What Do White People Like?

g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,197
edited April 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
It was an instant-message conversation about the critically acclaimed but little-watched HBO drama "The Wire" that led to the creation of the blog Stuff White People Like. Christian Lander, a Los Angeles-based white Canadian and his friend Myles Valentin, a Filipino Canadian, were chatting about why white people didn't watch "The Wire." They began trading jokes about what whites occupied their time with instead: divorce, therapy, attending plays.

In January, Lander, with occasional assists from Valentin and others, began creating satirical posts about the social and cultural habits of a group of whites they were familiar with - middle-class liberals. They detailed this group's love of coffee, film festivals, and organic foods, then moved onto their enjoyment of difficult breakups, Barack Obama, and divorce. The blog has attracted a diverse group of fans and started conversations about race. It has also made some people uncomfortable and faced criticism from those who see racism in it.

But Stuff White People Like is a hit, already receiving more than 16 million hits in its short life. Inspired by the blog, fans have created copycat sites such as Stuff Asian People Like and Stuff Educated Black People Like. Landers recently signed a deal with Random House to turn the concept into a book after a competitive auction that allegedly reached six figures.




Here's the article by Vanessa E. Jones from the Boston Globe...Coffee and yoga and Prius and 'Juno'


Stuff White People Like: The Blog

I like ALL these things however I'm of a different background, so go figure!

Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


Post edited by Unknown User on
«1

Comments

  • chiquimonkeychiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    interesting. i too like a *lot* of those things, but i'm hispanic. why does something have to be construed as "white"?
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    interesting. i too like a *lot* of those things, but i'm hispanic. why does something have to be construed as "white"?


    no kidding....fanch has been posting from there the past couple weeks and i read them and it's just not funny.....'m not saying i don't get it, i mean the people writing it aren't funny.....i'm white so i guess i don't have a sense of humor either...:rolleyes:
  • AllieAllie Posts: 2,908
    "to turn the concept into a book after a competitive auction that allegedly reached six figures."

    for a LIST?! What the...
    "...like a word misplaced, nothing said, what a waste.."
    "Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
    6-01-06
    6/25/08
    Free Speedy
    and Metsy!
  • chiquimonkeychiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    cutback wrote:
    no kidding....fanch has been posting from there the past couple weeks and i read them and it's just not funny.....'m not saying i don't get it, i mean the people writing it aren't funny.....i'm white so i guess i don't have a sense of humor either...:rolleyes:
    never saw it before this thread, it just sounds like an ignorant blog. i'd be curious to see what they think hispanics or black people like :rolleyes:
  • pjoasisrulepjoasisrule Posts: 3,412
    We should make a list and have everybody here just add one thing
    Alpine Valley 2000
    Summerfest 2006

    "Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
  • pjoasisrulepjoasisrule Posts: 3,412
    never saw it before this thread, it just sounds like an ignorant blog. i'd be curious to see what they think hispanics or black people like :rolleyes:

    Tacos and tequila, fried chicken and watermelon
    Alpine Valley 2000
    Summerfest 2006

    "Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
  • RygarRygar Posts: 8,685
    never saw it before this thread, it just sounds like an ignorant blog. i'd be curious to see what they think hispanics or black people like :rolleyes:
    Why aren't the White or Asian people educated?
  • AllieAllie Posts: 2,908
    never saw it before this thread, it just sounds like an ignorant blog. i'd be curious to see what they think hispanics or black people like :rolleyes:
    click on the article
    it has links to 'stuff Asian people like'
    and
    :eek:
    'stuff educated black people like :eek:!

    I don't like that at all, everybody likes certain things.
    And I feel like it is promoting stereotypes
    Who doesn't like or wouldn't want to go to Paris. I don't like the things I like being 'rated' because 'I'm white'

    I like them because I like them! Gosh doggit. It seems small minded and stupid
    and people are starving in Africa and they pay them six figures to make a book out of that? It's A LIST. Gosh doggit.
    "...like a word misplaced, nothing said, what a waste.."
    "Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
    6-01-06
    6/25/08
    Free Speedy
    and Metsy!
  • chiquimonkeychiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    Allie wrote:
    click on the article
    it has links to 'stuff Asian people like'
    and
    :eek:
    'stuff educated black people like :eek:!

