We laugh and joke about some people being “really white” (or quintessentially black or brown). The guy in this video represents a classic case of a white brother who comes off as…well…white.
I can’t really put my finger on what it is, but he seems like the quintessential white guy. Why? That’s the question…and please take a serious stab at it. What is he saying or doing that makes him white? Is it his voice? His clothing? The way he stands? What he’s talking about or how he says it? By the way, note the awkward silence right around the 1:56 mark. Maybe the clue lies right there. And by the way, this video was sent to me by someone who I consider to be the “whitest” person I know…and he thought the video was “cool.”
Yes, this guy is VERY white. When looking at him, I first notice his buzz cut, teamed with the polo with undershirt, tucked into belted jeans. Once he starts talking, his mannerisms even further display his "whiteness". My favorite is the full hand point paired with the squinted eyes and raised eyebrows. The way he carries himself also underlines his ethnicity. He is very rigid and straight, unlike the looser stances observed among other races. The awkwardness defnietly adds to his white appearance. My favorite was his awkward pause after mentioning how people don't stare at crotches. Don't they though? I'm sure there are plenty of weirdos out there that do, but I guess they would just think he was well hung instead of packing heat. Of course the way he speaks points out his whiteness. He has the classic 'news reporter' accent that can carry itself across the nation. Also, the fact that he is making a video about a product that he bought and happens to really like seems like something a white person would dp. As far as I know, he has no investment in this product and making this video does not benefit him in any way.
It may actually come back to bite him when someone pulls their concealed crotch gun on him the next time he's at the bank or walking to his car after his stereotypically white job. The only thing that would make him whiter would be if he was eating a mayonaise sandwich on white bread, wearing jean shorts (or jorts) while unsuccessfully trying to dance. Later, he would return home to his trailer. Although we do have many stereotypes for all the races, I'd say the white sterrotype is the hardest to define, perhaps this is because I am a part of this culutre and it is much harder to take a critical look at yourself than others. There are also many different subcultures within the white culture. I guess this guy seems to exhibit all of the typical middle class qualities. He tucks his shirts into his belted jeans, has a buzz but, and loves talking about guns, what else can I say?
I think that video was absolutely ridiculous. Like someone previously said in another blog post, i could not really tell if this guy and/or video was serious or not, at all. It pisses me off a fair amount that people say things like "Oh, he acts white, or he talks white" or say, "he talks black, or acts black." Anything saying that certain races talk and or act a certain way is complete ludacris. When people say things like "oh, he acts black, or talks black" they are only basing it off of stereotypes, and that is what makes it so wrong, and such bull shit. The reason that people say "oh, he is acting black, or talking black" is because those people may be acting or talking in a "ghetto" or gang-affiliated manner. And it just so happens that a fair amount of gang members or "ghetto people" are african-american. It is completely unfair to african-american people to just put their race in a general, negative statement like that, just because one idiot who just so happens to be the same skin color as them is acting and/or talking in that idiotic way. And on the other hand, when people say, "oh, that person is acting so white, or talking so white" they are also basing their false and idiotic assumptions on stereotypes. This time, they are basing it on the fact that "nerds" or "geeks" talk and/or act in a certain, different way. Those people saying those statements are assuming that all "nerds" or "geeks" are white. Yes, there are a number of nerds or geeks that are white, but every race has people who are also geeks or nerds. Once again, it is not fair to all white people that whoever is making that inaccurate and idiotic statement is putting all white people in the category of acting and/or talking like a "nerd" or "geek", assuming that you would find that to be insulting and/or offensive. As for white people's athletic skills, it seems to be true that african-american people do trump white people in terms of athletics and/ or dance, but the type of saying like "white men can't jump" is once again a terrible generalization and stereotype that is based on not everyone in the white race.
So the question of the day is what could make this guy less white? Well when watching this video I could not believe that it could be serious. After watching it for about a minute or so I realized that this guy really was serious and this video was in no way, shape, or form meant to be funny. The man in the video is giving the audience an honest review. There a few other “white” physical traits that the man has such as his haircut, which is short and buzzed on the sides, and his white polo shirt tucked into his light blue jeans are typical “white man” ensemble. We also cannot forget the fact that the whole video is about gun holsters. Guns are very much an American or “white” stereotype and this man is really fueling that fire with this video.
The fact that this man has absolutely zero sense of humor does not help him at all either. I would say that many white men are stereotyped as “dull” or “lame” and this man is displaying these exact traits. The only time he seems to try to be “funny” is when he says “When was the last time you caught yourself looking at someone else’s zipper?” and even then he is funny for completely different reasons then he probably intended. At one point he is literally standing in front of a camera with his pants down, which of course he prefaces with “I am wearing running shorts so when I unbutton my pants everything will be fine.” The whole situation just comes off as completely awkward instead of reassuring. This of course is happening while he is strapping something that hangs over his penis. Anyone who is not typically “white” would not spend fifty-dollars on a pouch attached to Velcro, they would just tuck it into their pants and go on with their lives. What is even “whiter” is that is stupid thing even needs a full tutorial on how to use it. Only a “white” man would feel the need to make an awkward six-minute video detailing how place a gun holster over your penis.
