What IS Puerto Rico to you?

[Bamber]

WELL, I've been wanting to do this thread for a long time. Please, be utterly and completely honest when replying to this thread.​

I've seen a lot of ignorance, rascism, ridiculing, and jokes about Puerto Rico in the past. From being called a terrorist at camp in the US, to being asked if I came there in a canoe or lived in teepees.

"Hahahhhahhhaahaha oooo dats funny mayneee"

Basically, this is the bullpoop we go through.

​

Well, lots of these people are actually kidding and realize that things aren't really like this. BUT lots of others are actually ignorant fools and don't realize that this island isn't that different than a city in the US... (I REALIZE THAT WE'RE ALL JKING AND STUFF, AND THAT BASICALLY EVERY RACE GOES THROUGH THIS SOMEWAY OR ANOTHER, I AM JUST MEASURING THE PUBLIC'S INTELLIGENCE)

So, I'm asking to see what do you know about this island. Basically, say what you know, or think you know, about PR. PLEASE, don't look anything up or ask anyone. Just answer these on the basis on your current knowledge.

Some guide questions, if you don't really now how to start:

1. Do you even know where Puerto Rico is?
2. What IS Puerto Rico's political status?
3. Who did Puerto Rico used to belong to, before coming into the possession of the US?
4. Does the Puerto Rican flag have 1, 4, 5, or 10 stars?
5. Give a basic percentage of the white population vs the black population of the country: For example,
"90% Black, 10% White"
6. How many Puerto Ricans live in Puerto Rico?
7. Does Puerto Rico have an Olympic team?


SOME OTHER FACTS ABOUT PR THAT SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE NOT KNOWN:

The world's largest single-dish radio telescope is in PR.
El Yunque is the only rainforest in the US National Forest System
MORE THAN 70% of the rum sold in the US comes from Puerto Rico.
There is a bioluminescent bay in PR. It's really cool, look it up.

(GTG, couldn't review thread and correct stuff, plus I wanted to add a bit. Will be edited, but in the meantime please comment below.)

 

[Blazerboy | Noah]

I've been to Puerto Rico for 2013 summer vacation. It was quite nice actually, I'm just too lazy to learn spanish for when I needed to speak it. Puerto Rico is still a territory, yes?

 

[boboy1999]

I love puerto rico! I am half puerto rican and I have been there a lot to visit family. I have never heard anything bad about puerto rico. There is nothing to hate and it is a beautiful place with wonderful people.
P.S the other half of me is British

 

[Redwash11]

Puerto Rico is a kind of root beer right.

 

[boboy1999]

Puerto Rico is a kind of root beer right.

 

[BitoBain]

1. Do you even know where Puerto Rico is?
2. What IS Puerto Rico's political status?
3. Who did Puerto Rico used to belong to, before coming into the possession of the US?
4. Does the Puerto Rican flag have 1, 4, 5, or 10 stars?
5. Give a basic percentage of the white population vs the black population of the country: For example,
"90% Black, 10% White"
6. How many Puerto Ricans live in Puerto Rico?
7. Does Puerto Rico have an Olympic team?

I'm a US citizen, so I guess I should give this a go.
1. Puerto Rico is a rectangular shaped island next to Cuba in the Caribbean.
2. It is a territory, like Guam or the Virgin Islands, I think.
3. I think it was a European country that gave it to us as payment for something during the colonial era. Spain I guess?
4. 4 stars? I don't know.
5. Probably only 2-5% of the population is white. This rest is mostly African American or Hispanic, I think.
6. A couple million.
7. Yes, Puerto Rice has an Olympic team.

Edit: Just looked up all of that and I did terrible. That's one fail for me...

 

[Braden]

To me, Puerto Rico is a country.

 

[CrystalKnowledge]

I'm not trying to be rude, but every country gets a little racism-jokes handed at them. You don't need to make some kind of form for people to fill out, I honestly don't even get the point of this. I get you might not like jokes placed on your home-country but like I said, every country gets it. The only difference is you don't see others making forms for other countries to fill out.

I'm sorry if this offends you but I honestly think this thread is uncalled for, unnecessary, and quite frankly a bit pathetic.

 

[boboy1999]

I'm not trying to be rude, but every country gets a little racism-jokes handed at them. You don't need to make some kind of form for people to fill out, I honestly don't even get the point of this. I get you might not like jokes placed on your home-country but like I said, every country gets it. The only difference is you don't see others making forms for other countries to fill out.

I'm sorry if this offends you but I honestly think this thread is uncalled for, unnecessary, and quite frankly a bit pathetic.

I do agree that this thread was a little unnecessary but just because every county gets a little racism doesn't make it right and it doesn't mean people should just be quiet about it.

 

[CrystalKnowledge]

I do agree that this thread was a little unnecessary but just because every county gets a little racism doesn't make it right and it doesn't mean people should just be quiet about it.

I don't even know if I could call it racism. If anything it's just people poking fun. Is it the polite thing to do? No, not necessarily. If it was to the extent of someone saying something like "ALL ARABS ARE TERRORISTS etc." that would be extreme, but if someone says "America: Home of the fatties, home of the free", or "Did you take a canoe there?" it is honestly nothing that extreme: and nothing so major that it called for a thread and a form. Teens make jokes like these all the time, they have absolutely no sort of ulterior motives to what they say. I honestly don't see a purpose to the thread and I don't know what Bamber was trying to accomplish, in a sense it seemed like he wanted people to feel bad about it if they poked fun at "his" country.

