General Discussion

Generic Other

(29,080 posts)

149. Wow!! Apparently a bargain compared to the others mentioned

Fri Aug 9, 2013, 05:11 PM

Aug 2013

I get why people disapprove of such a purchase. I would too. But that's not the point. Unless you think she was profiled as being too poor. Based on what criteria would such a decision be made? Being a woman of color maybe?

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Oprah Winfrey 'was victim of racism' in Switzerland [View all] Generic Other Aug 2013 OP

ha. Nothing is too expensive for Oprah. bunnies Aug 2013 #1

Oprah belongs to the 1% avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #84

Post removed Post removed Aug 2013 #173

Well avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #185

So... Lancero Aug 2013 #221

The sales clerk served Oprah and showed her several purses. avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #222

Wow. Nothing is too expensive for Oprah BainsBane Aug 2013 #2

Not insane malaise Aug 2013 #5

Yes BainsBane Aug 2013 #6

Ms. Winfrey should buy the shop and then personally fire the shop assistant. Solly Mack Aug 2013 #3

+1 AZ Progressive Aug 2013 #12

Exactly my first thought. She should really do it. n/t Fla Dem Aug 2013 #68

I think I would have written down my name, told the saleslady to look her up on google and CTyankee Aug 2013 #141

did they not recognize who she was or had never heard of her ? JI7 Aug 2013 #4

Celebrity does not always export. JVS Aug 2013 #9

I, for one, would easily recognize the show hosts kentauros Aug 2013 #57

I asked about foreign language talk show hosts. All of those guys speak English and 3 appear... JVS Aug 2013 #60

I consider the "english" they speak as foreign kentauros Aug 2013 #61

You know, it is one thing to be an ugly american CBGLuthier Aug 2013 #101

Lighten up, Francis! kentauros Aug 2013 #106

As the OP illustrates, it's apparently not just Americans who are "ugly" these days. whathehell Aug 2013 #158

they'd consider the same of the "english" you speak. Ken Burch Aug 2013 #174

I've heard my NZ girlfriend imitate me, kentauros Aug 2013 #176

I'd have gone with the "sarcasm" smilie in your previous post, then. Ken Burch Aug 2013 #184

The raspberry smilie I used was good enough. kentauros Aug 2013 #187

I walked into a Jewellry store behind a gentleman who looked rather ragged......... PDJane Aug 2013 #7

My grandmother used to enjoy telling a story about how she & my grandfather went to a HiPointDem Aug 2013 #40

Didn't this happen to her before in Italy? sammytko Aug 2013 #8

No, it was Pais- she complained the closed Hermes store wouldn't open for her.... bettyellen Aug 2013 #10

It was a having a private event and she showed up after the doors had closed... joeybee12 Aug 2013 #154

I kind of hope she buys the store Recursion Aug 2013 #11

But it's noT race, it's cLass!1!one" Number23 Aug 2013 #13

Holy shit... Number23 Aug 2013 #14

Europe is showing its true colors Generic Other Aug 2013 #16

What a truly ignorant statement on your part. Gravitycollapse Aug 2013 #17

Seriously? Generic Other Aug 2013 #20

I suggest you pick up a map. Maybe then you'll realize how much bigger Europe is... Gravitycollapse Aug 2013 #22

I suggest you read a history book Generic Other Aug 2013 #26

"It's pretty much all over the map." - Is that a direct quote from your history book? Gravitycollapse Aug 2013 #27

I am not doing your homework for you Generic Other Aug 2013 #29

Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2013 #35

This message was self-deleted by its author whathehell Aug 2013 #160

Seriously? ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #34

Historically Europe has run roughshod over the rights of colonized people Generic Other Aug 2013 #36

It doesn't offend me. ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #37

Too many people tend to downplay and deny racism Generic Other Aug 2013 #43

How do you know what race I am? ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #51

Listen to yourself Generic Other Aug 2013 #53

You don't know. ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #54

Europe is every bit as racist (moreso i would argue) than the US. woolldog Aug 2013 #74

That's good, because the "ignorance" of using broad brushes apparently doesn't extend to Americans whathehell Aug 2013 #45

Huh? ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #50

Huh? whathehell Aug 2013 #56

He probably is serious and sadly reflective of the knee-jerk Euro-reverence one often sees on DU whathehell Aug 2013 #42

