Halloween Costumes that are banned in schools

[plastroncafe]

Again...this whole conversation is way more comfortable with that Chrome App on. Why yes, Mel Gibson, to you being respectful of people IS intellectual terrorism.

Where as Nicki was directly addressing a very real problem in popular music today...the cultural appropriation of black culture by white popstars.
Not that there hasn't been a long history of that in American music to begin with...
Yeah, I'm looking at you, Elvis.

I do, however, really relish the counter-quote from Gibson when presented with one from Nicki Minaj. There's just something so...tumblr about it.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

Again...this whole conversation is way more comfortable with that Chrome App on. Why yes, Mel Gibson, to you being respectful of people IS intellectual terrorism.

Where as Nicki was directly addressing a very real problem in popular music today...the cultural appropriation of black culture by white popstars.
Not that there hasn't been a long history of that in American music to begin with...
Yeah, I'm looking at you, Elvis.

I do, however, really relish the counter-quote from Gibson when presented with one from Nicki Minaj. There's just something so...tumblr about it.

Well, we seem to have tiptoed away from blanket statements.

[Candy Kappa]

There's also a huge difference between doing your research and get a costume that properly reflects what you're dressing up as compared to buying a racial caricature dollar store costume.

like every idiot that have horned helmets for their viking costume

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Well, we seem to have tiptoed away from blanket statements.

Not really.
I still hold to that blanket statement.
But you've wandered us away from Halloween Costumes to entertainment et al...and I followed.

Would you like to move the goal post further?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

There's also a huge difference between doing your research and get a costume that properly reflects what you're dressing up as compared to buying a racial caricature dollar store costume.

like every idiot that have horned helmets for their viking costume

Scratch Hagar the Horrible off my list of costume ideas.

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

Not really.
I still hold to that blanket statement.
But you've wandered us away from Halloween Costumes to entertainment et al...and I followed.

Would you like to move the goal post further?

Nope, I've said what I had to say. Go ahead and hold to your statements, as I shall hold to mine. My goal is not to change minds or beliefs, simply to call out fallacy and error as I see it. Until next time!

[AT-Man]

Here are some brilliant ideas for costumes.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

I never said all costumes are fine. I took issue with your blanket statement that someone else's culture shouldn't be a costume.

If you don't like those examples, then how about this:

A hypothetical movie is in production to tell a story about the Anglo-Zulu War (the British Empire's war with the African Zulu Kingdom). It's going to be period-accurate, which means the actors and actresses playing British roles will be wearing British costumes, and the actors and actresses playing Zulu roles will be wearing South African costumes.

By your blanket statement, this movie should not be made.

Or, should Duckie be offended at sexy witch costumes? It's her right to be. Should there be a ban to enforce absolutely no witch costumes, sexy, green-faced, or whatever? Eh, probably not.

CKD, you are my new favorite person of the day! You know, I COULD be offended by "sexy witch", "scary witch", ""pretty witch" (for little girls), or any variation of "colorful witch" you care to dress as, but I'm NOT. Because like MOST actual witches, I recognize that it's all in fun, and that it's not meant to be taken as the real thing. Because it's OUR holiday, after all! What better way to promote "the cause" than to have everyone celebrate it with parties, food, and scary movies! Funny how that works, isn't it?

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

It's not my place to tell people they can/can't be offended by something. If she's offended by Sexy Witch costumes...then she's offended by Sexy Witch costumes.

I know quite a few other Pagans who are less than pleased with the popular culture's preconceived notion of what a witch is. I also know more than a couple of Jewish folk who take issue with the trope as well.

And being from Mass...well, I have opinions on the matter also, seeing as my home state has a history of drowning, burning, and pressing people to death because people accused them of witchcraft.

Don't even get me started on the whole Sexy [Place person/place/thing] here...

And yet, there are hundreds of us who actually OWN it, and walk out of that broom closet loud and proud every year come Samhain. And sexy witch? Why thank you! Usually only my hubby gets to call me that, but for one night of the year, I'm more than happy to let others join in, LOL!

Two hundred years ago, I'd have probably been right up there on the gallows with the likes of Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, and others who were accused and hanged, stoned, burned, etc. Yet now we have kids running door to door on OUR night, asking for candy and WANTING to be scared and/or thrilled! Is it any wonder I'm not offended? It's the best advertisement we could ask for! And it's meant to be fun for EVERYONE. It's the one night when everyone dresses up, and boldly faces what scares us. I think that's a good message to spread, that the things that go bump in the night are far less frightening than the disgustingly PC world we live in today, where we can't even enjoy our own holidays without fear of offending someone. That goes for ALL holidays, BTW. Christmas, Halloween, Chanukah, Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.... Get the picture?

[ProactiveMan]

Let me preface this by stating that it's hard for me to identify with people who feel strongly connected to, or protective of a culture. Other Australians may disagree, but I don't think there is a definable Australian culture, and I'm too many generations in to know much about my ancestry.

So...

The problem with Minaj's position is that she is commercially exploiting the culture she wants to protect, and once something has entered into the pop culture sphere, it's a big ask to demand sovereignty.

Halloween costumes on the other hand, are supposed to be for fun, so I guess if people are upset about something that is important to them being goofed on, it stops being enjoyable, so then what's the point? Dress as the Wolf Man instead.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

But therein lies the problem. When we start banning certain costumes, or saying what is and isn't acceptable or allowed, it just stop being fun AT ALL. Not to mention, what if the real vampires (porpheric anemia is a real disease, folks, and yes, it is the basis for fictional vampirism) or "werewolves" (Native shamanic skin-walkers, or those with the "lycanthrope" disease) get offended? What then? Do we ban dressing as ghosts or zombies for fear of offending the dead? (Actually, the holiday's original purpose was to banish or scare away malign spirits, so that's actually not too far off, LOL!) Heck, even Jack-O-Lanterns were originally meant to represent severed heads to scare away evil spirits! Does that mean we can't even dress as a pumpkin or Jack-O-Lantern? What about fairies? Will we start banning those costumes for fear of offending (and inviting the ire of) the "fair folk"? See how ridiculous it is?

