Re: The Library of Appalachia

I'm resubmitting this because I'm really not sure how it's off topic.

This is a fictional landmark that I made up. The landmark is called "The Library of Appalachia," a new landmark somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Appalachia, which contains one book. People travel for miles to gawk at the sight of this rarity. The landmark is based on a stereotype of a real geographic region, the joke being that in some parts of Appalachia, there are no books, people can't read, and if anyone built a library there, it would surely be a landmark and have only one book.

It's definitely a landmark. It definitely doesn't exist. And it's definitely based on a real place. I'm not sure what about it would be off theme.

land·mark
1. An object or feature of a landscape or town that enables someone to establish their location.
2. An event, discovery, or change marking an important stage or turning point in something.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

OMGOMGOMGPONIESOMG. Laughed so hard my dog came in the office to see what I was doing. I think this is great!

Re: The Library of Appalachia

The best on the derby!

Mega funny!

Re: The Library of Appalachia

This one made me laugh, but I think it was rejected because Woot wants to actually see the physical landmark in the design. If you toss in the library building somewhere in there, you'll be safe.

drewpac18 wrote:This one made me laugh, but I think it was rejected because Woot wants to actually see the physical landmark in the design. If you toss in the library building somewhere in there, you'll be safe.

so we're asking you to come up with new landmarks for the world to enjoy.

You might be right about the reason, but the description didn't say "show us a visual depiction of a new landmark." It said to "come up with one" and I did.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Boots, I can normally take a joke, but this hits close to home. The stereotype that people from the Appalachian mountains are illiterate and "simple" folk, gets annoying. Growing up in a small valley that thrived on tourism; I would often recieve this remark, "You do not sound like you are from here. Did you go to school elsewhere." I poop you not on that statement.

Even though I laughed when I saw this design; it hurt a little.

studio1172 wrote:Boots, I can normally take a joke, but this hits close to home. The stereotype that people from the Appalachian mountains are illiterate and "simple" folk, gets annoying. Growing up in a small valley that thrived on tourism; I would often recieve this remark, "You do not sound like you are from here. Did you go to school elsewhere." I poop you not on that statement.

Even though I laughed when I saw this design; it hurt a little.

I'm from a small town in the middle of Appalachia. I remember in 5th grade, we didn't have regular class for a week. Instead, we had a week of hunter's safety where we practiced loading shotguns and learned to wear hats in the woods so that hunters wouldn't mistake our heads for woodchucks. I'm making fun of my own home, too, which is why I really like the design. It's personal to me.

BootsBoots wrote:I'm from a small town in the middle of Appalachia. I remember in 5th grade, we didn't have regular class for a week. Instead, we had a week of hunter's safety where we practiced loading shotguns and learned to wear hats in the woods so that hunters wouldn't mistake our heads for woodchucks. I'm making fun of my own home, too, which is why I really like the design. It's personal to me.

And we get a little peek into why Boots turned out so awesome.

BootsBoots wrote:I'm resubmitting this because I'm really not sure how it's off topic.

I'm guessing because of this rule:No text only designs.

"You can have a sign indicating the city if you must, or a tourism slogan if it helps your joke, but your design must have a graphical element."

Though you could argue that the book and mountain are "graphical elements," and that the book itself is the landmark, I think they wanted more of a physical structure.

Decorative, purposeless architecture is the best kind of architecture in our opinion, so we're asking you to come up with new landmarks for the world to enjoy.

Additional requirement: No landmarks for fictional places.

How is this decorative, purposeless architecture? I grant that it's funny - but it isn't on theme in my opinion.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Great job, Boots. Funny and on topic, in my opinion.

foghammer wrote:Decorative, purposeless architecture is the best kind of architecture in our opinion, so we're asking you to come up with new landmarks for the world to enjoy.

Additional requirement: No landmarks for fictional places.

How is this decorative, purposeless architecture? I grant that it's funny - but it isn't on theme in my opinion.

I took that phrase as a suggestion of examples. If there needs to be decorative purposeless architecture in the design, then all the designs that don't feature that should be rejected. There are a lot of them.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I've had that book on reserve since 1986, though I hear it's worth it. Another good example of how you cleverly use humour to touch on deeper ideas Boots.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Let's be honest, "real America" doesn't need a library. They get their reading material from something like a kindle; they call it their gut.

AdderXYU wrote:Let's be honest, "real America" doesn't need a library. They get their reading material from something like a kindle; they call it their gut.

I have a feeling you're right about that.

BootsBoots wrote:I'm from a small town in the middle of Appalachia. I remember in 5th grade, we didn't have regular class for a week. Instead, we had a week of hunter's safety where we practiced loading shotguns and learned to wear hats in the woods so that hunters wouldn't mistake our heads for woodchucks.

this is one of the first compelling reasons I've ever read to move to Appalachia!

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I can't believe the Woot screeners didn't REJECT this one. If this had been about any ethnic group it would never have seen the light of day-- so why is it okay to say about people in a particular region of our country? This (fecal material) propagates a negative stereotype held by many ignorant and close-minded people --yes, some people think this is true, and some think it's comical rather than the despicable insult that it truly is.

studio1172 wrote:Boots, I can normally take a joke, but this hits close to home. The stereotype that people from the Appalachian mountains are illiterate and "simple" folk, gets annoying. Growing up in a small valley that thrived on tourism; I would often recieve this remark, "You do not sound like you are from here. Did you go to school elsewhere." I poop you not on that statement.

Even though I laughed when I saw this design; it hurt a little.

I also had the same reaction to this. People still say to me "You don't sound like you come from there."

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I'm looking forward to seeing the Woot sales map if this prints completely black over the entire Appalachian region.

shirlo wrote:If this had been about any ethnic group it would never have seen the light of day-- so why is it okay to say about people in a particular region of our country?

DivineAna wrote:I'm looking forward to seeing the Woot sales map if this prints completely black over the entire Appalachian region.

