Hatred & Cynicism Toward "Blonde White Girls" Is Bigoted, Divisive &

[omega minimo]

makes "liberals" or "Democrats" look ignorant when they sneer about them. As if "blonde white girls" aren't people, aren't us.

Democrats really need to get a grip on the fact that they need women, then need women voters, they need women's ideas and energy and backing--

and they really need to quit alienating women and pretending it's okay to sneer and insult and denigrate OTHER HUMAN BEINGS who are victims of crimes BECAUSE they are blonde or white or women.





:hi: I am going to edit here because the horse has left the barn and is headed for a cliff. It is astonishing how reactionary black and white thinking creates an argument where there isn't one. The statement above does not claim there is no bigotry in the media!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's very simple. The fact of bigotry displayed in the media (which my OP in no way contested or addressed) is not in any way countered or ended by folks dissing, demeaning and divisively describing "blonde white girls" in a sneering, dehumanizing way. In fact, that dehumanizing attitude perpetuates bigotry; it is bigotry.

More bigotry does not correct media bigotry. One flavor of bigotry toward women is no better or different or "enlightened" than another flavor of bigotry toward women.

:think:

[graywarrior]

1. I don't think it's the blond girls

It's the media's aobsession with blond girls that pisses us off.

[Skidmore]

2. Earth to mini....

there are millions of women in the world who are not blond or white or blond and white AND who are blatantly ignored whenever a blonde white damsel in distress surfaces. Now that's bigotry.

[buddhamama]

6. my thought exactly.

[jonnyblitz]

8. exactly. this is NOT rocket science.

it's too bad this needs to be explained.

[omega minimo]

15. Pluto to jonnyrocket

#9's for you too

[omega minimo]

9. Pluto to Skidless

So, in addition to missing the point, you are dismissive "earth to mini" and insulting.........................................

Bigotry does not justify more bigotry. Note that it's all bigotry toward women being addressed here. One kind is not "OK" and one kind supposedly is "OK."

It's not.

[buddhamama]

19. it is the media, society in general

who are the bigots. we're just pointing out their obvious bigotry.


I feel no less sympathy for a blonde white woman than i would for any other woman who has gone missing or experienced some type of trauma.

[Skidmore]

20. Perhaps not...but what you are arguing is not bigotry toward

women with a capital "W". The problem as you have outlined it is with with a media construct concerning some women--coincidentally a group afforded some deference based on their physical characteristics--as being more worthy than other women. I don't think I'm missing the point at all.

[buddhamama]

27. spot on

well said.

[cigsandcoffee]

29. From my perspective, he didn't say that at all.

The message I took from it is that racial bigotry is racial bigotry, regardless of where it is aimed or what its intentions are.

Want to point out a disparity between races in the media? Kudos to you - I applaud this goal. But using a racially bigoted method as a vehicle for that message is not only offensive, it's divisive and ultimately counterproductive.

[omega minimo]

52. "More worthy" of being "a media construct" that sexist liberals sneer at?

"Deference"?

If the bigoted corporate media turns a certain sub-group into cartoon characters to gain ratings and manipulate the public and people like you perpetuate those stereotypes and treat those real women as if they ARE cartoon characters, you are feeding the media game that-- supposedly-- you are against.

That game perpetuates stereotypes and bigotry. Including toward "women with a capital "W."

It undermines the common goals of Democrats and DUers.

That's it.

Read H20man's post-- he nailed it.

[Skidmore]

53. What is your problem?

I was simply delineating what I believe to be the true nature of the argument--that the media is bigoted. And pointing out that there are some underlying assumptions about power and efficacy within society being made when you make those arguments. I read H20man's post and heartily agree with him. Perhaps you should carefully read what I said--minus the sneer in your comprehension. Let me refer you to my thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2040804

for clarification of my views regarding racial distinctions. Infer hair color if that is important to you.

[omega minimo]

64. Missing the point on purpose

On Sep-03-06 11:01 AM by Skidmore
"I was simply delineating what I believe to be the true nature of the argument--that the media is bigoted."

"Simply delineating "the "the true nature of the argument."

Referring me to your thread.

Throwing in an insult or three:
"Perhaps you should carefully read what I said
--minus the sneer in your comprehension.
Infer hair color if that is important to you."



Did I miss the part where you acknowledge you understand the point being made in this OP? :hi:

[Skidmore]

67. What's not to get?

Blondes, and specifically white blondes, are people, too. I believe that is your point. Noone said they aren't and it's kind of a no brainer. What is more subtle is the traditional inferences about power and privilege that accompany the condition of being white--yes, and blonde--in society. We see those played out in the media all the time. Hence my thread containing valid points as well.

[omega minimo]

91. You need a lil help with that "no brainer"

"Blondes, and specifically white blondes, are people, too. I believe that is your point. Noone said they aren't and it's kind of a no brainer."

No, the point is that the use of the bumpersticker "dead/missing/white/blonde/girls/women" cliche (esp. relevant to OP titles on DU and flippant posts treating the women in question as inconsequential) is offensive, bigoted and unecessary.

That point is separate from the issue of corrupt media fishing for ratings or "traditional inferences about power and privilege that accompany the condition of being white--yes, and blonde--in society."

Your grasp of the "subtleties" underlying the issue overlook that the perceived "deference" to blonde, white women is related to the bigotry visited on them in the use of the bumpersticker slur that this OP and the openminded posters in this thread are challenging.

As H2Oman said,

"The rabid thinking that results in the ugly anti- white, blonde females, exposes the sickness in some of the democratic left. Attempting to justify this virus of hatred by pointing to a fault in the corporate media is shameful."

[Skidmore]

93. Nothing like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.

May I point out that white and blonde have been considered a physical ideal? Women don't gray anymore--they just become blonde. It wasn't so awfully long ago that there was an empire which tried to organize its power around that physical ideal of Teutonic beauty.


What don't you get about the condition of being white (forget the blonde stuff) as not being a value neutral condition. It is historically ladened with lots of baggage --even for brunettes and redheads. It's not any more special because you have blonde hair. The condition of being white has privilege attached to it on its own--all by itself. Many peoples resent the hell out of us white folk--and with just cause. Maybe we earned it. At least give others the respect of their collective experiences of whiteness.

[omega minimo]

112. "What don't you get" about the meme being offensive and derogatory?

You are arguing about the media issue (pretending i don't "get it") which is not that point here-- both the (offensive bumpersticker) point and the media issue have been detailed in numerous posts. Wonder why you don't get it.


Wonder why your comments are always accompanied by put downs.

[Skidmore]

130. What "put down" now are you finding offensive?

And what bumpersticker? It seems to me that in terms of egregious examples of bigoted events, blonde jokes (yes, offensive and undesirable) are on the mild end of bigotry scale, which includes slavery, beatings, hangings, disembowellings, burnings, economic deprivation, political oppression on the opposite end. Why is it here you make your stand--for a group that has been generally associated with political and economic privilege? Here you draw you line in the sand? That is what I don't understand. So many "brown" groups have suffered bigotry of a grand and horrific scale, historically doled out by those of the Caucasian phenotype (male or female). Subtle and blatant examples of that type of bigotry still exist in today's world and that cannot be denied. We read examples of it all the time, and some of the people I hold most dear have experienced the business end of prejudice from white people first hand and with terrible consequences for them. Start with the least of these. In a perfect world, there would be no prejudice of any sort, but starting with the group most associated with privilege is not the place to correct that. Admonish when you hear it and don't accept it personally, but at least stop dismissing the experiences of other groups as inconsequential and ignoring the status you already have been afforded by a society that values "white" and "blonde" as physical ideals. I find that offensive and dishonest.

In the meantime, don't you find it odd that beautiful women of every ethnic group and race turn themselves inside out to try to adopt the characteristics of the blonde, white female? Why? Perhaps because some of the status and privilege associated with the phenotype might just transfer to them? Why should their own beauty not be appreciated and valued by the larger society? I would think that your grievances should prompt a larger set of questions about how values associated with phenotype are manifested in this nation. There is truth in what I am saying as well--a truth which you intentionally dodge.

