Sunday, November 26, 2006

B/W

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

No, actually it's not. I know what you're aiming at Stobblehouse. Please don't even go there.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Irony, dude, irony.

Anonymous said...

On a grade scale: D-
Very Disturbing.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Why the heck would it be disturbing?
To me it's cute and funny.

Anonymous said...

Hey Luke, he did at least change the title.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Yeah, I am Danish, we don't have the same issues with racism as some countries, so sometimes I forget what a tender issue it is to many people. Apparently the humorous title "It's All Black And White" was offensive to some. Live and learn.

Anonymous said...

Aah! "Black and White", NOW I get it.
That's me allright : before reading the comments, I hadn't even noticed the allusion to the picture's SUBJECT. I'm not color-blind (allright, so I AM, a little), I'm race-blind.

Besides, races are an artificial concept, by definition. Any animal breeder knows that : one moment of inattention, and you haven't got a pure race anymore, just a species. Becides, humankind is not a herd. Except in the religious meaning. :-)

Well done, Eolake, this beats the previous record I knew for the shortest joke:
"-Merlin.
-Enchanted!"


This is quite a nice picture. I like it a lot. It feels... intimistic! A small group of very good friends, quite likely.
Is that Jesper, seen from behind?

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

No, they are a couple years younger than Jesper.
I don't think they are friends so much as flirting. Look at their body language. They are all trying to look relaxed and cool.

Anonymous said...

Could be. But considering how sadly un-subtle and unrefined the flirting generally is in Lebanon (from what I've seen), I sure don't mind them anyway.

A photo can be like abstract art : one will see it in the light of his own perceptions. Me, you could say I "don't really know" what flirting is. Marivaudage isn't in my nature. And neither is being judgemental. They may be flirting? Fine with them. :-)

I can't see why ther could be something wrong with that. Culture, religion, or colour differences? Phooey!

Anonymous said...

Apparently the humorous title "It's All Black And White" was offensive to some. Live and learn.

An apology is in order. Or are you too racist to do that?

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

It looks like you did not understand the headline. See, the picture is a black-and-white picture. And it has black and white people in it. So the title is a play on words. Even if I strain my mind, I can't see anything derogative about it. There are no derogatory terms used. There are no derogatory opinions voiced.

So if you have a problem with it, you'll have to be specific, for I have no idea what you are talking about.

Anonymous said...

was offensive to some. Live and learn.

We didn't figure you would apologize for your vulgar despect to the black community. You are a racist by nature then. Your prejudice thoughts will be spread out to others! They will know who and what you deem is "funny."
Making the blacks look like stupid heathens that you protray us as. I thought Europians were different. But you're not, you just as bad as those Americans.
Arrogant and full of white supremisy. Word will get around!

Anonymous said...

Besides, races are an artificial concept, by definition. Any animal breeder knows that.

So now we're even animals. How dare you! You're sick.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

I'm sorry you were offended.

Anonymous said...

LOL

Some people just like to argue about nothing.

Anonymous said...

Angie,
Since I can't tell whether you're being serious or joking, I'll assume the former to answer.
I never said that BLACK PEOPLE were animals, d'uh! Nobody who knows me would go into such a misunderstanding, and that includes my African-born cousin with whom I'm very close.
I meant that we, humans, are animals. Biologically. We're not plants, minerals, or machines. We're the top of animal evolution in abstract intelligence, just like birds are the top of animal evolution when it comes to flight.

And the term of races originates from animal breeding (historically, check any dictionary). What I meant was, races are an artificial creation in animal breeding, and in the human species they are just an illusion. Sometimes a very tragic one, still very vivid in Lebanon where I live. :-(

I invite you to check this blog's archives (click here, they speak for themselves), where I posted a huge and carefully documented essay on the subject of human "races" being illusory.
And even though this has always been my own belief, I didn't argument with that, only with the scientific facts I learned in Med School. It's quite enough.

P.S.: How did you guess I was sick? But I'm getting better now, and hope to be cured in a few days. Thank you for your concern. ;-)

Deb,
If you think that Eolake is racist, maybe you's like to read the "Jesper" post, a little below, regarding his black friend. It's not a mocking photo, it's a photo of the man making a funny face for his friend Eolake.

A few of the models on Domai are also of African type. They are not many, simply because Eolake finds his models in the country where he lives. Were he in Japan or Senegal, the proportions would be reversed.

Pretending the differences of people aren't there can be just as bad as focusing on them. They just are there. Some are tall, others are short. Some skinny, buff or fat. Hair and eye color vary. So does skin tone. And that's that. Being afraid to even mention it is a new, insidious form of racism, one which would have us forget that some people's ascendants were slaves or in the Death Camps. And forgetting brings denial. It was wrong, but it happened, deal with it.