To me, it's no different than mocking hipsters. It's humor. It's a gross exaggeration based on a stereotype. I guess I'm not shocked that some people would find it offensive. I remember some people were offended by my Race for a Cure shirt, too. It's just my humor. In grossly exaggerating a stereotype, the intent is to mock the stereotype itself, with a knowing dig at the people being stereotyped. This is another one of my favorite designs:


Being a woman, myself, I'm pretty sure I know that my mind isn't really consumed with a clean house and new appliances. And being from a small town in Appalachia, I'm pretty sure I know how to read. And our local library has at least 5 books. ;)

BootsBoots wrote:To me, it's no different than mocking hipsters. It's humor. It's a gross exaggeration based on a stereotype. I guess I'm not shocked that some people would find it offensive. I remember some people were offended by my Race for a Cure shirt, too. It's just my humor. In grossly exaggerating a stereotype, the intent is to mock the stereotype itself, with a knowing dig at the people being stereotyped. This is another one of my favorite designs:


Being a woman, myself, I'm pretty sure I know that my mind isn't really consumed with a clean house and new appliances. And being from a small town in Appalachia, I'm pretty sure I know how to read. And our local library has at least 5 books. ;)

I'm pretty sure that most of the people who will buy & wear this shirt will not be mocking the stereotype. It will be more of a statement of how they feel about the people and the area.

fossilgirl1 wrote:I'm pretty sure that most of the people who will buy & wear this shirt will not be mocking the stereotype. It will be more of a statement of how they feel about the people and the area.

You have to know the area to mock it, otherwise it wouldn't make sense to you. Anyone who knows the area knows that the joke on the shirt is an exaggeration, not a truth. I really don't see anyone who has a vendetta against hillbillies feeling strongly enough to buy it to make a statement about how they feel about Appalachians. ;)

BootsBoots wrote:You have to know the area to mock it, otherwise it wouldn't make sense to you. Anyone who knows the area knows that the joke on the shirt is an exaggeration, not a truth. I really don't see anyone who has a vendetta against hillbillies feeling strongly enough about the issue to buy it to make a statement about how they feel about Appalachians. ;)

I agree that anyone who knows the area would disagree with the idea being portrayed with your design. I guess I'm just cynical enough to believe that a lot of the people voting for this design are not that familiar with the area and are not thinking of it as an exaggeration of a stereotype but just think it's funny to make fun of people.

fossilgirl1 wrote:I'm pretty sure that most of the people who will buy & wear this shirt will not be mocking the stereotype. It will be more of a statement of how they feel about the people and the area.

You cannot judge a design by the hypothetical motives of the people who may buy it. I think Boots made it pretty clear that there is no ill intent here.

You don't even seem personally offended, rather offended for the people who you think could be offended. That's kind of offensive if you ask me.

fossilgirl1 wrote:I agree that anyone who knows the area would disagree with the idea being portrayed with your design. I guess I'm just cynical enough to believe that a lot of the people voting for this design are not that familiar with the area and are not thinking of it as an exaggeration of a stereotype but just think it's funny to make fun of people.

I have no love (or hope) for people who like to make fun of people just to be mean. But I don't think that's the demographic of people who will enjoy this shirt. I think people who aren't familiar with the area wouldn't care enough to make fun of it. I'm sure you're right that there are a few people like that, though. I mean, I'm sure there are some people who would take things like this seriously, but they're not the intended audience of this (hilarious) image, and I don't think their ignorant misinterpretations should be catered to. I refuse.

sealchild wrote:You cannot judge a design by the hypothetical motives of the people who may buy it. I think Boots made it pretty clear that there is no ill intent here.

You don't even seem personally offended, rather offended for the people who you think could be offended. That's kind of offensive if you ask me.

Your offense at the offense offends me. ;)

Being from a little podunk community in back woods West Virginia I feel like I know and represent your typical hillbillies. That said, I absolutely love this shirt and was immensely saddened by its rejection. I have voted again and would buy this shirt for myself and most of my family.

If you ever visit an Appalachian gift shop or tourist attraction, you will find a fair share of hillbilly items that mock the locals. It's just part of the culture. This shirt would fit right in.

As a side note, our community doesn't have a library, but the town half an hour away does, AND it has even more than Boots' 5-book selection.

sealchild wrote:You cannot judge a design by the hypothetical motives of the people who may buy it. I think Boots made it pretty clear that there is no ill intent here.

You don't even seem personally offended, rather offended for the people who you think could be offended. That's kind of offensive if you ask me.

I am offended. I am sure BootsBoots had no ill intent, especially since she is from the area but it will still bother me to see someone wearing it. I guess I am in the minority though on this so maybe I'm wrong.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Oh please, people need to chill out with the offensiveness. It's a joke, boots is a satirist and satirists mock things to prove a point.

Do you guys get upset every time a a comedian makes a joke? The last derby we had was literally filled with entries mocking hipsters. Did you see a legion of hipsters whining about all the unfair generalization? Did anybody get offended on behalf of the hipsters? Would you all freak out if there was a derby mocking goth kids? Metalheads? Nerds or Jocks? Gimmie a break.

Dumb redneck/hillbilly jokes are probably one of the most common comedic mainstays in many parts around this country.

Boo hoo.

BootsBoots wrote:I have no love (or hope) for people who like to make fun of people just to be mean. But I don't think that's the demographic of people who will enjoy this shirt. I think people who aren't familiar with the area wouldn't care enough to make fun of it. I'm sure you're right that there are a few people like that, though. I mean, I'm sure there are some people who would take things like this seriously, but they're not the intended audience of this (hilarious) image, and I don't think their ignorant misinterpretations should be catered to. I refuse.

In my experience this is absolutely backwards--it is the people who are NOT familiar with the area that cluelessly perpetuate this offensive notion. I have heard well-educated and generally intelligent people used "Appalachian" as a synonym for illiterate, ignorant, and inbred--and using it in descriptive, not a joking manner! I'm sick of it. If this shirt were about an imaginary place, then it would be funny, but not when it reinforces this disrespectful stereotype of real people. We could also stereotype the lack of gene flow in small isolated rural populations across the US, or stereotype all people in urban centers as illiterate, but that would also be inaccurate and offensive. So what's next--racial or religious jokes?

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I am originally from W.V. and still have family there. Occasionally I get little comments about being a redneck or whatever, but it doesn't offend me. Neither does this design. Since Boots is from the area, it doesn't make any sense to me that people are upset by her poking fun at Appalachia - because that's really all it is, just poking fun. It's nothing truly insulting, and it most certainly NOT on par with a racial or religious joke.

shirlo wrote:In my experience this is absolutely backwards--it is the people who are NOT familiar with the area that cluelessly perpetuate this offensive notion. I have heard well-educated and generally intelligent people used "Appalachian" as a synonym for illiterate, ignorant, and inbred--and using it in descriptive, not a joking manner! I'm sick of it. If this shirt were about an imaginary place, then it would be funny, but not when it reinforces this disrespectful stereotype of real people. We could also stereotype the lack of gene flow in small isolated rural populations across the US, or stereotype all people in urban centers as illiterate, but that would also be inaccurate and offensive. So what's next--racial or religious jokes?

