Comments on: Tom the Dancing Bug: Muslim on a Plane http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 17:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921857 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921857 Sympathetic depiction of a bigot plus perpetuation of the myth that there is such a thing as Muslim clothing? Shouldn't we be forming a lynch mob? Sympathetic depiction of a bigot plus perpetuation of the myth that there is such a thing as Muslim clothing? Shouldn’t we be forming a lynch mob?

]]> By: Mitch http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922371 Mitch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922371 "Are you the same around asian people?" Actually, when I asked the Chinese guy in the cube next to me what was the best Chinese restaurant in town I remembered the Seinfeld episode where the Chinese mailman got really mad when Jerry asked him a similar question. We were having a conversation about food, though, so I went ahead and asked. He wasn't offended but unfortunately he informed me that there is no good Chinese food in Madison. “Are you the same around asian people?” Actually, when I asked the Chinese guy in the cube next to me what was the best Chinese restaurant in town I remembered the Seinfeld episode where the Chinese mailman got really mad when Jerry asked him a similar question. We were having a conversation about food, though, so I went ahead and asked. He wasn’t offended but unfortunately he informed me that there is no good Chinese food in Madison.

]]> By: pidg http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921860 pidg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921860 LOL BUT... the left-wing/right-wing passengers are sitting over the wrong wings. LOL

BUT… the left-wing/right-wing passengers are sitting over the wrong wings.

]]> By: Hools Verne http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921866 Hools Verne Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921866 Much better. Much better.

]]> By: fxq http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921868 fxq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921868 Nobody - Muslim or not - wears a tan fez these days. Nobody – Muslim or not – wears a tan fez these days.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921869 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921869 LOL - nice! Especially how the comments from the right and left seem to fit :-) LOL – nice! Especially how the comments from the right and left seem to fit :-)

]]> By: Gutierrez http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921873 Gutierrez Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921873 I knew something about him was suspicious! I knew something about him was suspicious!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922134 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922134 Call this a confession: something very much like this happened to me. In 2002 while waiting for a plane to DC I noticed a fellow passenger in traditional Muslim garb. He had a dark complexion and a neatly-trimmed beard and wore a loose-fitting black robe with a brimless hat. He sat far away from the rest of the waiting passengers studying a small book with great intensity. The logical side of my brain walked through a script much like the one in the above comic: "There are 1.5 billion Muslims and only a few dozen are actual terrorists. Maybe he's a nervous flier, studying the Koran to calm himself. I don't like these commuter flights either. Hell, maybe that's not even the Koran. Maybe it's a PG Wodehouse novel." However, the emotional side of my brain was going into panic mode while simultaneously triggering a further "What the hell is wrong with me?" reaction. After a few minutes boarding started and we all stood up. That's when I realized that the swarthy man in a robe was a Catholic priest studying his Bible. I felt like a complete dick. Not just because I'd freaked out over nothing, but because I let the fearmongers in our society get to me. Call this a confession: something very much like this happened to me. In 2002 while waiting for a plane to DC I noticed a fellow passenger in traditional Muslim garb. He had a dark complexion and a neatly-trimmed beard and wore a loose-fitting black robe with a brimless hat. He sat far away from the rest of the waiting passengers studying a small book with great intensity. The logical side of my brain walked through a script much like the one in the above comic:

“There are 1.5 billion Muslims and only a few dozen are actual terrorists. Maybe he’s a nervous flier, studying the Koran to calm himself. I don’t like these commuter flights either. Hell, maybe that’s not even the Koran. Maybe it’s a PG Wodehouse novel.” However, the emotional side of my brain was going into panic mode while simultaneously triggering a further “What the hell is wrong with me?” reaction.

After a few minutes boarding started and we all stood up. That’s when I realized that the swarthy man in a robe was a Catholic priest studying his Bible. I felt like a complete dick. Not just because I’d freaked out over nothing, but because I let the fearmongers in our society get to me.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922392 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922392 "I wasn't socialized to know how to interact with them". They're people, not aliens. You interact with 'them' the way you would any ordinary person. Nobody requires any special treatment. As long as you show respect, you needn't worry how that may be perceived. Respect is recognized even when languages aren't. I didn't see that Seinfeld episode, but you reminded me of a Friends episode where Chandler says (whilst deciding on a chinese takeaway) "of course, in China they just call it take-away". “I wasn’t socialized to know how to interact with them”.
They’re people, not aliens. You interact with ‘them’ the way you would any ordinary person. Nobody requires any special treatment. As long as you show respect, you needn’t worry how that may be perceived. Respect is recognized even when languages aren’t.
I didn’t see that Seinfeld episode, but you reminded me of a Friends episode where Chandler says (whilst deciding on a chinese takeaway) “of course, in China they just call it take-away”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921887 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921887 That's no fez. That's a kuffe. (I've waited 20 years to be able to use that word!) That’s no fez. That’s a kuffe. (I’ve waited 20 years to be able to use that word!)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921890 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921890 Not after Labour Day. Not after Labour Day.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922146 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922146 My fez is red. My fez is red.

