I definitely said a lot of racist & problematic things in the 90s

[Anonymous]

Middle class white female here.

I feel like, looking back at growing up in the 90s, I said a lot of cringeworthy, racist and homophobic things in middle school and probably high school (early 2000s). Thank god we didn't have social media before MySpace.
I'm politically liberal/progressive now (though not insanely woke as it is) and my parents were Democrats, but man.... the things that used to be acceptable back then would get us canceled these days.

I recall there was some presentation a group of us gave in history class where I was in the role of a Chinese person and made fake Asian eyes. I also remember a ton of offhand homophobic and trans-phobic comments people made. The word "gay" was an insult. And I remember there was some rumor that a celebrity was trans and people were aghast, and talked about them like they were some kind of zoo animal.

I grew up in a small town, a very Republican town in a blue state. Majority white, a lot of born-again Christians. We had maybe three Black kids in school and one LGBTQ person. Also, the movies we used to watch from the 90s and 80s would never be acceptable now. Not that this is a bad thing - I'm glad we've come a long way with being more inclusive and less bigoted, and we have a LONG way to go.

This all being said, I wonder what the statute of limitations is on canceling someone. I imagine there will be more and more Millennial politicians who will be excoriated for something posted on a defunct MySpace page.

[Anonymous]

+1

White, Jewish NYC male born in 1982

I don't think I was ever bigoted to someone's face, but I definitely said and encouraged some awful things when with friends.

[Anonymous]

I don't care what decade you grew up in. Its a choice to be ignorant.

I was watching a British special filmed in 2019 today and the racism jumped out straight away - its crazy. References to exotic 'Sinoise styles', the Oriental attendant at 6:28, and the harsh judgement of Chinese designs.

Does it make it 'acceptable' that this show was filmed and produced in 2019 + shown in 2020?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't care what decade you grew up in. Its a choice to be ignorant.

I was watching a British special filmed in 2019 today and the racism jumped out straight away - its crazy. References to exotic 'Sinoise styles', the Oriental attendant at 6:28, and the harsh judgement of Chinese designs.

Does it make it 'acceptable' that this show was filmed and produced in 2019 + shown in 2020?

Probably not

There are many "classic" films that are incredibly problematic. Sixteen Candles comes to mind. Sooo many issues there.

[Anonymous]

But also many of us didn't behave like that in the early 2000s.

[Anonymous]

I don't care what decade you grew up in. Its a choice to be ignorant.

Cool. Let's cancel everyone. That will help society.

It's VERY difficult to see beyond your community's values, especially as a child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But also many of us didn't behave like that in the early 2000s.

DP. I don't believe it. Being truly anti-racist requires honesty. You did not exist outside of culture.

[Anonymous]

Same!! I too am glad that there are no records of it. I know that the I said subtly racist things to (that I didn’t know racist, like how cops were justified in racial profiling) don’t want to be around me, and I don’t blame them. I’m glad I am learning.

I do support accountability, expecting apologies, boycotts of companies and brands and books if it is supporting something awful, and accepting the fact that nobody is obligated to forgive. But I don’t agree with digging up past statements and firing or shaming somebody for them. We need to allow for growth and support people who are trying to become better.

[Anonymous]

What matters is cracking down on people TODAY who say or do racist things.

[Anonymous]

OP, I've always viewed myself as pretty moderate, and I've done virtually all of the same things you've done as a kid/teenager. Like you, I've evolved and don't do/say those things anymore. While I regret not seeing the light earlier, I can't worry about being cancelled by some self-righteous young person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But also many of us didn't behave like that in the early 2000s.

Depends on where you grew up. The mid 2000s to 2010s made major strides in LGBTQ acceptance and push for equality. Most small towns and conservative parts of the country were pretty homophobic, remember GW Bush won states like Ohio because Christians came out to vote against a ballot question on gay marriage.
Gay marriage was a hot potato issue in the 2000s and it was considered radical, "civil unions" was the moderate position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't care what decade you grew up in. Its a choice to be ignorant.

Cool. Let's cancel everyone. That will help society.

It's VERY difficult to see beyond your community's values, especially as a child.

Not at all. I grew up in the same decade as OP. You know what we had? TV. Internet. Books.

I mean - OP is acting like she grew up in 1932 on a farm during the great depression.

Bill Clinton's Cabinet was filled with women, men, and people of all races. Bush Jr as well. Sesame Street and PBS - free for all kids before you start - was filled with diverse actors and actresses. Television was rife with color and ingenuity.

So yes -- a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't care what decade you grew up in. Its a choice to be ignorant.

I was watching a British special filmed in 2019 today and the racism jumped out straight away - its crazy. References to exotic 'Sinoise styles', the Oriental attendant at 6:28, and the harsh judgement of Chinese designs.

Does it make it 'acceptable' that this show was filmed and produced in 2019 + shown in 2020?

What I learned today is that it's a lot more annoying to fast forward through a cooking show to get to the recipe than it is to scroll through a cooking blog to get to the recipe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't care what decade you grew up in. Its a choice to be ignorant.

Cool. Let's cancel everyone. That will help society.

It's VERY difficult to see beyond your community's values, especially as a child.

Not at all. I grew up in the same decade as OP. You know what we had? TV. Internet. Books.

I mean - OP is acting like she grew up in 1932 on a farm during the great depression.

Bill Clinton's Cabinet was filled with women, men, and people of all races. Bush Jr as well. Sesame Street and PBS - free for all kids before you start - was filled with diverse actors and actresses. Television was rife with color and ingenuity.

So yes -- a choice.

DP. I think you are likely ignoring or diminishing your own sexism, racism, etc. Be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't care what decade you grew up in. Its a choice to be ignorant.

Cool. Let's cancel everyone. That will help society.

It's VERY difficult to see beyond your community's values, especially as a child.

Not at all. I grew up in the same decade as OP. You know what we had? TV. Internet. Books.

I mean - OP is acting like she grew up in 1932 on a farm during the great depression.

Bill Clinton's Cabinet was filled with women, men, and people of all races. Bush Jr as well. Sesame Street and PBS - free for all kids before you start - was filled with diverse actors and actresses. Television was rife with color and ingenuity.

So yes -- a choice.

And there were plenty of jokes on TV then that would be unacceptable by today's standards. Even The Office wouldn't work in 2021.

But you're perfect. Good for you.