for the understanding of the common person, more ideal terms could have been used but would have left some confused and would have resulted in the point being missed. If any of them offend you just replace them with the more ideal, non-loaded term as that is what would have ideally been used.

ediblemitten:

Silverfox99:
My problem with the campaign is that it is racist.

First they don't show anyone making fun of rednecks or any other white stereotype. If it is offensive to dress up like another culture then all cultures should be represented, by the logic of their own argument.

I know that this was designed to highlight minority groups but that's where the problem occurs. Racism can and does effect all races and it wont end until all racism stops not just against minority races.

Personally, I would find it hilarious if someone showed up to a party dressed up in white face and as a redneck.

So, by your logic, racism (these costumes are hardly racist) against *ahem*, "minority races", is bad, but racism against whites is comedic?

...Note how he never actually said or implied that racism against minority groups isn't comedic.

They think all of those costumes are offensive? A couple of my friends were Hitler and a stereotypical Jew last year. They took a picture of "Hitler" pushing the "Jew" into a pizza oven. That is racist, not a costume of a cultural stereotype. Although my friends were more funny than offensive since it was serious overkill.

ediblemitten:

Silverfox99:
My problem with the campaign is that it is racist.

First they don't show anyone making fun of rednecks or any other white stereotype. If it is offensive to dress up like another culture then all cultures should be represented, by the logic of their own argument.

I know that this was designed to highlight minority groups but that's where the problem occurs. Racism can and does effect all races and it wont end until all racism stops not just against minority races.

Personally, I would find it hilarious if someone showed up to a party dressed up in white face and as a redneck.

So, by your logic, racism (these costumes are hardly racist) against *ahem*, "minority races", is bad, but racism against whites is comedic? I could actually care less what people dress up for on halloween, but your argument loses traction when you declare that dressing up as a black-stereotype is 'racist', but that going in white-face as a redneck is comedic.

Also, you would think that the 'protesters' would be intelligent enough to know that the costumes AREN'T geared toward being deliberately racist, and throwing every single race into a single category. For one, suicide bombers, geishas, and African-Americans who live in ghettos did and do exist. The costumes are meant to present condensed, simplified caricatures of a very specific subgroup of people. I don't know why an intelligent Asian person would immediately assume that when a person dresses up as a geisha, they are immediately lumping every Asian person into the category of geisha. As a test, tell me this. If you saw a person in a redneck costume, in white-face, would you immediately assume that this person is lumping every white person into the category of redneck? No? So why should a black person, upon seeing a man dressed as a highly stereotyped ghetto-dweller immediately assume that the costume wearer is lumping EVERY African-American into the category of ghetto-dweller?

This whole campaign stinks to me of some white-guilt bullshit from this Anti-racism group, not getting their goddamn priorities in order by having a group of students from minority groups in the United States to look depressed and heart-broken in front of a camera.

Also, there are a hell of lot more Asian people on this earth than Caucasians, buddy. They're hardly a 'minority race'.

My point and logic was that racism on any level is bad but that I don't mind people making fun of the stereotypes and negative aspects of my own race. I don't see this as racism.

I understand that there are more Asians than Caucasians. I was using the verbiage of the article that started this thread. The article is looking at the issue from a USA-centric view and from that position Asians are the minority.

*brings up the meme based off of it*

But seriously no I'm not offended I find it laughable.

Hilarious! XD.

Every. Single. One. Well, maybe not the black one, but it's worth a giggle.

Especially the suicide bomber, as it doesn't even represent a culture (or religion? I honestly can't tell) unless you identify with it. How's this: what's the difference between that costume, and Owen Lars from Star Wars? I can't see one.

I wouldn't support the campaign. Not that I would even if I cared, but it's just that it seems a bit petty, not to mention fruitless to me.

maddawg IAJI:

Stublore:

Mr Ink 5000:
so suicide bombing is thier culture?
then they certainly dont deserve any support

as for being dressed as a suicide bomber being recist? not really, unless the campaigners are trying to say all muslims are suicide bombers? which i myself think as a statement is far more racist

edit to add[in the words of Homer Simpson]
Which proves, in the words of Homer Simpson "You sir are an idiot!!"
Muslims are not a race.
Therefore one cannot be racist against muslims, on the basis that they are muslim!

