June 15, 2007

I found my beret while packing: so I took this, in honor of this thread. Wish you were here, chico.

posted by qbert72 to navel gazing at 01:41 PM - 62 comments

Now that is great humor. Thanks, q.

posted by holden at 04:19 PM on June 15, 2007

/stereotypes on Shouldn't you be eating cheese, or smoking a cigarette held between two fingers, or snootily sipping a glass of Beaujolais, or jamming food down some poor goose's throat so you can gorge yourself on his freakishly swollen liver later on? /stereotypes off

posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:36 PM on June 15, 2007

Incroyable!!!

posted by Howard_T at 06:37 PM on June 15, 2007

What if I was eating some of Martin Picard's poutine au foie gras? Would that be enough? There's only so much I can do all at once while watching a football game.

posted by qbert72 at 09:08 PM on June 15, 2007

Pied de cochon! I actually ate that signature dish at the restaurant of the same name in Montreal. Unfortunately, it wasn't the only thing I ate and my other dining companions and I couldn't finish it. It was lovely. And so was your picture, you crazy Quebecois.

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:08 AM on June 16, 2007

Oh snap. Is some getting poutine?

posted by YukonGold at 06:29 AM on June 16, 2007

And I'd always pictured q as a coeur de bois (link assumes YouTube works for everyone else-- broken for me).

posted by yerfatma at 07:20 AM on June 16, 2007

I also had this picture taken in honor of chico: Red is my best colour.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:08 AM on June 16, 2007

What the hell? You caused a shitstorm that got me a barrage of hate mail calling me a racist shitheel for posting exactly this, and now you think it's funny all of a sudden? You ran me out of town on a fucking rail over something that now merits a chuckle? Fucking hell. What changed from three weeks ago to today that now this is funny where before it was racist? Seriously, what the fuck?

posted by chicobangs at 10:26 AM on June 18, 2007

What changed from three weeks ago to today that now this is funny where before it was racist? I found my beret. I took this picture as a friendly gesture of peace, and to show that I miss your presence here. I guess it was not a good idea. Sorry.

posted by qbert72 at 12:10 PM on June 18, 2007

What wasn't a good idea? Making light of the fact that you ran me out of here in the first place? qbert, I took you at your word that you were offended as a Quebecois by that post. I apologized repeatedly, both in public and to everyone who emailed me, no matter how vitriolic and openly threatening they were, for offending the people of Quebec, the same as if I had made up the campaign myself instead of merely finding it online. I took you at your word that you were sick of the traditional stereotypes being made fun of, and if one person was offended, then the stereotype is wrong. You agreed to that statement, remember? I acquiesced completely. I gave as complete a mea culpa as I possibly could have at the time, and left here in disgrace. And now you have the fucking nerve to put the blackface on yourself and make fun of it? I endured all that fucking hate mail, and exile from a site I love and have put a shitload of time into, so you could have a little laugh at my expense? So what wasn't a good idea, then? Rubbing my face in it? What, you didn't think I'd find out?

posted by chicobangs at 12:29 PM on June 18, 2007

I'm afraid I can't do or say anything anymore that won't make you angry. You're taking this way more seriously than I ever did. I took you at your word that you were offended as a Quebecois by that post That was not my word. I was flippant one time, when you told me to chill, and I'm sorry I was. Other than that, my words in the previous thread are as clear as I can be. I took you at your word that you were sick of the traditional stereotypes Not my word. I was "disappointed" and "tired". It's the difference between a sigh and a scream. I'm sorry if I couldn't make this clear enough. you ran me out of here in the first place I have nothing to do with your decision to leave. everyone who emailed me, no matter how vitriolic and openly threatening they were, for offending the people of Quebec, the same as if I had made up the campaign myself instead of merely finding it online I endured all that fucking hate mail, and exile from a site I love I have nothing to do with any of this. So what wasn't a good idea, then? Rubbing my face in it? What, you didn't think I'd find out? I misjudged how much of an ordeal this has been for you. I thought we could laugh about it together. That was the intent. Sorry I made you go through this again.

posted by qbert72 at 12:46 PM on June 18, 2007

Wow, this is crazy.

posted by jerseygirl at 01:41 PM on June 18, 2007

Wow, this is crazy. I second that emotion.

