Blackmail refers to a situation that arises when a person threatens another person with some form of punishment if they do not offer some form of concessions. Blackmail is usually the result of one person somehow obtaining embarassing information about another and threatening to disclose it unless some form of payment (money or favors) is offered. The term originates from the words "black" and "mail", which referred to the dark or threatening nature of the letters (mail) that were received detailing the threat. Although blackmail usually entails paying a price to obtain another person's silence about an embarassing situation, it need not involve an actual event before it can be conducted. The threat of embarassing someone for a contrived event can be enough to conduct blackmail effectively, provided the threat is believable.
Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition frequently tells companies that if they do not donate to their cause and hire their members, they will accuse them of racism and organize commerce-damaging protests. Whether any racism exists or not, the threat of income loss and negative publicity is enough to extract blackmail money.
by FigurinOutLife March 24, 2004
The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition (RPC) is an organization founded by the Reverend Jesse Jackson, the name derives from the roots of the organization - a merger between the Rainbow coalition (founded 1985) and Operation PUSH (started about 1971). The stated mission of the organization is to foster "civil rights" and empower people of color (i.e. black). RPC frequently uses political pressure tactics bordering on blackmail designed to coerce companies into "donating" to the RPC (i.e. bribe them to go away) or employing RPC members in nice cushy jobs to ensure "liason" between the company and the black community (i.e. provide continuous welfare and the ability to monitor companies from the inside for future blackmail operations).
We have a rainbow of races at our company, but Jesse Jackson decided there were not enough black ones in top management positions so he PUSHed us around with threats until we paid him to go away, gave mandatory promotions to unqualified blacks (including his friends he owed favors) and ended with a nice flowery speech about how this showed our commitment to diversity. Hopefully now we are under the "protection" of Jesse and no one else will come and blackmail us.
by FigurinOutLife March 24, 2004
A slang term for the degree of risk white employers take when hiring black employees. It was coined in honor of a black female contestant on a reality show called "The Apprentice" who had very little value as an employee and an infamous ability to irritate all those around her. She wore her race and gender on her sleeve, using them to bait or bash other contestants on the show. When "fired" from the show, she immediately accused the cast members of calling her a "nigger" and of racial antagonism during the show. She received a lot of media attention, as those who play the race card usually do, and despite her lack of credibility (e.g. she *forgot* who it was that called her a "nigger", whether or not anyone else was around, when it happened, and why the cameras didn't catch it), she was invited back to the show. Thus demonstrating that there is a penalty for those called a racist, but not for those who call others a racist and are proven to be liars.
Companies fear hiring people like Omorosa. People who sell themselves very strongly, display up-front confidence and have a suitable resume, yet in the end offer no value to the company as an employee, create an environment of conflict and hatred among other employees, and is a walking time bomb waiting to scream "racism" or "sexism" the moment something doesn't go their way (e.g. denied a raise, promotion, or is fired).
The Omorosa factor is a value that ranges from zero (no risk) to one (the employee is actually Omorosa herself). It is used to multiply another value called the O-cost, which is typically a fixed percentage of the company's value. This is amount that will normally be sued for. Multiplying the two gives a company an idea of how much risk they are taking on by hiring the employee.
Companies fear hiring people like Omorosa. People who sell themselves very strongly, display up-front confidence and have a suitable resume, yet in the end offer no value to the company as an employee, create an environment of conflict and hatred among other employees, and is a walking time bomb waiting to scream "racism" or "sexism" the moment something doesn't go their way (e.g. denied a raise, promotion, or is fired).
The Omorosa factor is a value that ranges from zero (no risk) to one (the employee is actually Omorosa herself). It is used to multiply another value called the O-cost, which is typically a fixed percentage of the company's value. This is amount that will normally be sued for. Multiplying the two gives a company an idea of how much risk they are taking on by hiring the employee.
Subordinate: "Sir, management wants to increase diversity in our department. Perhaps we should give extra weight to minority applicants."
Manager: "Agreed. We can kill two birds with one stone by hiring a black woman, that way we get gender and race at the same time. Do we have any that are handicapped or veterans as well? That would be the best!"
Subordinate: "No, sir, just this one black woman is on the list: Jawanda. She seems fairly qualified."
Manager: "Invite her in."
