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nuxvomica

(13,996 posts)

66. It's actually very simple: a maroon is a castaway or escapee from a ship

Mon Dec 28, 2020, 07:44 AM

Dec 2020

The slave reference referred to slaves who escaped their ships, probably swimming to the nearest island, where they were "marooned". The fundamental meaning refers to people lost at sea, probably by falling overboard or ship sinking, that managed to find dry land. So a "maroon" is somebody who is lost but manages to survive and the derogatory extension is someone who is clueless, rudderless, figuratively "lost at sea".

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What is a maroon? [View all] reACTIONary Dec 2020 OP

But is that how the word was known/used in the mid-20th Century? Sanity Claws Dec 2020 #1

I don't know, but... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #5

You may be thinking of "moran" Towlie Dec 2020 #2

Nope. Maroon... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #8

Just another word for moron (i.e. idiot) tinrobot Dec 2020 #73

Don't know about maroons SCantiGOP Dec 2020 #3

As far as I'm concerned a maroon is a MORON as used in the 20/21 century Raine Dec 2020 #4

He was mispronouncing the word "moron." The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2020 #6

That may be, but... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author Hekate Dec 2020 #47

+1 2naSalit Dec 2020 #15

Agree nt Raine Dec 2020 #19

I think someone is bored tonight Hekate Dec 2020 #49

Yes, Quite obviously. cwydro Dec 2020 #64

One Of The Earliest Professional Football Teams Was Called The Pottsville Maroons ChoppinBroccoli Dec 2020 #7

That's all it was -- the team's colors. This is being waaaayyy over thought. Progressive Jones Dec 2020 #57

It is very common in English for one word LuvNewcastle Dec 2020 #9

I'm not so sure ... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #12

Yeah, those were some real wordsmiths. LuvNewcastle Dec 2020 #17

I, for one, do think they were real wordsmiths... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #23

This message was self-deleted by its author LuvNewcastle Dec 2020 #30

agree; there is no reason to automatically assign treestar Dec 2020 #79

Employing Occam's Razor... Cirque du So-What Dec 2020 #10

There are much more concrete examples.... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #14

That's just, like, your opinion, man Cirque du So-What Dec 2020 #16

Correct. That is my opinion... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #21

Occam's Razor again... Cirque du So-What Dec 2020 #31

He wouldn't be calling him a "runaway slave", he would be... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #34

You know what? Cirque du So-What Dec 2020 #43

Sorry for being so argumentative; you are correct... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #61

"I certainly didn't think it would start such a contentious discussion." cwydro Dec 2020 #67

I'm actually very surprised that Bugs is such... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #70

Oh my. cwydro Dec 2020 #74

I don't see any fierce defenses in place... LanternWaste Dec 2020 #80

Yes, I suppose this assessment assumes.. reACTIONary Dec 2020 #81

Presumes, not assumes... "well, we are all human." LanternWaste Dec 2020 #97

My hypothesis is based on... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #107

"The character Bugs Bunny is prone to malapropisms." SMC22307 Dec 2020 #108

a maroon is the mascot of Austin HS katusha Dec 2020 #13

In that case it refers to the color BainsBane Dec 2020 #20

a fugitive slave BainsBane Dec 2020 #18

seriously? This is what you are worried about? Takket Dec 2020 #22

I'm not very worried about it... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #26

Obviously, Bugs Bunny needs to be expurgated and Mel Blanc reviled. Sneederbunk Dec 2020 #24

I, for one, am a great admirer ... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #29

In Bug's context it's always a sucker or a fool - nothing about slavery lame54 Dec 2020 #25

I take it to be... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #40

What specifically leads you to "take it to be" a racial slur other than "a hunch?" LanternWaste Dec 2020 #98

A stretch I think... Happy Hoosier Dec 2020 #27

Bugs Bunny literally does blackface, does "Mammy" imitations, minstrel show songs greenjar_01 Dec 2020 #28

I think you are spot on... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #32

So you then looked into it, eh? What relevant and objective information came up LanternWaste Dec 2020 #99

I utterly reject your hypothesis. MicaelS Dec 2020 #33

I am definitly not trolling... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #36

+100 Celerity Dec 2020 #87

I do believe you are correct. LanternWaste Dec 2020 #101

A lot of the old Looney Tunes use language which is now really shunned... Rightly. RockRaven Dec 2020 #35

Thanks for your observations... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #37

