discrimination of people who wear odd clothes

[Q Classic]

1. Isn't Dani a girl's name?
2. His posture is terrible.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Elok


For the record, I'm not ragging on their looks (assuming by looks you mean their eclectic blend of facial/body features--actually, her bod isn't bad at all, it's just the face and the clothes). Just their style.

And, for the record, I wasn't aiming at you.

[Theben]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly

So it's okay to guess your life ambition based on pictures of you posted to Poly? Really? Because that might be fun, in a vicious sort of way.

Knock yourself out.

[LordShiva]

If we can't make fun of teh ugly, fat, stupid, or weird, of whom can we make fun?

[Sirotnikov]

Elok, I assume you'll support that people who dress gangsta-rap style, and wear hoodies, will also be thrown off of buses? I mean come on - that style obviously screams for attention and is intended to threaten other people.

[Julian Delphiki]

Originally posted by LordShiva
If we can't make fun of teh ugly, fat, stupid, or weird, of whom can we make fun?

Indian people .

[Dinner]

That guy looks like a certain poster I know.

























(Italics are intentional)

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Elok
Kid, faulty analogy. There is, apparently, some reason for being a commie. I think it's a bad reason, but then you think the same of my religion, so what the hell. Whereas there is no reason to dress up like an old horror movie villain except to look like an old horror movie villain. Perhaps they once thought it would make them look "scary," but seeing as many, many people have corrected that belief if it existed, it seems safe to say that they like the impression they do make on others, namely revulsion and contempt. Moreover, your average Goth makes no secret of his pride in being a Martyr For Tolerance.

I don't see any connection with your claim that they should be thrown off the bus. Obviously, you are a bigot. j/k

[Elok]

I'm not saying that such people *should* be thrown off buses, just that they shouldn't act all surprised when it happens. "Gangsta" style is a bit more common than Goth, but the same rules apply. Like it or not, your clothes send a message about you to the world. If you dress to blend in with a subculture that glorifies criminals and thugs, you are basically dressing up in a criminal thug costume. In most cases it's just a lot of swagger not meant to be taken seriously--and most people don't--but if a few people take the association literally, that's a risk that comes with the territory.

Actually, there'd be a bit more support for kicking off Gangstas than Goths. Nobody over the age of six would seriously think that guy was a vampire; the only reason is a dislike of people who act out. Whereas I could see some conservative, ignorant, elderly bus driver saying to himself: "Hoodies and bling? Oh no, they're not going to shake people down on my bus. Find another ride, boys."

[Lorizael]

Do you ever ride the bus, Elok?

[Elok]

Nope. I know, they get all kinds of freaks on there; maybe this driver's tolerance for weirdos was exhausted. Like I said, I'm not saying that it's right per se, just that it doesn't surprise me and shouldn't surprise them.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Oerdin
That guy looks like a certain poster I know.

(Italics are intentional)

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Elok
Nope. I know, they get all kinds of freaks on there; maybe this driver's tolerance for weirdos was exhausted. Like I said, I'm not saying that it's right per se, just that it doesn't surprise me and shouldn't surprise them.

It's possible. But in my experience, the bus drivers are always the weirdest.

[Sirotnikov]

Originally posted by Elok
I'm not saying that such people *should* be thrown off buses, just that they shouldn't act all surprised when it happens. "Gangsta" style is a bit more common than Goth, but the same rules apply. Like it or not, your clothes send a message about you to the world. If you dress to blend in with a subculture that glorifies criminals and thugs, you are basically dressing up in a criminal thug costume. In most cases it's just a lot of swagger not meant to be taken seriously--and most people don't--but if a few people take the association literally, that's a risk that comes with the territory.

There's a difference between can you personally discriminate against people you don't like, and whether you can do it on your job.

If you are unwilling to pick up a goth as a hitchhiker, it is perfectly allright.

However, if you are a bus driver, or a store clerk or someone who gives service - you can not decide to discriminate against people. Obviously you can refuse service to harmful or threatening individuals who are vandals or something.

But dressing in an odd fashion and behaving like goths is not a crime or a threat to other people. They did not threaten anyone and they did not put anyone at risk. They were simply weird, by choise.

There's a slippery slope between not serving someone that lots of people sheen away from, to not serving anyone you don't like.

This is just another case of people with strong concepts about what should be 'allowed' and 'normal', enforcing their values on others illegally.

Imagine if the situation was reversed
A goth bus driver who hates people who are well groomed and dressed. Or a goth bus driver who hates people who worship god so he does not pick up people who go to church.

This is ridiculous.

[Wezil]

I think the bus driver was afraid the guy would want to stick his head out the window while the bus was in motion.