    I don't like that at all, everybody likes certain things.
    And I feel like it is promoting stereotypes
    Who doesn't like or wouldn't want to go to Paris. I don't like the things I like being 'rated' because 'I'm white'

    I like them because I like them! Gosh doggit. It seems small minded and stupid
    and people are starving in Africa and they pay them six figures to make a book out of that? It's A LIST. Gosh doggit.

    people are just plain fucking stupid, regardless of color.
  • ryan198ryan198 Posts: 1,015
    While probably controversial I think the point of this blog is to show how A. how ridiculous stereotyping is. B. Show that stereotypes are rooted in truths. In other words white people (whatever constitutes a white person is definitely up for grabs here) through history, and various social constructs have been drawn to value particular things that other ethnic groups (also contentious) may/may not have access too or a predominance in.

    Often, since white people own most forms of the media, pop culture, and therefore get to define what is cool at various points in time (see for example: the history of hip hop), minorities oftentimes either outright reject white culture, are assimilated into it because of social surroundings, or capitalize from it (see again: hip hop, sports, etc.). Whiteness is definitely an under-thought of thing, because to bastardize the movie road trip it's often considered "the way".

    PS-White people love Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Pearl Jam.

    edit- You don't just like things genetically, most things you come to like come from positive reinforcement or a love of negative reinforcement in your social surroundings.
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    ryan198 wrote:
    While probably controversial I think the point of this blog is to show how A. how ridiculous stereotyping is. B. Show that stereotypes are rooted in truths. In other words white people (whatever constitutes a white person is definitely up for grabs here) through history, and various social constructs have been drawn to value particular things that other ethnic groups (also contentious) may/may not have access too or a predominance in.

    Often, since white people own most forms of the media, pop culture, and therefore get to define what is cool at various points in time (see for example: the history of hip hop), minorities oftentimes either outright reject white culture, are assimilated into it because of social surroundings, or capitalize from it (see again: hip hop, sports, etc.). Whiteness is definitely an under-thought of thing, because to bastardize the movie road trip it's often considered "the way".

    PS-White people love Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Pearl Jam.

    edit- You don't just like things genetically, most things you come to like come from positive reinforcement or a love of negative reinforcement in your social surroundings.

    I think you're looking too much into it. It seems to me like its just a dumb comedy list which gets cheap laughs using stereotypes.

    I identify as white, but I don't think that really factors into it. I don't care what "white" could be substituted with, it still seems offensive. Especially if it wasn't made by that particular group to make fun of themselves. I just despise stereotypes... the existence and perpetuation of racial stereotypes is one of the reasons society is so fucked. And that's exactly what this list is.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    Ask Fanch. ;)
  • ryan198ryan198 Posts: 1,015
    You could be right that I'm looking to far into it...and it's definitely not helping general situations out. Thinking about it further, progress in this case is probably not actually progress but adding fuel to the fire. Kind of like how since the stereotypical ripped male body is encouraging more anorexia and bulimia in men, in much the same way that women had to deal with for years.
  • LONGRDLONGRD Posts: 6,036
    I love white people! :)
    PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
    EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
  • fanch75fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    You can take it a step further and check out "Stuff White Trash People Like"!

    http://stuffwhitetrashpeoplelike.wordpress.com/
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • fanch75fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    This is my favorite post on the blog. It totally exemplifies all the people on The Moving Train forum who are so passionate & angry about politics, but probably do nothing else but type messages to each other on this BBS, thus raising "awareness."

    http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/18-awareness/

    #18 Awareness
    January 23, 2008 by clander

    An interesting fact about white people is that they firmly believe that all of the world’s problems can be solved through “awareness.” Meaning the process of making other people aware of problems, and then magically someone else like the government will fix it.

    This belief allows them to feel that sweet self-satisfaction without actually having to solve anything or face any difficult challenges. Because, the only challenge of raising awareness is people not being aware. In a worst case scenario, if you fail someone doesn’t know about the problem. End of story.

    What makes this even more appealing for white people is that you can raise “awareness” through expensive dinners, parties, marathons, selling t-shirts, fashion shows, concerts, eating at restaurants and bracelets. In other words, white people just have to keep doing stuff they like, EXCEPT now they can feel better about making a difference.

    Raising awareness is also awesome because once you raise awareness to an acceptable, aribtrary level, you can just back off and say “Bam! did my part. Now it’s your turn. Fix it.”

    So to summarize - you get all the benefits of helping (self satisfaction, telling other people) but no need for difficult decisions or the ensuing criticism (how do you criticize awareness?). Once again, white people find a way to score that sweet double victory.

    Popular things to be aware of: The Environment, Diseases like Cancer and AIDS, Africa, Poverty, Anorexia, Homophobia, Midde School Field Hockey/Lacrosse teams, Drug Rehab, and political prisoners.
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,197
    fanch75 wrote:
    You can take it a step further and check out "Stuff White Trash People Like"!

    http://stuffwhitetrashpeoplelike.wordpress.com/

    OK what is this all telling ya?

