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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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“Sitting and staring at the walls”
Is this considered a racist expression?
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Posted 6/22/23 1:12 PM  |
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
I thought it just meant you were bored.
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| Posted 6/22/23 1:34 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by windyweather21
I thought it just meant you were bored.
Me, too.
At work we have a few days a year where we have to come in and not do much work or take a vacation day. On these days we give an exam/exams early in the morning, but if there aren’t enough exams to give, then we don’t do a lot. So I had an hour of exams and then the next four hours of work, I do light prep or help out with marking for those that had to give an exam. Sometimes we do absolutely nothing, hence “sitting and staring at walls.”
Anyway, I walked into a colleagues classroom and asked if he needed help marking or if he was just sitting and staring at walls today. He gets angry and said “well, I’ll just ignore the horribly racist thing you said, but no, I don’t have any exams to mark.” At this point, I’m confused by what he meant. I started to ask why what I said was wrong, but a student wanted to talk to him, so I let the student go ahead. For the rest of the day all I got were dirty looks from him.
I honestly do not know what I said was wrong. I don’t know if I should ask him why he was so bothered by what I said or not.
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| Posted 6/22/23 1:58 PM |
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Wow. Very odd. I just tried to google it and didn't find anything about it being racist. Could it be a language barrier type of thing?
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| Posted 6/22/23 2:06 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Is it a cultural thing? Like something that is considered a racist expression in Germany ?
I have never heard of it being racist.
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| Posted 6/22/23 2:09 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by windyweather21
Wow. Very odd. I just tried to google it and didn't find anything about it being racist. Could it be a language barrier type of thing?
No language barrier. The exchange was with a fellow NYer.
I googled it, too.
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| Posted 6/22/23 2:14 PM |
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by NervousNell
Is it a cultural thing? Like something that is considered a racist expression in Germany ?
I have never heard of it being racist.
That is what I thought too. Very odd as she said no. Wonder what the person thought she said then or maybe they don't know what it actually means.
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| Posted 6/22/23 2:16 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
I feel like I'd have to ask them for clarification because I'd be dying to know how that phrase could be interpreted as racist.
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| Posted 6/22/23 2:17 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by NervousNell
I feel like I'd have to ask them for clarification because I'd be dying to know how that phrase could be interpreted as racist.
Yeah, I’m considering that. It’s been on my mind.
I talked it over with two other close colleagues for a while (literally there is nothing to do these days), and they said he comes out with these things a lot. They then gave me an example where he got upset because he couldn’t exchange his NY driver’s license with a German one and called it discrimination because of demographics in NY state and other states that cannot exchange their driver’s license. For the record, it isn’t discrimination. Some states have exchange agreements and others don’t. I had to redo my whole license because of this rule.
The only thing my colleagues and I could come up with was that it was like saying prison=staring at walls and a lot of African-Americans make up the prison population.
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| Posted 6/22/23 2:30 PM |
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by klingklang77
Posted by NervousNell
I feel like I'd have to ask them for clarification because I'd be dying to know how that phrase could be interpreted as racist.
Yeah, I’m considering that. It’s been on my mind.
I talked it over with two other close colleagues for a while (literally there is nothing to do these days), and they said he comes out with these things a lot. They then gave me an example where he got upset because he couldn’t exchange his NY driver’s license with a German one and called it discrimination because of demographics in NY state and other states that cannot exchange their driver’s license. For the record, it isn’t discrimination. Some states have exchange agreements and others don’t. I had to redo my whole license because of this rule.
The only thing my colleagues and I could come up with was that it was like saying prison=staring at walls and a lot of African-Americans make up the prison population.
Just sounds like a weird dude to me 
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| Posted 6/22/23 2:34 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by windyweather21
Posted by klingklang77
Posted by NervousNell
I feel like I'd have to ask them for clarification because I'd be dying to know how that phrase could be interpreted as racist.
Yeah, I’m considering that. It’s been on my mind.
I talked it over with two other close colleagues for a while (literally there is nothing to do these days), and they said he comes out with these things a lot. They then gave me an example where he got upset because he couldn’t exchange his NY driver’s license with a German one and called it discrimination because of demographics in NY state and other states that cannot exchange their driver’s license. For the record, it isn’t discrimination. Some states have exchange agreements and others don’t. I had to redo my whole license because of this rule.
The only thing my colleagues and I could come up with was that it was like saying prison=staring at walls and a lot of African-Americans make up the prison population.
Just sounds like a weird dude to me
It’s either that or maybe just extra sensitive because it’s so boring. Tomorrow is usually Friday morning drinks (only 4 times a year during the boring times) with the boss, so maybe I’ll work up some courage to ask him what he meant by that. Surely, it must be a misunderstanding.
Message edited 6/22/2023 2:45:07 PM.
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| Posted 6/22/23 2:43 PM |
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Budjeg11
LIF Adult
Member since 4/11 2642 total posts
Name:
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“Sitting and staring at the walls”
Is this person a person of color or of a group that is considered a minority?
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| Posted 6/22/23 3:24 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by Budjeg11
Is this person a person of color or of a group that is considered a minority?
