Well, sorry if that offended you, it was sarcastic but I thought humorous, and clearly I wasn’t the only confused person.
to the rest, I can see why OP did not post the meme. It was sent to me and it is vulgar and not really appropriate for a forum with minors. It involves a lewd depiction of the VP debate fly issue.
The meme is disgusting. It’s on Facebook groups and has been taken down from the OP’s page-the entire page is gone.
it’s a disgusting, racist meme that is heinous.
There are some people who respond to this by doubting it, spewing forth nasty little jabs, etc. Not how I operate.
And then there are those who asked for a copy of the meme.
Lots of different ways to handle the situation. I can’t manage anyone else’s response.
Thank you; I appreciate it. I didn’t get the sarcasm the first time through, especially after the first few responses.
Thank you for clarifying to the rest that the meme is not suitable to repost…disgusting.
It is vulgar, gross and highly inappropriate, But I don’t see that it is racist. I might be missing something. Still…ew ew ew.
google “For those of you wondering where the fly came from” if you appreciate vulgar, political, adolescent male “humor”. "Nuff said.
I don’t feel that I can adequately comment on this and do it justice here. So I will just say that my Black female friends found it racist.
and ew ew ew for sure.
But back to my original intent…I find it disgusting that this is posted by a US (or any) rider, and I am thankful for the backlash from his posting.
my intent was never to share the meme but I get why it became necessary.
ugh. Happy to admit I am privileged enough to not recognize why but I don’t doubt they feel that way.
When people show you who they are… believe them. Now we know. Ugh!
It has been illuminating - and often sad - for me to learn how various equestrian professionals truly feel about the political issues of the day. In many cases, these were people I admired and considered respectable, and based on the nature of their commentary on social media, turned out to be anything but. (Think GM and the SafeSport debacle, for example… not a political issue per se, but the unmasking of someone I had admired my entire life.)
Some of this is just the nature of social media and the ability of those platforms to communicate at incredible speed and reach. Some of it is also our current political climate that has perhaps encouraged people with certain views to come out from under their rocks and be very public about their POV… whereas previously they would not have expected public support. Think Proud Boys, the whack job Wolverine Watchmen, etc. Overtly racist, violent types of people/groups that would have been a lot more circumspect about their beliefs a few years ago.
For the record, I have no problem with people whose political views differ from my own; I believe healthy and civil debate over policies is the backbone of democracy. The key is debating policies and their relative merits. My previous trainer was considerably more conservative than I am and we had some interesting and lively debates over a variety of issues. I was curious to hear his point of view and he listened with the intention to understand my views as well, which made for substantive discussion.
However, I have no tolerance for those who post things which are intentionally divisive, racist or misogynist in nature. I also have very limited tolerance for the people I would characterize as dangerously stupid (“Covid is a liberal hoax!”) In the case of the meme that the OP was referencing, the implication was that a Black women’s privates were the source of flies. Beyond disgusting and totally reprehensible. It’s very sad to see a professional of that stature publishing that kind of nastiness on social media, but gratifying to see that it was swiftly met with the appropriate condemnation.
All I can add to this is that on my FB feed, the only pro Trump or conspiracy theory or right wing crankiness comes entirely from people I have “friended” in the horse community, primarily lower level trainers.
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹These horse people tend to identify with
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹right wing pro farming FB groups which have turned into a source of conspiracy theory and disinformation.
I’ve also IRL run across racists and Covid deniers from small towns around here. Again, horsey people because that’s the only people I meet from there.
So no, I am not surprised. I would hope a truly big name trainer would have the professional discretion to keep these kinds of views quiet.
In general in Canada racist language in public will get called out pretty quickly. But the current situation in the USA has had a disinhibiting effect on many Americans, since those that tend that way are circulating in an online world where this kind of thing appears to be the norm.
I would say though that forwarding a meme is a fairly “low investment” online action, as opposed to creating the meme.
Question: would you (general you) be OK continuing to do business with someone known to support reprehensible politics ( whatever you define as reprehensible, question cuts both ways), if they were discrete about it? Or do you (general you) just draw the line at offensive social media posts?
Got it…a disgusting meme for sure. I tend to block people who post disgusting stuff. I do have friends on both sides of the aisle and if it’s tasteful and honest I still call them friend.
This is a great question.