Actually, you *are* "the ignorant one here" nt mr blur Aug 2013 #55

Defend racist attitudes if you like Generic Other Aug 2013 #75

There is some scary racism in some parts of Europe. MADem Aug 2013 #30

Generic's post is rather well-informed, not ignorant. iemitsu Aug 2013 #88

You obviously know nothing about Europe. The region is among the most racist in the world. bluestate10 Aug 2013 #163

Nah. RedCappedBandit Aug 2013 #172

There is a similar uproar in Australia. The government is *this close* to reneging on the Number23 Aug 2013 #19

It happened in the 60s in the Pacific Northwest Generic Other Aug 2013 #24

Non-seq. Indian fishing rights in the PNW have nothing to do with immigrants being turned away HiPointDem Aug 2013 #44

But they had rights no one wanted to uphold Generic Other Aug 2013 #48

in response to a post describing how immigrants were being turned away from australia & HiPointDem Aug 2013 #49

Sorry this is what I meant to suggest Generic Other Aug 2013 #52

Switzerland had an empire? When? Spider Jerusalem Aug 2013 #23

Haven't the Swiss a history of accepting asylum seekers? Generic Other Aug 2013 #25

If neutral leftynyc Aug 2013 #41

True they did aid and abet Generic Other Aug 2013 #46

Even when I was in Europe, I knew that Switzerland was not the most hospitable place to color MrScorpio Aug 2013 #215

Poor Oprah. Why doesnt she give them a car or six. nm rhett o rick Aug 2013 #15

Judging by your sarcasm, it sounds as if you think racism toward Oprah is "okay" because she's rich. whathehell Aug 2013 #47

Wrong again. Racism is never ok. Millions suffer from it, but I guess it's news when rhett o rick Aug 2013 #71

It's news because it shows how pervasive racism is--no amount of money and power geek tragedy Aug 2013 #72

Thank you. That is the lesson/message in the story, iemitsu Aug 2013 #91

That's it... Phentex Aug 2013 #134

They're deflecting from the story about racism to the cost of the bag gollygee Aug 2013 #136

Really? Responding that she should "give them four or five cars" sounds non-empathic whathehell Aug 2013 #105

I could always work to express myself better. But maybe you were looking for rhett o rick Aug 2013 #150

Yes, you could. If you did, I expect you'd encounter fewer people whathehell Aug 2013 #156

" My point was that when shit happens to the 1%..." RedCappedBandit Aug 2013 #175

Oprah seems to have bad luck RudynJack Aug 2013 #18

It's not bad luck. woolldog Aug 2013 #31

+1 Generic Other Aug 2013 #38

Actually, it means that you are the issue that the west is struggling with. iemitsu Aug 2013 #113

Did you see what people called the president in Arizona yesterday? Generic Other Aug 2013 #147

Yes, this is telling evidence. iemitsu Aug 2013 #182

Oprah doesn't deal with "routine racism" RudynJack Aug 2013 #188

This is not as troubling as the article on asylum-seekers in Switzerland linked from that page Spider Jerusalem Aug 2013 #21

It seems out of character for the Swiss Generic Other Aug 2013 #28

Maybe not so out of character...... woolldog Aug 2013 #32

..... woolldog Aug 2013 #33

The rise of these far right groups in Europe Generic Other Aug 2013 #81

That would be so infuriating. PotatoChip Aug 2013 #39

Does Switzerland take her money into its banks? Octafish Aug 2013 #58

Schwarzfahrer CBGLuthier Aug 2013 #59

A wonderful little film. iemitsu Aug 2013 #220

The truly rich often dress the scruffiest mainer Aug 2013 #62

Oprah should have bought the store, fired the employee then sold it back to the owners. nt Javaman Aug 2013 #63

It could have happened to any POC people claim isn't discriminated against because they are rich gollygee Aug 2013 #64

And the owner's 'apology' doubles down suffragette Aug 2013 #65

What can I say without sounding nasty. closeupready Aug 2013 #66

White guy acquitted for profiling and killing poor black kid with skittles Generic Other Aug 2013 #90

Okay, then see post #86 - that sums up how I feel pretty well. closeupready Aug 2013 #93

