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Oprah Winfrey victim of racism apparently...

remsburgsgirl

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/swiss-apologise-to-oprah-winfrey-for-racism-incident-1.1489529

I can;t stand this woman on the best of days....

...but anyway, how does she put everything down to bloody racism?

If I, a white female, walked into that shop & requested to look at that handbag, I too would be refused...so what's her f*ckin problem????

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southsiderosie

hfallada wrote: »

I havent been to Switzerland but my old German teacher lived there and like most people found them to be a cu nty. They are known to be efficient and good at helping people dodge taxes, but not friendly people.

But a lot African Americans put snobbery down to race rather than just snobbery. Its Switzerland I seriously doubt they are used to dealing with wealthy black people. Like way the Chinese dont like to deal with black people in China.

My father is as black as can be, but when he lived in Asia he and my mother lived in a glitzy high rise (paid for by her company) and everyone kissed his ass because they thought that, because he lived in that building, he was rich (he is a retired steelworker). Chinese people may talk **** about other groups, and don't particularly like black people in theory, but they do not play when it comes to money.

Unfortunately, I know too many wealthy, professional black women in the US who have been confronted with the "it's very expensive" treatment - and they did not walk in these stores dressed like hookers. For black people who "played the game" the way society supposedly wants us to - got an education, a good job, contribute to society, etc - to still get treated like the help when they try to shop in luxury stores is enraging. You can complain about "First world problems" and the like, but from the other side, it feels like you just can't win: if you walk around in a hoodie, you're a thug, but if you walk around in a Brooks Brothers suit and a cashmere overcoat, you still can't get a cab in NYC or get service at the Neiman Marcus jewelry counter (a friend of mine was just bitching about this).

diomed

riffmongous wrote: »

exactly, and how did the assistant know it was too expensive for her?

I am not an expert on how much women are prepared to spend on handbags. Of course there is no way the assistant can know how much money a person has, or how much they are prepared to spend. Perhaps it was in a display to stop people handling it and reducing its value. You know, like tyre-kickers who look but won't buy.

I could walk into that store and ask to see the handbag. I doubt the assistant would give it to me, a 63 year old male. Could I claim sexism, or ageism?

Nodin

diomed wrote: »

I am not an expert on how much women are prepared to spend on handbags. Of course there is no way the assistant can know how much money a person has, or how much they are prepared to spend.

.....in which case they wouldn't let anyone handle anything unless they waved cash at them. That's not how it works though, is it?

diomed

How much does the assistant earn? How much did the handbag cost?
Maybe the relationship between the two numbers explains her reluctance to take it out of the display.

[Deleted User]

diomed wrote: »

I am not an expert on how much women are prepared to spend on handbags. Of course there is no way the assistant can know how much money a person has, or how much they are prepared to spend. Perhaps it was in a display to stop people handling it and reducing its value. You know, like tyre-kickers who look but won't buy.

I could walk into that store and ask to see the handbag. I doubt the assistant would give it to me, a 63 year old male. Could I claim sexism, or ageism?

If that was the case the assistant could always have taken it down herself and held it up close for Oprah to see and still tried to sell it to her, which is what a salesperson is supposed to do right? Instead she tells Oprah she just can't afford it

diomed

And Oprah would claim it is racism that she has to look it it and can't touch it.
Oprah Winfrey has got plenty of publicity out of this non-event.
If racism is about $35,000 handbags things can't be that bad.

Nemeses

If I saw Oprah in the street, I probably wouldnt be able to recognise her.

Nor do I care for her shows and her wealth.

Just another annoying T--T to me.

Oh cr@p, I could be done for racism here.....

CuriousG

Cydoniac wrote: »

You just strike me as the kind of person who would think that reverse racism exists or something similar, which...it doesn't.

You're right - it doesn't. Reverse racism doesn't exist, simply because any race can be racist. It can never be reversed, racism is racism, pure and simple.

If you imply only white people are capable of hate, that's a pretty racist implication.

Nodin

diomed wrote: »

And Oprah would claim it is racism that she has to look it it and can't touch it.
Oprah Winfrey has got plenty of publicity out of this non-event.
If racism is about $35,000 handbags things can't be that bad.

Let's rewind there. You stated

I am not an expert on how much women are prepared to spend on handbags. Of course there is no way the assistant can know how much money a person has, or how much they are prepared to spend. Perhaps it was in a display to stop people handling it and reducing its value.

...the assistant told her that she, specifically, could not afford it and thus she could not handle it. She offered her others. Thus its clear that a judgement was made, and there is not a non-handling policy in the shop. Secondly, shops that sell delicate items tend to stock a "display" item, for that purpose specifically.

EuskalHerria

I like in her interview she does a terrible Swiss accent. Fight fire with bad impersonations.

Amirani

While it seems like it may well have been the sales assistant making a racist assumption, I don't think it's fair to be castigating them without having more information. It could well be store policy to not let non-regular customers handle very expensive items.

J_E

CuriousG wrote: »

You're right - it doesn't. Reverse racism doesn't exist, simply because any race can be racist. It can never be reversed, racism is racism, pure and simple.