Yes. That’s why I’m wondering if I said something wrong.
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| Posted 6/22/23 4:01 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by klingklang77
Posted by Budjeg11
Is this person a person of color or of a group that is considered a minority?
Yes. That’s why I’m wondering if I said something wrong.
Did he maybe thing you were implying that people of his race are lazy??
That's literally the only thing I can think of.... and it's a stretch
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| Posted 6/22/23 4:57 PM |
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Budjeg11
LIF Adult
Member since 4/11 2642 total posts
Name:
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by klingklang77
Posted by Budjeg11
Is this person a person of color or of a group that is considered a minority?
Yes. That’s why I’m wondering if I said something wrong.
Did he maybe thing you were implying that people of his race are lazy??
That's literally the only thing I can think of.... and it's a stretch
Yes that is exactly what I was wondering also, because its the only thing I can think of also!
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| Posted 6/22/23 5:22 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by klingklang77
Posted by Budjeg11
Is this person a person of color or of a group that is considered a minority?
Yes. That’s why I’m wondering if I said something wrong.
Did he maybe thing you were implying that people of his race are lazy??
That's literally the only thing I can think of.... and it's a stretch
Yeah, my mind went there as well. Because he did say after that he had done some work that day. But I am not in charge of anyone. I was just walking along to see if he (or anyone else) needed help marking. I was bored and needed something to do.
Maybe I should just do the bare minimum from now on. I showed interest in the level he was teaching this quarter. It is a higher level and I am a curious about the material taught. I know I will get that level eventually, so I want to be prepared. It wasn’t about making him look lazy, you know?
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| Posted 6/22/23 5:23 PM |
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lmcmcl
LIF Toddler
Member since 2/15 483 total posts
Name:
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“Sitting and staring at the walls”
I thought it meant you were bored. Never heard anything implying race.
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| Posted 6/23/23 6:37 AM |
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RainyDay
LIF Adult
Member since 6/15 3986 total posts
Name:
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“Sitting and staring at the walls”
Could he maybe been thinking Berlin wall?
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| Posted 6/23/23 6:55 AM |
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Tulip9
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/14 597 total posts
Name:
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
unfortunately this is why I often times find it best for me not to speak to people... I called a clothing donation bin at church the poor bin and was told I couldn't refer to it as that...
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| Posted 6/23/23 9:45 AM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by RainyDay
Could he maybe been thinking Berlin wall?
He’s a fellow NYer from the city and lower downstate. I don’t think it would have anything to do with the Berlin Wall.
He wasn’t in today, so I’ll ask him when I get back from vacation in 2 weeks.
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| Posted 6/23/23 11:02 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by klingklang77
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by klingklang77
Posted by Budjeg11
Is this person a person of color or of a group that is considered a minority?
Yes. That’s why I’m wondering if I said something wrong.
Did he maybe thing you were implying that people of his race are lazy??
That's literally the only thing I can think of.... and it's a stretch
Yeah, my mind went there as well. Because he did say after that he had done some work that day. But I am not in charge of anyone. I was just walking along to see if he (or anyone else) needed help marking. I was bored and needed something to do.
Maybe I should just do the bare minimum from now on. I showed interest in the level he was teaching this quarter. It is a higher level and I am a curious about the material taught. I know I will get that level eventually, so I want to be prepared. It wasn’t about making him look lazy, you know?
I agree you did nothing wrong and how no ill intent. I never would think that phrase would be considered racist either
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| Posted 6/23/23 12:15 PM |
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mrsrainbow
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 1465 total posts
Name:
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by Tulip9
unfortunately this is why I often times find it best for me not to speak to people... I called a clothing donation bin at church the poor bin and was told I couldn't refer to it as that...
Well it is kinda messed up to call it a "poor bin" - who even does that?
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| Posted 6/26/23 1:56 PM |
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lululu
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 9508 total posts
Name:
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by mrsrainbow
Posted by Tulip9
unfortunately this is why I often times find it best for me not to speak to people... I called a clothing donation bin at church the poor bin and was told I couldn't refer to it as that...
Well it is kinda messed up to call it a "poor bin" - who even does that?
I was thinking it sounded like something my grandmother would have said. I feel like that's probably what it was called during the depression. But honestly I wouldn't have thought anyone would be offended by it. Truthfully you probably aren't taking donations from the bin unless you are "poor."
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| Posted 6/26/23 2:14 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Re: “Sitting and staring at the walls”
Posted by lululu
Posted by mrsrainbow
Posted by Tulip9
unfortunately this is why I often times find it best for me not to speak to people... I called a clothing donation bin at church the poor bin and was told I couldn't refer to it as that...
Well it is kinda messed up to call it a "poor bin" - who even does that?
I was thinking it sounded like something my grandmother would have said. I feel like that's probably what it was called during the depression. But honestly I wouldn't have thought anyone would be offended by it. Truthfully you probably aren't taking donations from the bin unless you are "poor."
Growing up my grandmother and mom/aunts called it a poor bin so you are prob right. I think back in those days the clothes were given to those less fortunate but now they are sold for materials lol.
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| Posted 6/26/23 6:15 PM |
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