Just ponder this : if your impression of racism is right, why hasn't anyone flamed you yet? Are we non-hateful racists then? (That kind of bird I'd like to see!) Being mistaken for a racist doesn't even offend me. It's just as far-off as being called a sardine, a skate board or an apple tree. Your worthy efforts to struggle for human tolerance are on the wrong battlefield. But do stay around a bit, I think you might like the scenery. :-)

Here's a partial list of the countries some of my friends originate from : Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Congo, USA, Australia, France, Belgium, UK, Denmark, Germany, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, India, China. And I'm forgetting some!
Israel is not on the above list yet, but there's only one reason for me to rejoice about this : under current Lebanese law, openly admitting that I've been in contact with an Israeli citizen could get me sent to prison, or worse. Stupid politics!

In every country, community and religion, human variety lets you find all kinds of people, from the most noble to the vilest, from the dumbest to the smartest. The only problem we have here (on this blog) about some people having different appearances or origins, is that it serves as a justification for many idiots to hate them for it.

Anonymous said...

eolake said...
I'm sorry you were offended.

Thank you.

Jes said...
LOL

Some people just like to argue about nothing.










Argue about nothing huh? It's funny to you huh? Are you black? Have you been through my troubles and trials just because of your skin color? Tell me?!!!!
I doubt you have. Instead you laugh at us.

Lucid Twilight said...
Isn't that the substance of all arguments? It's a waste of time.

Now we're a waste of time white girl? That's typical of your kind. Do you call us the N word too laughing behind our backs?

Anonymous said...

We're the top of animal evolution in abstract intelligence

You're full of manure. Humans ARE NOT ANIMALS! Especially blacks! Yes you are sick and twisted. And yes calling a black "a bit retarded" is uncalled for.
The term is "mentally challenged." Where have you people been growing up at? Do you ever watch the news or listen to what our race has to say? I doubt it.
I'm tired of having to defend me just being me! At least Mr Stobblehouse apologized and I can gracefully accept that.
But Pascal you don't really understand do you? Or that Lucid woman, she doesn't get it? And Mr Stobblehouse changed that racist title. He understood he accidently hurt us.
You need to learn much Pascal.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

"Have you been through my troubles and trials just because of your skin color?"

Tell us about your troubles, Angie. Maybe we will understand better.

Anonymous said...

"Argue about nothing huh? It's funny to you huh? Are you black? Have you been through my troubles and trials just because of your skin color? Tell me?!!!!
I doubt you have. Instead you laugh at us."

Yes, arguing about nothing. Because to me, that's exactly what this amounts to. If we were actually having an intelligent discussion about racism, then I'd be inclined to take you more seriously. Instead, you're doing a bunch of childish name calling and deliberately putting words in people's mouths, like I've already seen a million times on the internet.

And before you misinterpret me(because I know you're going to try to), I'm not saying black people are childish. I'm saying behavior right now is. Now if you have something meaningful to say(and can limit your exclamation mark usage to one per sentence), I'll gladly listen. Otherwise, please don't waste my time with this nonsense.

Anonymous said...

don't waste my time with this nonsense.

You, jess, nevermind, you're not worth the effort with your attitude. At least Mr Stobblehouse directed his question in a decent manner. Thank you for doing that Eolake Stobblehouse.

Anonymous said...

To Lucid,
I now understand why you speak the way you do, you're only a teenager, still wet behind the ears. But at least you're trying to act adult. Hang tough boy. Sorry I thought you were a girl.
Just curious, are you gay? Is that why you use the name you do?
Take care and keep "listening" you'll eventually understand the world and what people are all about.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

"you're only a teenager, still wet behind the ears.... Take care and keep listening you'll eventually understand the world and what people are all about."

Angie, I am wondering what your own reaction might have been when you where nineteen, if somebody had said something like this to you.

Anonymous said...

Dear Angie,
I'm sorry to see how much anger there is in you, and to perceive how much suffering must have caused it. I'm a huge fan of Josephine Baker, who founded a "rainbow-colored family", and of this guy, who wrote many world-famous masterpieces. Not to mention Rosa Parks or Rev. King.

In Lebanon, where I live, it is common to hear a local call an African immigrant "Animal", and not just in their backs, either. Every time that happens, I hurt inside. My people are so rude. Our biological nature has nothing to do, of course, with our spiritual nature, and as I've written it before all humans are worth the same. Whatever their color, shape, size, creed, age, educational level, sexual orientation, etc. The child of an illiterate Australian bush native, if raised in the city, may excell in University just as well as the next guy. Because we are all one species, and equally gifted. Period.

