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2015/02/01 19:06:39
Subject: US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
The US Army has deleted a tweet after it was accused of being racist.
On Thursday, the army’s official account sent a tweet referring to “chinks” in the armour of its Special Operations capabilities.
It read: “Chinks in special ops’ digital and physical armor poses challenges, experts say.”
Even though “chinks in armour” is an expression referring to a weakness or vulnerability, the tweet was received with anger by some, who pointed out that the word “chink” can also be used as a racist term referring to people of Chinese descent.
The Army, whose main Twitter account has 589,000 followers, has since deleted the tweet and amended the press release linked to it (the URL remains the same).
Lt. Col. Alayne Conway, an army public affairs officer, told The Washington Post that the army was surprised by the reaction “since there is nothing even remotely racial” in the expression.
“The phrase and word have been in use for more than 600 years; it is a proper noun, meaning a ‘crack’ or ‘fissure,’ as defined by Webster’s,” she said.
“Nevertheless, based on feedback from some followers who expressed offense, we deleted it. It was certainly not our intention to offend anyone.”
Even though the post was deleted, the US Army did not issue an apology – provoking even moer anger.
In turn, this anger has provoked outrage at political correctness "gone mad” and accusations that the army have “succumbed to the perpetually outraged”.
This is pretty hilarious. In a sad way
My warmachine batrep & other misc stuff blog
http://sining83.blogspot.com/
2015/02/01 19:10:22
Subject: Re:US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
If the "chinks in digital armour" meant Chinese hackers, it wouldn't be a half-bad (racist) joke, but is chink even used anymore? The only time I hear it is when talking about historical immigration, and WWII.
Homosexuality is the #1 cause of gay marriage.
kronk wrote: Every pizza is a personal sized pizza if you try hard enough and believe in yourself.
sebster wrote: Yes, indeed. What a terrible piece of cultural imperialism it is for me to say that a country shouldn't murder its own citizens
BaronIveagh wrote: Basically they went from a carrot and stick to a smaller carrot and flanged mace.
2015/02/01 19:16:47
Subject: US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
Co'tor Shas wrote: If the "chinks in digital armour" meant Chinese hackers, it wouldn't be a half-bad (racist) joke, but is chink even used anymore? The only time I hear it is when talking about historical immigration, and WWII.
It is a word with fairly limited application. The only times I can think of it being used are in expressions such as a chink in the armour, or a chink in the curtains.
It's a legitimate phrase used correctly; why people demanded it be taken down, and continue to demand an apology, is beyond me.
Also, reminds me of this:
Mandorallen turned back toward the insolently sneering baron. 'My Lord,' The great knight said distantly, 'I find thy face apelike and thy form misshapen. Thy beard, moreover, is an offence against decency, resembling more closely the scabrous fur which doth decorate the hinder portion of a mongrel dog than a proper adornment for a human face. Is it possibly that thy mother, seized by some wild lechery, did dally at some time past with a randy goat?' - Mimbrate Knight Protector Mandorallen.
Excerpt from "Seeress of Kell", Book Five of The Malloreon series by David Eddings.
"You need not fear us, unless you are a dark heart, a vile one who preys on the innocent; I promise, you can’t hide forever in the empty darkness, for we will hunt you down like the animals you are, and pull you into the very bowels of hell." Iron - Within Temptation
2015/02/01 19:36:21
Subject: US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
JohnHwangDD wrote: It would appear that the US government must be more niggardly in it's word choice, lest a largess of words and phrases overwhelm the populace.
I used to agree with the notion that complex phrases, abstruse terminology and classical tags should be dropped from everyday internetting, but given that the whole point of modern digital culture with a 4G smartphone is instant access to the whole of human knowledge, if you come across an unfamiliar term, you should just ask someone on a forum to give you a Let Me Google That For You link.
Kilkrazy wrote: I used to agree with the notion that complex phrases, abstruse terminology and classical tags should be dropped from everyday internetting, but given that the whole point of modern digital culture with a 4G smartphone is instant access to the whole of human knowledge, if you come across an unfamiliar term, you should just ask someone on a forum to give you a Let Me Google That For You link.
It takes less effort to be offended and Tweet about it instead.
2015/02/01 20:08:18
Subject: US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios
Sigvatr wrote: Clearly, the only way to understand said phrase is that in every armor, tiny Chinese have been woven in to improve the armor's protection.
Sigh.
Would that be called Chin Mail?
...Sorry, that was bad. I am ashamed
Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines
Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.
Avatar 720 wrote: It's a legitimate phrase used correctly; why people demanded it be taken down, and continue to demand an apology, is beyond me.
Can't believe I'm posting this pic twice in one day. I may just have to shrink it down a bit and make it part of my sig. Or maybe Ouze should add "stupid people" to the Dakka Bingo card?
"Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see.