My knee jerk reaction is that no, I won’t support someone who advocates for behavior I find reprehensible. For example, I’d now never take a clinic (or even audit) with Lars Pedersen.
As I think about it, though, the question is more nuanced than it seemed at first.
For example, the people who own the feed store where I shop are very publicly supportive of candidates that I find genuinely offensive - because of both behavior AND policies. And yet I shop there.
I think the difference is that I believe everyone is entitled to support the party they prefer. To me, there is a difference from simply supporting a party whose policies I disagree with, versus promoting/advocating racist, misogynist, divisive BS. That’s where I personally draw the line.
Slightly off topic, but I fired both a very competent farrier and mechanic because they just couldn’t stop cramming their politics down my throat. They were both entitled to their beliefs, They were not, however, entitled to continue attacking my beliefs after I told them repeatedly that it’s better not to discuss politics while they’re working. If I’m paying you, I don’t deserve to be attacked because I don’t see things the way you do and you can’t take a hint.
I was able to find a better (and more reliable) farrier and a wonderful mechanic (whose politics I don’t know) that treats me with respect.
If at all possible, I will not patronize any establishment that shoves its politics at me. I’ve always subscribed to the idea that when you own a business, it’s better to keep politics and religion to yourself.
My dentist practices in space she shares with her father. The cubicles are all open and you can hear everything going in in the different chairs.
One day after getting my teeth cleaned and being forced to listen to his conspiracy theory rants, I walked past his cubicle and said it’s bad enough getting your teeth worked without having to listen to politics, and reminded him not everyone agrees with him.
It was the talk of the office for a few days.
Politics didn’t used to ruin everything.
It may have been humorous, but it was aimed at the OP. Sarcasm is a mean form of humor. In fact the word comes from the Greek “to cut” or “to tear flesh.”
That said, I can’t believe someone would publicly diss the gender which, by and large, butters his bread. OP, I am glad the guy-- Lars Petersen, y’all-- was named so that women don’t mistakenly send more money in the direction of a misogynist.
I was unpleasantly surprised to read a very rude and racist comment toward the previous First Lady from a top US female rider once.
I used to find her quite empowering… not anymore. It disappointed me so much - I had to reach to her to make sure what I was reading was truly what she wanted to say… Nope - Racist.
And she gave me the « liberty of speech »… bla bla bla… Ain’t ever gonna cheer for her.
So no, I am not surprised. I would hope a truly big name trainer would have the professional discretion to keep these kinds of views quiet.
I know of a BNT who’s a bit on the cuckoo’s side on Facebook but whatever s/he post is not mean… More new age, some deep state theories, some crazy numerology stuff…
S/he lost some clients over this but knows how not to talk politics while teaching… As a trainer, s/he very positive and supportive and very knowledgeable.
In general in Canada racist language in public will get called out pretty quickly. But the current situation in the USA has had a disinhibiting effect on many Americans, since those that tend that way are circulating in an online world where this kind of thing appears to be the norm.
We now have some QAnon groups here… in Quebec… :rolleyes:
I would say though that forwarding a meme is a fairly “low investment” online action, as opposed to creating the meme.
Memes are created to be propagate. It’s a low investment that have huge impact.
It’s a vile, disgusting and racist meme. Not even funny.
Surely from one of those incels…
Question: would you (general you) be OK continuing to do business with someone known to support reprehensible politics ( whatever you define as reprehensible, question cuts both ways), if they were discrete about it? Or do you (general you) just draw the line at offensive social media posts?
I would support a trainer who’s like the one I described as being weird but not mean.
I would never support someone I know who’s stupid enough to post vile and racist memes publicly…
I would think twice about hiring someone I know to be racist or misogynist.
I would never supports trainers who would side with GM or other sex offenders.
I would evidently not support GM.
I will not pay to watch Polanski’s movies.
I will not pay to read (and I will not read) Matzneff’s books.
I will avoid supporting any artist, trainer, person who’s having horrible « values ».
Actually wish I had not seen it, not only because it was disgusting, but that someone thought it was appropriate!
Petersen’s barn may be in Loxahatchee, FL, but his mind is clearly in the gutter.
Absolutely disgusting. I hope repercussions are swift and that they hit him in the wallet. Who would want to do business with someone who demonstrates a complete lack of judgement and values?
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