[Leo656]

Holy sh*t. This place.

By some people's logic I should apparently waist tackle and maul anyone dressed like a comical Leprechaun, for sh*tting on my heritage.

I think I'll just let it ride. Halloween's a f*cking goof. If I can endure the ridiculous but harmless farce that is St. Patrick's Day, I think the world can survive everyone dressing up and being goofy for one whole day. It's for kids and overgrown kids, 99% of which don't mean any harm and are just f*cking around. Jeez.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Holy crap! I almost forgot the Little People! Thanks for reminding me, Leo, LOL! I'm pretty sure I've got a leprechaun or two in my family tree somewhere- it's the only way to explain why we're all so gosh-darned short! But like you, I'm not gonna sh*t on anyone's St. Patty's Day parade. Because that's just selfish and rude. Besides, as a certain pair of brothers once said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuqoVHIt0qk

[Powder]

The only costume that offends me is this:

Spoiler:

Everything else is fair game.

[Leo656]

St. Patrick's Day is probably among the most offensive things any person of Irish descent can endure, frankly. Shockingly, most of us plain don't give a sh*t. Let the rubes have their fun, they ain't hurtin' anybody. Well, aside from their own livers, but that's their personal business, if they wanna paint themselves green and try to hang in a league they clearly have no business being in.

It's not an attack, though, it's just people being goofy and having fun. Halloween's the same thing.

I agree with Powder, though. THAT is highly offensive to all five senses.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Well, Leo, there's always Cinco De Mayo! Imagine how the Latinos feel.... (Which is weird, because it's more celebrated here than in Mexico....)

[plastroncafe]

I side with Dan Savage on this:
Halloween : Straight People :: Pride : the LGBT community.
It's a time to let your freak flag fly.

Respecting others has never put a hamper on my enjoyment of the holiday.

[Shiro Kame]

I find the super heroes and cowboy bans stupid. What are they suppose to dress up as? Business men?

[BubblyShell22]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

No it really is.
And your attempt at a slippery slope fallacy doesn't change that fact.

As to answer your questions: Yes, all of those things could be construed as offensive, depending on the audience.
Even Bubbly says that some costumes are wrong, provided they fall outside of her nebulous 'within reason' limitations.

And honestly, no one should ever wear the American Flag.
The only time it's appropriate to drape an American Flag on anything is when it's displayed over the casket of someone who died in service to the country.

I only said that the sexy nurse costume isn't appropriate for a school setting since that's what this discussion was originally about. But if anyone else wants to wear a sexy costume as a mature adult, I say let them do it. People just take offense because they can't lighten up about it. They need to get over themselves and grow the f*ck up.

And it's hilarious that you put up a Nicki Minaj quote when she's the one flaunting her huge a** and is proud of it in that Anaconda video. So, I'm sorry, but I don't buy her B.S. People need to lighten the hell up and get over it. If someone wants to dress as a gangster, they have every right to if they like gangster movies. If someone wants to be black for a day, they can do it if they want to. I'm so tired of PC liberals telling us what to do and how to act.

And I agree with your sentiment, Duckie, about other holidays. I may be atheist, but I don't care if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas. I just say, "Thanks" or "You too" and leave it at that, even if I do feel a little awkward about it.

This is what's wrong with America. Nobody can have fun or do anything. People who get offended can f*ck themselves. I don't care if I offend anybody anymore. I'll say what I want and do what I want.

And I agree that the movie TMNT costume is offensive as hell, but that whole movie franchise is offensive to TMNT.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

I used to love to dress like an native American and angel as a kid, I think it is sad kids can't do this any more in some schools. I can kinda under stand not wanting to promote negative stereotypes about Native Americans by why not use this opportunity to educate kids about what I real native American looked and acted like rather than banning it?

Isn't Halloween supposted to look scary? I don't consider Jesus, angels, superheroes or cowboys (unless I'dd been a Native American around circa 1830, but it was usually the US Army who killed them) looking scary!

Cowboys (and cowgirls) are part of the history of the USA! I used to like Lucky Luke as a kid, and at the end of the comics there was a small text that you could learn anything of 19th century USA history!

I can understand some extrme things (like if someone dressed like Adolf Hitler) but people always take this to extrme point too.

[BubblyShell22]

I thought it was hilarious when Eric Cartman dressed up as Hitler. I can see why some people would be offended by it, but they need to get over themselves and the past. No different than someone dressing up as Stalin or dressing up as one of the Presidents of our country. Should Obama be offended if someone dresses up like him? No, he should feel honored that someone would want to dress up like him.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

I thought it was hilarious when Eric Cartman dressed up as Hitler. I can see why some people would be offended by it, but they need to get over themselves and the past. No different than someone dressing up as Stalin or dressing up as one of the Presidents of our country. Should Obama be offended if someone dresses up like him? No, he should feel honored that someone would want to dress up like him.

I recall some UK prince dressing up as a Nazi for a party (a social party, not NSDAP) once many years ago.

Actually, I would see most dictators of the 20th century (or maybe second half 19th century) being extreme. Don't care for kings and queens commanding wars in old days (like 17th-18th century) since no people from that time is still alive.