If you imply only white people are capable of hate, that's a pretty racist implication.

No, racism towards a majority group doesn't exist. It's just another throwaround phrase made by self-entitled white people. Name one incident where this has actually happened? This is along the lines of statements like "why can't we have straight pride?" Or the particularly stupid Nick Griffin-coined word 'heterophobia'

Allyall

I just read the story, and i knew (hoped) there'd be something about it on After Hours...

Is it possible, Oprah, even just slightly, that the Shop Assistant was telling you that she would not hand you down the bag, because it is too expensive?? If you don't want to buy it, and some other pretentious twat does, they probably don't want grubby finger prints/Make Up/Hand Lotion/whatever all over it.
She also probably did not give one fúck that you are a "celebrity". You were not getting it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6V7BJC_2aE

Exaggerate much?

Who the f*ck is interviewing?
"Will you not sack the sales girl?":mad::mad::mad:

WilyCoyote

Candie wrote: »

Ms Winfrey, whom I find personally irritating, commands my huge respect for coming from a desperately impoverished and difficult background and overcoming huge personal challenges to become a self made billionaire, on the back of nothing but her own hard work and eye for opportunity.

In a world where the Paris Hiltons and Kardashians gets more recognition and approval, despite having no appreciable talent or apparent work ethic, Ms Winfrey is to be congratulated and admired, not because she is black, not because I'm a fan, but because she is a great success story.

She's no dope, and she's no 'victim'.

Afraid I disagree with you there. In the uploaded videos Ms Hilton and Ms Kardashian both work their heads off. And if that's not a talent, then most cat houses would go out of business.
As for Oprah, once she succeeded in faking sincerity, she hit the jackpot. Her shows are merely mental masturbation for a mainly white, fawning bunch of middle class wannabees.
She holds them in her ample hands. She nurses them in her ample breasts. She wrings them emotionally in jacuzzis of pathos, sprinkled with logos and ethos. She loses weight and the audience whoop. She puts it back on and they all empathize. She's in love - they all go gaga and applaude. Her romance not going too good - visible tears in some of the audience. No problem for the bould Oprah - she can turn on the waterworks just like that. Every tear she sheds enhances her bank balance and also her craven audience. Have to stop here, think I'm going to be sick.:rolleyes:

southsiderosie

Nemeses wrote: »

If I saw Oprah in the street, I probably wouldnt be able to recognise her.

Nor do I care for her shows and her wealth.

Just another annoying T--T to me.

Oh cr@p, I could be done for racism here.....

The point isn't that you would be able to recognize her. The point is, she was dressed like any other wealthy woman walking around Europe in the summertime, but it was assumed that she couldn't afford something because...well, you tell me? Do you really think that a thin blonde woman in a designer dress who walked into a boutique and enquired about a handbag that would net a sales clerk a huge commission would be told that something was too expensive?

padd b1975

Omackeral wrote: »

My main issue is why the f*ck is ANY handbag costing 40K?!?!

Fools and their money.......

wp_rathead

off topic, but:

35 Grand for a handbag?!?!
DAFUQ?!?!

Marsden

Cydoniac wrote: »

No, racism towards a majority group doesn't exist.

Somehow I doubt that black people in South Africa would agree.

April O Neill

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

It's seems pretty obvious that the shop assistant saw a black woman and immediately stereotyped her as being too poor to buy an item.

In what alternate reality is that not racism?

And Switzerland is a notoriously racist country.

Hate the "Didn't she know who I was?" attitude though. You might not be so well known outside Anglophone countries, Oprah!

April O Neill

Red Nissan wrote: »

I'd have asked her for cash upfront too

Why? If she didn't look like herself, why would you ask for cash upfront? Talk us through your thought process.

remsburgsgirl

southsiderosie wrote: »

The point isn't that you would be able to recognize her. The point is, she was dressed like any other wealthy woman walking around Europe in the summertime, but it was assumed that she couldn't afford something because...well, you tell me? Do you really think that a thin blonde woman in a designer dress who walked into a boutique and enquired about a handbag that would net a sales clerk a huge commission would be told that something was too expensive?

Oh my god...it was because Oprah is fat wasn't it!!

EuskalHerria

remsburgsgirl wrote: »

Oh my god...it was because Oprah is fat wasn't it!!

Oprah: You're a fatist!

Assistant: I think you'll find you're the fattest

WilyCoyote

southsiderosie wrote: »

The point isn't that you would be able to recognize her. The point is, she was dressed like any other wealthy woman walking around Europe in the summertime, but it was assumed that she couldn't afford something because...well, you tell me? Do you really think that a thin blonde woman in a designer dress who walked into a boutique and enquired about a handbag that would net a sales clerk a huge commission would be told that something was too expensive?