[omega minimo]

153. Listen

I have reread the OP and our exchange to reconsider where your misunderstanding is coming from. Perhaps the OP can be read as you interpreted it in #20.

Skidmore-- Response to Reply #9
20. ”Perhaps not...but what you are arguing is not bigotry toward women with a capital "W". The problem as you have outlined it is with with a media construct concerning some women--coincidentally a group afforded some deference based on their physical characteristics--as being more worthy than other women.”

However, that is wrong and has been clarified in dozens of posts here, by myself and others (quite well). Including the one that in #20 you replied to!

OM #9.
“Note that it's all bigotry toward women being addressed here. One kind is not "OK" and one kind supposedly is "OK." It's not.”

You have held fast to your misinterpretation of the OP. As I reread it, I see that perhaps it could sound like I was “drawing a line” to champion “blonde white girls” as a group (NOT the case). The immediate response to thread was so rabid that I edited for clarity, including:

OP
“The fact of bigotry displayed in the media (which my OP in no way contested or addressed) is not in any way countered or ended by folks dissing, demeaning and divisively describing "blonde white girls" in a sneering, dehumanizing way. In fact, that dehumanizing attitude perpetuates bigotry; it is bigotry. More bigotry does not correct media bigotry. One flavor of bigotry toward women is no better or different or "enlightened" than another flavor of bigotry toward women.”

Even so, you insist that you know what I am saying better than I do:

Skidmore Response to Reply #9
20. Perhaps not...but what you are arguing is not bigotry toward women with a capital "W". The problem as you have outlined it is with with a media construct concerning some women--coincidentally a group afforded some deference based on their physical characteristics--as being more worthy than other women.

“as being more worthy than other women” ? :wtf: Absolutely false, projecting and bloody insulting.

“...what you are arguing is not bigotry toward women” as a group? :evilfrown: Absolutely false, wrong and misleading.

omega minimo Response to Reply #20
52. ” "More worthy" of being "a media construct" that sexist liberals sneer at? "Deference"? If the bigoted corporate media turns a certain sub-group into cartoon characters to gain ratings and manipulate the public and people like you perpetuate those stereotypes and treat those real women as if they ARE cartoon characters, you are feeding the media game that-- supposedly-- you are against.”

That, Dear Skidmore, is a “no brainer.” Or rather, it takes some brains to read it and consider it and process it-- once done, it is pretty obvious.

Cartoon character, bumpersticker, meme-- whatever you want to call it, you still don't understand what we're talking about?

Skidmore Response to Reply #52
53. ”What is your problem?
“I was simply delineating what I believe to be the true nature of the argument--that the media is bigoted.”

Our problem is that when discussing women’s issues on DU, SOME men SOME times behave as if the male point of view-- specifically theirs-- is the absolute correct one, the one that WE should adopt. That’s a problem.



Skidmore --Response to Reply #91
93. Nothing like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.

"What don't you get about the condition of being white (forget the blonde stuff) as not being a value neutral condition. It is historically ladened with lots of baggage --even for brunettes and redheads. It's not any more special because you have blonde hair. The condition of being white has privilege attached to it on its own--all by itself. Many peoples resent the hell out of us white folk--and with just cause. Maybe we earned it."

What don't you get about that fact that we are discussing the "BAGGAGE" attached to being female? A condition all females, of whatever subgroup, have in common?

"Why is it here you make your stand--for a group that has been generally associated with political and economic privilege? Here you draw you line in the sand? That is what I don't understand."

You don't understand because that is not what we are doing and you insist on holding your misinterpretation. And projecting your own confusion about race.

"At least give others the respect of their collective experiences of whiteness."

"We read examples of it all the time, and some of the people I hold most dear have experienced the business end of prejudice from white people first hand and with terrible consequences for them."

"Admonish when you hear it and don't accept it personally, but at least stop dismissing the experiences of other groups as inconsequential and ignoring the status you already have been afforded by a society that values "white" and "blonde" as physical ideals. I find that offensive and dishonest."

:wtf: "...stop dismissing the experiences of other groups as inconsequential and ignoring the status you already have been afforded by a society that values "white" and "blonde" as physical ideals." "At least give others the respect of their collective experiences of whiteness."

Your projections, assumptions and articulate lack of comprehension are what is becoming offensive, dishonest and insulting here.

Perhaps you and SOME others on DU could take your own advice and listen to women -- all women, women as a group, women inclusive of all females of every "inferred hair color" -- "and stop dismissing the experiences of other groups as inconsequential and ignoring the status you already have been afforded by a society" by being born male.

And if you don't relate to "cartoon character, bumpersticker, meme" and are more comfortable with "phenotype," Dr. Skidmore, then please, by all means, the next time you are discussing these issues, remember not to flippantly use the "phenotype" "blonde white chicks" as derogatory, sexist shorthand for what is supposedly an indictment of a biased, bottom line media.

[FearofFutility]

154. Wow!!

:applause:

(I believe some are being deliberately obtuse. )

[Skidmore]

156. "blond white chicks"???? When did I EVER use that phrase?

I have never in my life used that phrase and have not on this forum--flippantly or otherwise, if you care to check.

As a note, I have not read a discussion on this thread of the "baggage" of being female. I believe the thread is about the "baggage" of being a blonde, white female--quite different types of baggage. Like it or not, both whiteness and blondeness have been treated with deference and preference in Western cultures. This is a fact. I see a lot of angst and handwringing about carrying that baggage here. It doesn't negate the fact that this preference has and does exist. It doesn't negate the fact that a good portion of Western culture is based on those underpinnings--particularly when it has served the purpose of empire building well over the centuries.

Based on your hostility and some of your remarks, I think you are making some assumptions about me on several characteristics that probably are far from being on target and which would surprise you if you would entertain different ideas about who I might be as an individual, starting with your apparent assumption that I am male.

As for confusion about race...when I tell you that I know firsthand the detrimental effects of prejudice only to have it dealt with in dismissive terms and referred to as simply "projections," I would ask that you examine again some of the "baggage" you are leaving on the rack for display. There is a wide range of human behavior out there with some really horrible and ghastly manifestations. No one is telling you not to fight for what you believe is right or to feel hurt when affronted. No one is disparaging you for being white, blonde, or a woman. By all means, stand up and fight for fairness and justice and equality. However, I have been attempting to point out that some of those very characteristics is what many others have been asked to measure themselves against throughout centuries. This is also a fact worth considering.

I expect you will take offense because you have decided that nothing I present is worth considering. So be it.

[Name removed]

158. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[omega minimo]

164. Skidmore and I agree more than disagree

We both hit a nerve with each other and now we have made peace.

Thanks to all who posted here. Including the clueless.

If we didn't have to fight so hard for basic respect on DU for women, against so many intentionally obnoxious posters, we wouldn't have so many unintentional misunderstandings with our allies.

[cigsandcoffee]

24. Well said. n/t

[H2O Man]

41. True.

Our goal should be building a foundation of knowledge, building upon that base with passion and compassion, and making progress through enlightenment. The rabid thinking that results in the ugly anti- white, blonde females, exposes the sickness in some of the democratic left. Attempting to justify this virus of hatred by pointing to a fault in the corporate media is shameful.

[William769]

57. So are you saying some Bigotry is ok?

[Skidmore]

61. That's not what I said at all.

[BlooInBloo]

65. Blonde white girls apparently could give a rat's ass about that...

... it's ALL about them. ALL the time. NOTHING else matters. Talk about ANYTHING else, to say nothing of PROPORTIONATE references, is REVERSE BIGOTRY.

What a bunch of lying bigoted assholes they be.

[HeeBGBz]

99. There are numerous blond white girls on DU

"... it's ALL about them. ALL the time. NOTHING else matters. "

Nice generalization. Stereotype much?