I also apologize if the scientific tone I used was reminding of the rhetoric style of some racists like the nazi "theoricians". Such was never my intention.

As for my learning, let's just say there's a young mother in Ethiopia who may very well be home and alive today because I was one of the only two persons to consider her as a human being when she was alone and desperate in an alien land. And I faced a lot of heat for it, too. Yes, this country has notorious issues with modern slavery. (And the "N" word is also synonymous with "slave, servant"!...) To me, that woman was never a "nigger", only a sister in distress. It's all that ever mattered.
I hate to brag about that episode, but for the first time it seemed necessary to mention.

I second Eolake's suggestion : please do tell us about your troubles. I feel I can never learn too much. Is it, per chance, the illustration of how late the USA still are in treating all their citizens equally and decently? (That scandalous attitude toward New Orleans comes to mind...)

"Have you been through my troubles and trials just because of your skin color? Tell me?"
What I've been through was probably similar. For my whole childhood, my schoolmates (and some teachers) would focus only on my difference, and never left me forget they despised me for it. It was simply origin, not color. Same difference?

"Humour is a foreign language. Sometimes, it may need subtitles, like movies." (Guy Bedos, 72 y/o French comic, Nov. 2006)
Subtitle for the above : there's always be a risk of being misunderstood.
"You can joke about anything, but not with everybody." (Pierre Desproges, another French comic.)
Remember what sparked that bar fight in Rush Hour 1? Chris Tucker didn't object to the scenario...

Anonymous said...

"it began as a survival mechanism. It sounds odd to say considering the misconceptions people have about children and their ability to feel"...
That's a textbook misconception allright. I'm currently verifying first hand that a 6 week-old newborn understands a LOT and shows it.
Humans are not only equally intelligent whatever their outer aspect. "We" are also capable of much more than usually believed.

Angie, labeling somebody based on their age, isn't that slightly similar to relying on skin color? At 16, most people are fully capable of reasoning as adults, if they can harness their emotions. And Lucid can.
I was also surprised to learn his age, but for the opposite reason. His ears are quite dry. :-)

"Nay, even the color of my own skin is irrelevant, as is the build and gender of my body."
Same here. I wouldn't have minded being born a woman, but am quite comfortable with being a hetero man. These are all details.
Society forcing a guy to act macho is another sneaky method of discrimination, that suggests something should be wrong in feminity.

"There are many who would love to engage me in the proverbial pissing match"
Don't take this as a joke, because I am being serious : pissing matches can be bad to your kidneys, avoid them. Causing a vesico-ureteral reflux is never a good thing. - Dr Pascal, MD

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a thread. A lot of intense feelings there.

I hear the feelings, I don't discount them.

i think each one of us has suffered enough. Do we need to suffer more?

I really liked the photo, and the title I found not racist at all, but a funny play on words.

Laurie

Hannah said...

I didn't even realize this discussion was happening... after reading through it, though, I'm really impressed (though I hadn't expected otherwise) about how everybody handled it. You guys had patience past when I would have blown up in frustration.

And Lucid? I thought you were a woman, too, sorry. :)

Anonymous said...

Hannah,
Had we been what we were thought to be, I'm sure our true dispicable nature would have shown up. If this was a test, I'd say we passed it.

It would seen that Lucid Twilight's poetic name always gives this first impression. He's not the only one. Here in Lebanon, it's mostly girls that are named Pascale, including a famous local singer. And my soft voice doesn't help much when I answer the phone!

But only an insecure macho would fear showing his feminine side. Men have nipples because the human embryo is female by default. It's proven : biologically speaking, a man is a woman model modified for another purpose. Including all 100% hetero he-men. Humankind is one, that's not only morally evident, it's a cold, hard scientific fact.
To paraphrase a famous expression, there are only shades of human. Shades in many, many tones; gender being only one of them.

Which is why it didn't matter much to me whether LT was young, old, male or female. This isn't exactly a dating site! :-D

"That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell just as sweet."

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Yeah, I often feel more femine than otherwise.
If I had to do it all over again, I'd be a beutiful woman, and bi. Very bi. :)

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Umm, uh... So how about that Wonder Woman, huh!? She could tie me up with that lasso any day.

Anonymous said...

"If I had to do it all over again, I'd be a beutiful woman, and bi. Very bi."
Being purely hetero means depriving yourself of the pleasure half of mankind can bring you. Alas, such is my case! You can't really choose these things.