posted by hawkguy at 01:50 PM on June 18, 2007

As much as I feast on this sort of inter-personal conflict on Metatalk, it turns out it's not as fun when you like the people involved. There's a disconnect here somewhere. Given the lack of nuance in printed text, I think it's easy to read the worst into what someone "says" on a site. At the time, it did seem like q's reaction to the post was . . . overly sensitive (?), but that would be all the more reason to appreciate this response. chico, the self-imposed Elba act is over the top-- for what? I can't see leaving over a misunderstanding and I can't appreciate how it helps anyone but you. It just makes things fester, and that's not good. As for hate mail received as a result of the post-- wow, that should be treated as a badge of honor. People who do that seem to be cranks without a dog in the fight who just like seeing people get fired up.

posted by yerfatma at 01:53 PM on June 18, 2007

I can't imagine that it would be much fun getting email calling you a racist when you aren't. I'm sorry that you had to go through that, chico. Still, you are an important part of what makes SpoFi great, and I hope you change your mind.

posted by bperk at 02:55 PM on June 18, 2007

Still, you are an important part of what makes SpoFi great, and I hope you change your mind. I second that emotion, as well.

posted by hawkguy at 03:04 PM on June 18, 2007

Look, who says I'm not a racist? Who says I belong here? I'm not a mod, my name isn't Rogers or Gary or Kirk. I'm a schmoe with a typewriter. I care about Sportsfilter, but Sportsfilter doesn't have to care back. I know the deal. I'm under no illusions. Sometimes, someone says something that really hits you where you live. This isn't the first time I've gotten shit from something I said, but this really struck a nerve, especially since qbert isn't some random moron, and I reached out to a few people who were all "You're on your own on this one." And when no one has your back on something, it's a safe conclusion that for all intents and purposes, you're wrong. Between that and the mail, I thought it best to declare mea culpa and leave the site. I didn't say anything at the time, because no one likes a whiner. I would never have come back if I hadn't gotten an email mentioning this thread. Do you understand why I'm upset by this? My main accuser, the one who bristled when I tried to assure him there was no malice in my posting the original photoset, then turns around and tells me to lighten up now that he's telling the exact same "racist" joke? So I was ridiculed why, then, exactly?

posted by chicobangs at 04:58 PM on June 18, 2007

I get that, I just think you're being too absolutist about it (and as an Irish-Catholic fatalist, I feel like I have a nose for absolutism). Some days you eat the bar and some days the bar eats you. The worst part on the 'net is there's a good deal of randomness involved: post it a different time or day, no one notices. But that day happened to be the one when you posted something, q got his French Lace in a twist and everyone backs away because the lie on the 'net is people don't hold interesting or controversial opinions. To be honest, I didn't "have [your] back" because I dropped that thread tout de suit as soon as it devolved into a discussion of what's offensive. To you it seems like everyone was sitting at their computer watching and tut-tutting, but for those of us not involved, it was never such a big deal. I can't speak to the emails and I can't really understand where the hell they came from except some opportunists who don't know you at all. I don't think there's a regular here who thought there was any malice intended with your original post. Some folks might have gotten torqued, but I can't imagine anyone's opinion of you changed (I hope).

posted by yerfatma at 05:14 PM on June 18, 2007

chico, me taking this picture is me agreeing with what you said here, only three weeks later. Also, I don't think you're a racist. For me, racism implies ignorance and malice. There was no malice on your part, I never doubted that. I'm not so sure about the creatives behind those ads, but that's a matter for a boring Québec vs Rest-of-Canada debate that doesn't belong on SportsFilter, and which I regret to have brought here. I made every effort to qualify my comments as the thread (d)evolved, because I was a little bit terse in the beginning, and that always leads to interpretation. I never accused you of anything, and never called for the link to be pulled or anything like that. My main beef was with grum's reaction. And then with anyone telling me to "lighten up", because, well, that's just what happens when I'm upset. Now, I am hereby not telling you to lighten up yourself. You have every right to be upset or angry or whatever it is you're feeling right now. The only thing I'm telling you is that I have lightened up, and I don't hold any negative feelings towards you, and when you feel ready to come back, I'll be glad to read you around these parts.