[LostinVA]

106. Good grief

[smirkymonkey]

107. Blond White Girls/Women are Lying, Bigoted Assholes?

What a bigoted asshole-ish thing to say.

I am blonde and white, as are many people I know, and with the exception of Paris Hilton and various other celebrities of her ilk, most white blonde people are no more or less self-absorbed than any other color combination.

So all white blonde females believe it's "ALL about them. ALL the time. NOTHING else matters?" Talk about ignorant, sweeping generalizations. Sounds like you've got something personal against white, blonde women.

[BlooInBloo]

122. Nah. Just the ones that whine about "reverse racism".

[smirkymonkey]

146. I know what you mean - it's kind of like hearing men go on about

"reverse sexism".

[BlooInBloo]

162. yup.

[Marie26]

141. Oh.My.Gawd

Like, I just can't manage to care about liberal issues, politics, or the destruction of Constitutional rights, because I am just too worried about my hair! I mean, like, according to you, any woman w/light hair must only think it's ALL about THEM, you know? Like Hillary Clinton, Lara Logan, & Cindy Sheehan, right? They're all blond bimbos? Don't you see how offensive that post is? What is inspiring the vitriole in that post - not directed toward the media, or the coverage, but the women themselves? I do believe that you are reflecting the OP's point, in that your post paints all women w/a certain negative sexist stereotype. To assume that all women w/a certain hair color are narcissistic "lying bigoted assholes" is the height of stereotyping. For many, the recitations about the media coverage seem to be a mask for the real reason for the mean posts.

[El Fuego]

148. I think you've got personal issues.

"... it's ALL about them. ALL the time. NOTHING else matters. Talk about ANYTHING else, to say nothing of PROPORTIONATE references, is REVERSE BIGOTRY.

What a bunch of lying bigoted assholes they be."

Hmmm.... too many stinging rejections from the blonde hotties? :rofl:

[stepnw1f]

81. Now There Ya Go Again With That Reality Thingy

shame on you... :spank:

[Bluzmann57]

3. I don't really think anyone here "hates" blond white girls

I think it's just frustration with excessive media coverage of the same. It's very unfortunate, but young people are dying violent deaths every day in this country and yet it seems that we only hear about certain cases. And it's invariably blond white young ladies. These are certainly tragedies, but they are regional stories at best.

[cigsandcoffee]

4. Clapping Loudly

I am frequently disgusted by the cynical and - yes, hateful - comments about "blonde white women," "old white men," and other such racist rubbish. Perhaps these people think it makes them some kind of race warrior champion of ethnic minorities, but all that talk like that will ever do is perpetuate divisiveness and breed resentment. It's moronic, and about as "progressive" as Donald Rumsfeld.

[ret5hd]

11. So, it's NOT divisive to all but ignore...

the violent ends of so many other? I guess as long as what YOU are interested in gets covered, then everything is all right.

[cigsandcoffee]

17. You've made an offensive and incorrect presumption about me.

It doesn't surprise me, though, because you're also defending the rude and ridiculous way that some posters spit out "white" or "blonde" like they were curse words. You're being consistent.

I do not argue that minorities in this nation (and globally) are underrepresented by the media and popular culture -- what I object to is the ridiculous and needlessly divisive way some people are choosing to call attention to that disparity.

[ret5hd]

28. The way that some people choose to call attention to that disparity...

Is the ONLY WAY THERE IS!

One cannot "point" to the LACK of something! One would be pointing to empty air! A vaporous, empty, NOTHING!

One has to point out what IS, and how it differs from what "should be, but isn't".

It's kinda akin to that problem of not being able to prove a negative.

[omega minimo]

38. Thank you, that's it exactly

:toast:



The argument replied to you that there is "no other way" is not serious.

[OzarkDem]

71. Agree

trying to pick and choose who can be attacked for the color of their skin or racial makeup is a losing game.

[QuestionAll...]

157. lots of threads like those around...

one that sticks out is that poor dad who accidentally ran over his son with an SUV...

good lord parts of that thread were disgusting. Like owning a SUV is the biggest sin on earth and that poor sot deserved less sympathy because of what kind of vehicle he drives.

makes me crazy sometime and check in to see which forum I'm on.

[treestar]

5. Next time a man goes missing or a black woman goes missing

the media should shut down and cover nothing else ad nauseum for the next 48 hours at least, right?

[SoCalDem]

102. The media manipulation is the issue.. They insist on "sharing"

LOCAL stories with the nation...the world..

Natalee Holloway was a prime example..

Cute, blonde (television-worthy)

handicapped old person who wandered off or mixed race teen....not so cute..

Hell some of us ARE cute white blondes..

It's NOT about the victim ...it's about the MEDIA droning on and on and on and on and on and on about an "urgent" case that 99.9999999999% of America and the world can do NOTHING about, even if they wanted to..

It's done to obfuscate the real issues, and to grind up time...and to continue the fear...

[ret5hd]

7. That's a pretty simplistic view of things, isn't it?

Do you really think people attack the media frenzies concerning "blonde white girls" because they don't like "blonde white girls" or because they are frustrated with the lack of attention given "black girls" or "hispanic girls". When does a sense of balance kick in? One "blonde white girl" disappears from a resort, and the media is saturated. Hundreds of "hispanic girls" are brutally raped, murdered, and disfigured in Juarez and hardly a peep!

[cigsandcoffee]

10. Not to speak for the OP, but I don't argue against the cause or sentiment.

It's the tactic - coupled to an often sarcastic delivery - that I find moronic.

[ret5hd]

14. is the "tactic" you speak of...

the fact that people point out the hypocrisy, that people deride the fact that "blonde white girls" get more coverage?

[cigsandcoffee]

22. The derogatory tone toward "white" or "blond" is unmistakable.

That's the tactic I'm speaking of. I don't object to the sentiment, and agree with the arguments folks like you are making in defending the posts that don't carry the message nearly so well.

Anytime that people are cynically derogatory of a person's skin color, my hackles go up. I don't care what their underlying intentions are - the practice is wrong nomatter what.

[americanstranger]

30. I'm married to a blonde white woman.

And she's got a problem with disproportionate news coverage of missing blonde white women.

So where does that leave her? 'Self-hating blonde?'

And for the record, my blonde white wife is about the most intelligent person I know, so no blonde jokes from here.

I do agree with the other posters that have pointed out that it's not necessarily about the blonde white women - it's more about the media's moronic obsession with missing blonde white women.

- as

[cigsandcoffee]

31. If she approves of the method we're debating....

..then it doesn't make her a self-hating blonde, it just makes her wrong. Boil down the argument you've just made to me about your wife, and it amounts to little more than a variation of the "hey, some of my best friends are black" argument.

[americanstranger]

39. I can tell that this is a fool's errand...

..and I should be out doing something useful like cleaning the storm debris in my yard, but here goes, anyway.

If my wife has a problem with disproportionate media coverage of missing white women (an opinion, BTW), what gives you the right to declare a woman whom you don't know and have never met, wrong?

This is the type of argument that reinforces the stereotype of the Left as humorless scolds.

Okay. Off to the yard to drag branches around. It will no doubt prove way more productive than arguing about perceived bigotry.

Enjoy your afternoon.

- as

[omega minimo]

56. You seem intelligent

There is a difference b/w having "a problem with disproportionate media coverage of missing white women" AND making derogatory, bigoted, stereotyped, dehumanizing comments about the real people involved, dismissing them as "blonde white girls" "dead white chicks" etc. These show up too often in "liberal" rhetoric, including on DU, including in OP Titles, including this morning.

Trivializing the issue by dehumanizing the women involved is bigoted. The people doing it while they think they are criticizing the media, are perpetuating the stereotypes and contributing to the problem. They are feeding right into the media hand that they supposedly object to.

Because it is "only" women, it's not seen -- by some -- for the bigotry it is.

Your wife may see the problem and still find a way to talk about it without yapping about "blonde white girls" or "dead blonde white chicks."