Jawanda: "I am a strong, black woman from the Bronx and I will kick ass in this white male-dominated field."
Manager: "Sorry, your Omorosa factor is too high. Next..."
Manager: "Agreed. We can kill two birds with one stone by hiring a black woman, that way we get gender and race at the same time. Do we have any that are handicapped or veterans as well? That would be the best!"
Subordinate: "No, sir, just this one black woman is on the list: Jawanda. She seems fairly qualified."
Manager: "Invite her in."
Jawanda: "I am a strong, black woman from the Bronx and I will kick ass in this white male-dominated field."
Manager: "Sorry, your Omorosa factor is too high. Next..."
by FigurinOutLife September 22, 2005
1) Tolerance (active): The idea that one should attempt to overcome a belief, prejudice or hatred that they hold.
2) Tolerance (passive): The process by which one gradually become less and less bothered by another belief, prejudice or hatred due to continued exposure.
3) Tolerance (liberal): What the majority should have towards minorities, but not vice versa
2) Tolerance (passive): The process by which one gradually become less and less bothered by another belief, prejudice or hatred due to continued exposure.
3) Tolerance (liberal): What the majority should have towards minorities, but not vice versa
1) "Bigots" lack tolerance or appreciation of our people, which makes them despicable
2) Bigots would have more tolerance if they just hung around more of our people
3) Those damn, horrible hateful bigots should all be shot dead by us tolerant, peace-loving non-bigots... um, as a service to society, of course.
2) Bigots would have more tolerance if they just hung around more of our people
3) Those damn, horrible hateful bigots should all be shot dead by us tolerant, peace-loving non-bigots... um, as a service to society, of course.
by FigurinOutLife September 28, 2005
A recent example of how race and victimhood are so integral to Black America's interpretation of the world around them, trumping even high levels of education, wealth and success by replacing them with pride, paranoia and blame.
White officer: "Sir, we had a report of a break in. Is this your house?"
Henry Gates Jr: "RACIST! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO BLACK MEN IN AMERICA, DAMMIT! YOU THINK A BLACK MAN LIKE ME COULD NEVER LIVE IN A NICE HOME LIKE THIS?"
Officer: "No, sir, really, we had a call from your neighbor about a break-in. I just need to see some ID so that I know who you are and if this is really your house"
HGJ: "WHAT? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, PUBIC SERVANT? YOU PROBABLY MAKE LESS THAN 1% OF WHAT I DO AND IT BOTHERS YOU BECAUSE I'M BLACK, DOESN'T IT?!?"
Officer: "There's no need to shout, and this is not about race. This can be resolved if you just show me your ID..."
HGJ: "THAT IS SUCH TYPICAL WHITE BULLS**T. OF COURSE IT'S ABOUT RACE! YOU'RE JUST SO DAMN INSENSITIVE YOU CAN"T SEE IT! LISTEN, WHITEY, I AM NOT JUST A POWERFUL MAN AT HARVARD, I KNOW THE PRESIDENT, DAMMIT. IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, HE'S BLACK TOO! ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE NOW?"
Officer: "Look, this is all just standard procedure, nothing else. If you don't produce some ID and calm down, I may have to arrest you."
HGJ: "YO MAMA! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE MESSING WITH? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
Officer: "Well, if you showed me your ID I would..."
HGJ: "WHAT, DO YOU THINK I'M YOU'RE SLAVE OR SOMETHING? THAT I JUST DO WHATEVER YOU SAY? WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT?"
Officer: "The law."
HGJ: "THY MAMA! I DEMAND TO SEE *YOUR* ID! HA! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?"
Officer: "Fine, here's the same ID I showed you after I first knocked. Sir, if someone were breaking into your house and pretending to be you, I'm sure you would want me to verify their identity rather than take their word for it and let them loot your house, right?"
HGJ: "YOU DARE THINK THAT YOU CAN USE LOGIC ON ME? I AM A POWERFUL MAN AT HARVARD. H-A-R-V-A-R-D, DAMMIT! WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL? OH, HA, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T! SO LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU IN SIMPLE WORDS: I AM ABOVE YOU. YOU ARE NOTHING. I KNOW THE PRESIDENT. I WILL GET YOU FIRED FOR THIS!"