posted by qbert72 at 06:22 PM on June 18, 2007

Chico, you're a racist. You're an Anti-SpoFite. No good can come of your departure -- you hurt a lot more people than you serve by your actions. The longer you stay away, the more credible the label. Anti-SpoFite bastard. I drink to you. Qbert, you're a sissy. First, you actually own a beret. Second, your self-deprecation is wittier and more brilliant than mine. Third, you gave me this damn CD and I don't understand a word of it. Sissy punk. I drink to you. Yerfatma, now you're involved in this, too. And I just plain don't like you. You're smarter than me, better looking than me, you drive a nicer car, people like you more, and you're a ridiculously proficient and valuable contributor to the site, for which you are bound to receive even more nauseating accolades. And you're a Red Sox fan. You make me want to puke. I drink to you. Knock it off with the bickering, you boneheads, because while you're fiddling the site is being overrun with Sousepaws.

posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 10:49 PM on June 18, 2007

I've just been reading this thread and the original BC Lions one and really don't see anything racist about it whatsoever. Yes, there are stereotypes, but they seem to me to be meant in a jesting manner rather than anything to offend. And, as I understand it, these were actual fans? So it isn't like it was a set up. And to hear that there were hate emails sent? Taking things way to extreme, imo.

posted by Fence at 07:54 AM on June 19, 2007

I think chico should name all those who sent him hate emails, so that we may chastise them publicly. I mean, really, hate emails? Over this? Get a fucking clue.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 09:37 AM on June 19, 2007

I can't believe people sent hatemails. Unbelievable.

posted by jerseygirl at 10:08 AM on June 19, 2007

I care about Sportsfilter, but Sportsfilter doesn't have to care back. Chico, we are the beginning. The end. The one who is many. We are the sportsfilter...and golly gee willickers, we care.

posted by garfield at 11:35 AM on June 19, 2007

Amen, brother Garf. If that's not enough to convince you that we care, señor bangs, well then, I'm going to have to serenade you. /plugs in guitar, skips intro and goes straight to guitar solo. ...and I meant, every word I said when I said that I love you I meant that I'll love you foreverrrrrrrr...

posted by MrFrisby at 12:23 PM on June 19, 2007

Do I smell haiku in the near future of this thread?

posted by hawkguy at 12:58 PM on June 19, 2007

Chicobangs now known as fuck this please come back

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:00 PM on June 19, 2007

Trait debate Rates pate's late hate freight Wait, beret?

posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 01:41 PM on June 19, 2007

BASHO (Two Haiku) HAS B.O. Swamp mist, eyes water— Why is that monk still wearing Winter robes in June? AH, SOB A yellow snake eats The robin’s lone precious egg— You motherfucker

posted by yerfatma at 01:49 PM on June 19, 2007

Chico's anger grows Miss him we do, so to help: Weedy in a dress (facebook account needed)

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:50 PM on June 19, 2007

Crafty, that was priceless!

posted by hawkguy at 03:08 PM on June 19, 2007

In the CFL: Berets replacing helmets? A doctor's wet dream.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 04:24 PM on June 19, 2007

That's absolutely horrifying, Weedy.

posted by jerseygirl at 05:09 PM on June 19, 2007

That's not exactly how I pictured Weedy.

posted by bperk at 07:25 PM on June 19, 2007

Dammit. I'm not willing to register with Facebook just to see a joke pic. Can anyone photobucket it for the rest of us?

posted by Ufez Jones at 07:38 PM on June 19, 2007

I agree with Ufez.

posted by hawkguy at 08:12 PM on June 19, 2007

Weedy may I ask why you're in a dress?

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:17 PM on June 19, 2007

Can anyone photobucket it for the rest of us? i don't think that would be right. if weedy wanted it photobucketted he would done it himself. besides, it's not his picture.

posted by goddam at 09:13 PM on June 19, 2007

Weedy may I ask why you're in a dress? Sanjo, when you are a man... Sometimes... You put on ze dress.... Is for fun. (I had just signed up and that was one of the first things I saw. It was halloween like three years ago! I love that picture.) I don't know how to photobucket it, I know the guy who took - so whatever.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:14 PM on June 19, 2007

well, then... nevermind. so here it is all photobucket-like.

posted by goddam at 11:07 PM on June 19, 2007

Scary.

posted by squealy at 05:58 AM on June 20, 2007

thems is some pouty lips.