Good choice there, Eolake. It is said that a woman't pleasure equals a man's ninefold. But maybe that's just compensating quantity with quality, considering the great number of selfish/clumsy men out there?...

I've read an article in a science magazine called "Why can women have orgasms?" The conclusion was, there's no biological interest in it for survival of the species (especially if the man can reach it first and then usually stop), it's just that both genders have it in their brain wiring. The article ended saying : "And if we have it, why not enjoy it?"

"If I had it to do over, I think I'd still be a straight man."
Why's that, Miss Twilight? Are you a lesbian now? ;-)
(Okay, this quid pro quo joke is getting tired.)
I'd take whatever is given to me, my only real problem would be with social rights consequences. Being a woman or gay (or transgender) has yet to become ordinarily tolerated. :-(
Yet, quite oddly, Men wishing to become women in Iran are HELPED by the authorities. Islam has nothing against it (or on it, for that matter), so the mullahs would rather have a hetero woman than a gay and disturbed man. [This has its limits. Since the're sterile as women, they can't get married, and live from prostitution.]

"Can't think of a place where having a blade at my side would be deemed acceptable by local law enforcement."
Actually, in the Sikh community (around India & Pakistan), bearing a dagger is not only accepted, it's a religious duty. But they aren't allowed to shave, or to cut their hair, so you might want to take that into account. And that turban can be rather heavy, hello neck pains.

"Pascal... You're not hitting on me, are you?"
On you and the other 6 billion humans, mac. Does it bother you that I want to love everybody? (Okay, so not in THAT way. Remember, I'm hetero. As I said, "This ISN'T a dating site." We only have our ideas mate and multiply here.)
I guess I should have inverted the last two paragraphs of my previous post. The smile of Mei-Ling distracted me...

"So how about that Wonder Woman, huh!?"
All about kinky "superheroines in bondage" fetishism on http://www.superheroinecentral.com/. Adult advisory. But a very efficient distraction!!! :-)

Today's poll : "Would Wonder Woman and the now adult Boy Wonder known as Nightwing make a nice pair?"
(Oh, I'm such a Rascal!)

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Promising site, pal.

I've long wished to write superhero (parody) erotica. One day it'll happen.

Anonymous said...

"One day it'll happen."
The day you free yourself of that golden lasso, eh? (Providing you WANT to free yourself!) ;-)

Don't keep us waiting for too long!

I've just found and read issue #1 of "The 99" (the previous one was a prologue). Nice stuff. More introspection than mindless wild fighting. I love such stories with truly human characters.

Anonymous said...

Lucid,
You and me both, man. Delaying our creative projects is a shame for all those who are guaranteed to love them when finalized. Let's get to it!

Um... Okay, you go first. I'm still sick and taking vitamins. Really.
I'll catch up with you along the way. (Maybe tomorrow...) :-)

laurie said...

If I had to do it again I'd absolutely be a woman again and again and again, my fantasy (alright, shoot me down girls) is to help men love being men by loving being a woman. Sound strange?

Slightly off topic, and I know eolake doesn't do much sexuality stuff on his blogs, (I hear a joke from Pascal coming) but I think bi-sexuality makes a lot of sense.

We women love linking arms with our girlfriends walking down the street, giving each other shoulder and neck massages at work, combing and fiddling with each other's hair, in general, hugging, touching, giving each other little gifts. It feels natural and nice. We like softness too, very much.

On the other hand nothing's sexier than standing around the dirty oily mechanic's shop watching the guys work, waiting for my car. ha ha ha.

forgive me sistah's, I'm a pisces.

laurie

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

We women love linking arms with our girlfriends walking down the street, giving each other shoulder and neck massages at work...

And like I said before, we are jealous of that. Missing touch is the one thing that sux about being celibate.


On the other hand nothing's sexier than standing around the dirty oily mechanic's shop watching the guys work, waiting for my car.

I've no doubt the mechanics appreciate it too! I've worked in environments like that, and a pretty woman showing up sends you loopy.

laurie said...

Now you're talking :) I hoped my comment on the garage guys wasn't too .... ditsy. It's a confession; I love places where only men work. I add my self and the energy of the contrast shimmers.

re. women and touch, I hear you.

a comment aside: I really enjoy these threads, but sometimes I wonder if it is for men, and I might be "trespassing" on something nice happening between men. I like being a "fly on the wall" sometimes in your conversations, I must admit. It would make a nice men's club.

need a hostess?

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

I'm gently puzzled. Why would it be for men?