I personally don't think any of the things you mentioned are, by nature, offensive. I can't really argue if you feel that way, though. We just have entirely different world views. If I got offended by the things you mentioned, I'd probably just shut myself in my room all day. I'd get tired of telling people that Canadians really don't say, "eh" that much, and that there are some people from New Jersey that have no affiliation with the mob or greasy hair products.

Not that I think this is even close to the same thing, but since you mentioned these as subjects that should always be off limits, I'll say that I do love good racial and religious jokes, too. It's all about the humor and the intent, not the subject matter. And I'm not even one of the "normals" ;)

bluetuba wrote:Oh please, people need to chill out with the offensiveness. It's a joke, boots is a satirist and satirists mock things to prove a point.

Do you guys get upset every time a a comedian makes a joke? The last derby we had was literally filled with entries mocking hipsters. Did you see a legion of hipsters whining about all the unfair generalization? Did anybody get offended on behalf of the hipsters? Would you all freak out if there was a derby mocking goth kids? Metalheads? Nerds or Jocks? Gimmie a break.

Dumb redneck/hillbilly jokes are probably one of the most common comedic mainstays in many parts around this country.

Boo hoo.

You say this is satire to prove a point. What is the point this design is proving?
Do I get upset at every joke I hear? No. Only if the joke is propagating hate, racism or disdain for others. If you hear or see something that offends you, you should say so. It's not whining. I wonder, when you hear a racist joke do you laugh and say it's "just a joke"? What does it take to make you speak out against humor at the cost of others feelings?

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Also, let's face it people: stereotypes start from somewhere. It's up to us as intelligent human beings to be able to differentiate between what is stereotypical and what is FACT. I would wager that most children (even those in Appalachia) are taught the age-old saying not to "judge a book by it's cover" and that people are not always what they seem. In fact, to ASSUME Boots's intention is kinda judgmental in its own right.

fossilgirl1 wrote:You say this is satire to prove a point. What is the point this design is proving?
Do I get upset at every joke I hear? No. Only if the joke is propagating hate, racism or disdain for others. If you hear or see something that offends you, you should say so. It's not whining. I wonder, when you hear a racist joke do you laugh and say it's "just a joke"? What does it take to make you speak out against humor at the cost of others feelings?

What jokes are those? Knock-knock jokes? You must not be a fan of stand-up comedy, as you'd be offended at every other thing they typically say. Sometimes you just need to realize that everyone doesn't have to have the same views as you, and not everyone feels the same way. If it offends you the solution is simple: Don't vote for it, don't buy it, and don't wear it.

But you definitely don't need to sit here commenting repeatedly trying to convince everyone to your views. Clearly enough people DO enjoy the joke and aren't offended that this is in the fog. I really doubt it's just because woot is full of hateful folks that want to offend people. If everyone gets the joke but you, then perhaps the joke is not the problem here...

Just my 2 cents, and I'm not bothering to come back and argue with you about it either so don't bother ;)

rtofirefly wrote:What jokes are those? Knock-knock jokes? You must not be a fan of stand-up comedy, as you'd be offended at every other thing they typically say. Sometimes you just need to realize that everyone doesn't have to have the same views as you, and not everyone feels the same way. If it offends you the solution is simple: Don't vote for it, don't buy it, and don't wear it.

But you definitely don't need to sit here commenting repeatedly trying to convince everyone to your views. Clearly enough people DO enjoy the joke and aren't offended that this is in the fog. I really doubt it's just because woot is full of hateful folks that want to offend people. If everyone gets the joke but you, then perhaps the joke is not the problem here...

Just my 2 cents, and I'm not bothering to come back and argue with you about it either so don't bother ;)

So you say "it's just a joke".
No I don't expect that everyone should have the same opinion. And I don't think woot is full of hateful people(you do try to vilify people who don't agree with you don't you). No, you can't stop me from responding by saying you won't listen.

dragontears740 wrote:Being from a little podunk community in back woods West Virginia I feel like I know and represent your typical hillbillies. That said, I absolutely love this shirt and was immensely saddened by its rejection. I have voted again and would buy this shirt for myself and most of my family.

If you ever visit an Appalachian gift shop or tourist attraction, you will find a fair share of hillbilly items that mock the locals. It's just part of the culture. This shirt would fit right in.

As a side note, our community doesn't have a library, but the town half an hour away does, AND it has even more than Boots' 5-book selection.

^this

also...
Everyone varies when it comes to their sense of humor. Some prefer a dry whit... while others prefer a good ol poop joke(this group includes my 4 year old daughter). A number of people are offended by poop jokes. It offends their sensibilities and is beneath them. Some would find dry whit offensive, if they only understood the suttle undercutting which had been delivered, but they just shake their head and say, "I don't get it. That's not funny.". People of one group just don't get what's so funny about the others funny-funny.
Comedy is comedy and it comes in so many forms. You can analyze it all day long but then after doing so its no longer remains funny. Hecklers do this.
Right now, there seems to be some hecklers in the crowd. Come on gang. Shoosh now. Sit back and have a couple drinks and enjoy the show. Make sure you tip your waitress. If you don't want to, check out another show. There's a number of others going on right now. But don't go ruinning this one for others who are enjoying it.

midgerock wrote:^this

also...
Everyone varies when it comes to their sense of humor. Some prefer a dry whit... while others prefer a good ol poop joke(this group includes my 4 year old daughter). A number of people are offended by poop jokes. It offends their sensibilities and is beneath them. Some would find dry whit offensive, if they only understood the suttle undercutting which had been delivered, but they just shake their head and say, "I don't get it. That's not funny.". People of one group just don't get what's so funny about the others funny-funny.
Comedy is comedy and it comes in so many forms. You can analyze it all day long but then after doing so its no longer remains funny. Hecklers do this.
Right now, there seems to be some hecklers in the crowd. Come on gang. Shoosh now. Sit back and have a couple drinks and enjoy the show. Make sure you tip your waitress. If you don't want to, check out another show. There's a number of others going on right now. But don't go ruinning this one for others who are enjoying it.

OK, drink in hand and ready to Shoosh.I did think I was just replyng to rather harsh comments made to me. Didn't realize I was heckling (I do hate hecklers).Enough said.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

The main reason I find this so amusing is it says "come look at OUR book." It makes it look like the Appalachians are poking fun at themselves, rather than pointing a finger at someone and saying, "you only have one book, haha!"