One chants out between two worlds: Fire, walk with me." - Twin Peaks
"You listen to me. While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and hatchetman in the fight against violence. I pride myself in taking a punch and I'll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King. My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method... is love. I love you Sheriff Truman." - Twin Peaks
2015/02/01 21:28:37
Subject: US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
Sigvatr wrote: Clearly, the only way to understand said phrase is that in every armor, tiny Chinese have been woven in to improve the armor's protection.
Sigh.
Would that be called Chin Mail?
...Sorry, that was bad. I am ashamed
Well played.
I hereby demand "white bread" to be renamed to "caucasian bread". STOP RACISM.
Sigvatr wrote: Clearly, the only way to understand said phrase is that in every armor, tiny Chinese have been woven in to improve the armor's protection.
Sigh.
Would that be called Chin Mail?
...Sorry, that was bad. I am ashamed
Well played.
I hereby demand "white bread" to be renamed to "caucasian bread". STOP RACISM.
Why can't it just be bread? Why's it gotta be caucasian?
What annoys me is that half these words aren't even offensive when used offensively. Like Benedict Cumberbatch in the news for using the word "coloured" -- as if there weren't already enough offensive terms for black people, without making the polite ones taboo as well.
Some people just seem hellbent on being offended, I think the real problem is that we humour these people by apologizing and self censoring, rather than doing what we should do, which is acknowledge that they are cranks and ignore them.
2015/02/01 22:25:20
Subject: Re:US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
Smacks wrote: What annoys me is that half these words aren't even offensive when used offensively. Like Benedict Cumberbatch in the news for using the word "coloured" -- as if there weren't already enough offensive terms for black people, without making the polite ones taboo as well.
Some people just seem hellbent on being offended, I think the real problem is that we humour these people by apologizing and self censoring, rather than doing what we should do, which is acknowledge that they are cranks and ignore them.
As a mechanical device, I take offense to that term. But seriously, man, feth those people.
Sigvatr wrote: Clearly, the only way to understand said phrase is that in every armor, tiny Chinese have been woven in to improve the armor's protection.
Sigh.
Would that be called Chin Mail?
...Sorry, that was bad. I am ashamed
Well played.
I hereby demand "white bread" to be renamed to "caucasian bread". STOP RACISM.
Why can't it just be bread? Why's it gotta be caucasian?
Because than it would cause confusion with brown bread, which also has to be renamed for offensiveness?
Maybe we should just cut to the chase and outlaw all colours for being (potentially) racist.
Error 404: Interesting signature not found
2015/02/01 22:30:27
Subject: US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
Sigvatr wrote: Clearly, the only way to understand said phrase is that in every armor, tiny Chinese have been woven in to improve the armor's protection.
Kilkrazy wrote: "Coloured" is not an adjective much used in the UK where we tend just to say "black" to describe people who aren't white, asian or oriental.
(White people aren't white, of course, but a variety of shades of pale red or pink, to blue if they come from Scotland.)
White people aren't exactly pink or red either, they are more like beige.
Error 404: Interesting signature not found
2015/02/02 00:19:11
Subject: Re:US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
Manchu - "But so what? The Bible also says the flood destroyed the world. You only need an allegorical boat to tackle an allegorical flood."
Shespits "Anything i see with YOLO has half naked eleventeen year olds Girls. And of course booze and drugs and more half naked elventeen yearolds Girls. O how i wish to YOLO again!"
Rubiksnoob "Next you'll say driving a stick with a Scandinavian supermodel on your lap while ripping a bong impairs your driving. And you know what, I'M NOT GOING TO STOP, YOU FILTHY COMMUNIST"
2015/02/02 00:27:11
Subject: Re:US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
Bullockist wrote: I think it's wrong to say chinks in armour are a weakness , they can drive tanks as well as anyone else!
Being I am half Asian and certify to drive a M1, M109, Stryker variant vehicles, M113, M577.....I can assure you I am not weak
Proud Member of the Infidels of OIF/OEF
No longer defending the US Military or US Gov't. Just going to ""**feed into your fears**"" with Duffel Blog Did not fight my way up on top the food chain to become a Vegan...
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Once you pull the pin, Mr. Grenade is no longer your friend
DE 6700
Harlequin 2500
RIP Muhammad Ali.
Jihadin, Scorched Earth 791. Leader of the Pork Eating Crusader. Alpha
2015/02/02 00:35:34
Subject: Re:US Army deletes tweet after online outrage
Manchu - "But so what? The Bible also says the flood destroyed the world. You only need an allegorical boat to tackle an allegorical flood."
Shespits "Anything i see with YOLO has half naked eleventeen year olds Girls. And of course booze and drugs and more half naked elventeen yearolds Girls. O how i wish to YOLO again!"
Rubiksnoob "Next you'll say driving a stick with a Scandinavian supermodel on your lap while ripping a bong impairs your driving. And you know what, I'M NOT GOING TO STOP, YOU FILTHY COMMUNIST"
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Now That I've Said it, It Must Be Canon 
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