I was at the Winnipeg Folk Festival [winnipegfolkfestival.ca] wearing my Oliver t-shirt and someone came up to me and said that he had a Republicans for Voldemort t-shirt and enjoyed reading goats. This is the first time that anyone has recognized Oliver as a goats t-shirt, thought many people have asked me where they can get one. I am curious how often other people run into goats fans in unexpected places.

I was at WisCon 29 [sf3.org] recently, and wearing my Evil Cock shirt, some dwarf wandering by mumbled to his dwarfmate that I was wearing a shirt from "some webcomic".

He was jealous.

In Response to zamphir (#28410):

WisCon 29 will gather together many writers, editors, publishers, scholars, artists, women, and men from around the world to discuss science fiction and fantasy

Dorks at this conference?

Who knew?

I've never met anyone who recognises goats, or any of my other webcomic shirts for that matter. I'm clearly moving in the wrong circles. Or possibly the right ones.

Tangentially related anecdote, complete with pictures: I was wearing my Horse Fellatio t-shirt today, because (as if I need a reason!) it is both stylish and warm. I own a fair few webcomic-based t-shirts, so I wasn't terribly surprised when, earlier this evening, the service-station attendent started reading my chest. I glanced down, realised what I was wearing, and began mentally preparing an explanation for the inevitable questions.

He finished reading, and with a slight smile he looked me straight in the eyes.
Him: "Wow, Jet Propulsion Laboratory?! That sounds exciting."
Me: "Fellatio! ...
... I mean what? ... er, yes it's pretty cool."

lesson learned: remember when you're wearing your ID dogtags around your neck.

In Response to tynic (#28421):

the service-station attendent

Geeze. Y'all are backwards as a nation, aincha. We hain't had them fellers for yeeeaars.

Also, clean your room. Sheesh!

In Response to zamphir (#28426):

... I wish I had your apparent talent to avoid New Jersey. Unfortunately, my relatives conspire against me. Damn!

In Response to sakuruth (#28427):

Yes. We Jerseyites are like that. But if you give us time, you'll find that we're a charming people, with many quaint customs (such as gas-station attendants).
 

In Response to sakuruth (#28427):

Don't forget Oregun.

In Response to zamphir (#28426):

Then how do you pay for your fuel?

To clarify any potential misunderstandings - they don't pump petrol for us. They just stand inside behind the counter and glare menacingly.

In Response to tynic (#28439):

They just stand inside behind the counter and glare menacingly

In fact, most that I encounter don't have independant thought enought to handle even the glaring.

In Response to tynic (#28439):

Then how do you pay for your fuel?

With a credit card. By putting it in the slot. On the pump. Australia == Backwards

Then it beeps a bit, and I can pump gas.

The only time I ever interact with human beings is if I have to go in and buy something from the (I think required by state law) "mini-mart" - like a cold soda or bad coffee and cheap doughnuts.

In Response to zamphir (#28442):

State law requires you to buy junk food?

In Response to zamphir (#28442):

Oddly enough, some of the best coffee I've had has been from convenience stores. However, this isn't a commonplace occurrence. More of a footnote, really.

In Response to Nagy_Vilmos (#28443):

State law requires you to buy junk food?

No. But I think it's part of Patriot Act III.

I meant that it appears from all visible evidence that state law requires every place that sells gasoline to also have an attached Mini-Mart.

In Response to zamphir (#28447):

It's true. Right under the clause that states that those said "Mini-Marts" must be owned and operated by of Middle Eastern or Hindi descent. ... I think.

In Response to zamphir (#28442):

Australia == Backwards

Me == preferring to pay cash.

Not my fault you're a debt-ridden slave to credit card companies.

In Response to CyberGoon (#28452):

Right under? so you're saying the clauses are written as follows:

162c. All Mini-Marts stated in clause 162d must be owned and operated by persons of Middle Eastern or Hindu descent
162d. All service stations must be accompanied by a Mini-Mart.

And you say Australia is backwards...!

In Response to tynic (#28455):

Not my fault you're a debt-ridden slave to credit card companies.

"Debit Card".

Although, really, y'all's money is plastic anyway.

In Response to CyberGoon (#28452):

Can this one get downmodded for racism? I am but a lowly wage slave, but if I had mod points...

In Response to Llamarama (#28480):

Can this one get downmodded for racism? I am but a lowly wage slave, but if I had mod points..

It is not racism. To say that most convenience stores in the US are run by people of middle-eastern or Hindi descent is not racist. It may be an innacurate generalization based on personal observation, but it is not racism. Racism would be saying something along the lines of "People of Middle-Eastern or Hindi descent are inferior and only suitable for working at min-marts". That is a commentary that I'm willing to bet no-one on this forum would claim or aspire to, and would clearly be racist. If you are going to start throwing big, nasty and accusational words around, you need to understand their proper use and context, especially in this forum where pedants abound.

In Response to Dynedain (#28481):

Well (he said, putting on his pedant suit), if you want to get pedantic, do you actually have statistics to prove that most convenience stores are run by people of Middle Eastern and "Hindi" descent? I'd think that a good pedant would recognize that "Hindi" is a language, not an ethnicity...

I could also get really pedantic and into some critical race legal theory, arguing that the idea that racism requires active personal malice is one of the main misconceptions that perpetuates the sorry state of our society today (when it operates in arenas a bit more weighty than these forums). For instance, people working around issues of mass transit in LA suffered multiple setbacks in their efforts to argue that there was racism in the fact that the LA transit system served white communities far better than communities of color. Why? Because there was no clear memo from a white policy-maker saying "Ha ha! Let's screw the black and brown people!" An obvious racial disparity was obfuscated by the focus on interpersonal malice.

I'd also argue that racism impacts everyone in US society today, and that pointing out racism in a comment is not the same as calling a person "a racist." This may be one reason why I am not as concerned as you about throwing "big, nasty and accusational words around" in this case.

But that would be a bit too pedantic. I'd rather point out the amusing fact that thanks to this thread, the "Ads by Google" on this page now include "Nike Stand Up Speak Up Anti-Racism Wristband." However you define racism, it's good to know that Nike's willing to sell you something about it.

In Response to Llamarama (#28484):

I could also get really pedantic

Can you? Then, by all means, do so.

But that would be a bit too pedantic
You appear to have constructed a plausible sounding sentance out of proper words, in a fairly good grammatical form...

And yet you have produced no meaning, as the order of the words contradicts the obvious reality of the place in which you post them.

An obvious racial disparity was obfuscated by the focus on interpersonal malice.
Without facts, we can not come to any meaningful conclusions.

That said, I will suggest that it is possible that a sound economic and geographic plan led, coincidentally, to something that apparently discriminated based on race.

What is obvious to some is not obvious to all, and that which you look for is that which you find.

In Response to tynic (#28421):

Damn...you work for NASA?

That is exciting!

All except for the not being able to get your asses off the ground part.

In Response to Deathalicious (#28520):

...you work for NASA?

Yes, because NASA is the only organization ever to name a laboratory dedicated to the study of rocket engines "Jet Propulsion Laboratory".

D'ya think maybe it was a freebie?

Sides which, if I can get a job at NASA, anyone can.

In Response to zamphir (#28525):

Wait, so now you work for NASA?

I'm so confused.

Am I the only one here who doesn't work for NASA?!?

In Response to Deathalicious (#28539):

Apparently so.

Jeez, death, it's like you're John Ashcroft or something. So uncool.