Its racist against the entire Middle Eastern culture, not the fact that they're Muslims. The costume plays on the stereotype that Middle Eastern people are terrorist and that they're all suicide bombers and honestly, if I was middle eastern, I'd probably be offended by that as well.

It seems some people on this site do not have a basic understanding of the English language.
Middle Eastern Culture IS NOT A RACE.
Therefore one, on that basis cannot be racist against Middle Eastern Culture.
A "race" insofar as the concept exists is based upon DNA, inheritance of certain features etc.
There is no gene for islam, there is no gene for Middle Eastern Culture, so crying racist only shows one's ignorance when claiming it is racist, or at worst is an attempt to shut down discussion by playing the PC bogeyman, race!

chiggerwood:
there are actual injustices that you could stand up against. Sex slavery, starvation, AIDS and HOLOCAUST DENIAL, human rights violations the list goes on and on. Why not put your time, money, and energy into something worthwhile!?

Holocaust denial is an actual thing? I can't even...I don't...really?

OT: This is ridiculous, and I agree that these students have their heart in the right place but not their brains. They should redirect their energy towards something that actually matters.

I think it's ironically more racist to avoid such costumes in the off-change of someone being offended, then to simply wear them.

why isn't there a white guy being pissed about a Hispanic/Afro-American/Arabic guy costumed as a redneck or white trash? isn't that the same as a white guy/girl dressed as suicide bomber/mariachi dancer/suicide terrorist?
seriously guys SHUT THE FUCK UP! don,t get pissed when somebody pokes fun at you can,t stand it don,t go to Halloween parties stay at home and watch some horror movies or solve some real problems like world hunger
also:

sravankb:
They should be allowed to wear whatever they want for Halloween.

That being said, I don't want to meet the people responsible for the black girl and the suicide bomber "outfits". I personally find them to be quite tasteless.

What exactly is so offensive about the black girl one?
Is it some twisted and convoluted thing about white men oppressing blacks, once again sucking the life from blacks or something?
Seriously, of all the pictures, I cannot see what is offensive with a gay vampire biting a black person!

...so suicide bombing counts as part of a culture and shouldn't be made fun of

coz that's kind of what that part of the campaign is saying

any way its just a bunch of students getting a bit of attention

Use_Imagination_here:

ediblemitten:

Silverfox99:
My problem with the campaign is that it is racist.

First they don't show anyone making fun of rednecks or any other white stereotype. If it is offensive to dress up like another culture then all cultures should be represented, by the logic of their own argument.

I know that this was designed to highlight minority groups but that's where the problem occurs. Racism can and does effect all races and it wont end until all racism stops not just against minority races.

Personally, I would find it hilarious if someone showed up to a party dressed up in white face and as a redneck.

So, by your logic, racism (these costumes are hardly racist) against *ahem*, "minority races", is bad, but racism against whites is comedic?

...Note how he never actually said or implied that racism against minority groups isn't comedic.

:I

Whoops, misread something in the original post... I'm now realizing I actually don't have as big a problem with his original argument as I thought I did.

/faceplam

Stublore:

sravankb:
They should be allowed to wear whatever they want for Halloween.

That being said, I don't want to meet the people responsible for the black girl and the suicide bomber "outfits". I personally find them to be quite tasteless.

What exactly is so offensive about the black girl one?
Is it some twisted and convoluted thing about white men oppressing blacks, once again sucking the life from blacks or something?
Seriously, of all the pictures, I cannot see what is offensive with a gay vampire biting a black person!

Oh, I wasn't saying it's offensive. It's just tasteless, since it's using a somewhat controversial image for attention.

That was kinda racist, and people really should have better taste. Not much more to say about it, it isn't the worst thing I've ever seen, probably not worth a revolution or lynch crowd.

Edit: For clarification, if you made me choose, I'd support the poster campaign, since the costumes are poor taste and a bit racist, whereas the campaign is just a bit over-reactionary.