So you support this thesis from post #86 Generic Other Aug 2013 #95

A rich black woman who spends post-tax annual salary closeupready Aug 2013 #97

I'm ususally not one to defend the uber-rich, iemitsu Aug 2013 #130

Thanks. whathehell Aug 2013 #167

It dumbfounds me that some are so obtuse iemitsu Aug 2013 #186

Yes, in this case I'm not sure what their problem is, but since you seem whathehell Aug 2013 #194

I'm not really a patient sort but it drives me crazy iemitsu Aug 2013 #208

If even Oprah is getting profiled like this gollygee Aug 2013 #133

My husband and I were just talking about purses this morning... Phentex Aug 2013 #138

Good point! gollygee Aug 2013 #142

She should have bought the shop and fired him lame54 Aug 2013 #67

Perhaps they'd met her before and it was personal vs racism elehhhhna Aug 2013 #69

as you project your own issues with absolutely no facts to support them. kwassa Aug 2013 #177

evidently you are not acquainted with her or any of her employees elehhhhna Aug 2013 #183

yeah, sure, what an excellent example hfojvt Aug 2013 #70

Seems like no example would be good enough to illustrate profiling to you Generic Other Aug 2013 #78

The comparison would be between her and a white billionaire gollygee Aug 2013 #79

Imagining Donald Trump taking no for an answer Generic Other Aug 2013 #82

Trump's toupee did not come from a high end shop. iemitsu Aug 2013 #132

I hope not gollygee Aug 2013 #137

Of course he would. iemitsu Aug 2013 #144

of course it would be hfojvt Aug 2013 #157

No, that's not what it means gollygee Aug 2013 #165

I'll bet she wouldn't suffer discrimination in setting up a Swiss bank account. n/t duffyduff Aug 2013 #73

She could finance a movie, "The Color Green" KansDem Aug 2013 #80

Oprah Winfrey is a very talented person who worked her way to the top, hedgehog Aug 2013 #76

As a billionaire, she might have some of her wealth in secret Swiss tax havens... KansDem Aug 2013 #77

Does this take the sting out of racism? Generic Other Aug 2013 #87

I think it was racist to assume the woman cannot afford a handbag based upon her skin color. eilen Aug 2013 #83

I think it is grotesque that a person of Oprah's character avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #85

This is a reasonable stance on your part Generic Other Aug 2013 #89

Fair enough gollygee Aug 2013 #114

Valid point. Many people could afford things that they will never buy because owning it bluestate10 Aug 2013 #168

Not sure how much sympathy I have for Ms. Winfrey on this AndyA Aug 2013 #86

Yes, this sums up my feelings much better than I put into words. closeupready Aug 2013 #92

It's not about the damn purse Generic Other Aug 2013 #94

Plus, how do we know Oprah even knew the price? Phentex Aug 2013 #96

Does it hurt that bad that your thread is a failure? closeupready Aug 2013 #98

Oh bless your heart Generic Other Aug 2013 #115

When I want someone to interpret what I write and twist it around, I'll let you know. AndyA Aug 2013 #104

I simply repeated your words Generic Other Aug 2013 #117

Part of communication also involves the person reading not interjecting their own thoughts AndyA Aug 2013 #129

+1 gollygee Aug 2013 #107

"I was in Zurich the other day..." cherokeeprogressive Aug 2013 #99

I don't think I buy this at all. Dreamer Tatum Aug 2013 #100

So you are calling Oprah a liar now too? Generic Other Aug 2013 #119

she has a profound sense of self importance markiv Aug 2013 #214

The clerk today is reportedly calling Oprah a liar - closeupready Aug 2013 #224

Why would she do this? Phentex Aug 2013 #135

The store owner admits it. PotatoChip Aug 2013 #148

Absoluetely not. Democracyinkind Aug 2013 #202

Absolutely. Oprah had indeed been in the store. PotatoChip Aug 2013 #205

Sorry, misread your exchange... Democracyinkind Aug 2013 #206

No problem. PotatoChip Aug 2013 #207

I don't really see the racism claim. I am sure if I pulled into a Rolls Royce dealership doc03 Aug 2013 #102

What? gollygee Aug 2013 #109

Come on a $35000 purse, if I was a salesperson I sure as hell wouldn't doc03 Aug 2013 #111

Whom would you hand it to? gollygee Aug 2013 #112

I doubt the clerk had any idea it was Oprah, who would think Oprah is just going to doc03 Aug 2013 #120

Why would you think she was wearing jeans with holes and a faded old dirty t-shirt gollygee Aug 2013 #121