What kind of hostess? Oh, nothing naughty implied I'm sure, I'm just wondering what you're proposing.

laurie said...

naughty? lol. Don't even say the word. I'm on the edge.

for men? I am only slightly serious. There are just so few women who post. There is something nice in the way all you guys share things men don't often share, like, your feminine side, your fantasies with Wonder Woman, etc. On some posts I feel I have an invisible front row seat on a fantastic reality show called "men."

hostess? I was joking. But even on the Domai site, at first I thought the site, and newsletters were for men only, to read and write, I thought women weren't really supposed to be hanging out on such a site, what was that acronym for D.O.M.A.I.? lol. Thanks for making a place for a woman's voice here, where maybe some women want to, but don't, go.

re. this blog, it is always a mix of such interesting minds. Quality time on the computer.

Anonymous said...

signalroom said...
my fantasy is to help men love being men by loving being a woman. Sound strange?

As strange as me staying a child at heart to help kids love being kids. I'm tellin' ya, we're a very weird pair! (^_^)

(I hear a joke from Pascal coming)
"Aw, maaaan!" -- (Swiper, sneaky fox)
I've been found out too early. Need to be more silent next time.
Ah well, it's not all blog and wide. Maybe I'll try the narrow path that goes through the woods...

"And like I said before, we are jealous of that. Missing touch is the one thing that sux about being celibate."
And about being a guy, with the maleness taboos and all. Women are never judged for expressing their soft side. Us guys? "Proves we're either weak, or gay." :-P

"I've worked in environments like that, and a pretty woman showing up sends you loopy."
Ah, that would explain some unexplained mysterious car accidents in Lancashire, United Kingdom...
You should focus more on your work, Mr Stobblehouse. Have a look at that rear bumper. Oh, and check those airbags!

"It's a confession; I love places where only men work."
And we have another fan of the Village People...

"I really enjoy these threads, but sometimes I wonder if it is for men, and I might be "trespassing" on something nice happening between men."
Hey, I SAID I wasn't specifically hitting on Lucid, and "not in that way". Besides, I'm only here in the hope of meeting cute babes. You know, "The Domai blog"?... Where'd all the nekkid chicks go? (Was it something I said?)

"There is something nice in the way all you guys share things men don't often share, like, your feminine side, your fantasies with Wonder Woman, etc."
Hey! I'll have you know that fantasizing about Wonder Woman is a very normal and healthy male thingie! All teenagers eventually go through this phase.
The truth is, we love a woman who's so strong that we're fully excused to let her take initiatives. If you catch my drift...

Anonymous said...

mr stobblehouse,
as a former member of domai, i cancelled after i discovered that you were a racist and only placed a black female in domai to keep the critics from hounding you.
how can you sleep at night?
it's tragic. why haven't you ever had a black beauty queen as a private pet for at least a month?
why do you dislike our people and tadition/
?
why don't you give to the united negro fund or donate money to the naacp?
is it unlawful in england to speak to an african citzen or diplomat?
are you happyn bout you're now reputation? i'd be ashamed sir.
i don't hate you, i pity you.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Nobody has still explained to me what exactly I did or said which was "racist". I am not the only one wondering, many are puzzled by this.

Anonymous said...

Um... Jerome, the non-european beauties are nothing new, my friend. How long have you been a Domai member???

Available to the non-members like myself :
Mei-Ling : December 2005
Soo : September 2005
Angelina : August 2005
Vlada : May 2005
Sho : first appeared as sublime Beauty of the Day in February 2005

All way before this crazy "debate". Not to mention this archive post, which nobody seems interested in double-checking!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a mean flu to wrestle, and my country (Lebanon) is on the brink of a new civil war.

This is all so silly.

Anonymous said...

Eolake, Jerome Lee is right in some ways. The number of non-caucasian girls that you have placed in your site are relatively low, I am neither angry nor hate your site DOMAI but I am criticizing you to improve your site. I think that there are a lot of Chinese, Persian, and North Indian girls who would like to pose nude. Seriously, if they can pose nude for porn, posing for admiration would be more respectful for them. However, I don't completely blame you, I understand the difficulty of finding nude caucasian models due to their high cultural and religious pressure that makes it quite difficult for them to do so. They are afraid to do so because they think that their feminity might be lost which has been told by their forefathers. I can see that in my own eyes, my dad tells my 6 year old sisiter to wear clothes because she is a girl and carries on saying that it is one of the part and parcel of our Indian culture. He adds on that it looks disgusting for him to see my little sister nude.

However, Eolake, try your best to prove Jerome Lee's statement against you that you are a racist. You can do it, Eolake, please put more non-caucasian models into your site than before. Eolake boleh means Eolake can in Malay, the Malaysian national languauge.