Woman's "outrage" over "nigger brown" couch.

[Roph]

TORONTO, Ontario (AP) -- Doris Moore was shocked when her new couch was delivered to her Toronto home with a label that used a racial slur to describe the dark brown shade of the upholstery.

The situation was even more alarming for Moore because it was her 7-year-old daughter who pointed out "nigger brown" on the tag.

"My daughter saw the label and she knew the color brown, but didn't know what the other word meant. She asked, 'Mommy, what color is that?' I was stunned. I didn't know what to say. I never thought that's how she'd learn of that word," Moore said.

The mother complained to the furniture store, which blamed the supplier, who pointed to a computer problem as the source of the derogatory label

Kingsoft Corp., a Chinese software company, acknowledged its translation program was at fault and said it was a regrettable error.

"I know this is a very bad word," Huang Luoyi, a product manager for the Beijing-based company's translation software, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

He explained that when the Chinese characters for "dark brown" are typed into an older version of its Chinese-English translation software, the offensive description comes up.

"We got the definition from a Chinese-English dictionary. We've been using the dictionary for 10 years. Maybe the dictionary was updated, but we probably didn't follow suit," he said.

Moore, who is black, said Kingsoft's acknowledgment of a mistake does not make her feel better.

"They should know what they are typing, even if it is a software error," she said. "In order for something to come into the country, don't they read it first? Doesn't the manufacturer? The supplier?"

Romesh Vanaik, owner of Vanaik Furniture, where Moore bought the sofa, said it has been a best seller. He said he checked his stock but found no other couch with the offensive label.

"It's amazing. I've been here since 1972 and I never knew the meaning of this word," said Vanaik, a native of India.

Source

What a crazy coincidence: a black family buys the only brown couch labeled "nigger brown" by a Chinese factory using old Chinese-to-English translations.

Why is it that she can't seem to bounce back from being called a nigger? She sounds like she will be emotionally scarred because she bought a nigger brown couch.

It's a word, she needs to get over it. It's like her whole life is ruined because of this single moment, which was an admitted accident.

Moore, 30, has three young children, and said the issue has taken a toll on her family.

"Something more has to be done. We don't just need a personal apology, but someone needs to own up to where these labels were made, and someone needs to apologize to all people of color," Moore said. "I had friends over from St. Lucia yesterday and they wouldn't sit on the couch."

That's the most hilarious part right there. It has taken a toll on her family? Pathetic.

Why is it when nigger is used some idiot states it demeans all black people? I hate when people speak for me, but then again I guess it's easier to argue a point when you claim you have the support of a whole race of people behind you.

Either way, I find it funny.

Why do I find it funny? BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A MISTAKE.

Jesus Christ. Stop wasting time on being SO OFFENDED by a Chinese couch color which was lost in translation. Why not spend more energy on doing something productive instead of trying to play up your 15 minutes of fame and lawsuits. It did and still does (though rarely, they've played it up to be that offensive nowadays) have legitimate uses.

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/4457 ... d7awz5.gif[/img]

The saddest group of people would be the ones that could hear me say "nigger", then if I was black be fine with it, or if I was white, be as offended as possible :-/

Also,

In before I'm called racist or my post is censored somehow -_-

 

[holloway]

She's not offended, she's just a money grabber.

Anyway, she'll just have her case thrown out (unless the US system does it usual thing).

 

[holloway]

Shut up Raiju. I know many Americans would agree that the sue everything culture over there is pretty out of hand.

Lets consider the burglar who sued and won now shall we?

 

[urza220]

How about you leave Raiju alone and consider this.

 

[holloway]

...That had no relation on what I said at all. Simply that some of the more obvious ones are urban legends. It still had a pretty good list of true ones. If anything it backed up what i said:

Numerous states have enacted measures to reform their civil law systems in response to the problem of frivolous lawsuits and runaway jury awards. Tort reform usually amounts to placing a cap on punitive damage awards, making the state's joint-and-several liability law more equitable, and limiting judge and court shopping (which means cases are tried in front of whomever they've been assigned to rather than the judge the plaintiff figures will be most sympathetic).

Our current overly-litigious society is not merely an offense to common sense — it costs everyone money, though most are not aware they pay to support this madness through a trickle down to consumers in the form of markedly higher prices. This trickle down accounts, for example, for $8 of an $11.50 diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccine, $191 of a $578 tonsillectomy, $170 of a $1,000 motorized wheelchair, and $3,000 of an $18,000 heart pacemaker.