I love this, and I love Boots's sense of humor. It always makes me smile

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Oh, come on. This is not offensive -- it's humor. If someone posted a design that said, "Library of China: Come look at the one book the government hasn't banned yet," I would laugh. Because it's funny.

logicalcupcake wrote:Oh, come on. This is not offensive -- it's humor. If someone posted a design that said, "Library of China: Come look at the one book the government hasn't banned yet," I would laugh. Because it's funny.

What would you do when you want another book 20 minutes later?

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Don't like!

fossilgirl1 wrote:I am offended. I am sure BootsBoots had no ill intent, especially since she is from the area but it will still bother me to see someone wearing it. I guess I am in the minority though on this so maybe I'm wrong.

I have to agree with you, in part because of fighting this exact type of slur all my life. I realize it's intended to be funny, but negative stereotyping just doesn't seem humorous to me.

First off, love the shirt...it's funny.

Secondly, this has got to be the most entertaining thread this side of a ramyb comment thread.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I find it amazing that there are so many negative comments about the stereotypical nature of this shirt. In the event there are people who are still unaware, let me clue you in....

There are stupid Americans EVERYWHERE!

[MOD: Edited out political statement]

dabartle wrote:What would you do when you want another book 20 minutes later?

What you did there. I seez it.

My people are from as far back in the woods of Mississippi as you can be (think Ma & Pa Kettle), and I find this design to be hysterical. We're allowed to mock ourselves, aren't we?

Re: The Library of Appalachia

The thing that's really chapping my hide about this I think (aside from the fact that it's just a funny joke that a specific subset of people are overreacting about) is that you Appalachian folks do NOT have a monopoly on the "dumb local" stereotype in this country.

As I said before these jokes are about as common as you can get from American comedians and before you all start crying about how oppressed you are and how offensive this shirt is I'd suggest you take a look at redneck jokes from Mississippi, or inbred hicks from Arkansas, or hillbillies from the Missouri Ozarks, or hayseeds from Nebraska, or yokels from Minnesota, I could go on and on, the stereotype is EVERYWHERE.

Don't have such a thin skin, you are not alone. If you learned to laugh about yourself a little more you'd be alot happier. A brutally absurd library joke tailored to your home region is not offensive.


-*posted by a guy born on a farm in the middle of nowhere central Missouri

Re: The Library of Appalachia

love this!

I was born and raised in the mountains of BFE North Carolina and moved then to East Tennessee. I LOVE this shirt and would proudly wear it around if it prints. You've GMV. If people aren't able to take a simple joke, then don't vote and move along.

I get the joke, and am actually somewhat amused at it. However, I'm also sick of these kinds of stereotypes. Appalachia continues to be one of the most economically depressed areas in the US, and things like the public library system are actually a lifeline here.

As someone who lives in the heart of Appalachia, our libraries are often the backbone of the community. In my town, the library is where you go if you want information, if you need to use a computer and if you need help accessing social services.

Particularly in WV, many people do not have access to computers or the internet and libraries provide a place for people to go that need to be able to access the internet in order to access needed services.

If you are going to make fun of something, at least make fun of something that isn't just about the only thing state and local government are doing *right* in this area.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

lakesler wrote:I get the joke, and am actually somewhat amused at it. However, I'm also sick of these kinds of stereotypes. Appalachia continues to be one of the most economically depressed areas in the US, and things like the public library system are actually a lifeline here.

As someone who lives in the heart of Appalachia, our libraries are often the backbone of the community. In my town, the library is where you go if you want information, if you need to use a computer and if you need help accessing social services.

Particularly in WV, many people do not have access to computers or the internet and libraries provide a place for people to go that need to be able to access the internet in order to access needed services.

If you are going to make fun of something, at least make fun of something that isn't just about the only thing state and local government are doing *right* in this area.

Dude, sounds like your library is just full of computers. That makes me think this shirt is even more accurate in its assessment of the library having only one book.

phineus wrote:Dude, sounds like your library is just full of computers. That makes me think this shirt is even more accurate in its assessment of the library having only one book.

"We got tons o' periodicals, news reels, microfilms, and even computers... but just the one book."

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Wow. Just wow. Off topic, and graphic design element irrelevant.
Rejected and resubmitted, no change, then not rejected, and no explanation from woot?
Should be offensive to all wooters, and not because of the debate going on above.

I'm only coming back to the derby now, having read the description last thursday, and I'm genuinely surprised at what has passed rejection here (this and others). Many of the designs are genuinely wonderful, fun or interesting, and importantly ON-topic.
This I'm sorry, although it is a funny one-liner, I can't vote for.

(Bootsboots, I'm sorry if this seems like I'm picking on your design, but as it is in the fog it is the most prominent one to highlight the argument. Feel free to point out others if you wish, but my argument is not with any artist here, my questions are directed at woot. It is their responsibility alone -or at least, solely within their ability- to ensure fair and open derbies.)

lilygrapetree wrote:Wow. Just wow. Off topic, and graphic design element irrelevant.
Rejected and resubmitted, no change, then not rejected, and no explanation from woot?
Should be offensive to all wooters, and not because of the debate going on above.

I'm only coming back to the derby now, having read the description last thursday, and I'm genuinely surprised at what has passed rejection here (this and others). Many of the designs are genuinely wonderful, fun or interesting, and importantly ON-topic.
This I'm sorry, although it is a funny one-liner, I can't vote for.

(Bootsboots, I'm sorry if this seems like I'm picking on your design, but as it is in the fog it is the most prominent one to highlight the argument. Feel free to point out others if you wish, but my argument is not with any artist here, my questions are directed at woot. It is their responsibility alone -or at least, solely within their ability- to ensure fair and open derbies.)

That's the thing that confuses me. So far as I know, Woot never gave a reason beyond "off-topic" in the previous thread. The fact that nothing has changed with the design, yet it hasn't been rejected, makes me wonder what's up. I just wish Woot would explain why they were either incorrect before or haven't re-rejected this (I personally thought this design, and a number of others, didn't really fit the bill as far as what the theme was asking for). Here's hoping they say something tomorrow now that the weekend is coming to a close.

lilygrapetree wrote:Wow. Just wow. Off topic, and graphic design element irrelevant.
Rejected and resubmitted, no change, then not rejected, and no explanation from woot?
Should be offensive to all wooters, and not because of the debate going on above....

This isn't an "incidental text" rule derby, it's a "no text only designs" rule. In the past, designs that have any graphic element, no matter how simple it is have been ok. This one has the book and the mountain outline as the graphic element.