]]> By: Lester http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921893 Lester Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921893 Muslim or not, armrest terrorists are the worst kind of terrorists* and he should be wrestled to the ground and interrogated. * except for the kind that hurt people Muslim or not, armrest terrorists are the worst kind of terrorists* and he should be wrestled to the ground and interrogated.

* except for the kind that hurt people

]]> By: Valkyrie607 http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-988969 Valkyrie607 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-988969 Hey! I thought bow ties were cool! Hey! I thought bow ties were cool!

]]> By: Mitch http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921900 Mitch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921900 Ridiculous. When someone sits next to me on a plane the only things I care about are: 1. Are they going to spill over into my seat or elbow me? 2. Are they going to try to engage me in conversation about a topic that does not interest me? 3. Do they smell bad? 4. Are they going to be slow and in the way when the plane lands and I want to get off promptly? I couldn't care less what ethnic group or religion they are. Ridiculous.
When someone sits next to me on a plane the only things I care about are:
1. Are they going to spill over into my seat or elbow me?
2. Are they going to try to engage me in conversation about a topic that does not interest me?
3. Do they smell bad?
4. Are they going to be slow and in the way when the plane lands and I want to get off promptly?

I couldn’t care less what ethnic group or religion they are.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921902 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921902 I only attack and wrestle to the ground people who hog the overhead bins. I only attack and wrestle to the ground people who hog the overhead bins.

]]> By: Hools Verne http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921909 Hools Verne Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921909 You haven't been to enough college campuses and anarcho-syndicalist circus meetings. You haven’t been to enough college campuses and anarcho-syndicalist circus meetings.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921916 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921916 Always glad when there's a new TtDB strip released. These are the kind of irrational thoughts everyone goes through, whether it's people on a plane, whether the plane will crash in turbulence, whether there are 2-way mirrors in public bathrooms, whether someone's snooping your wifi whilst you study pr0n. We're constantly being assailed by thought processes which make no sense. If we could peek into eachother's heads we'd be shocked, so it's a good thing that we're judged on our actions rather than our thoughts. TtDB, true to form and funny as hell, as usual. Always glad when there’s a new TtDB strip released.
These are the kind of irrational thoughts everyone goes through, whether it’s people on a plane, whether the plane will crash in turbulence, whether there are 2-way mirrors in public bathrooms, whether someone’s snooping your wifi whilst you study pr0n.
We’re constantly being assailed by thought processes which make no sense. If we could peek into eachother’s heads we’d be shocked, so it’s a good thing that we’re judged on our actions rather than our thoughts.
TtDB, true to form and funny as hell, as usual.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921923 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921923 More importantly, are they going to fall asleep on your shoulder? More importantly, are they going to fall asleep on your shoulder?

]]> By: dragonfrog http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922954 dragonfrog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922954 "Who called anyone a terrorist, dragonfrog? (...) Thanks for being condescending, though." Hey, I was just kidding around - no condescension intended. Sorry if I offended you. I was going more for a response like Mark Dow's, above... “Who called anyone a terrorist, dragonfrog? (…) Thanks for being condescending, though.”

Hey, I was just kidding around – no condescension intended. Sorry if I offended you. I was going more for a response like Mark Dow’s, above…

]]> By: JamesMason http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922195 JamesMason Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922195 What an idea! Instead of messy bombings, Al Qaeda(?) should hire men and women to take random flights and talk incessantly to their neighbors about stupid stuff. They should also make a practice of going to the restroom several times per flight, and fiddling around with their luggage and overcoats for long periods of time while blocking the aisle during boarding and exiting the plane. What an idea! Instead of messy bombings, Al Qaeda(?) should hire men and women to take random flights and talk incessantly to their neighbors about stupid stuff. They should also make a practice of going to the restroom several times per flight, and fiddling around with their luggage and overcoats for long periods of time while blocking the aisle during boarding and exiting the plane.

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922198 Mark Dow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922198 "...does it still make me a slow deplaning terrorist?" Yes, and possibly a stoic. “…does it still make me a slow deplaning terrorist?”

Yes, and possibly a stoic.

]]> By: 5ynic http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922458 5ynic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922458 It's funny coz the humour is about internal angst and insecurity - that thing that happens when two parts of our mind have a disagreement, and the resulting confusion causes us to embarrass ourselves in public. Happens to me at least weekly. It’s funny coz the humour is about internal angst and insecurity – that thing that happens when two parts of our mind have a disagreement, and the resulting confusion causes us to embarrass ourselves in public. Happens to me at least weekly.

