Maybe if I was black...
 

So I stopped by the Lacoste store at the mall last night. The sales lady asked me if I was looking for something in particular. I asked where their shoes were. She said "we don't carry our shoe line at this store, but we have this one pair". The ones they had on display weren't my style. They looked kinda like black fashion. And I don't have an issue with that, but my response apparently pissed her off.

http://www.zappos.com/lacoste-carnab...hite?zlfid=111

I made the comment "maybe if I were black". She said "well, I'm an African American woman..." I don't know what that was supposed to imply. But my comment was meant to point out that the style is along the lines of something I'd see a black guy wearing. There's a lot of products out there marketed towards black people... hair care, clothing, magazines, websites, movies, etc... the market is HUGE. It's a lucrative market. I respect that. I wasn't talking shit. But regardless, it was apparent that I pissed her off... and I didn't want to get into a conversation about marketing and niche products, etc. for fear of making myself just sound more misunderstood...

You wouldn't find many white dudes wearing FUBU for instance, or sporting a Boost Mobile cell phone.

But I'm wondering... do you really think it was that off-base for me to say something like that? I know black guys are into stuff that speaks to them, and I feel these shoes are along the lines of one of those products...

I don't think VERBALIZING the product's intended market is so offensive. If the thought of market segmentation is so damn offensive, why do they have such narrowly defined market segments to begin with?

Anyway... where do you think I went wrong with it?

It wasn't off base. You just have to chose your words carefully. To you it may not sound bad or racist, but to other people it might. You just have to watch how you say things. It sucks, but you avoid situations like the one you mentioned. Best thing to say in a case like this is "Not really my style" or something along those lines. This way no offense is taken.

To her I guess it sounded like "I'm looking for something more WHITE. I'm not a n****** you know" Obviously, it wasn't your intention, but some people will take things much differently than the way you meant it.

Black people have no problem constantly reminding you that they are different from white people. But if you remind them of it, you're a racist.

:thumbsup

Cracker.

You didn't go wrong...you got the reaction you wanted:winkwink:

I have to be honest with you...

... the sneakers in this thread DO NOT deliver.

Allow me to assist:

http://www.sneakerobsession.com/wp-c...igh-purple.jpg

hmm about the time the black girl readily identified herself as an "african american" to you. anytime niggas start getting politically correct and self righteous in an argument, theyre on the defensive and you're gonna get eaten alive dude. it had to be good entertainment or at least memorable if you brought it up here though :)

So true :2 cents:

That was a dumb thing to say considering:

1. Your saleswoman was black
2. Lacoste is NOT marketed towards blacks like FUBU is, so they're NOT going to make a shoe for us.
3. Unless you see black people on the ads in the store, it isn't for us.


That's as dumb as me walking in a Banana Republic store and telling the white saleswoman that a particular shirt is "white boy style"..

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

bingo!!!! :thumbsup

Youre lucky MSnbc wasnt there recording it. They would have called you a racist terrorist.

Looks like you need to work on your game a little bit if you want to gain admiration from black folk. http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com/

For me, a few obvious points jump right out at me.

The most obvious being that you are obviously a clown in serious need of attention.

Your glaring insecurity and or mental issues is at the root of your need to seek attention by making such an imature statement to the sales lady trying to help you.

Then... I guess the level of attention she gave you wasn't enough, so you came to GFY and posted this .. hoping for a fix. Did it help? Do you feel better now?

Last but surely not least. .... it appears that your dislike for said shoes is most likely a matter of taste and style differences due to a very large generational gap.

You must be pretty old

Those shoes look great to me and I am often complement on my taste in fashion.

I suggest you seek help for your issues instead of atempting to associate race with a brand or style of shoes on an adult message board.

This thread may very well be the biggest failure of your entire life.

The next time you think about posting ... stop ... look in the mirror ....

then kill yourself

fuckin idiot

You must be new to GFY.

Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. :321GFY

My guess is that he's either black or owns LaCoste shoes, or perhaps both and you touched a nerve.

indeed :2 cents:

At least one thing is for certain, that he's a self-righteous asshole. Maybe someone from the Rush Limbaugh forum linked to GFY.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

yep :1orglaugh

Well, if it was a Banana Republic I would have to agree. But I don't have any problem with a black or hispanic person telling me some item is white boy style.

It's almost like if someone said right to my face "YOUR WHITE". ok, I can accept that. So what's the problem? My white boy response would probably be "yeah I noticed".

I think she was a little oversensitive he used the word black. It would have been funnier if she said "I'm black, and I DAMN sure wouldn't be caught dead wearing THOSE".

As far as the poster being a loser? well, he didn't pay $5,000 for that fashion advice, so I wouldn't go off on him too much.

And all this time I thought you were black. Go figure.

I am white and could not see myself wearing those shoes, but can't say that I would necessarily group them with any race. I think they look like something a Pentecostal would wear.

They have no taste.

Where'd the dollar figure come from?

um, there is an earlier post of a guy who spent $5000 ? on a fashion makeover. last week I think. it's a reference to that.
but hey, it included a haircut :banana

http://www.zappos.com/images/723/723...5-248547-d.jpg

I'm just now looking at the picture of the shoes....How in the hell can PLAIN WHITE shoes with a small logo on them be marketed strictly towards black people....Gotdamn I thought this thread was idiotic before but now it's ridiculous....

Only a FOOL would look at those shoes and instantly think that it's for negroes....

GTFOH.

That's just crazy. Well, maybe if it included like 10 outfits... maybe not entirely crazy.

I'm picturing some wiggers or wanna be gang-bangers wearing them. Maybe to say that they're a black fashion thing might have a step beyond my intended point...

nevermind

this thread delivers

Damn I used to wear that in highschool. :Oh crap