Edit: If you mean the burglar one, I'm talknig about one that was on the BBC last year where he fell on a chunk of glass.

 

[holloway]

I was addressing your "H8 AMERIKA" remark, which was the unnecessary and immature part here.

 

[Grandor]

The guy already apologized, I'd leave at that. He explained the situation and she wants more? Nobody should get that offended by a word.

 

[alexia]

Nobody should get that offended by a word.

Unfortunately, that particular word is a loaded word and I'm sorry, but words can hurt. The whole sticks and stones bit is complete bull and the worst part is that words can never be unsaid.

Now onto this particular case, you have to take into account the context and intent. In this case, there was no intent to hurt and it was an honest mistake. I agree that this lady should get over it. It's not as though there was this company who intentionally used a racial slur to identify their fabric colors. Now, if this company made no move to remove all these offensive labels, then she should be understandably upset.

The saddest group of people would be the ones that could hear me say "nigger", then if I was black be fine with it, or if I was white, be as offended as possible

I completely agree. If you find the word offensive, you should find it offensive no matter who is saying it. And what about the people who feel they're allowed to say it because of their skin color but get upset when a person of another color says it? That's called being a hypocrite. Shame on you for using a word that you find offensive in the first place. I don't go around using racial slurs about my race just because I can. I wouldn't do that to people period.

 

[Grandor]

Unfortunately, that particular word is a loaded word and I'm sorry, but words can hurt. The whole sticks and stones bit is complete bull and the worst part is that words can never be unsaid.

What I meant by that is she shouldn't get offended by that because it was a honest mistake. If the person had said it hatefully to her, or they had written it there intentionally, then she would have reason.

 

[Lene]

Why do I find it funny? BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A MISTAKE.

Jesus Christ. Stop wasting time on being SO OFFENDED by a Chinese couch color which was lost in translation. Why not spend more energy on doing something productive instead of trying to play up your 15 minutes of fame and lawsuits. It did and still does (though rarely, they've played it up to be that offensive nowadays) have legitimate uses.

First of all, did you even read the article? Where did it say she was trying to sue the company? Why did you automatically make the assumption in this situation? The woman just wants to return the couch for goodness sakes!

Second of all, she's totally right! IMO, these people do owe her and other black people more than an apology, they should go and CHANGE THE DAMN LABELS ON THE COUCHES! Mistake or not, that sort of thing should be corrected. It's in the business's best interest to do so.

Third of all, a parent having to explain to their 7 year old kid why the n-word is so shocking is more than an everyday event. When I found out what the n-word meant (and I was a bit older than 7), well lets just say you don't forget that kind of stuff.

 

[Faeroe]

What if it was cracker white, or spic tan? then it's in a whole new field, and people wouldn't be as offended, now would they?

 

[Ceroscuro]

Spic tan they would be, but since the word 'cracker' is also a delicious snack that is often white-ish (not sure if you guys knew that), then no, that would not be offensive, most likely.

http://www.cepolina.com/freephoto/f/oth ... .bread.jpg[/img]

 

[holloway]

First of all, did you even read the article? Where did it say she was trying to sue the company? Why did you automatically make the assumption in this situation? The woman just wants to return the couch for goodness sakes!

Second of all, she's totally right! IMO, these people do owe her and other black people more than an apology, they should go and CHANGE THE DAMN LABELS ON THE COUCHES! Mistake or not, that sort of thing should be corrected. It's in the business's best interest to do so.

Third of all, a parent having to explain to their 7 year old kid why the n-word is so shocking is more than an everyday event. When I found out what the n-word meant (and I was a bit older than 7), well lets just say you don't forget that kind of stuff.

1) http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/04/19/canada.couch.ap/index.html Extra reading goes the extra mile .

2) They have changed them. The software they used has been changed and it now comes out as "dark" instead of "nigger". What more can they do? She has no right to sue because it was a legitimate mistake and in no way intended to harm. Perhaps, out of curtsey, the company may have given her money back and replaced it for her, but she is just looking like a money grabber.

3) Fair enough, that makes sense. But it's not like the company were trying to beat down the foreign black population- they didn't even know it was sending it out as "nigger".

 

[Lene]

3) Fair enough, that makes sense. But it's not like the company were trying to beat down the foreign black population- they didn't even know it was sending it out as "nigger".

What do you mean fair enough. Who cares if it's a mistake or not, that shit shouldn't be tolerated. In the earlier reports, that I read (with no mention of suing mind you). She was talking about returning the couch. I hope they let her return it. If not, which I think may be the case, I'd be suing them too.