]]> By: mellowknees http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922207 mellowknees Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922207 There are some folks who need to just stand up after sitting in cramped quarters for a long time. I pop up and get into the aisle immediately when the plane stops, not so I can get off the plane any faster, but because I'm six feet tall and have arthritis in my knees that is aggravated by sitting in the same position for any length of time. I'm usually standing in the aisle with my stuff trying to stay upright while my joints rework themselves so I *can* walk off the plane once the door opens. :) There are some folks who need to just stand up after sitting in cramped quarters for a long time. I pop up and get into the aisle immediately when the plane stops, not so I can get off the plane any faster, but because I’m six feet tall and have arthritis in my knees that is aggravated by sitting in the same position for any length of time. I’m usually standing in the aisle with my stuff trying to stay upright while my joints rework themselves so I *can* walk off the plane once the door opens. :)

]]> By: millionpoems http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-921952 millionpoems Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-921952 They're <em>stage</em> left and right. They’re stage left and right.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-924257 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-924257 <blockquote>Now I live in a 98% white community (small, rural), which totally creeps me out (I need some Mexican polka). It bothers my wife too. We don't want our kids growing up thinking this is normal. We're doing some things, but I'd be open to more good suggestions.</blockquote> Adoption! Give your kids some non-white siblings, it has worked great for my family. http://www.pbs.org/itvs/preciouscargo/babylift1.html Most children in care are non-white. They need you.

Now I live in a 98% white community (small, rural), which totally creeps me out (I need some Mexican polka). It bothers my wife too. We don’t want our kids growing up thinking this is normal. We’re doing some things, but I’d be open to more good suggestions.

Adoption! Give your kids some non-white siblings, it has worked great for my family.

http://www.pbs.org/itvs/preciouscargo/babylift1.html

Most children in care are non-white. They need you.

]]> By: mellowknees http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922210 mellowknees Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922210 Bonus points for cross-post reference! Bonus points for cross-post reference!

]]> By: Mitch http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922211 Mitch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922211 I don't have a TV, so no, I don't know of any incident this cartoon is referring to. Maybe it's a reference to Juan Williams remarks. That doesn't change the fact that I'm indifferent to the ethnicity and religion of the other passengers on a plane. Who called anyone a terrorist, dragonfrog? In some situations if you're quick about it you can be on your feet a split second after permission is given to unfasten your seat belt and make substantial progress toward the exit before the aisle standers get up. It's like being at a light that turns green. Everyone wants to go, but some people take a few seconds to respond and others have their foot ready to move from the break to the accelarator the instant the light changes. Thanks for being condescending, though. ------- What the cartoon made me think of when I looked at it a second time was being around black people I don't know well and feeling some anxiety about inadvertently doing something that would offend them and be perceived as racist. I wonder if black people are aware of that. I don’t have a TV, so no, I don’t know of any incident this cartoon is referring to. Maybe it’s a reference to Juan Williams remarks. That doesn’t change the fact that I’m indifferent to the ethnicity and religion of the other passengers on a plane.

Who called anyone a terrorist, dragonfrog? In some situations if you’re quick about it you can be on your feet a split second after permission is given to unfasten your seat belt and make substantial progress toward the exit before the aisle standers get up. It’s like being at a light that turns green. Everyone wants to go, but some people take a few seconds to respond and others have their foot ready to move from the break to the accelarator the instant the light changes. Thanks for being condescending, though.
——-
What the cartoon made me think of when I looked at it a second time was being around black people I don’t know well and feeling some anxiety about inadvertently doing something that would offend them and be perceived as racist. I wonder if black people are aware of that.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922469 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922469 When a 6'-2" blond guy shows up in an isolated village in the Himalayas, everybody comes over to be friendly and socialize, because you stand out like a sore thumb. If you're in San Francisco, you might see people in sarongs, salvars, saris, Buddhist and Eastern Orthodox nuns in habits, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Cosmic Lady all in a normal afternoon, so nobody pays any attention. An airplane is much closer to the San Francisco end of the melting pot continuum than it is to the isolated Himalayan village end. Didn't we used to try not to act like gomers in public? When a 6′-2″ blond guy shows up in an isolated village in the Himalayas, everybody comes over to be friendly and socialize, because you stand out like a sore thumb. If you’re in San Francisco, you might see people in sarongs, salvars, saris, Buddhist and Eastern Orthodox nuns in habits, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Cosmic Lady all in a normal afternoon, so nobody pays any attention. An airplane is much closer to the San Francisco end of the melting pot continuum than it is to the isolated Himalayan village end.

Didn’t we used to try not to act like gomers in public?

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2010/10/27/tom-the-dancing-bug-24.html#comment-922474 Mark Dow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-922474 I also worry about Joe from Dubuque (not them dressed like him). Gives me the willies when Joe is wearing a bad tux with bow tie. I also worry about Joe from Dubuque (not them dressed like him). Gives me the willies when Joe is wearing a bad tux with bow tie.

]]>