It's possible to do both. :hi:



Marie26 (1000+ posts)  Sun Sep-03-06 10:13 AM
Response to Reply #22
36. Not to mention
that it seems to extend to any story about a female victim of crime. I can't remember how many times I've read DU'ers dismiss a story about a woman who was murdered or abused w/derision & whines about Natalie Holloway. Even when Jill Carroll was kidnapped, numerous DU'ers called her a "blonde white girl" distraction, despite the fact that she was a respected journalist captured in a war zone. That would have been a big story no matter what, but because the American journalist was a young woman, the story was dismissed by some people. That's where it crosses the line into outright sexism, IMO.

(providing these posts to save you some time :evilgrin: )--edit for:

H2O Man (1000+ posts)  Sun Sep-03-06 10:16 AM
Response to Reply #9
41. True.
Our goal should be building a foundation of knowledge, building upon that base with passion and compassion, and making progress through enlightenment. The rabid thinking that results in the ugly anti- white, blonde females, exposes the sickness in some of the democratic left. Attempting to justify this virus of hatred by pointing to a fault in the corporate media is shameful.

[americanstranger]

70. Well, gee, thanks.

I like to think of myself as being relatively sentient.

Speaking strictly for myself, I am careful to seperate the issue of media coverage from the person. I do realize that Natalee Holloway's family is no doubt grief-stricken - and has every right to be - over the disappearance of their daughter. Any family would react the same way.

My problem with that type of media coverage is this - it focuses disproportionately on missing white women or girls, while stories of missing women or girls of color get comparatively little coverage. Here's an example:

http://allspinzone.com/blog/index.php?itemid=940

Latoya Figeuroa went missing in Philly and got close to zero media coverage. Were it not for R. Cranium's tub-thumping on this story, it would have gotten no coverage at all. A blogger forced the media into doing what should be their job, and that story fueled a lot of resentment towards media outlets for spending day after day, hour after hour, saying 'Natalee Holloway is still missing.' (Latoya, BTW, was found dead in Philly, and the story was brought to a close.)

Now, about the 'missing blonde woman' meme:

For good or ill, 'missing blonde white woman' has become shorthand for a story that receives coverage beyond all proportion. In the old days, the Natalee Holloway story may have gotten coverage in her home town paper and TV/radio outlets, but not much more than that. Now, with 24/7 cable outlets and banal hosts like Nancy Grace, stories like Holloway become national cause celebres to media outlets like MSNBC or Fox or CNN, when their importance as news stories is elevated far beyond what they may deserve in a country where our constitution is being systematically shredded and we're spending American blood and treasure on wars around the world that actually have precious little to do with the security of our country or the safety of its citizens.

And there are many different types of these stories, and you see them on the cable outlets every day. CNN likes chopper shots of bus crashes and high-speed car chases. They need no narrative, they cost nothing to produce, they fill time in a schedule that could be better used talking about real news and real issues.

So, back to my original point. 'Missing blonde white women,' AFAIC, is shorthand for 'Non-news story used to fill air time and boost ratings.' I place no judgement on the woman in the story, because I do not personally know her. She could be brilliant, or she could be, honestly, dumb as a post. That does not matter to me, because I'm not judging the person in the story.

I'm judging the media's conscious choice to burn hours and hours on a story that, at the end of the broadcast day, has little or no national news value whatsoever.

I hope this clarifies things, and I'll point out that ascribing what you perceive to be people's bigotry against blondes to their concern that the media is wasting everyone's time with this story or that is a form of bigotry in itself. No offense.

- as

[omega minimo]

100. You have potential

You have done an excellent job of describing the problem that all here agree upon:

"My problem with that type of media coverage is this - it focuses disproportionately on missing white women or girls, while stories of missing women or girls of color get comparatively little coverage."

And you tell us that "Speaking strictly for myself, I am careful to seperate the issue of media coverage from the person."

Many on the thread have shown how to underthink this and miss the point-- you are at the overthink end of the spectrum. You seem to be saying your "relative sentience" of the persons being referred to, that you can overlook the offensive nature of the "the 'missing blonde woman' meme."

"For good or ill, 'missing blonde white woman' has become shorthand for a story that receives coverage beyond all proportion.

"'Missing blonde white women,' AFAIC, is shorthand for 'Non-news story used to fill air time and boost ratings.' I place no judgement on the woman in the story, because I do not personally know her. She could be brilliant, or she could be, honestly, dumb as a post. That does not matter to me, because I'm not judging the person in the story.

"I'm judging the media's conscious choice to burn hours and hours on a story that, at the end of the broadcast day, has little or no national news value whatsoever."

The point being that you are probably sentient enough to find a way to express your "judging the media's choice" -- without using the offensive meme.

"I hope this clarifies things, and I'll point out that ascribing what you perceive to be people's bigotry against blondes to their concern that the media is wasting everyone's time with this story or that is a form of bigotry in itself. No offense."

Maybe you're smarter than me-- is the term for this "canard" or "strawman" or simply "misrepresentation"? It's a very deft and smooth way to pretend that I have folded these together (which I haven't) and get me to contest it.

You're too smart to have missed the point by THAT far. :hi:


"For good or ill, 'missing blonde white woman' has become shorthand for a story that receives coverage beyond all proportion."

"another blonde white woman" "another dead white chick"............. ill, definitely ill.

[Marie26]

36. Not to mention

that it seems to extend to any story about a female victim of crime. I can't remember how many times I've read DU'ers dismiss a story about a woman who was murdered or abused w/derision & whines about Natalie Holloway. Even when Jill Carroll was kidnapped, numerous DU'ers called her a "blonde white girl" distraction, despite the fact that she was a respected journalist captured in a war zone. That would have been a big story no matter what, but because the American journalist was a young woman, the story was dismissed by some people. That's where it crosses the line into outright sexism, IMO.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

12. Especially if we end up with one running fer prez.

[omega minimo]

23. Suh-nap ;)

:applause:

[ovidsen]

13. No blonde jokes here

However, if you're sick and tired of complaints that Faux News goes ballistic every time a cute blonde teenager like Casey Crowder or Natalie Holloway disappears, do what I do.

Vent your anger at Faux. They're the ones who are insulting all women by spotlighting the young, female, blonde and missing while ignoring so many real and better stories about women who don't fit into their Nordic sex fantasies.

[dogday]

16. With all the crap going on in this world

All the wars and the killing and the bombings and the plans of nuclear attacks, not to mention our government is corrupt, and you are worried about some weird notion that Democrats are biased against blond white girls...


Ah shit man...

[omega minimo]

33. Sexist bigotry damages the cause of liberals, progressives, Democrats & DU

And "with all the crap going on in this world" women have to deal with sexist bigotry -- all over the world -- every day.

The solutions to the problems we face are dependent on reversing the insane track of mutually assured destruction. Respect and inclusion of women is integral to that.

But that's another thread :evilgrin:

[dogday]

40. I am a women who is dealing

with her Son in Iraq... I guess that is where my priorities lie... I am more worried about the life of my Son than anything else at this moment....

[countingbluecars]

43. Oh come on!

Pointing out that the media covers only stories about missing white girls is not "sexist bigotry".

[notadmblnd]

who has made fun of blond white girls?

I haven't seen that here. what I have seen is the MSM going absolutely ape shit when one goes missing and people have criticized the media for giving the stories non-stop coverage.. but no where on DU have I seen anyone critize blond white women.

on edit: but if you keep getting picked on... you can always change the color.

[treestar]

26. heehee, or let it go back to what it really is!

[LostinVA]

108. It's rather prevalent as a use in dismissing threads

certain posters don't see as important. I often see it several times a day on DU, in different forums.

[Sinti]

18. Let me be the first to say I Love Blond White Girls! If any of the same

feel hurt or offended by the inconsiderate and disproportionate hurling of insults in their direction, they can come directly to me for comfort. I have a very soft shoulder they can cry on. I prefer them with brains, but even without, the shoulder offer still stands. :loveya: :evilgrin:

[Annces]

21. This is a funny thread

I agree and disagree, so I don't know what stand to take.