Do you mean to say that the sales assistant gave up "a huge commission" just to be racist?
I imagine that she would have orders from on high to make a judgment before taking down the bag. If you were in that money league would you like if lots of people had their sweaty hands all over it like an auld ones feeling a loaf of Brennan's bread? Now, whether Oprah is black or white or from Mars doesn't come into it, the sales person made a decision. In the decision making business, regardless how clued in you are, you will occasionally make a mistake. If Oprah came the old "do you know who I am" bit she would have been castigated for it. Plus it would have embarrassed the owner who was also a guest at the Turner wedding. But, skilled in communication, she left quietly - thereby taking the high ground. And she still managed to embarrass the owner. Afraid I had to omit the word "moral" as it makes a strange bedfellow with someone spending that amount on a handbag.

[Deleted User]

how does not been able to afford something racist

DarkJager

WilyCoyote wrote: »

Do you mean to say that the sales assistant gave up "a huge commission" just to be racist?
I imagine that she would have orders from on high to make a judgment before taking down the bag. If you were in that money league would you like if lots of people had their sweaty hands all over it like an auld ones feeling a loaf of Brennan's bread? Now, whether Oprah is black or white or from Mars doesn't come into it, the sales person made a decision. In the decision making business, regardless how clued in you are, you will occasionally make a mistake. If Oprah came the old "do you know who I am" bit she would have been castigated for it. Plus it would have embarrassed the owner who was also a guest at the Turner wedding. But, skilled in communication, she left quietly - thereby taking the high ground. And she still managed to embarrass the owner. Afraid I had to omit the word "moral" as it makes a strange bedfellow with someone spending that amount on a handbag.

This is exactly my thoughts on it too. I think Oprah had a little "do you know who I am?" moment in her head and decided to make a song and dance out of it. There is **** all racism involved in this story, just a massive ego that got a bit bruised.

remsburgsgirl

WilyCoyote wrote: »

Do you mean to say that the sales assistant gave up "a huge commission" just to be racist?
I imagine that she would have orders from on high to make a judgment before taking down the bag. If you were in that money league would you like if lots of people had their sweaty hands all over it like an auld ones feeling a loaf of Brennan's bread? Now, whether Oprah is black or white or from Mars doesn't come into it, the sales person made a decision. In the decision making business, regardless how clued in you are, you will occasionally make a mistake. If Oprah came the old "do you know who I am" bit she would have been castigated for it. Plus it would have embarrassed the owner who was also a guest at the Turner wedding. But, skilled in communication, she left quietly - thereby taking the high ground. And she still managed to embarrass the owner. Afraid I had to omit the word "moral" as it makes a strange bedfellow with someone spending that amount on a handbag.

She knew what she was doing by 'being the bigger person' in the shop situation (no pun intended)....because as soon as she left the shop she found someone in the media to blab to about her encounter with racism in Switzerland

...she basically did the whole "didn't they know who I was??" thing when she blabbed anyway

WilyCoyote

April O Neill wrote: »

And Switzerland is a notoriously racist country.

Hate the "Didn't she know who I was?" attitude though. You might not be so well known outside Anglophone countries, Oprah!

Really? I spent a lot of time there and didn't see it. Lots of emigrants doing the menial stuff. I imagine the shop is in that wide street at right angles to the main train station. I saw shoes there for 3,000Sf about 20 years ago.

epluribusunum

Cydoniac wrote: »

I never thought you were a racist. You just strike me as the kind of person who would think that reverse racism exists or something similar, which...it doesn't. You are missing the big picture.

Quite possibly the most ignorant thing I have ever read. Minorities are incapable of being racist people? Get your head out of your as*.

Or more importantly, are there not statutes that promote reverse racism?

Affirmative action?
In America, if you are a minority they will extensively lower the bar for college admissions. How is this not racist? If I were black I would be insulted that they thought they have to dumb it down for me to gain acceptance to be honest.

Or what about how minority students and professionals that can make exclusive associations in college or the workplace, but white people cannot? I would not want to make a white-only one because I do not see the point of sticking with your own race anyway, but it is hypocritical to outlaw it only for whites. Or the fact that there is a lesbian-gay one? Might not have to do with race, but imagine the outrage that would occur if there was a heterosexual only law association?

The victim complex has gone past the point of ridiculousness.

If Oprah was truly the victim of racism she would not be one of the richest and most powerful people on the planet. White guilt is at an all-time high.

hotmail.com

epluribusunum wrote: »

Quite possibly the most ignorant thing I have ever read. Minorities are incapable of being racist people? Get your head out of your as*.

Or more importantly, are there not statutes that promote reverse racism?

Affirmative action?
In America, if you are a minority they will extensively lower the bar for college admissions. How is this not racist? If I were black I would be insulted that they thought they have to dumb it down for me to gain acceptance to be honest.

Or what about how minority students and professionals that can make exclusive associations in college or the workplace, but white people cannot? I would not want to make a white-only one because I do not see the point of sticking with your own race anyway, but it is hypocritical to outlaw it only for whites. Or the fact that there is a lesbian-gay one? Might not have to do with race, but imagine the outrage that would occur if there was a heterosexual only law association?

The victim complex has gone past the point of ridiculousness.

If Oprah was truly the victim of racism she would not be one of the richest and most powerful people on the planet. White guilt is at an all-time high.

But some people are racist?

[Deleted User]

Deleted User wrote: »

how does not been able to afford something racist

Have you ever been so far even as decided to use go want to look more like?