Deliberately Flatbush, according to Mel Blanc. n/t Greybnk48 Dec 2020 #39

Thanks, I didn't know... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #41

Nope, nope, nope. Bullshit. A "maroon" is a dope, an idiot. Greybnk48 Dec 2020 #38

It is the word for a fugitive slave BainsBane Dec 2020 #44

It's Bugs Bunny speak for "moron". COLGATE4 Dec 2020 #42

This is the right answer. Mc Mike Dec 2020 #59

He also calls Fud, the mighty hunter, a Nimrod... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #62

Maybe the writer read the Bible, or at least made it to the Nimrod reference in... SMC22307 Dec 2020 #109

Given what I know about bible thumpers.... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #110

One of the most fun things I ever did was attend Seattle Symphony nolabear Dec 2020 #114

Good times! Even better than... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #115

+100000000000000000000000000000000 x 2 AmyStrange Dec 2020 #60

Absolutely, 100% this. Greybnk48 Dec 2020 #92

Where do they get this nonsense from???? COLGATE4 Dec 2020 #93

How about "MAGAroon"? Zorro Dec 2020 #45

This message was self-deleted by its author Tbear Dec 2020 #46

I believe the fancy word for that method in comedy is malapropisms..... KY_EnviroGuy Dec 2020 #48

malapropisms are when you use a correctly pronounced word but in the wrong context nt Celerity Dec 2020 #51

Thanks. Is there a word to describe the opposite? KY_EnviroGuy Dec 2020 #52

wilful mispronunciation (a hateful example is what the Rethugs do with Kamala Harris's name) Celerity Dec 2020 #55

Stump speech monologs... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #69

Thanks. TigressDem Dec 2020 #50

I'm not so sure that skinhead was right. Mister Ed Dec 2020 #58

At any rate, if someone takes an insult to heart when I meant no harm, I'd rather know. TigressDem Dec 2020 #83

2 points. Celerity Dec 2020 #53

Malise can explain better, I know this word from time in Jamaica... winstars Dec 2020 #54

I truly doubt there was any racist connotation. nt Progressive Jones Dec 2020 #56

Perhaps not. It would not be without precedent, however. nt reACTIONary Dec 2020 #63

Is anyone arguing it would be without precedent? LanternWaste Dec 2020 #103

I never associated the term "maroon" with racism until reading this thread. Consider this ... Earthshine2 Dec 2020 #65

Further background Celerity Dec 2020 #88

It's actually very simple: a maroon is a castaway or escapee from a ship nuxvomica Dec 2020 #66

Sorry but this is absurd and many have explained why to you repeatedly. honest.abe Dec 2020 #68

Absurdity is part of Bugs' appeal. Go with it. nt reACTIONary Dec 2020 #71

Here's another one to investigate: "ignoranimus" honest.abe Dec 2020 #76

I'm going to... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #89

.. honest.abe Dec 2020 #90

TOS, Brother, comment with care. nt. reACTIONary Dec 2020 #91

How so Brother?? honest.abe Dec 2020 #94

It was appropriate for the discussion, PatSeg Dec 2020 #96

I guess it wasn't directed at you. I have a different perspective. nt reACTIONary Dec 2020 #117

I didn't take it as directed at anyone PatSeg Dec 2020 #118

Ten bucks says you fail to see the irony in your having said that. nt, Part II LanternWaste Dec 2020 #104

Please explain. nt. reACTIONary Dec 2020 #112

Is Bugs goofing on 'Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay' a no-no, too? (n/t) SMC22307 Dec 2020 #111

Of course not.... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #113

+100 Celerity Dec 2020 #72

It's a racist term and one that is easily deniable, making it perfect for use in a minstrel-y WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2020 #75

It's not a racist term per se at all, & the Bugs Bunny usage has nothing to do with maroons in terms Celerity Dec 2020 #84

No what it really is, is shit-stirring. n/t MicaelS Dec 2020 #85

+100 Celerity Dec 2020 #86

Lol...nope. Iggo Dec 2020 #77

It can mean both things treestar Dec 2020 #78

... AmericanCanuck Dec 2020 #82

I'll go you one better COLGATE4 Dec 2020 #95

The Maroons of Jamaica malaise Dec 2020 #100

I am so glad someone finally brought this up. It is way more important than the stimulus package. marie999 Dec 2020 #102

It's a color to me and also a deliberate cartoon word meaning "moron." CTyankee Dec 2020 #105

Not Harvard... Chicago... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #116

Funny, I always think of Harvard's "crimson" as being maroon colored. CTyankee Dec 2020 #119

For me it's my High School mascot Texasgal Dec 2020 #106