 

[ShakeSchack]

I don't even know if I could call it racism. If anything it's just people poking fun. Is it the polite thing to do? No, not necessarily. If it was to the extent of someone saying something like "ALL ARABS ARE TERRORISTS etc." that would be extreme, but if someone says "America: Home of the fatties, home of the free", or "Did you take a canoe there?" it is honestly nothing that extreme: and nothing so major that it called for a thread and a form. Teens make jokes like these all the time, they have absolutely no sort of ulterior motives to what they say. I honestly don't see a purpose to the thread and I don't know what Bamber was trying to accomplish, in a sense it seemed like he wanted people to feel bad about it if they poked fun at "his" country.

I have seen so many posts from you being insensitive. Seriously, it seems to me that you can't see this. Some people cope with different things in different ways. He can complain about racism, why should you be against it. There is nothing wrong about saying "Hey, I feel like people are racist torwards me, I should raise awareness and show true facts about my country instead of the stereo types that are not true." Honestly you sound extremely ignorant saying that what he is talking about isn't racism. Any type of jeer or mockery based upon where someone is from, or what their ethnical background is, should qualify as racism. Certainly there are different levels of racism, but that in no way makes any of it right. And you statement about America being "home of the fatties" I'm assuming that doesn't bother you, but let's say that it affected someone else, it wouldn't make them feel too good if they thought every over country thought they were fat because they were associated with America. These ignorant posts that you have been making all across the forums are helpful, I understand these are just your opinion, but they could make someone feel bad, because all your saying in most of them is that they should not do this because it is "not a big deal." To you it may seem small, but to them it could be a big issue. Just try to refrain from saying anymore comments like that please? Thank you.

 

[CrystalKnowledge]

-snip-

I'm just going to dig into your post one step at a time, it will be the easiest way to do it.

I have seen so many posts from you being insensitive.

So many? The only post I can recall that honestly got any steam was perhaps the one that discussed depression and suicide threads.

Some people cope with different things in different ways. He can complain about racism, why should you be against it. There is nothing wrong about saying "Hey, I feel like people are racist torwards me, I should raise awareness and show true facts about my country instead of the stereo types that are not true.

Trust me, I'm not one for racism: in fact true racists sicken me. The kind of stuff he is talking about really isn't racism. Like I said, it's usually kids who are just kidding around. Every now and then you honestly have to just take a bullet. Let's think about it this way. There's always going to be one thing or another that eventually bugs you, or maybe it's going to be something you see on the forums that bugs you: but that doesn't mean you should go and make threads that are basically nagging about how you want it stopped and how you want people to behave your way and not in their own way.

Honestly you sound extremely ignorant saying that what he is talking about isn't racism.

Ironically enough you're trying to say that I should be more polite and considerate but then you go on to call me names.

Any type of jeer or mockery based upon where someone is from, or what their ethnical background is, should qualify as racism.

By definition, Racism is:
"the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races."
It doesn't quite match your definition, but if you want to go and submit yours to Oxford I'd be curious to hear the results. In all seriousness no one here is treating one another race like they're inferior, it's all part of the joking cycle. It's like some friends jokingly calling each other names such as "Pencil-Head", "Donkey-Breath", etc.

Certainly there are different levels of racism, but that in no way makes any of it right.

Like I said, it's not necessarily the polite thing to do, but then again neither is saying I'm ignorant.

And you statement about America being "home of the fatties" I'm assuming that doesn't bother you, but let's say that it affected someone else, it wouldn't make them feel too good if they thought every over country thought they were fat because they were associated with America.

Something tells me that countries don't think every single American citizen is fat. You see that's just the problem here. I feel that this "racism" issue is being blown way out of proportion on this thread.

These ignorant posts that you have been making all across the forums are helpful.

Then why are you complaining about them...?

I understand these are just your opinion, but they could make someone feel bad

You're saying I could make someone feel bad but you repeatedly said I was ignorant and you're basically treating my posts like their dirt: posts that I've spent a lot of time putting work and effort into. Do you think that makes me feel good? No, it doesn't. But I'm willing to accept your opinion for what it is and I'm not going to insult your posts or style, even if I don't agree with them.

because all your saying in most of them is that they should not do this because it is "not a big deal."

If that's all I was saying I would honestly just write "it's not that big of a deal", I wouldn't write these novels of posts.

To you it may seem small, but to them it could be a big issue. Just try to refrain from saying anymore comments like that please? Thank you.

That's the one thing you got me on, but it's kind of impossible for me to tell. Everyone has things that are important to them. But I don't think teenagers who casually joke about a country for giggles should be one.

Just try to refrain from saying anymore comments like that please?

No, not ever. Not you or any one else will change my post style, and I mean it. I'm not going to mute my opinions just so other people can have theirs be louder. The whole point you were making on your post was how I was being insensitive to this guy and his post and now you're basically telling me to shut up and not to make posts like this? I honestly don't even know what to say to you except that I'm honestly surprised that you could even THINK that's right.