posted by garfield at 06:12 AM on June 20, 2007

Hey, as one who said something he thought was kinda funny here before, then pretty much got piled on for being a sexist, then engaged in a flamewar, flamed out, fucked off, then thought better of it, returned gently, even e-hugged rcade (sacre bleu!), let's just say... I know where you guys are coming from. There's a continent of hurt stuck in between you guys, chico and qb, but it doesn't have to be this way. Way I see it (and you know it's the truth, brutha): - chico posted funny ads - qbert sighed (he felt "not the first, not the last time") - chico said chill out - qbert said hey, no, see here buddy, canada vs quebec pain - commence chico pile-on and ehatemail (unbeknown to the rest of us) - chico relents, sees error of ways, apologizes, sees no support from the SpoFi (I'd pretty much lost attention after what I thot was a funny pics post turned into an ICBM-hurling affair) - qbert sees that reaction to chico overblown, bringing unintended consequences, attempts to make amends with self-effacing funny pic - chico, still hurt, still isolated, unable to accept peacemaking gesture - sleepy spofi oldtimers awake, noticing chico's absence - spofi mourns Boy, I feels like a song or haiku comin' on...

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:47 PM on June 20, 2007

funny ads stir hurt chico qbert incident beret pic too late?

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:56 PM on June 20, 2007

I feel like I'm holding up a boombox in the rain, waiting for chico to come back. I'm really trying here. COME BACK, CHICO! (my arms are getting tired)

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:57 PM on June 20, 2007

Weedy may I ask why you're in a dress? Because he makes a very sexy chick! So...are we not eating poutine anymore? Fuck.

posted by YukonGold at 07:20 PM on June 20, 2007

Yuh, my initial reaction to the photo was: "DEFINITELYZZ, no, bangable". Until chico comes back, we're on the Bobby Sands No-Carb Diet, Yukon.

posted by yerfatma at 08:06 PM on June 20, 2007

Chico and I were once accused on this site of having a menage a trois with Fidel Castro. We need to talk, chico. He hasn't called, he hasn't emailed...

posted by owlhouse at 09:37 PM on June 20, 2007

Yerfatma... you're a ridiculously proficient and valuable contributor to the site So much so, owlhouse thought you were me. we're on the Bobby Sands No-Carb Diet Except, I would never say something like that, and as a Northern Irishman, I find that remark deeply racist and offensive. Not really (offended - sadly, I am really Northern Irish). Chico? qbert? You were both right and you were both wrong. As a Northern Irishman (given to tautology), I find your continued hostility in the face of common sense racially offensive. qbert, next time you offer an olive branch, pick a smaller one and don't batter the offeree over the head with it. chico, clumsily wielded as it may have been, qbert's beret photo was still an olive branch and you should take it. Take the knife from your nose before you cut it off to spite your face.

posted by JJ at 04:23 AM on June 21, 2007

Maybe if we had a pic of JJ in a kilt... (I know, wrong race and country, JJ, but I was hoping you'd be offended.)

posted by worldcup2002 at 10:19 AM on June 21, 2007

Trying to offend the Irish and the Scottish in one fell swoop? Sounds like an Englishman.

posted by yerfatma at 10:36 AM on June 21, 2007

See, that's backfired because I have a kilt [note for the nervous: not a picture of me in a kilt]; I have Scottish heritage. I've only worn it once. Cameras melted. The whole experience was summed up by one particularly drunken (Scottish) friend when he caught sight of my legs: "Fuck me, JJ - I've seen better hangin' outtah nests!"

posted by JJ at 11:10 AM on June 21, 2007

Forget it guys, he's gone.

posted by rocketman at 04:37 PM on June 21, 2007

.

posted by worldcup2002 at 04:49 PM on June 21, 2007

I'll always hear his name on the wind though.

posted by yerfatma at 05:48 PM on June 21, 2007

Yikes! I come back after a long hiatus from the site and this is one of the first threads I see. Man...I'm just...wow. I miss chico already. Since your last visit: Links: 812 Comments: 19395

posted by redsnare at 06:19 PM on June 21, 2007

The funny thing is, snare, you won something like five different SpoFi pools while you were gone. Come back chico. You're like the Dude's rug, you really tie this place together.

posted by NoMich at 09:32 PM on June 24, 2007

And random thugs pissed on you.

posted by yerfatma at 06:14 AM on June 25, 2007

The Chinaman is not the issue, here, yerfatmadude.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:46 AM on June 25, 2007

Forget it Weedy, you're out of your element!

posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:14 AM on June 25, 2007

I was primed for love then I realized Weedy ain't Miss Hot Blue Dress

posted by wfrazerjr at 02:28 PM on June 26, 2007

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