    I like some of those things however, however the burning of the couch thing is waaaaay out there.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • markymark550markymark550 Columbia, SC Posts: 5,158
    it just sounds like an ignorant blog
    Aren't most blogs ignorant? I mean 99% of all the blogs I've ever read are written by morons....
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Am I the only finding some sort of humor in this?
    It is a joke.
    And you read the part about Target right? That was an april fool's joke.
    Lighten up.
    You can't get angry everytime you read something like that.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    TrixieCat wrote:
    Am I the only finding some sort of humor in this?
    It is a joke.
    And you read the part about Target right? That was an april fool's joke.
    Lighten up.
    You can't get angry everytime you read something like that.

    Yeah, it is clever and funny at times because it points out stupid aspects of things people do, but the fact that it relates those things to being white makes it ignorant and damaging.

    Stereotypes are NOT funny, no matter who the subject is - white people, black people, whatever. This is no different than someone squinting and saying "me so horny, I rike fried rice" in a terrible Chinese accent.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    TrixieCat wrote:
    Am I the only finding some sort of humor in this?
    It is a joke.
    And you read the part about Target right? That was an april fool's joke.
    Lighten up.
    You can't get angry everytime you read something like that.
    i think it's hysterical.
  • writersuwritersu Posts: 1,867
    watermelon, fried chicken and WaLMart.........

    oh and that young dude from Fresh Prince.......(bet he'll do big things one day)...........

    oh, no, (think Steve Martin from "The Jerk")........

    you mean I am going to STAY this color????????


    (lol?????????)
    Baby, You Wouldn't Last a Minute on The Creek......


    Together we will float like angels.........

    In the moment that you left the room, the album started skipping, goodbye to beauty shared with the ones that you love.........
  • fanch75fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    As post #17 shows, all of the world's problems can be saved through awareness alone.
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • intodeepintodeep Posts: 7,228
    TrixieCat wrote:
    Am I the only finding some sort of humor in this?
    It is a joke.
    And you read the part about Target right? That was an april fool's joke.
    Lighten up.
    You can't get angry everytime you read something like that.

    I'm white and i think it is pretty funny too.
    Charlotte 00
    Charlotte 03
    Asheville 04
    Atlanta 12
    Greenville 16, Columbia 16
    Seattle 18 
    Nashville 22
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    DOSW wrote:
    Yeah, it is clever and funny at times because it points out stupid aspects of things people do, but the fact that it relates those things to being white makes it ignorant and damaging.

    Stereotypes are NOT funny, no matter who the subject is - white people, black people, whatever. This is no different than someone squinting and saying "me so horny, I rike fried rice" in a terrible Chinese accent.
    See, I think it Is different.
    I don't find the point of this blog to be demeaning or hurtful.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • chiquimonkeychiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    Aren't most blogs ignorant? I mean 99% of all the blogs I've ever read are written by morons....
    very true, save the exception of a few, the majority are just self-aggrandizing nonsense.

    and i think i have a pretty decent sense of humor, i just don't find this sort of nonsense funny is all. i have my own personal perspective on this stuff so i can understand how others don't get it.
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    very true, save the exception of a few, the majority are just self-aggrandizing nonsense.

    and i think i have a pretty decent sense of humor, i just don't find this sort of nonsense funny is all. i have my own personal perspective on this stuff so i can understand how others don't get it.
    I find it amusing, but don't seek out things like this.
    I agree, most blogs are such a waste of cyber space. lol
    But I do have some awesome craft ones I love!
    Heather Bailey's is awesome.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • I find this pretty entertaining, and I think a lot of people are missing the point. To me it's a satire, so saying that this blog is ignorant, hurtful, and furthers true belief in stereotypes is like saying the Colbert Report is a real discourse on politics (in the sense that he would actually mean what he says, rather than using his show as a platform for political satire). Like the Colbert Report, it points out the idiosyncrasies in some commonly held beliefs, and does it an entertaining way that also has a bit of truth behind it.
    "Ah, life is a gate, a way, a path to Paradise anyway, why not live for fun and joy and love or some sort of girl by a fireside, why not go to your desire and LAUGH..."
  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    "White people like Wayne Brady because he makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcom X."

    Chapelle Show.

    God, I miss that show.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • libragirllibragirl Posts: 4,632
    well i do work for a nonprofit....
    These cuts are leaving creases. Trace the scars to fit the pieces, to tell the story, you don't need to say a word.
Sign In or Register to comment.