Guess that makes me the angry black woman who thinks the world is out to get her instead of pretending that racism doesn't exist. *shaking my head*

good quote from lj network

Oh, I'm sorry. Must not use my race card up. Much like frequent flyer miles, it's redeemable for absolutely nothing except grief and headache.

Please, if anything it does have more of a toll on the family than, "My hot coffee spilled on my lap and there WASN'T a label!" As a black woman it's going to be a horribly awkward and sad day when I have to tell my child what the n-word means. I wish I didn't have to. I wish this woman didn't have to either.

 

[Fallofthetyrant]

Ok, lets not offend black people, but also, lets not forget native American people or Indians, and also the rest of immigrants, now that's the typical stuff. THIS SHOULDN'T TOLERATE people say. Ok, so a mistake is a mistake, what else can you do? I don't see the racism there, merely paranoia don't you think?
Lene, that kind of attitude is the one that creates a line between races. Honestly, I don't like this defensive attitude that a few black people got.
Oh, by the way if at this very moment you are thinking: "God this bastard is a whitey racist", well, be wrong, my best friend is African.

 

[Lene]

Ok, lets not offend black people, but also, lets not forget native American people or Indians, and also the rest of immigrants, now that's the typical stuff. THIS SHOULDN'T TOLERATE people say. Ok, so a mistake is a mistake, what else can you do? I don't see the racism there, merely paranoia don't you think?
Lene, that kind of attitude is the one that creates a line between races. Honestly, I don't like this defensive attitude that a few black people got.
Oh, by the way if at this very moment you are thinking: "God this bastard is a whitey racist", well, be wrong, my best friend is African.

How does complaining about a couch label create a line between races? Why can't you speak up against something that you feel is wrong without people talking shit like "Oh god, another black person who can't get over race."

What has to happen before people say, "Damn that's not cool,"?

Whoever manufactures this couch in China, well they need to update their software or something because I don't care if it was the most innocent mistake in the world, the fact is that "nigger brown" has no business being on a couch in the 21st century. Two words: Quality Control!

Am I the only one who believes this?

Also, you've hit a big nerve with your last comment.

Having an (black) African friend does not make you unaccountable for what you say! That excuse is so tired and so common, I sigh and want to send all who say that to a race/diversity seminar.

No, your comment wasn't racist. It's reeking of privelege though, and I'm sure your African friend appreciates you trotting them out for show. (That was sarcasm by the way).

 

[Crystalgate]

2) They have changed them. The software they used has been changed and it now comes out as "dark" instead of "nigger". What more can they do?

I suggest improving the quality control of their products. That label could have been spotted and corrected long before the couch was delivered to a customer. Sure mistakes does happen, but it's still a good idea to, in such an event, ask oneself "ok, how could this happen?" and then take stepps towards minimizing the number of future mistakes.

 

[Ceroscuro]

People would be pissed if their 7 year old saw a couch that was "shit-stain brown." While "nigger" is racist, this issue isn't really entirely about race here. Like Lene said, it's about quality control. Your product shouldn't be released unless you know exactly what it contains.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

o.O

I'm totally selling all furniture in "Nigger Brown" from now on. Just to spite the pitiful bitch.

 

[Roph]

Would I be right in guessing Lene is black? Anyway, picture:

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1520/sofaiz9.jpg[/IMG]

I couldn't help but laugh that the label could refer to either of them. Well, if you removed a few lines :3

Racism is especially hilarious when it's not racism.

Now I know it's easy for me to speak out of my cracker-white mouth, but I think black people are pushing themselves back a few years each time someone becomes (willingly or not is irrelevant) offended by the racial slur. Obviously, the world has changed, and we know that what we (or you americans at least) had done in the past was wrong. There are a few (if any?) people who still think that black people were born to pick cotton. I realize that blacks have a much darker history than whites (no pun intended), but every time a black person connotates "nigger" with "worthless big-lipped slave" is doing their race a disservice. They should be pushing themselves to a point where nigger is taken the same way cracker would be, not using it as an excuse to get money, press, etc etc. (Yes, I know some get genuinely offended, but this is where they need to be strong and push themselves ahead).

It's kind of like gays. I have no problem with gays, hell I mingle with plenty and could be considered on the verge of being one myself, but every time they have their Gay-Pride parades, It goes against the idea that they are just like you and I. If we want everyone to be equal, we can't have these minority/ethnic groups sticking themselves out like a sore thumb.