I really didn't understand why it was rejected in the first place. I think it might have been because they were thinking of depictions of monuments when they wrote the theme, but the theme write up didn't really specify that's what the designs had to be. I e-mailed Travis and he told me that he and Barbara were both doing rejections at the time and they were split on whether or not it was on topic, but would decide to let the resubmission stand (unless a higher power decides otherwise later). I know other designs have been rejected before and then resubmitted with an explanation as to why the artist felt it was on topic, and then were allowed to stay. I thought I'd try a resubmission with an explanation, since (with the way I was thinking about it), I didn't see how it could be considered off topic.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I appreciate all of them, even the negative ones. I'm not an all-sunshine-and-roses person, anyway. ;)

Edit: Oh, and I don't feel picked on, Lily. It's ok.

Earlysong wrote:The main reason I find this so amusing is it says "come look at OUR book." It makes it look like the Appalachians are poking fun at themselves, rather than pointing a finger at someone and saying, "you only have one book, haha!"

Yes! I couldn't have said it better myself. The 'our' makes all the difference in the type of joke (self joke, rather than finger pointing).

An excellent point.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Love the shirt but I wish it said:

"check out our book"

rude

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Personally, I don't really see what the big deal is about this. I understand you may just be afraid of propelling the stereotype, but for the most part, the only people that wouldn't think of this as a joke are the people who already believe it's true. Most people understand that it's just for comedic purposes.

I honestly don't see how this is any different from all the shirts poking fun at Americans in this derby. Sure, some shirts are based more closely on fact than others, but everyone understands that it's just a joke based on a (largely untrue) stereotype.

For instance, I commented on one of the fast-food shirts saying that it makes me sad. It doesn't cause me to feel this way because it's untrue; it makes me sad because it carries a lot of weight in many parts of our country (no pun intended). Even in this case, that doesn't make it a bad shirt or something that we should be offended by, though. So why should we be offended by a shirt (that's only a joke) that is far less accurate and most people understand it as such?

Just my own 2¢...

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I already commented on loving the ESTL Colossus b/c I'm a St. Louis native... Now I see this! My in-laws have a home in the NC Appalachia and my boss is from OH Appalachia. Needless to say, between this shirt and the East St. Louis Colossus, I would have all of Xmas presents ON LOCK!

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I love your sense of humor. Very funny! +1

BootsBoots wrote:This isn't an "incidental text" rule derby, it's a "no text only designs" rule. In the past, designs that have any graphic element, no matter how simple it is have been ok. This one has the book and the mountain outline as the graphic element.

I really didn't understand why it was rejected in the first place. I think it might have been because they were thinking of depictions of monuments when they wrote the theme, but the theme write up didn't really specify that's what the designs had to be. I e-mailed Travis and he told me that he and Barbara were both doing rejections at the time and they were split on whether or not it was on topic, but would decide to let the resubmission stand (unless a higher power decides otherwise later). I know other designs have been rejected before and then resubmitted with an explanation as to why the artist felt it was on topic, and then were allowed to stay. I thought I'd try a resubmission with an explanation, since (with the way I was thinking about it), I didn't see how it could be considered off topic.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I appreciate all of them, even the negative ones. I'm not an all-sunshine-and-roses person, anyway. ;)

Edit: Oh, and I don't feel picked on, Lily. It's ok.

Thanks for the clarification, boots.
Having gone back to read the pre-derby thread that ensued I see woot FUBAR-ed the rules for this derby, confusing everyone. As such, with their second re-(or is it de-)clarification (ie "go nuts"- carte blanche in my opinion!), I don't see why this was rejected in the first place either. (Nice that you got an explanation from them though.)
As such +1!

Now, about this stereotyping...

Lol! :oP

Edit: +1 extra for courtesy if I could.

Edit: I'm also reminded of this. Sorry woot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbQ-0SX8ikM

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I would SO wear this around town (I live in the Appalachian Mountains) just to get dirty looks from old farts

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Since I am from Appalachia, I LOVE this shirt and want one so bad! I don't see how anyone from here can be offended by this shirt, it's damn funny and you know it!

I'm "smack dab" right in the middle of Appalachia and I would wear this shirt every day! I will be very very very sad if this shirt doesn't get made! <3

squirrrl wrote:Love the shirt but I wish it said:

"check out our book"

That would have been fabulous.

Still want this shirt, though.

DivineAna wrote:I'm looking forward to seeing the Woot sales map if this prints completely black over the entire Appalachian region.

You're on. I'm betting it will be one of the most lit up on the map. I'm from Arkansas - land of the barefoot hillbilly. But I know a joke when I see one.

fossilgirl1 wrote:I am offended. I am sure BootsBoots had no ill intent, especially since she is from the area but it will still bother me to see someone wearing it. I guess I am in the minority though on this so maybe I'm wrong.

It's your feeling-your opinion- and that doesn't make you wrong anymore than my +1 gmv opinion of this shirt is wrong. We are entitled to our different opinions without either of us being wrong. That's respect, tolerance, making the world go round...

toddles12 wrote:First off, love the shirt...it's funny.

Secondly, this has got to be the most entertaining thread this side of a ramyb comment thread.

agreed

Without getting into the debate over whether this is offensive or if the affectionate mockery comes through (as I can see both sides of it), I don't think this is a Woot shirt. It doesn't have the look or feel of the others currently or recently sold by Woot. I'd expect to see it on BustedTees, as their content tends to be both more controversial and more friendly to text-centered designs.

As a Kentuckian, it did make me giggle. I'm just not sure it's right for Woot.

angelaeryn wrote:Without getting into the debate over whether this is offensive or if the affectionate mockery comes through (as I can see both sides of it), I don't think this is a Woot shirt. It doesn't have the look or feel of the others currently or recently sold by Woot. I'd expect to see it on BustedTees, as their content tends to be both more controversial and more friendly to text-centered designs.

As a Kentuckian, it did make me giggle. I'm just not sure it's right for Woot.

The fact that it is in the fog would suggest otherwise ;oP
But I do know what you mean. No cutieness.
Variety. Spice. And all that. :o)

shirlo wrote:In my experience this is absolutely backwards--it is the people who are NOT familiar with the area that cluelessly perpetuate this offensive notion. I have heard well-educated and generally intelligent people used "Appalachian" as a synonym for illiterate, ignorant, and inbred--and using it in descriptive, not a joking manner! I'm sick of it. If this shirt were about an imaginary place, then it would be funny, but not when it reinforces this disrespectful stereotype of real people. We could also stereotype the lack of gene flow in small isolated rural populations across the US, or stereotype all people in urban centers as illiterate, but that would also be inaccurate and offensive. So what's next--racial or religious jokes?

