RE: Company sued over comments in code
-----Original Message-----
From: Mauro Condarelli [mailto:MC5686ï¼ mclink.it]
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 1998 10:43 AM
To: Jeff Paulsen
Cc: xemacs-beta(a)xemacs.org
Subject: RE: Company sued over comments in code
Can You enlighten us (with code references) on just why
*that* watermelon should be something different from *just a
watermelon*?
Watermelon itself is not offensive. It is not *just* a watermelon when
it is in a function named 'pickaninny'.
> The word "fetch" indirectly alludes to a Black comedy
> character in the 1930s called "Steppin Fetchit", who was lazy and
stupid
> for comic effect.
I would be really surprised learning all Americans are
proficient in the vintage (whatever colour) comedy characters.
This interpretation looks ... how to say ... "far fetched" ?? :) :) :)
OK, point taken. Mr. Fetchit himself was one of the first successful
Black film actors, but is not well known today because later Black
audiences found his portrayal of their race offensive.
As a side issue: did the authors of this offensive comedy get sued?
No, but the Steppin Fetchit films are now very difficult to find. They
would simply not have been made today.
--
Jeff Paulsen
jeff.paulsen(a)poorman-douglas.com