Comments That My Eyes Cross
by Latoya Peterson
Moderating comments is an interesting mixed bag of insight, rage, and strange ideas, sprinkled liberally throughout with WTF moments. And of course, there are people who think a multiracial site makes an awesome recruiting ground for their talk show/reality show/dating needs. While I generally let all these things slide right into deleted comment purgatory, one recent comment made me do a double take (emphasis mine):
Lee Anderson | Lifetimesecrets@aol.com |
We are producers working for an Emmy Award-winning production company is producing a pilot for a prime-time reality show on a well-known, respected cable network. We are seeking willing men and women who have kept a secret close to their heart and now would like to reveal the truth to someone who will be significantly impacted by your revelation.
The act of sharing your secret could help both you and others and it may allow you to find peace and closure. You and the person you are telling, will be supported through the process and will not feel alone in dealing with your revelation.
We are experienced in honoring sensitive and intimate stories. We are not interested in any revelation that would exploit or others.
Here are some examples of the types of stories that we are seeking:
. Do you have a secret crush on someone that you work with or have known for a long time? Are you ready to tell them?
. Are you a person of color who has passed as white and are ready to embrace your ethnic heritage?
We would love to talk to you if you are ready to tell your story. If you contact us we will tell you what broadcaster is involved.
Contact us at lifetimesecrets@aol.com or newscreenent@aol.com.
Please know that your response does not necessarily guarantee that your story will be chosen, nor does it obligate us in any way to use it once you have told it to us in confidence, because we may hear like or similar stories. If the secret you choose to reveal at this casting call involves a crime or is of a criminal nature, we, of course cannot offer you protection.
Apr 24, 5:17 PM — [ Edit | Delete ] — View post “From a Mixed Race Child: Tips for a White Parent”
How is racial passing on par with a crush? Can you imagine that scenario?
“James, I’ve loved you ever since I saw you 36 years ago on the school bus and we had the same tooth missing in our second grade school picture.”
“Hanan, for the last three years, I’ve been sneaking into your cubicle and sniffing your chair so I can inhale your scent after hours.”
“Yeah, honey, about that uh,monochromatic country club we were about to apply to…I think there’s something you may need to know in case they do a DNA test…”
WTF?
Oh yeah, and nothing says peace and closure like dropping a bomb on someone for a TV show.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Eva wrote:
Wow, just wow.
I’m surprised anyone would do this, considering what happened over 10 years ago. A man killed another man who brought him on the Jenny Jones show and told him he had a secret crush on him. I remember watching that trial on TV; it pretty much destroyed the Jenny Jones show.
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 11:52 am ¶
Kandeezie wrote:
“ready to embrace your ethnic heritage” – WTF.
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 11:58 am ¶
macon d wrote:
Hilarious–in an “ugh!” kinda way.
When I first read your post’s title, I read it as “COMMENTS THAT CROSS MY EYES.”
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 12:17 pm ¶
SayNay wrote:
Hahaha that totally made my afternoon in all kinds of ridiculousness. It’s almost as crazy as the young black girl they had on Tyra a while back who was reppin’ the confederate flag.
Seriously, why do people think we need to watch this. I love the part:
“We are experienced in honoring sensitive and intimate stories. We are not interested in any revelation that would exploit or others.”
Um, yeah right! Reality tv and secrets go hand in hand with exploitation.
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 2:10 pm ¶
HH wrote:
macon d: “…AND DOT MY TEES”?
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 2:47 pm ¶
Whit wrote:
“Sweetheart, I love you and want to share the rest of my life with you. There’s just one thing… I’m …. ethnically Norwegian and Flemish! How do you feel about wooden shoes?”
God, I hope that’s what ends up happening.
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 2:48 pm ¶
Celeste wrote:
Well, where do you think all the ideas for the *fine* programming come from? I’ll stick to No 1 Ladies detective agency.
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 3:53 pm ¶
Winn wrote:
@Eva,
I’m with you, I immediately thought of the Jenny Jones show debacle, because this “revelation of secrets” was the whole premise of that episode. What the hell show is this and why are they trapped in like, 1998? And what the hell does “passing for white” have to do with “embracing your ethnic heritage”? Something tells me these show producers don’t have their bulbs screwed all the way in to the socket…
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 4:57 pm ¶
BSK wrote:
Were those really the only two examples given? Are you sure there wasn’t a forgotten edit? Wow.
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 6:55 pm ¶
Eurasian Sensation wrote:
“Um, honey, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you… you know how I eat noodles a lot, right…”
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 9:54 pm ¶
little mixed girl wrote:
i like how if a mixed person “looks” white and lives without a second thought about their non-white heritate, it’s passing.
can we retire that word?
you can’t “pass” for something you are.
*rolleyes*
Posted 27 Apr 2009 at 10:41 pm ¶
Singlutionary wrote:
Hahhhaaahhhhaaaa. That is reality TV for you! I am disgusted but I didn’t really expect anything less offensive.
Posted 28 Apr 2009 at 12:45 am ¶
Jess wrote:
Um, look, I’m often called a “passer” (in jest) by my AA friends, they think it’s kind’a funny and all, for all kinds of reasons.
(”Hey, you have both Asian and Jewish, is that twice the guilt about not going to medical school?” “Can you make kosher sushi?”)
But, hey, no big deal. I think it’s funny too. And beyond the comedy there’s all sorts of interesting questions it raises.
But my god, when was the last time you knew anyone who kept their “ethnic heritage” a secret? Really? 1965?
I have never, ever met anyone who looks white (or anything else) who said “Well yeah, I never wanted anyone to know I was X” — at least not in the US. (I’ve come across it in other countries, but the situation there was different, like wartime/ethnic cleansing different).
Certainly, I haven’t met anyone who kpt it that kind of secret from anyone they knew intimately — how could you do it? “Oh, that picture isn’t my parents, they’re the help?”
I mean, this kind of reality show is like they unfroze someone for suspended animation in 1950 who was all taken with “tragic mulatto” stories, and made them a TV producer.
Posted 28 Apr 2009 at 7:18 am ¶
Irene M. wrote:
Oh Lord. So, if I don’t talk about my mixed heritage I’m “passing” and hiding a horrible secret, but if I talk about my racial background I’m just “pretending” to be brown in order to look cool and take advantage of affirmative action?
Also, I’d bet good money that “embrace your heritage” just means embrace your stereotype.
Posted 28 Apr 2009 at 10:07 am ¶