By the way, what were the comments Byrne made about Jessica Alba and Christopher Reeve that upset people?
_____ From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Keith Johnson Sent: Tuesday, 14 March, 2006 16:55 To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] John Bryne of X-Men fame uses "N" word That's just hateful and ignorant. Especially given the context of the conversation (thought bubbles??) it was really offensive to go so far afield and use "nigger" as an example. That's someone who's trying to be above the rest of us mortals and our petty concerns. Byrne is doing what many would-be intellectuals do: intentional chosing provocative language that he *knows* will engender an emotional response, then sit back in a high-minded fashion and pretend to feign ignorance of why some people can't control their emotions. It's a cheap, exploitative, manipulative trick that's unworthy of the readers. People should respond by telling him where to go, then completely stopping talking to him. The best way to punish the self-absorbed is to leave them all alone with their colossal egos. -----Original Message----- From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Said Kakese Dibinga Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 20:51 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [scifinoir2] John Bryne of X-Men fame uses "N" word Rome Is Byrning http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/111497451826808.htm It's no great leap to say that John Byrne attracts a great deal of controversy, largely of his own doing. From his message board, it's not uncommon to see him make an offensive off-the wall comment or get into a fight with another creator. Really, it just gets old after a while. And easier to ignore. However, this one. this one shouldn't be ignored. Byrne's really outdone himself this time. In a thread about the proper use of comic terminology, a user posted the following message: Then this all brings up the question of language. Do words have inherent meanings or just those we ascribe to them? If enough pros, in addition to the fans, say "speech bubble" then why wouldn't "bubble" be just as valid as "balloon"? JB says "balloon", someone else says "bubble", and they could both be right. To which, Byrne responds: There are lots of people who call Black people "niggers". Are both terms "right"? You seem to have missed the rather important point that my response indicated roughly the same percentage of fans and pros use the improper terms for various elements of what we do -- but that percentage does not approach a balance. It is not that roughly half say "balloon" and half say "bubble". It is that some say "bubble" and they are wrong. Another user states: Um, we don't avoid using the word "nigger" because it's incorrect usage. We avoid using it because it's incredibly racist and hateful. Is there an ethnic group that's impugned when someone says "thought bubbles" instead of "thought balloons"? Byrne again: "Um..." in point of fact there are plenty of people who use the word "nigger" because that is the word they use, not because they imagine it has any negative racial connotations. That's precisely why I chose that word as my illustration. Another response from the crowd: Enough already with the casual tossing around of racist epithets! John, you cannot possibly be that ignorant to believe that people who use racial slurs do so without any negative intent or connotation. If you do indeed believe that, I strongly encourage you to seek some counsel and educate yourself on the matter, if you don't want to take my word for it. I've only been black and lived in this country for, oh, my entire life, so I may not be aware of how things really are out there... We spend an awful lot of time on this board dealing with the issue of respect, as it pertains to comic book characters, comic book terminology, reverence for creator's original visions, nicknames for comic book characters, etc. People tread lightly on eggshells out of fear of upsetting you and your many rules for how seriously this wonderful hobby of our should be taken, both by us within it and by those civilians outside of it. How about we extend that same measure of respect to the people who participate in this board? We're supposed to take your word for how things should be in the industry, how characters are supposed to be treated, etc because of your years of experience. How about you extend me the same courtesy on this issue? This isn't about political correctness, or "looking for something to be offended by." It is simply a matter of consideration and manners... There were an infinite number of comparatives you could have chosen to illustrate your point about correct comic book terminology. The fact that you chose the one you did...why? I think we get your point. They are balloons, not bubbles. Fine. Your comparative example sucked. Just as you ask us not to use terms that bother, offend or piss you off, I'm asking you publicly to not use racially insensitive terms and epithets on the board as well. Or is that something you would have a problem with? Once again, Byrne replies: Ignorance is the key, but not on my part. There are many places in this country where people to this day use "nigger" when referring to Black people because that's the word they use. They don't think of it as a racial slur. They don't think about it at all, in fact. It simply is. This is not even considering Black people who themselves use the word. We cannot, surely, imagine that it is used in that context as a racial slur? "Nigger" is -- like so many others -- a word with a complex etymology and an even more complex pattern of use. And this goes on for six pages. You know, for sheer outrage, I never thought Byrne would top his Jessica Alba and Christopher Reeve comments. But he found a way. This Has A "Byrned Again" Factor of One Out of Ten "If you could make a difference, what would you do?"...Said Kakese Dibinga --------------------------------- Yahoo! Mail Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze. 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