By that argument, you should also be offended by Walmazans Statue of Liberty. If I had never been to New York before (which I have) I would assume that everyone there eats burgers all the time and weights 700 pounds as a result. I would also assume that everything I see on tv about "New Yorkers" is correct and inherently negative; either a bunch of Jersey Shore wannabes (which is a interesting term in and of itself) or harsh, crude people that have no interest in the ideas or feelings of anyone around them. Not the case.

This derby also doesn't mandate the creation of a fictitious place, and I'm pretty sure tgentry even stated pre-derby that that's not what woot was looking for this go round. I think sometimes, people on the Internet just look for reasons to be offended and start an Internet holy war for the small pockets of people that may potentially possibly at some point in the future almost be a little offended by something. If you ask me, it's nonsense. People need to be a little offended every now and then. It makes you think and come up with a reason about why something is offensive and formulate an opinion and stance on the world. That by no means is saying that I think it's appropriate for someone to put a slur on a shirt or anything racist/sexist/otherwise blatantly aimed at intentionally isolating a particular group and hurting them, but Boots has stated multiple times that that was not the intention of her design. Parodies are supposed to poke fun at topics, and, if they're satirical, toe the line between offensive and repugnant. That's what makes satire funny. If it were neutral, it would just be another picture on a plane of cotton.

zwartepaard wrote:By that argument, you should also be offended by Walmazans Statue of Liberty. If I had never been to New York before (which I have) I would assume that everyone there eats burgers all the time and weights 700 pounds as a result. I would also assume that everything I see on tv about "New Yorkers" is correct and inherently negative; either a bunch of Jersey Shore wannabes (which is a interesting term in and of itself) or harsh, crude people that have no interest in the ideas or feelings of anyone around them. Not the case.

HEY! As a harsh, crude New Yorker with no interest in the ideas or feelings of anyone around me, I find the above statement totally offensive! ;p

zwartepaard wrote:That by no means is saying that I think it's appropriate for someone to put a slur on a shirt or anything racist/sexist/otherwise blatantly aimed at intentionally isolating a particular group and hurting them, but Boots has stated multiple times that that was not the intention of her design.

One of the points that often comes up in discussions of whether something is problematic or offensive is, "Intent is not magic."

I completely appreciate that BootsBoots intends this as affectionate humor. The fact that she's from there is a big leg up on making it more acceptable, because she's in a better position to know what the locals will find hurtful.

However, the difference between this and making fun of New Yorkers or hipsters is power dynamics. The reason most race humor is icky is that it's picking on people who have enough troubles already, and perpetuating stereotypes that are causing real harm. Humor against the poor and undereducated can also be damaging.

If you throw a rock to hit someone in the head, your intent is very different than throwing a rock to see it fly. That's fine. When someone gets a black eye, though, it still hurts.

Intent is not magic and not the point for the people who are uncomfortable with this shirt's message.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Well, the end of this derby has arrived and, even though I doubt anyone will read these very late comments, I feel like I should chime in: This shirt initially repulsed me because I see no benefit to,and actually quite alot of harm ,in perpetuating sterotypes.Now,having read all the comments,I see it more as a forum to discuss institutionalized poverty and the disposable lives of people doing the grunt work for enery interests.I think "Appalacia" is a form of whistling in the dark for many of us who prefer to think "it can't happen here".I could go on and on with examples but I'll leave it at that.

mldgibberish wrote:Well, the end of this derby has arrived and, even though I doubt anyone will read these very late comments, I feel like I should chime in: This shirt initially repulsed me because I see no benefit to,and actually quite alot of harm ,in perpetuating sterotypes.Now,having read all the comments,I see it more as a forum to discuss institutionalized poverty and the disposable lives of people doing the grunt work for enery interests.I think "Appalacia" is a form of whistling in the dark for many of us who prefer to think "it can't happen here".I could go on and on with examples but I'll leave it at that.

Well, it's either that, or it's just a stupid joke.

This whole "controversy" is pretty amusing. If I may inject some logic here, The Appalachian Mountains cover a huge portion of the eastern side of the US. I think if the shirt was actually offensive to everybody in that region, there is no way it could garner the votes that it has.

For the most part, the people that seem to be offended by this are people that are offended on behalf of those poor downtrodden Appalachian folks.

As somebody who grew up in those mountains, and continues to live amongst them, I would like to ask that anybody who feels the need to defend us, or be offended for us, to save it. We aren't feeble or dumb and we actually have a great sense of humor as well as pride and we don't need all of you overly PC nitwits getting your feathers ruffled over a stupid shirt. You want to take up a cause, go feed some homeless people in your home town or adopt a highway. Put that energy into anything that isn't self righteous BS and self indulgent indignation.

Johndis5 wrote:Well, it's either that, or it's just a stupid joke.

This whole "controversy" is pretty amusing. If I may inject some logic here, The Appalachian Mountains cover a huge portion of the eastern side of the US. I think if the shirt was actually offensive to everybody in that region, there is no way it could garner the votes that it has.

For the most part, the people that seem to be offended by this are people that are offended on behalf of those poor downtrodden Appalachian folks.

As somebody who grew up in those mountains, and continues to live amongst them, I would like to ask that anybody who feels the need to defend us, or be offended for us, to save it. We aren't feeble or dumb and we actually have a great sense of humor as well as pride and we don't need all of you overly PC nitwits getting your feathers ruffled over a stupid shirt. You want to take up a cause, go feed some homeless people in your home town or adopt a highway. Put that energy into anything that isn't self righteous BS and self indulgent indignation.

+1

shirlo wrote:I can't believe the Woot screeners didn't REJECT this one. If this had been about any ethnic group it would never have seen the light of day-- so why is it okay to say about people in a particular region of our country? This (fecal material) propagates a negative stereotype held by many ignorant and close-minded people --yes, some people think this is true, and some think it's comical rather than the despicable insult that it truly is.

I agree with this - replace "Appalachia" with any ethnicity you want and it would be rejected. I do not find this funny (or accurate).

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Oh come on, some people on here need to lighten up. There are a lot more things out there to be offended by, this shirt is funny.

jimbobka wrote:I agree with this - replace "Appalachia" with any ethnicity you want and it would be rejected. I do not find this funny (or accurate).

I think the mid-west is boring.