[earth mom]

25. I don't see it as bigotry. I see it as calling them on their bullshit.

Everyone knows white blond women are the ideal to many people and that's what sells. The networks are all about whatever sells. We need to keep calling them on their crap or we might as well just roll over and let em have the country.

[omega minimo]

44. What "everyone" doesn't seem to know................

"Everyone knows white blond women are the ideal to many people and that's what sells."


What "everyone" doesn't seem to know is that white blonde women are people too-- real live human beings with brains and stuff, people who are not cartoon characters even if the media treats them (and women-as-victims) that way.

To repeat the dehumanizing cardboard cutout references to real women because they happen to be "the ideal" is insulting, denigrating, dehumanizing and perpetuates the bigotry that everyone on this thread seems to agree, exists.

White blonde women are people too. They see the sliming on the talk shows, the radio, the blogs, on DU. It's a slap in the face.

White blonde women are HERE.

[TheFriedPiper]

45. Isn't it sad when a group on the very top doesn't get everything

they want handed to them on a silver platter.

I mean, according to the OP, missing white women are MUCH more important than the end of democracy, the theft of the white house, or the many many many lies of our President.

To insinuate that anything is more important for the news to cover is obviously blatant racism and bigotry and we should ALL be overwhelmed with grief STILL because the girl has only been dead for a decade and war and famine and political upheaval are just too hard to think about so let us all obsess over a 10yr old murder case to keep from having to think about the destruction of our way of life.

end sarcasm


Like I have said many times: Stupid people are very interested in the Jon Benet case and stupid people are the largest demographic so THAT is what is offered up on the entertainment-disguised-as-news stations.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheFriedPiper]

77. wrong again. if it werent for the audience of stupid people

there would be no programming aimed at stupid people

since stupid people are a huge demographic, they get the most programming aimed at them

It's not rocket science.

[OzarkDem]

124. People at the top????

Are you now assuming that all blonde haired white women are born into privelege? Do you think they have some sort of natural advantage over, say, brown haired white men or red haired women?

Since when does hair color and racial composition guarantee one a seat at the table of privelege? Tell me you didn't really mean to infer that.

[TheFriedPiper]

139. Read into it whatever you wish. Someone will always take it wrong

No matter what I say, so take it however you want.

I really don't give a shit.

[OzarkDem]

150. I'm going to assume

that you're a decent person and didn't mean to infer such a thing.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

152. "I really don't give a shit."

Who would have known.

[omega minimo]

155. ow

:rofl: :spray:



:shhhhhh: it thinks we don't know.............. :hide:

[Marie26]

32. For real.

As a blonde white girl, I am highly offended at the sterotypes and derision expressed against my people. To an extent, it does bug me when people sneer about a missing woman & dismiss her as a "blond white girl" story, as if she is personally responsible for the media's lack of interest in covering serious issues. Blame the media, not the victims of crime.

[LostinVA]

109. Exactly -- and I'm a brunette

[LostInAnomie]

34. I think you'd be pretty hard pressed...

... actual bigotry towards blond white girls on this site. The fact that we DUers bring up the unending media obsession with missing, kidnapped, or murdered blond girls hardly counts.

[Annces]

35. Speaking of missing white women, did they ever find that one in

the OP's avatar image? Gone missing I hear.

[Beelzebud]

37. You obviously don't understand the point.

It would be different, but rich white woman are the ONLY "missing persons" stories that that the MSM focuses on.

Federal Judge declares NSA wiretapping illegal, so what does the cable news choose to cover? Exactly... Thats the point...

[TheFriedPiper]

42. The black n white thinking on display in this OP is shameful

You just can't criticize the ratings-grubbing psuedo-news stations for ignoring important news and focusing in on tragic, yet meaningless (except to those close to it) HUMAN INTEREST stories like this instead without someone calling you a heartless asshole.

So, let me get this straight: all those that criticize the overblown coverage of jon benet are insensitive to missing girls and their families and if you dare point out that the bigoted media only makes a big stink about blonde white girls then you are a bigot.

Wow, that is some serious BINARY, BLACK/WHITE, US/THEM, WITH US/AGAINST US type thinking there.

[omega minimo]

46. You know that's not what I said

Nice try though.


Homey don't play dat :spank: :evilfrown:

[TheFriedPiper]

48. Well, you played it, you lost, so now you quit

Well, at least you quit.

[The Straight Story]

47. Another one of them black girls went missing, isn't there better news to

cover?

Start a thread or three when you see this happen and see if people don't catch on to your OP a little bit more.

I suspect if we start seeing comments like:
"Who cares, people go missing every day, why cover just black women"?

While it would be a valid question about the crappy news media, the way in which some things are asked can be taken wrong.

I don't know the answer, but there are 100k people on this board so I have just learned (or tried to learn) to ignore things that offend me. Not always easy....

[TheFriedPiper]

50. next we'll hear that Christians are being persecuted

or that rich people have to pay too much for their houses

jeez, the whining from the people at the top


There is NO BIGOTRY in pointing out the bigotry of the media.

[The Straight Story]

54. I'm not really saying there is myself

but that I do understand what the OP is getting at.

I'm a christian myself and have just learned to live with the posts here about me.

To wit: Everytime a christian does something wrong it becomes newsworthy here it seems. It is not that some person did something wrong, that qualifier has to be used if it has anything even remotely to do with the story - as if my beliefs were a sickness and I am just a few days short of going insane like all the other millions of christians in the world.

Jews, muslims, buddhists, etc rarely get covered.

Fox news covers white blonde women, du covers white male christians.

Post a thread about some christian goof ball and you might have a good thread popping for awhile. Toss out some news from somewhere like govexec on legislation coming up, govt mismanagement, etc and your lucky if gets one person interested in it.

Americans like their stories about the girl next door, and when she goes missing they eat it up. And of course we do as well on here by posting thread after thread bitching about it, poking fun of it, etc. I'd swear the people who decide what news to cover on fox must post here as well at times :)

Now ALL that said: I really do understand it. We see fundies as a threat via the govt and such, a few see muslims that way as well, you can't see jews that way cause it's anti-semitic (ie, point out rove is a christian and it is relevant, point out he is a jew you are a bigot...go figure...).

Hell I post such threads myself weekly :) The whole thing I was getting across is it is easy to see how people can get a little upset when a group they belong to is called out often (I posted a thread once about an atheist who removed a roadside cross, some of them were up in arms because it singled out his atheism - I didn't write the title or the story, but some pondered why I would post something like that. I dunno, it was top story on a news page - and newspapers know their stuff I guess cause it was alive and kicking here for days).

Maybe them blond white girls don't like hearing their demise or kidnapping is not worthwhile news. But then, what is worthwhile anymore?

PS:
Just saw this thread in GD as I was typing this:

and now....JESUS CAMP.
This is not the same Christianity that past generations have followed. Make no mistake, these people are on a single, focused mission: the eradication of the voices of all those who do not share their views. These christians are the type of people that Jesus warned you about.

:) Too bad, someone beat me to posting it.....

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

62. Good, reasonable post. Not surprised

it already got one deleted response.

[TheFriedPiper]

79. That jesus camp crap is scary

Insanity is one thing. Pushing it onto your kids is a 'whole nuther level'

[The Straight Story]

87. I haven't seen it, but I have known some damned whacked out christians

The thing is, they were whacked out before - being a christian just allowed them new weird outlets.

I had a teacher in HS who burned my D&D books (against my will). And the school didn't do jack about it.

[sendero]

49. These polemics..

.. are about what the media chooses to cover and nothing more. The media is racist, and if you don't see that you don't see anything. Trying to make it into some kind of bias against blonde haired women is ridiculous.

I suppose we could dumb down everything we say so that the most insipid of intellects would understand, but then we really would be just Republicans.

[TheFriedPiper]

51. Didnt you read the OP? Pointing out bigotry IS bigotry

Well, at least it is in the land of the OP author.