Officer: "You'd POLTER someone just because they're doing their job?"
HGJ: "SO BAD YOU'LL BE EMIGRATING TO MEXICO AND HOPING YOU COULD ONE DAY ASPIRE TO BECOME A STUPID WET-BACK. I CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I AM BLACK AND A BLACK MAN CANNOT BE A RACIST"
Black Bystander: "This man is embarassing me and my race... may I suggest you use your nightstick, officer?"
Henry Gates Jr: "RACIST! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO BLACK MEN IN AMERICA, DAMMIT! YOU THINK A BLACK MAN LIKE ME COULD NEVER LIVE IN A NICE HOME LIKE THIS?"
Officer: "No, sir, really, we had a call from your neighbor about a break-in. I just need to see some ID so that I know who you are and if this is really your house"
HGJ: "WHAT? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, PUBIC SERVANT? YOU PROBABLY MAKE LESS THAN 1% OF WHAT I DO AND IT BOTHERS YOU BECAUSE I'M BLACK, DOESN'T IT?!?"
Officer: "There's no need to shout, and this is not about race. This can be resolved if you just show me your ID..."
HGJ: "THAT IS SUCH TYPICAL WHITE BULLS**T. OF COURSE IT'S ABOUT RACE! YOU'RE JUST SO DAMN INSENSITIVE YOU CAN"T SEE IT! LISTEN, WHITEY, I AM NOT JUST A POWERFUL MAN AT HARVARD, I KNOW THE PRESIDENT, DAMMIT. IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, HE'S BLACK TOO! ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE NOW?"
Officer: "Look, this is all just standard procedure, nothing else. If you don't produce some ID and calm down, I may have to arrest you."
HGJ: "YO MAMA! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE MESSING WITH? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
Officer: "Well, if you showed me your ID I would..."
HGJ: "WHAT, DO YOU THINK I'M YOU'RE SLAVE OR SOMETHING? THAT I JUST DO WHATEVER YOU SAY? WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT?"
Officer: "The law."
HGJ: "THY MAMA! I DEMAND TO SEE *YOUR* ID! HA! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?"
Officer: "Fine, here's the same ID I showed you after I first knocked. Sir, if someone were breaking into your house and pretending to be you, I'm sure you would want me to verify their identity rather than take their word for it and let them loot your house, right?"
HGJ: "YOU DARE THINK THAT YOU CAN USE LOGIC ON ME? I AM A POWERFUL MAN AT HARVARD. H-A-R-V-A-R-D, DAMMIT! WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL? OH, HA, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T! SO LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU IN SIMPLE WORDS: I AM ABOVE YOU. YOU ARE NOTHING. I KNOW THE PRESIDENT. I WILL GET YOU FIRED FOR THIS!"
Officer: "You'd POLTER someone just because they're doing their job?"
HGJ: "SO BAD YOU'LL BE EMIGRATING TO MEXICO AND HOPING YOU COULD ONE DAY ASPIRE TO BECOME A STUPID WET-BACK. I CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I AM BLACK AND A BLACK MAN CANNOT BE A RACIST"
Black Bystander: "This man is embarassing me and my race... may I suggest you use your nightstick, officer?"
by figurinoutlife July 28, 2009
After 9/11 the word "terrorism" became a much more emotional term for Americans than before, when it was equally deplorable yet much more theoretical in most people's minds (i.e. something that happens elsewhere). Consequently, politically active people engaged in vocabulary hijacking by applying the term "terrorist" to their opponent's activities (e.g. environmental "terrorists", government-sponsored "terrorists", anti-choice "terrorists").
by FigurinOutLife April 09, 2006
A strategy used to conceal ignorance in a debate when unable to answer a question by deferring to a Google search as "proof" that a good answer exists.
Google Punting is an intellectually lazy way out of an argument. In essence, it is an admission of defeat by saying "I don't know, and I'm unable to put together an intelligent argument, but someone else probably could. Plus, this is great because I'm forcing you to do all the work, while implying that you're the lazy one (not me) because you couldn't look it up yourself. And, if you're stupid enough to do it, it's even better because if you find something that disproves my point I can counter with 'hey, I didn't say that', or 'you're just cherry-picking' *and* send you back searching for the 'real' answer".
by FigurinOutLife September 30, 2012