Reminder to avoid offensive Halloween costumes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to work at a place where one of the administrators dressed up as a Japanese Geisha (the lady was White). I’m not Asian, but I found it highly offensive and very inappropriate for the workplace. Also, once while trick-or-treating with my kids, there were people dressed up as middle easterners carry bloody swords and the like. Again, very offensive.

Thank you OP for the reminder. It is sadly needed.

I AM JAPANESE. YOU CAN DRESS IN A KIMONO OR YUKATA OR ANY APPROXIMATION THEREOF. WITH THE MAKE-UP, THE GETA, THE FAN, THE HAIRDO, WHATEVER YOU FIND.

What is wrong with you???

Halloween is the event where this should be allowed. Not at any other time. Let go of your prejudices and biases and preconceived notions just for a short period of time.

My daughter is mixed white-asian and would look very nice as Pocahontas, with her long braids. I don't care at all whether some people find this offensive.

Dressing up as a SEX WORKER AT WORK is okay with you? Ok then!

Oof. You have no idea what a geisha is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello, Halloween costume troll! How was your year?

I am not a troll. This is a serious issue.

You think trolls don't post about serious issues just to rile people up? Can we have a little perspective about what constitutes a serious issue? My three year old dressing up like her hero Pocahontas...it's not that. The VA state legislature trying to police history and what our kids learn? That. That's serious. When you make everything serious nothing is serious.

I assure you that kids are learning plenty about slavery, Jim Crow and “genocide”; no need to worry- AP history teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello, Halloween costume troll! How was your year?

I am not a troll. This is a serious issue.

You think trolls don't post about serious issues just to rile people up? Can we have a little perspective about what constitutes a serious issue? My three year old dressing up like her hero Pocahontas...it's not that. The VA state legislature trying to police history and what our kids learn? That. That's serious. When you make everything serious nothing is serious.

I assure you that kids are learning plenty about slavery, Jim Crow and “genocide”; no need to worry- AP history teacher

Are they learning any of the good parts of US history? My kids so far haven't learned much of that.

Also, PP doesn't seem to realize that the state DOE provides the curriculum, including history. That's how it works.

[Anonymous]

I was planning to stay in on Halloween and pamper myself. I suppose that opening the door to pass out candy with my Charcoal acne mask on my face will not be ok with you OP? G*d forbid people think I'm trying to wear a blackface Halloween costume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fall can be such a fun season, but it is important to remember: we are all in this together.

As you select costumes for yourself and your child, please avoid costumes which are culturally insensitive, as well as costumes that are racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, sizeist, or ageist.

Or else what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This troll attempt works better more in mid-october, and also it works better if you tone it down slightly- keep in the request about racist costumes, add something about cultural appropriation for the kids who want to dress up like Moana, or a character from Coco, etc. And you should take out the sizeist, ageist, xenophobic requests because those are too OTT and make it obvious you're a troll.

I look forward to your second attempt around October 15 and will get out the popcorn!

+1, enough with the culture wars trolling

[Anonymous]

Is it ok to dress up as P Diddy? Asking for a friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This troll attempt works better more in mid-october, and also it works better if you tone it down slightly- keep in the request about racist costumes, add something about cultural appropriation for the kids who want to dress up like Moana, or a character from Coco, etc. And you should take out the sizeist, ageist, xenophobic requests because those are too OTT and make it obvious you're a troll.

I look forward to your second attempt around October 15 and will get out the popcorn!

+1, enough with the culture wars trolling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it ok to dress up as P Diddy? Asking for a friend.

Ooh, that'll be a great costume. I'll keep an eye out, it'll sell out quickly.

[Anonymous]

I was going to dress up as something totally non-offensive, but because of your post OP, I'm only going to wear offensive costumes and ring your bell multiple times throughout the night. Just to piss you off.

[Anonymous]

Wait when was it deemed offensive to put on a grey wig and dress as a little 90 year old grandma with a cane?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, a general rule is do not put on costumes that feature clothing, body modifications, or hair that are common to another ethnicity but not your own.

Example: non-Black people should not wear afros, non-Indian people should not wear bindis

Nobody except for Mexicans can wear sombreros! Or celebrate 5 de Mayo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to work at a place where one of the administrators dressed up as a Japanese Geisha (the lady was White). I’m not Asian, but I found it highly offensive and very inappropriate for the workplace. Also, once while trick-or-treating with my kids, there were people dressed up as middle easterners carry bloody swords and the like. Again, very offensive.

Thank you OP for the reminder. It is sadly needed.

I AM JAPANESE. YOU CAN DRESS IN A KIMONO OR YUKATA OR ANY APPROXIMATION THEREOF. WITH THE MAKE-UP, THE GETA, THE FAN, THE HAIRDO, WHATEVER YOU FIND.

What is wrong with you???

Halloween is the event where this should be allowed. Not at any other time. Let go of your prejudices and biases and preconceived notions just for a short period of time.

My daughter is mixed white-asian and would look very nice as Pocahontas, with her long braids. I don't care at all whether some people find this offensive.

Dressing up as a SEX WORKER AT WORK is okay with you? Ok then!

Oof. You have no idea what a geisha is.

- a sexworker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait when was it deemed offensive to put on a grey wig and dress as a little 90 year old grandma with a cane?

This is ageism. And it is a form of oppression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know OP does sound kind of un-fun but I actually am glad for the political correctness around Halloween costumes these days and here is why:

For a while the deal with adult Halloween costumes was that they were supposed to be "clever" and since most people are not very clever this result in a lot of deeply stupid Halloween costumes that were also borderline (or not borderline) offensive.

Specifically I used to see a weird number of costumes that referenced or tried to make a joke of pedophilia and sexual assault and this is... weird? Disturbing? Completely lacking in any sense of humanity?

Like once people were donning "couple's costumes" featuring a catholic school boy and a priest carrying a sex toy I just think it was time for everyone to go sit in the corner and think about what they'd done.

And yes also all the offensive Native American and Asian costumes.

Keep sitting in the corner until you figure this out folks. Just do what kids do and dress up like a superhero or cartoon character. It's not that hard. Stop trying to be "edgy" or "clever" or "sexy." You ruined it for the group.

I mean, yes, for a lot of those, that was the point. To be offensive. They must have been thrilled that at least one person was offended.

Right that's what I'm saying. There used to be this idea that being offensive was a way to show you were edgy or funny. But at some point it's actually just you being a dick. Dressing up like a pedophile with a child victim isn't funny or edgy. And it shouldn't take much thinking to be like "oh wait this isn't funny it's actually horrible." But for a time people didn't do that.

Like what if someone showed up to a halloween party this year dressed like a dead Palestinian or an Israeli hostage (or both as a funny couples costume!). It sure is edgy. But it's also yes OFFENSIVE. I like that as a culture we've turned the page on using Halloween to try and shock people with how insensitive and cruel you are. It's stupid. Don't do it.