[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheFriedPiper]

76. Not really. What are you implying?

Just where is it you are suggesting that I "usually post"?

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JCMach1]

55. 3 blondies in family... all smart, proud, and very liberal

!!!

:)

[americanstranger]

58. Careful...

I mentioned that I'm married to a blonde white woman (who is also proud, smart and liberal, and thinks this thread is pointless and stupid) and got accused of using the equivalent of 'Some of my best friends are black.'

My head's still spinning over that one. :)

- as

[The Straight Story]

72. You know what, that to me IS relevant at times

the "some of my best friends are X" thing that is.

If it weren't for my best friend whose is gay I would not have had nearly the exposure I have had too the plight of hay folks in this world. Sure one can read about things, but when it is someone you know it tends to stick a little better with you (like reading the obits, it hits home more when a name you see is in there).

My exposure to friends who were black, gay, football players, jewish, nerds, etc all enriched me an opened my eyes to be able to see things from their POV in the world. If I hadn't had those friends I could see where people might tell me I just don't understand X because I am not X (and have had little or no exposure to X).

I liken it to myself, a computer geek. Some folks I have met have no grasp of computers and how they work, and so look at my job as something freaky. How easy I must have it not to be working in that factory all day (which I did for years btw). Well, the stress is nuts. And the people whose spouses or best friends are in the field can better relate to issues I have (more so now that I have clawed my way to middle management....).

For some reason this also reminds me of busing back in the 70's here. The idea, part of it, was to get people exposure to other races and income levels - the town was somewhat segregated along a variety of lines.

Exposure can enlighten us and teach us empathy, mentioning one has such exposure simply alerts the person you are talking to in a friendly way that you can relate on some level.

[americanstranger]

74. I can relate, on may levels.

Fellow geek here (self-employed designer/developer here), and my wife may be classified as a super-geek (she's upper-middle-management for a company I won't name, but their initials are MS :)).

She is one of the best in the industry at what she does (IT and Project Management), but because she is blonde and small and extremely good looking, a lot of people assume she's a 'dumb blonde.'

Needless to say, she has worked hard to achieve everything she's achieved in her career, is stunningly intelligent, and she is merciless when she encounters someone who treats her like a 'dumb blonde.'

When the local company she worked for was acquired by said large software company last year, the comapny announced that they would meet with the head of IT to cover every aspect of network operations, and that they expected these meetings to take two days.

My wife was head of IT. She ran the meeting and produced network and system documentation that was so detailed and comprehensive, the meeting was over by lunchtime on the first day. That's probably why she still has her job and many of the people she worked with no longer have theirs. The company saw the value in holding on to a woman who ran rings around their organizational 'experts,' despite the fact that she is a Blonde White Woman.

You're right about your relationships shaping your world view. My view on Blonde White Women is shaped by my wife, who outright defies every stereotypical point where blondes or women are concerned.

- as

[walldude]

59. I don't think being cynical about what the media chooses

to report makes me a bigot against "blond white women". I think you are getting flak because you insist on telling people what they "need to do". "Democrats really need to get a grip...". Thanks but I have a grip. A good grip. I'm a liberal, I'm open minded, intelligent, well read and well informed. If you want to make a point try doing it without demanding that people "get a grip", you will probably get alot less flak...

[omega minimo]

95. You're right

"I don't think being cynical about what the media chooses to report makes me a bigot against "blond white women".

Couldn't agree more. The OP is about the way that is expressed, isn't it? The resistance, dismissiveness and insults ("flak") in the replies of those who don't "get it" is not (mainly) do to the "need to do" thing. There's something else going on there. (The funny thing is how many who don't get it are saying "it's a no brainer" or "this is so obvious I can't believe I have to explain it......")

How bout DU comes up with a new, non-bigoted tag line for "Missing White Blonde" or "Dead White Chick" when they CLAIM what they want to criticize is the MEDIA. All righty then, how about something that actually DOES that?

NOT something that insults, demeans, degrades, dehumanizes the victim and women.


This is only ever worth bringing up because it hurts Democrats and DU. That is why I used the urgent, demanding language. In order for us to survive (and if Democrats have any hope of succeeding and/or reclaiming our nation) we DO NEED to do these things.

OM from post #33. Sexist bigotry damages the cause of liberals, progressives, Democrats & DU. The solutions to the problems we face are dependent on reversing the insane track of mutually assured destruction. Respect and inclusion of women is integral to that. But that's another thread

:evilgrin: :hi:

[walldude]

96. I see your point... I actually agreed with your OP

just not how it was presented. I've been on a crusade lately to get people to stop telling what I "need" to be doing. A bit of my animosity from other issues may have slipped through here... :toast:

[BlooInBloo]

63. God I'm sick of the "reverse bigotry" mendacious idiocy.

EDIT: But I guess it'll be around as long as there are fundamentally bigoted white folks, so I suppose I should just "get over it". lol!

[OzarkDem]

66. Speaking as blond white woman, I'm offended

I don't think DU tolerates other kinds of stereotyping or bigotry, do they?

[FearofFutility]

73. I understand what you're saying

There are several issues that trigger knee-jerk responses at DU and this is one of them.

[Hidden Stillness]

75. They Got Caught, omega

I have written on this pseudo-"liberal" bigotry against sprecifically white women before, on other threads, and so will only go over a few points on it.

First, they always whine that it is "not important" and "not news," even though they are stories about violent, unsolved, even covered-up crimes. They never use words like "raped and murdered," but use bizarre phrasing used on no other group, such as "blonde white chick went missing," "blond white damsel in distress surfaces," and other insults. They did not "run off" like "sluts," as implied; they were raped and murdered, and male authorities now prevent the cases from being solved, and the guilty arrested. I thought that was a kind of oppression; guess not. "Lynching...?" Guess not, if it is "merely" a white woman. They whine, "Why is this trivia on GD? Why isn't it in the Lounge?" There are threads on the rape-murders of children in Iraq by U.S. soldiers, and no one whines, "Why isn't this in the Lounge?"

Sometimes, they put a horrific "face" on it: I'm not against white women, I just want black people to be covered by media--??--as if the "dead white chicks" are the oppressors of black people, and "preventing" coverage. They whine that other cases are not covered, as if the "white bitches" arranged their own rape-murders, just so they could get famous, and annoy everyone. Sometimes, these woman-haters are so pre-programmed, that they give the same "Why are we covering this trivia, rather than male stories?" before they even know what a story is, as when this Warren Jeffs was arrested. There was a lot of coverage, whining--"It's bitches again!"--and then they finally learned that this is a violent, mind-controlling cult, with rapes and arranged marriages of girls, people held against their will, many fraud crimes, etc., etc. Oh.

Bigotry against women masks as many things: 1) nobody cares about your trivial issue; 2) you are taking away valuable time that could be spent on males; 3) you don't know what real bigotry is, only males do; 4) some combination of "you are frigid/loosen up/you are trying to tkae everyone's fun away," that whole attack; 5) an attitude that pretends that white women are "privileged," because white males are, like we are their property, maybe? It contrasts "important" issues with the "white chick" deaths--"But people are dying there!"--yet treat the beating/rape murders of white women as trivial. It refuses to criticize the moneymaking male media that exploits dead, raped white women with a combination of dismissive contempt--"entertainment/not serious"--and pornographic leering, with pictures and details. Nobody here criticizes that; they attack the dead white woman no one helped when she was alive, even when they have personal protection orders, call the male police, etc.; no, they attack the women themselves, and anyone who calls attention to their bigotry.

[TheFriedPiper]

82. O BS! If the media were obsessed with missing black males

we'd say the same thing about them getting too much coverage.


ITS ABOUT THE MEDIA's OBSESSION, NOT ABOUT THE VICTIMS!!!!!!!


Why is that SOOO hard for some of you to understand?

[LostinVA]

110. Good post

[OzarkDem]

119. Very good analysis

Its "soft bigotry" but bigotry nonetheless and just as harmful.