Replacing mid-west with an ethnicity would make the above statement racist. I don't know why you would though, because the term "mid-west", like the word "Appalachia", is not an ethnicity to begin with.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I really enjoyed my last visit to the Library of Appalachia. Beautiful scenery. However, the live banjo "ambiance" muzak was a little distracting. Fortunately, the book only had pictures in it, so my visit was not unpleasant if somewhat brief.

jimbobka wrote:I agree with this - replace "Appalachia" with any ethnicity you want and it would be rejected. I do not find this funny (or accurate).

Do you think the movie "Fargo" is offensive? I grew up near Fargo and can verify that there aren't many people who actually talk like that (my Grandma does, but she's in her 90s), so it's also propagating derogatory stereotypes about a region of the country.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I just saw this! Sorry I missed the voting. I'll be checking all weekend and WILL buy this if it comes up. (Hope, hope, fingers crossed).

I'm appalach'n - albeit the very northern part. I still live on the same acres on which I grew up. (I did leave for a while to get a degree.) I think this is hilarious. Where I work, I'm referred to as one of those "from up the mountain". Its fine. Everybody calm down. We're good with it.

Even way back when - this shirt is sort of true. Every family had a bible and that is what all the children used to learned to read.

bluetuba wrote:The thing that's really chapping my hide about this I think (aside from the fact that it's just a funny joke that a specific subset of people are overreacting about) is that you Appalachian folks do NOT have a monopoly on the "dumb local" stereotype in this country.

As I said before these jokes are about as common as you can get from American comedians and before you all start crying about how oppressed you are and how offensive this shirt is I'd suggest you take a look at redneck jokes from Mississippi, or inbred hicks from Arkansas, or hillbillies from the Missouri Ozarks, or hayseeds from Nebraska, or yokels from Minnesota, I could go on and on, the stereotype is EVERYWHERE.

Don't have such a thin skin, you are not alone. If you learned to laugh about yourself a little more you'd be alot happier. A brutally absurd library joke tailored to your home region is not offensive.


-*posted by a guy born on a farm in the middle of nowhere central Missouri

For real. I live in Alabama. We are THE butts of every redneck, look how dumb the South is, etc. joke out there. -_-' While it does get old, I can still laugh at most of it. :P

ginbak wrote:I just saw this! Sorry I missed the voting. I'll be checking all weekend and WILL buy this if it comes up. (Hope, hope, fingers crossed).

I'm appalach'n - albeit the very northern part. I still live on the same acres on which I grew up. (I did leave for a while to get a degree.) I think this is hilarious. Where I work, I'm referred to as one of those "from up the mountain". Its fine. Everybody calm down. We're good with it.

Even way back when - this shirt is sort of true. Every family had a bible and that is what all the children used to learned to read.

You haven't missed it yet! There are still 2 hours left to vote. You should see a "I'd Want One" link above the design. Click that to vote for it.

SailorButterfly wrote:You haven't missed it yet! There are still 2 hours left to vote. You should see a "I'd Want One" link above the design. Click that to vote for it.

Cool! I voted! I must have brainlessly interpreted the submissions being closed to voting closed.

Never too late to learn from my mistakes.

SailorButterfly wrote:For real. I live in Alabama. We are THE butts of every redneck, look how dumb the South is, etc. joke out there. -_-' While it does get old, I can still laugh at most of it. :P

You may be the butts, but we're the "Armpit of America"! OK - that's West Virginia.

Re: The Library of Appalachia

Wow ... if this were Regretsy and not Woot, we'd have a whole +litter+ of butt-hurt flounce-kittens to contend with. O_o

Johndis5 wrote:Well, it's either that, or it's just a stupid joke.

This whole "controversy" is pretty amusing. If I may inject some logic here, The Appalachian Mountains cover a huge portion of the eastern side of the US. I think if the shirt was actually offensive to everybody in that region, there is no way it could garner the votes that it has.

For the most part, the people that seem to be offended by this are people that are offended on behalf of those poor downtrodden Appalachian folks.

As somebody who grew up in those mountains, and continues to live amongst them, I would like to ask that anybody who feels the need to defend us, or be offended for us, to save it. We aren't feeble or dumb and we actually have a great sense of humor as well as pride and we don't need all of you overly PC nitwits getting your feathers ruffled over a stupid shirt. You want to take up a cause, go feed some homeless people in your home town or adopt a highway. Put that energy into anything that isn't self righteous BS and self indulgent indignation.

uh,ok,so the mountains you grew up in are some sort of pristine, bucolic Shangri la.Good for you.I guess you don't have to check out the skulls and crossbones on Google Earth before you traipse on down to the ol' swimmin' hole (you lucky SOB you)but down here on the Texas Gulf Coast anyone with even half a brain can see that energy interests are poisoning and outright killing people because they are not held to any safety standards.The relatives of the workers blown up at BP's Texas City plant (due to an existing faulty valve that was well known to BP and whatever oil company that sold the plant to them)were paid off with the rider that they are not allowed to talk about it.There are dozens of examples,yes,right here in my own "backyard",but I would think mountain top mining,cave-ins,and earth quakes might be of some interest to people in the affected areas because, like all of what's happened here, we didn't sign up for it.So,John Boy,you can just kiss my pink Irish ass.

mldgibberish wrote:uh,ok,so the mountains you grew up in are some sort of pristine, bucolic Shangri la.Good for you.I guess you don't have to check out the skulls and crossbones on Google Earth before you traipse on down to the ol' swimmin' hole (you lucky SOB you)but down here on the Texas Gulf Coast anyone with even half a brain can see that energy interests are poisoning and outright killing people because they are not held to any safety standards.The relatives of the workers blown up at BP's Texas City plant (due to an existing faulty valve that was well known to BP and whatever oil company that sold the plant to them)were paid off with the rider that they are not allowed to talk about it.There are dozens of examples,yes,right here in my own "backyard",but I would think mountain top mining,cave-ins,and earth quakes might be of some interest to people in the affected areas because, like all of what's happened here, we didn't sign up for it.So,John Boy,you can just kiss my pink Irish ass.

I guess gibberish is the key part of your screen name. When did we start talking about gas companies? Yes, they are toxic to our area, and I've been involved in several organizations that are trying to get them out, or at least under strict regulation.

I do have to ask, what the hell does that have to do with anything in this thread or on this shirt? Sounds like you have some major problems down there in the gulf. Maybe you should start worrying about them instead of trolling around here with completely off topic issues.

Or, you can continue to fight the good fight and change the world, one shirt.woot thread at a time.

ginbak wrote:You may be the butts, but we're the "Armpit of America"! OK - that's West Virginia.