The fact that this man is so oblivious to everything awkward is probably the most “white” thing about him. This is a video about putting your hands in your pants and he has absolutely no idea! To add even more “white” qualities he explains that you could wrestle with your kids in the living room wearing it and you will be completely comfortable. Being comfortable is obviously the issue in that statement. Only a white man would play with his kids in his own home wearing a fifty-dollar gun holster down his pants with a loaded gun inside of it.
The reason why this guy who is making a video for the smart gun holster so white is simply by the way he acts and takes care of himself. It seems that the major difference between a truly white person and any other human being is that extremely “white” people don’t really care about anything other than what makes there lives easier, whether or not it looks extremely weird, stupid, or outrageous. This smart gun holster can be directly compared to a fanny pack which is essentially the same thing but it is not meant to hold a gun. It is meant to keep all of your valuables out of sight in case you are mugged. In movies or television series you can see examples of people making fun of fanny packs because they are too “white”.
Another reason why we might see this person as being too white is because of the way he acts. He is extremely awkward in this video, especially when starting to talk about the area in which the smart gun holster is positioned. There is one part in the video where he is about to take his pants off and he feels it is necessary to inform people that he is most definitely wearing running shorts underneath. He then goes on to say, “When is the last time you caught yourself staring at someone else’s zipper?”, which in the end just makes the whole situation that much more awkward. Another reason why we might make fun of this person is because of the way he dresses. He is wearing a white polo with jeans that run right up to his waist. Nowadays cool is pictured as someone who wears there pants below their waists and walks around with a limp. This man seems to be the complete opposite, wearing his pants up high and he seems to be very stiff and not too loose. On the other hand, all of these examples can be labeled as stereotypes which I don’t usually agree with. However when you look at this person it is hard to see that he is not a typical white adult.
In the average world today people in different countries have different ideas of the typical white person in America. I think that white people vary in personality and style more than any together race and I think that’s why that it is this way. I enjoyed watching he video because the man it in was extremely awkward.. who wears a gun strap? That’s like wearing a phanny pack in public if your not at an amusement park. Also people are seen in different ways by the clothes that they wear. And white people always tend to have many many different styles. In the video the man looked like an average 40 year old dad in his daddys jeans and white polo. In the interest that some white people may find this offensive in ways.. it really doesn’t insult me at all. It doesn’t insult me because I know that some white people are just completely ridiculously awkward, and sometimes don’t really care. White people always tend to also say that black and asian people tend to look the same. Which I somewhat believe is true except for that stand out individuals. I could see how some think that we all look the same because there is a typical way that white people tend to act and dress. In the video, he goes to explain why he pulls down his pants below the waste line, but he had basketball shorts on which is considered acceptable. I also believe this because I do the same thing on almost a daily basis, in fact right now. This could be compared to the typical way that white people act, confidently awkward. I see people everyday that I think to myself look like they have no idea how to act in a social enviroment. Being at Penn State, I see the majority of the people are white, but I do not see people like that kid in the video everyday. Although, I do see others that you could categorize as the awkwardly confident individual. Overall, I do believe that it is wrong to stereotype someone, it is hard not to do so.
What makes this guy so white in my opinion is the way he speaks and his actions. The way he speaks and his word choice, I believe, says it all! For instance, he say is not very confident in what he is saying. He often repeats himself throughout the video. One thing he continually repeats is the fact that you have to wear the thing low. He says it about 5 or more times in this five-minute video, and he does not articulate it very well. Typically an ad for a product will articulate very well a specific aspect of the product, he just says the same thing over and over with no significant variation. Also, he is almost monotone. There is nothing in this video at all that excited me. I felt bored by the end and this video is only five minutes. An advertisement that is five minutes should not make me bored by the end. My favorite part, however, was when he was doing the demonstration! I felt so awkward at this part because he kept telling the camera that he had gym shorts on so it was okay, nothing would come out or happen. I thought this was so hysterical. He made sure that we knew that these shorts were on. He was so nervous about it! He made sure to tell us twice that he was wearing them. It is also important to look at how unconfident he is in the video. The multiple uses of the sound “umm” and the awkward pauses are signs of a lack of confidence. I think that this makes a person seem more “white.”
I also like the fact that this is a sort of advertisement for a gun holder. I think it’s hysterical that men need to have this bolster to hide their gun under their pants. His awkward demonstration of getting the gun out is priceless! He sticks his hand down his pants! I think it is so funny! Also, when he says, “…you can even wrestle with your kids in the living room with this holster on,” is hysterical to me. Why would you have a gun on while playing with your kids? Also, it’s such a white dad type of thing, in my opinion: wrestling with your kids on the floor. It just seems so “white.”