LogFAQs > #931225693

Skye Reynolds posted...

This is extremely disturbing. I expect the counter-argument to this to be that they were making a tasteless joke at the expense of how strict this Byrd guy was. Even then, it'd still be utterly objectionable. Taken at face value, the photo is downright horrifying.

Context is everything. The photo might look bad, but not knowing the context, it's impossible to judge. I would honestly guess that they were indeed mocking the instructor. In poor taste, because its a touchy subject? Yes. A poor choice, but I'd be much more shocked if they found it to be intentionally malicious.

Just to relate a personal story. Our supervisor was a very condescending bastard....to everyone. One day he lays into my black coworker. My coworker responds, "Oh yes sir massa, I gets it right away massa!"

Now....my black coworker was obviously not promoting slave culture, because we understand in context he was mocking our supervisor.

I'm certainly not excusing the photo...just that without the context, I'm not gonna rush to judge the intent. Although if they were indeed trying to mock the instructor, flipping him the bird (considering his last name was Byrd) obviously would have been MUCH better.