So, who's the ankles? :D

endangeredomega wrote:Wow ... if this were Regretsy and not Woot, we'd have a whole +litter+ of butt-hurt flounce-kittens to contend with. O_o

Ha! I was just thinking about how much Helen Killer would love all the butthurt in here! ^-^

mldgibberish wrote:uh,ok,so the mountains you grew up in are some sort of pristine, bucolic Shangri la.Good for you.I guess you don't have to check out the skulls and crossbones on Google Earth before you traipse on down to the ol' swimmin' hole (you lucky SOB you)but down here on the Texas Gulf Coast anyone with even half a brain can see that energy interests are poisoning and outright killing people because they are not held to any safety standards.The relatives of the workers blown up at BP's Texas City plant (due to an existing faulty valve that was well known to BP and whatever oil company that sold the plant to them)were paid off with the rider that they are not allowed to talk about it.There are dozens of examples,yes,right here in my own "backyard",but I would think mountain top mining,cave-ins,and earth quakes might be of some interest to people in the affected areas because, like all of what's happened here, we didn't sign up for it.So,John Boy,you can just kiss my pink Irish ass.

So, at first I was assuming you accidentally replied to the wrong post, since nothing in what you quoted has anything to do with your post. But then, I don't see anything in ANY of the posts in this thread that have anything to do with oil companies in the Gulf.

So now I'm wondering... Did someone from one of those oil companies recently convince you to drink or eat something they gave you? You might want to get to a hospital ASAP, because I think they might have slipped you a mind-altering substance!

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I grew up on the edge of Appalachia and I'm of Scots-Irish descent -- the dominant ethnic group of the region. I was mildly offended by the shirt design when I saw it. Even if the designer grew up in Appalachia and meant it as poking fun at himself, I suspect many people who would buy this shirt would be merely mocking Appalachia.

I do have a lot of relatives still in the hills, and I wouldn't go back there wearing this shirt. I just wouldn't. Even if I'd give the designer a pass for being from there too, I wouldn't want to have to explain all that to someone who sees the shirt and gets the wrong idea.

Hopefully we won't be seeing this shirt this weekend.

audient wrote:I grew up on the edge of Appalachia and I'm of Scots-Irish descent -- the dominant ethnic group of the region. I was mildly offended by the shirt design when I saw it. Even if the designer grew up in Appalachia and meant it as poking fun at himself, I suspect many people who would buy this shirt would be merely mocking Appalachia.

I do have a lot of relatives still in the hills, and I wouldn't go back there wearing this shirt. I just wouldn't. Even if I'd give the designer a pass for being from there too, I wouldn't want to have to explain all that to someone who sees the shirt and gets the wrong idea.

Hopefully we won't be seeing this shirt this weekend.

By the way -- "Race for a Cure" by the same designer -- also mildly offensive -- between "Africa maybe" and the early 80s reference -- remember AIDS? Or when they first called it GRID in 1982? I wanted to believe then that the designer didn't mean offense, but now this is two designs that are troubling.

shirlo wrote:In my experience this is absolutely backwards--it is the people who are NOT familiar with the area that cluelessly perpetuate this offensive notion. I have heard well-educated and generally intelligent people used "Appalachian" as a synonym for illiterate, ignorant, and inbred--and using it in descriptive, not a joking manner! I'm sick of it. If this shirt were about an imaginary place, then it would be funny, but not when it reinforces this disrespectful stereotype of real people. We could also stereotype the lack of gene flow in small isolated rural populations across the US, or stereotype all people in urban centers as illiterate, but that would also be inaccurate and offensive. So what's next--racial or religious jokes?

So, I guess the phrase "Paddle faster I hear banjoes!" would be utterly out of the question? or does that hit "too close to home" for you?

audient wrote:By the way -- "Race for a Cure" by the same designer -- also mildly offensive -- between "Africa maybe" and the early 80s reference -- remember AIDS? Or when they first called it GRID in 1982? I wanted to believe then that the designer didn't mean offense, but now this is two designs that are troubling.

Your posts have convinced me. This designer is racist against everybody, everywhere. Damn her!

Edit: In all seriousness, it is your mind that is drawing negative conclusions about "Race for a Cure". I just read on another thread that "Race.." was purchased by over 13,000 people and is the 12th highest selling shirt in woot history. It also placed first in the derby it was in.

So, does it make more sense that 13,000 people think the African AIDS epidemic is funny, or that you are overly sensitive and seek out reasons to be offended?

If you think it's the former, then I have to ask, why are you participating in an online community where so many people are that detestable?

Re: The Library of Appalachia

I hope this gets printed. I have a friend who is a librarian in the Appalachian mountains in West Virginia. Christmas present!

studio1172 wrote:Boots, I can normally take a joke, but this hits close to home. The stereotype that people from the Appalachian mountains are illiterate and "simple" folk, gets annoying. Growing up in a small valley that thrived on tourism; I would often recieve this remark, "You do not sound like you are from here. Did you go to school elsewhere." I poop you not on that statement.

Even though I laughed when I saw this design; it hurt a little.

I have to agree. I have lived all over the country, eleven cities in seven different states, but my heart lives in Southwestern Virginia. I get really sick of hearing the illiterate / inbred / no shoes BS from people. Honestly, I can't believe this made the fog.

Johndis5 wrote:Your posts have convinced me. This designer is racist against everybody, everywhere. Damn her!

Edit: In all seriousness, it is your mind that is drawing negative conclusions about "Race for a Cure". I just read on another thread that "Race.." was purchased by over 13,000 people and is the 12th highest selling shirt in woot history. It also placed first in the derby it was in.

So, does it make more sense that 13,000 people think the African AIDS epidemic is funny, or that you are overly sensitive and seek out reasons to be offended?

If you think it's the former, then I have to ask, why are you participating in an online community where so many people are that detestable?

I find it entirely plausible that 13,000 people would miss the point.

I live in Cleveland, where thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands) of people insist that the big grinning red face of Chief Wahoo "isn't racist" and "is tradition."

And I wouldn't call hardly any of these people hateful or mean or bigoted. But do they miss they point? Yes.

So, no, I have no intention of abandoning shirt.woot! just because 13,000 people bought a shirt that may be somewhat offensive.

grumbleghoul wrote:So, I guess the phrase "Paddle faster I hear banjoes!" would be utterly out of the question? or does that hit "too close to home" for you?

Oh,like,"What do you do if you drop your wallet in West Virginia?...Kick it to Pennsylvania."?