[smirkymonkey]

121. Great post! Glad to see someone gets it.

As you pointed out, there is a lot of willful ignorance on this thread.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

125. DING! And you forgot:

"Oh it was just a joke can't you take a joke where's yer sense of humor!"

Of course the amazing thing is that there is criticism of the media which DOES contain such hidden prejudice AND there is criticism of the media which does NOT contain such prejudice. Of course these two thoughts appear contradictory so for some it will be difficult to hold them in the brain at the same time without damage occurring.

[omega minimo]

126. LOL I had to read that twice before I got it

didn't hurt tho! :hi:

Some here seem to devote more energy to their snarkisms than the idea part

[A-Schwarzenegger]

127. Givin' the snark is easier than gettin' the idea.

[omega minimo]

128. So bloody twisted

"It refuses to criticize the moneymaking male media that exploits dead, raped white women with a combination of dismissive contempt--"entertainment/not serious"--and pornographic leering, with pictures and details."

SOME men pointing out that CERTAIN women are used as gimmicks to sell products and media ad time; while referring to them in the dehumanized terms they've been reduced to by the media; and justifying that indignity by pointing at the "privilege" and "deference" these CERTAIN women supposedly have in the society. They are "everyone's ideal" and so they deserve to be dragged through the muck by same people who claim they are criticizing the media for dragging the mucked up princess across the screen.

A-Schwarzenneger is right. Hurts my head. No wonder they're so damn snarky and all sound the same. You have a good list of attacks there, but I think we've even seen a few new ones here.

Amazing post, HS.

[Marie26]

145. Wow

Excellent post.

[SmokingJacket]

78. The "hatred" and cynicism is NOT directed toward the crime victims.

It's toward the media who ignore all victims who are NOT blond/beautiful girls or women.

This guy mysteriously disappeared:

http://www.co.tompkins.ny.us/sheriff/detail.aspx?sectionID=20&pageID=21

Do you remember the national news stories about him? No?

Because the news only cares if someone in a very narrow demographic disappears. To point this out is NOT to denigrate blond white women -- in fact, the difference is so obvious I don't know why I'm explaining it.

Do you deny that this happens?

Do you think it's okay that the news ignores all the missing except for the beautiful, blond, white women who go missing?

Why is Natalee Holloway's disappearance more important that that of Mark Ramin?

[guinivere]

80. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Missing blonde = press coverage

Missing Black, Hispanic, male, Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Native American, elderly etc. = nada

[Marie26]

144. Except when it is.

The irony is that many of these "blond white girl" stories end up receiving the most attention on DU itself. There's been a few times where someone will post some local story about a missing woman w/the addendum "Here comes another Natalie Holloway! :eyeroll:" To which witty posters will say "maybe she's in Aruba!" snicker, snicker. I don't think that a crime victim of another race or gender would be treated so callously by supposed liberals. So even when a story is local, it gets the same derision & snark on DU. That's what's puzzling.

There are many women and men who disappear every day w/o any national coverage, including blonde white women. Whether a particular story reaches the national news seems to depend on how bored the media is at that time, and how many good pictures they have to flash across the screen. It's not just about gender - for example, the media also focused endlessly on that husband who disappeared from a cruise ship last summer. The Natalie Holloway story broke in August, when the national cable news had little else to keep their interest. If it wasn't Natalie Holloway, it'd be shark attacks, or terror threats, or some other local crime story. So, it really has to do with timing, and also w/class - the missing people who receive the most coverage seem to come only from wealthy/middle-class families, even though people in lower economic classes are more likely to be victims of crime.

[TheFriedPiper]

147. If missing black men got that amount of coverage

I'd still say the media is focusing on the wrong shit.

How the HELL is that bigotry?

I know, it's NOT, but you need something to be offended about.

PULEEEEZE

[Marie26]

149. Puh-lease

I think you're misinterpreting my post. I agree that some crime victims receive more coverage than other crime victims, mostly because of class & race, and what happens to catch the media's eye. Minority or working-class crime victims don't get nearly the same press coverage, or police investigative focus, and that's always been the case. We do live in a racist society.

My point was that in addressing this imbalance, IMO many people go too far the opposite way, to assuming that a crime never matters if the victim was blonde, white, or female. To making fun of a woman's murder/disapearence because of her race or hair color. To specifically posting a disappearance in order to make fun of it. And that's wrong too. There is a difference between criticizing the media coverage, and the crime victim herself. And it is possible to point out the imbalances in coverage w/o resorting to stereotypes or dumb blonde jokes. Someone who has been a victim of crime deserves sympathy, not derision & insults. Regardless of race, gender, class or temporary hair color.

[The Backlash Cometh]

84. WTF?

I just hate white men with pudgy mid-sections who like to boast at the Country Club about how they bilked the public or their neighbors out of land or money.

[Stinky The Clown]

85. Welcome to the world of unintended consequences

I agree with you .... there's too much black and white thinking and too little understanding of subtlty. If you're not 100% clear and totally PC, someone will come in and parse your ass to chopped meat.

I just now read this thread. Your OP was what it was and was pretty clear to me. I suppose for some, sanctimony is fun.

Don't let the ankle biters getcha down.

[Miss Chybil]

86. Amen. nt

[Ignacio Upton]

88. Chandra Levy and Laci Peterson weren't blonde

But they were white.

[LostinVA]

111. Laci Peterson was Hispanic

[Ignacio Upton]

123. I know her last name was Rocha

But the term "Hispanic" doesn't and shouldn't be counted as race. Unless her father has some indigenous ancestry, then she looks like she's a criollo (Spanish for creole), which means of European descendent.

[LostinVA]

135. Again, Laci Peterson was Hispanic

I know what criollo means.

[ikojo]

134. I've long thought the disproportionate media coverage

afforded missing white (primarily blonde and very aryan looking) females is due to class privilege and the ability of the families in question to manipulate media attention. Chandra Levy garnered a lot of attention because her disappearance was tied to a politician, who subsequently left office or was voted out (I can't remember which).

Blacks for the most part do not have the class privilege that whites do in the US, so their ability to engage the services of family spokespeople and the such are limited by the money at their disposal.

There is a pregnant white woman in the St Louis area who disappeared over a year ago. She is from working class Jefferson County. There has been a lot of media coverage in this area but I don't think it has saturated CNN, Fox or MSNBC. I believe her class position, and the fact she is from a flyover state, has much to do with the lack of national media saturation.

A young special needs, white girl from Franklin County Missouri (a rural working class area) disappeared a couple of years ago while on a walk. Again, she is from a working class family. The media in the St Louis area covered the story but was there saturation coverage on CNN, Fox or the other "news" networks as there was for Polly Klass? I am ashamed that I can remember the circumstances of this young (13, I believe) girl's disappearances but cannot recall her name. Every now and then one of the TV stations will report that she is still missing and her family is looking for her but for the most part it's fallen off the media radar.

A young black boy, with severe medical problems, went missing in the St Louis area a few years ago. I doubt few on DU know the name Christian Ferguson because he has not been profiled endlessly on CNN, Fox or MSNBC but yet many Americans know the name Adam Walsh (the kid in Florida who went missing and was found dead in the 1980s, his dad now hosts America's Most Wanted). Christian Ferguson comes from poor north St Louis and his family may be perceived as not being as articulate in front of the media cameras as say Mr Walsh was in the 1980s, when his son Adam turned up missing.

All missing persons are deserving of media coverage regardless of race or class privilege. When all receive equal coverage then blonde white women can scream bigotry.

[Odin2005]

89. Where did the "Dumb Blonde" crap come from, anyway?

[Telly Savalas]

103. It comes from hateful threads like this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5573434

[spooky3]

90. Thought-provoking post. I think class is the key issue

that leads to media interest, and class is often related to physical attractiveness. If a lower-class person is a crime victim, it's seen as "dog bites man", happens all the time, too bad, but not news. But if a wealthy person, or a child of wealthy and influential parents, is a victim, it's "man bites dog"--i.e., how could this happen? and the interest is piqued further if the victim is attractive and the case is unsolved.

