Poll: Adidas Slave Shoes

[Wintermoot]

looks like something a shonen anime hero would wear and not something real people would wear.

 

[the abyss gazes also]

2nd: YOU may not feel the effects of slavery today, but who are you to speak for every person in the US today?

Someone who's right. Because like I've pointed out three times now and will do for the fourth time, slavery no longer exists in the US, so anyone who claims to 'feel the effects of slavery' probably needs to have his head examined, since they're sensing things that aren't there.

If slavery from back then doesn't have anymore influence today, then why is this shoe-stuff even an issue?

Because some black people in the US feel really important, and have formed their identity around a huge victim complex with pretty heavy racist undertones.

Which is why all sane people ignore them if they try to stir up a fuss about nothing like in this case.

So some questions:

1) Do you agree or disagree with the idea that there isn't a major difference in the ability of a person with darker skin compared to someone with lighter skin?

2) If not for echoes of slavery and racism than how do you explain the disproportionate amount of black men in the prison system as compared to white men?

 

[Broady Brio]

Why are we bringing prison into fashion. First there's this. [http://artoftrolling.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/yahoo-answers-troll-untitled23.jpg]

Then this onesie crap, [http://www.mixmag.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/article/images/onepiece-onesie-mixmag-fashion.jpg] resembling jumpsuits.

Now the shackles? Fashion is stupid. Or even more than before.

 

[Aurora Firestorm]

Yes, let's just look at anything that might symbolise something and assume it does! [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory]

Logic!

This all over. Look, just because someone thinks shackles look cool or badass or whatever, doesn't mean that they're promoting slavery. Really, people. *Lighten the hell up.* There are bigger problems in this world to tackle. Go read the SMBC comic on "I'm offended" vs. "It's offensive."

What do you say to all the chains that people hang off pants sometimes? Is that a symbol of slavery? What about spikes on clothes, does that glorify violence and harm?

I will say, though, that orange was a ridiculous color to choose, and thus the shackles are pretty hideous. But I could think of ways that you could use shackles in clothes that might look awesome.

 

[Just_A_Glitch]

Man, make those black and metal, and remove the Adidas logo, and I would totally rock those at goth night at my local club.

But goth night excluded, these are dumb. I don't think they're offensive. Just dumb.

 

[Shadow flame master]

looks like something a shonen anime hero would wear and not something real people would wear.

Fucking. Agreed.

 

[teebeeohh]

i really thought this was gonna be a rant about the conditions for the people making our shoes.
i am happy it's just one of those "every side in this is kinda dumb" sort of situation

 

[gideonkain]

I can't believe it's actually reached this point.
Where hip hop culture (and therefore it's clothes) has become so clueless, so vacuous, that it's forgotten about the slave trade?

Maybe you can tell us what the point is of endlessly dragging on and on about a very small event that occurred centuries ago and which nobody alive today has witnessed?

And yes, very fucking small, because there's much bigger historical events with a much larger impact today, like the First World War.

Very fucking small?! 618,000 soldiers died. You wouldn't say World War I was small because World War II had more casualties.

And besides numbers there are also the huge social ideal shifts that changed the very nature of the United States.

And it didn't happen "centuries" ago, it happened 150 years ago.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

I though this thread was going to be about child work-shops, instead I'm wondering who the hell would buy these ridiculous shoes and who at Adidas thought this was a good idea. I mean they look stupid and they must of at least had half a clue shackles on shoes would immediately draw parallels to slavery or chain gangs. Although given the type of people I know that buy Adidas trainers if its the latter may just be Adidas appealing to their target audience

 

[Souleks]

My first thought was that they were like prison shackles(Because your that much of a gangsta)
I guess I could see them relating to slavery however either way they look dumb and I will laugh at anyone I see wearing them.

 

[ResonanceSD]

I can't believe it's actually reached this point.
Where hip hop culture (and therefore it's clothes) has become so clueless, so vacuous, that it's forgotten about the slave trade?

Maybe you can tell us what the point is of endlessly dragging on and on about a very small event that occurred centuries ago and which nobody alive today has witnessed?

And yes, very fucking small, because there's much bigger historical events with a much larger impact today, like the First World War.

Very fucking small?! 618,000 soldiers died. You wouldn't say World War I was small because World War II had more casualties.

And besides numbers there are also the huge social ideal shifts that changed the very nature of the United States.

And it didn't happen "centuries" ago, it happened 150 years ago.

All good points, but you quoted me rather than the other guy.

 

[JasonKaotic]

Dude, you're breathing! The Nazis did that! You're exactly the same as them! I hate you!
No. No they are not. I have no idea who'd want to wear them, but I swear there're people on the internet who actively search for things they can start this sort of drama about or something.

 

[NiPah]

I wonder if they will give the employ discount on these shoes since they're the same version as the ones worn by their Chinese employees.

 

[DaWaffledude]

Not offensive, just really really stupid. I mean, what else could they possibly make people think of? Do you want your company to be associated with slavery?

 

[ElPatron]

Where people see slavery, I see BDSM.

However I don't see how it would be cool to wear those. Can't we just look at things and say it's stupid before jumping into conclusions? Or the people turning this into a controversy are implying that only black people would wear that?

I can't believe it's actually reached this point.
Where hip hop culture (and therefore it's clothes) has become so clueless, so vacuous, that it's forgotten about the slave trade?

Slave trade was abolished centuries ago. WWII was just 70 years ago but it's not too soon to slaughter Germans - did we forget about that? We also killed lots of Jews before WWII, but people probably forgot about that because nobody cares about Jews.

Just saying, but it's about time someone is ignoring something that has far too much impact on modern society compared to other atrocities.

Or maybe it's an ironic statement that I can't understand because I'm too white.

 

[Leadfinger]

Considering the sweat shop controversy Adidas has been embroiled in, the shackle shoes are a delicious, if unintended, irony.

 

[Akytalusia]

i don't find them offensive, but they're tacky as fuck.

 

[Woodsey]

I can't believe it's actually reached this point.
Where hip hop culture (and therefore it's clothes) has become so clueless, so vacuous, that it's forgotten about the slave trade?

Maybe you can tell us what the point is of endlessly dragging on and on about a very small event that occurred centuries ago and which nobody alive today has witnessed?

And yes, very fucking small, because there's much bigger historical events with a much larger impact today, like the First World War.

Yeah, that tiny, 300-year event that still shapes the socioeconomic status of Americans today. 150 years ain't exactly 'centuries'.

OT: I dunno, I don't think anyone at Adidas would be that stupid. They are fucking hideous though.