I realize this is beside your main point, and I do agree with your main point, but it's just an observation I wanted to add.

[omega minimo]

104. Good point

[Ksec]

92. Agreed

Its just reverse racism.

[ShortnFiery]

94. Oh please!

:rofl:

[Zhade]

97. Why not throw in 'gifted and talented'?

Then we've got a real flamewar, full of self-aggrandizement!

(That's not aimed at you.)

[datasuspect]

98. yet another page in the unending saga in the book of

"what democrats need to do/stop alienating/how to behave/become right wing to win votes."

[avedon]

101. I'm confused

Does this mean we're not supposed to be bothered by the fact that the media squeezes out all other news so we can follow the Young White Woman Of The Month's disappearance?

[Bluebear]

105. I think it means when a young blonde woman is muderered...

saying "yawn" or similar expressions are unkind. It is not the victim's fault that the media does not cover what is more important to people.

And welcome to DU :)

[LostinVA]

113. I think that's exactly what Omega means

And, I also see it and I agree with her. It's disrespectful to the victims... it's not their fault the Media fixates on certain cases. Like the John Karr fiasco. Yes. it pushed very important news off of the front page... however, so many posters said things like, "Who cares about Jon Benet?" etc. People should care about who killed JonBenet Ramsey -- a little girl was killed or murdered and someone got away with it. Someone should also care about EVERY child that is beaten, starved, neglected, and killed every day.... their plight doesn't lesson JonBenet's death any. Or Natalie Holloway. Or Laci Peterson's. People should care that Scott Peterson murdered his preganant wife -- most women who are murdered are murdered by their husband/lover. This is a problem. I wish every women so affected could be shown to teh world. Actually, I take that back. I don't. I wish women weren't beaten and murdered by their so-called loved ones.

So, it's okay to hate how the MSM fixates on certain cases, but there is a way to bitch about it without seeming to be disrespectful to the victim. Omega isn't grasping ats straws, she's right: I see it very, very often on DU.

[smirkymonkey]

118. Nobody is forcing anybody to "follow" stories about missing/murdered

white blonde women. There are 2 issues here:

1. The mainstream media spends an inordinate amount of attention on personal interest stories that serve to deflect the focus from important, political real world issues that impact our lives much more directly than that of a missing pretty person.

Many of those stories center on missing/murdered blonde or attractive white women. Why? Probably because sex sells and most of the idiots in this country would much rather focus on a story of prurient interest than on the overwhelming truth of a world that is fucked up beyond belief. Blame the media and blame the fact that most men (and probably many women) would rather focus on something titillating than on something depressing.

The fact of this is disheartening, but face it - the ratings business is brutal and I suspect that war, war and more war eventually wears on viewers who eventually tune out. I suspect that these stories boost ratings, which is why they frequently crop up in the midst of all the violence and corruption that is seemingly endless and impossible to resolve.

2. The second issue - the one that I believe the OP is trying to bring to our attention - is that many here at DU (and elsewhere in progressive cyberspace) seem to take out the fact of media bias and bigotry (as well as the bias and bigotry of the viewers) on the victim herself. I have also been taken aback by the venom and coldheartedness expressed by various DU'ers toward a victim of a violent crime simply because she is FEMALE, white and blonde. This is the issue that many of us are complaining about - that somehow, all blonde, white women are disposable and of no consequence simply because of the media's tendency to sidetrack viewers with more salacious fare.

I see this black and white, "either/or" thinking here all the time. I guess most people would rather have a group to vent their anger at than to see the complexities of the situation.

[entanglement]

114. People hate blond girls now? It's a shame, it is. Poor blondes

BIG :sarcasm:

[SPKrazy]

115. I Like White Blonde Girls Myself

like them tall, short, medium

brunettes

redheads

like them all

[TahitiNut]

116. I guess slumming on DU is tough for some people.

It's too bad everyone isn't as enlightened as your highness - there's just sooo much EEEVVVIIILLLL! :puke:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

129. !

:spray:

[Initech]

117. See, when I make fun of "blonde white girls"...

I'm not making fun of the tragedy or the incident themselves, I'm making fun of the fact that the media cant seem to let those topics go... six years after the fucking thing happened!!!

[Mr_Spock]

120. This was helpful

...or was it just par for the course?

[Skittles]

131. oh come ON

I am a blonde white chick and it sickens me the way blonde white chicks get far more attention than, for example, a black girl would. IT IS RACISM.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

132. Oh come on...

we all know that you only kick ass because you secretly hate your blonde, white chick self.

:rofl:

[Skittles]

133. :D

I hate racism, that's what I REALLY hate. :D

[Karenina]

159. This has to be one of the silliest threads

I've ever replied to. Skittlekins, Liebling, yo blonde white Doc Martened foot has my permission to connect with my skinny black ass whenever you deem appropriate. :loveya::rofl:

[exlrrp]

136. Slightly OT but I'm glad Karr's confession was phony

Other than that we'd have had complete Jon Benet Ramsey coverage throuout the election.
RIP, Jon Benet, the Republicans can't hide behind you now.

[Marrah_G]

137. It's not about hair color.

It's not about hair color. It is about Class. Even if you are female, blond, white and young it makes zero difference if you aren't a college girl or a girl from an upper class family.

A few years ago a sicko in Woonsocket, RI raped, killed and dismembered 3 young women (and thought to be responsible for maybe 4 more missing women in town). All were poor, lived in bad areas and had issues. All died 1 mile from my home. There was almost no press even though my friend's cousin, Stacie Goulet was 5 months pregnant when he butchered her. I would bet most of DU hadn't heard of that serial killer. I would also bet people would be surprised how many unsolved serial killers there are out there right now. But because they choose the poorest or least missed in society, society looks away. There was no huge out-cry from the "Pro-Life" groups. Lacey peterson was young, pregnant and a brunette and Stacie Goulet was young pregnant and brunette. She didn't rank the same interest. She had drugs and alcohol in her life. She was poor. She was unwed. So she was ignored, except in the local news.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16135722&BRD=1713&PAG=461&dept_id=24491&rfi=6

So really it isn't about hair color. It is about the persons class or the publics perception of it. They cover what sells.

SO I say again, it is not about hair color.

[Skidmore]

140. Oh, Marrah, what a horrible story.

I'm so sorry your community and your friend was victimized by this terrible criminal. You are so correct in pointing to privilege as a a huge factor in people's perceptions and willingness to engage with equity and empathy.

[Jed Dilligan]

142. Horrible story, but thanks

You anticipated my point. The reason certain female crime victims get a big splash while others don't is that their families have money, lawyers, publicists, etc. to leverage both the investigation of the crime and the media coverage. The fact that the moneyed are mostly fair-haired has to do with the country's ongoing history of racial discrimination.

[Name removed]

138. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheFriedPiper]

143. Maybe we should dress up our freedoms as white blonde women

Maybe THEN the media would give a shit about THEM being missing.

[kineneb]

151. Now wait just a minute! I am a naturally blond, white lady

and a good ol' lefty, raised by my union-organizer grandfather and enlightened grandmother. I have been voting Dem. since my 18th birthday in 1976. And Mom votes Dem. too.

So thuuuurp (raspberry) to you.

[Chovexani]

160. Cry me a fucking river

You really have no clue what drives the sentiment, do you?

God I'm starting to remind myself why I quit coming around here.

[jonnyblitz]

161. no shit. I am with you...

:hi: unfuckingbelievable eh? :crazy:

[omega minimo]

163. Read the fucking thread

You might learn something.

The "sentiment" is one thing. (Obviously you didn't read anything above) The way it is expressed is another.

One thing I learned is that for some people, the use of a flippant, derogatory slur may be the best they can do.

But it's worth trying to show some respect.

[Broken_Hero]

165. Locking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html