Have you ever seen Brad Pitt? Phentex Aug 2013 #128

Gollygee Generic Other Aug 2013 #122

Bingo! Phentex Aug 2013 #126

That is what makes people like Oprah look rediculous doc03 Aug 2013 #116

You keep saying things that make no sense gollygee Aug 2013 #118

It's funny you bring up O'Donnell RZM Aug 2013 #152

You know what makes people look "rediculous"? whathehell Aug 2013 #159

So you know how Oprah was dressed? Your post, on it's merits, is an incredible piece bluestate10 Aug 2013 #169

I didn't know the Swiss were "banning asylum seekers from some public places" Sunlei Aug 2013 #103

But no racism according to DUers on this thread Generic Other Aug 2013 #124

A lesson in how to be the victim of racism AND not get any sympathy at the same time. hughee99 Aug 2013 #108

It's an example gollygee Aug 2013 #110

I agree, if Oprah is treated this way in this store by this salesperson hughee99 Aug 2013 #139

The story is more supposed to highlight that profiling really does exist gollygee Aug 2013 #140

I agree, I just didn't think that there was even a question about whether profiling exists. n/t hughee99 Aug 2013 #145

See #102 gollygee Aug 2013 #146

Yes. Apparently if you're rich, you deserve every nasty thing that's out there whathehell Aug 2013 #161

There are many on DU that hate the rich so much that they are blind to even the most egregious bluestate10 Aug 2013 #170

35 THOUSAND for a PURSE? duffyduff Aug 2013 #123

It was genuine red herring Generic Other Aug 2013 #125

Took me a few minutes to get past that, too... AngryOldDem Aug 2013 #204

It's classism that's the problem duffyduff Aug 2013 #127

Wow!! Apparently a bargain compared to the others mentioned Generic Other Aug 2013 #149

To me the problem isn't race, it's class duffyduff Aug 2013 #151

I didn't take it that way Generic Other Aug 2013 #155

it's both. whathehell Aug 2013 #166

You miss the point in a stunning fashion. kwassa Aug 2013 #178

Yep. Don't put ink pens into some of those bags. nt bluestate10 Aug 2013 #171

Oprah could always save a few thousand bucks duffyduff Aug 2013 #131

Racism in Switzerland? I'm shocked! SHOCKED! dogknob Aug 2013 #143

I'd bet you are, actually. whathehell Aug 2013 #164

The side of a barn called. You missed. dogknob Aug 2013 #189

Ask not for Whom the Barn calls...It called for you, Lol whathehell Aug 2013 #192

If you try harder, you might go pro. Later. n/t dogknob Aug 2013 #211

If you try harder, you may actually be able to debate me, Lol. whathehell Aug 2013 #216

Yeah, poor Oprah... pipi_k Aug 2013 #191

I'm sure you do...The problem is you don't seem to understand anyone else. whathehell Aug 2013 #193

You know what pipi_k Aug 2013 #195

You know what, "hon"?...You missed the point entirely whathehell Aug 2013 #196

You. pipi_k Aug 2013 #197

You. whathehell Aug 2013 #198

Actually the first pipi_k Aug 2013 #199

I disagree because when you open your post sarcasticly with "Yeah, poor Oprah" whathehell Aug 2013 #223

Jealousy? What a laugh. This is about somebody with screw-up values. n/t duffyduff Aug 2013 #200

She should have done her Julia Roberts on Pretty Woman impression. Just Saying Aug 2013 #153

Let me see. Oprah could likely buy enough of those bags to fill a long rail train, without bluestate10 Aug 2013 #162

Shop's story differs. Skip Intro Aug 2013 #179

Swiss Tourism officials expressed outrage Generic Other Aug 2013 #180

They can both be true... Blasphemer Aug 2013 #181

White privilege... pipi_k Aug 2013 #190

Boy oh boy, the commission she missed is gonna hurt. bravenak Aug 2013 #201

I have said it for a long time now. All italians are racist. Democracyinkind Aug 2013 #203

perhaps she can start the Billionaire Victims Society markiv Aug 2013 #209

how many anonymous people markiv Aug 2013 #210

it is most shocking, that a store that sells $35,000 handbags markiv Aug 2013 #212

great pic of her that day markiv Aug 2013 #213

Is Oprah Big Brother? Or Goldstein? Who do you want me to hate and why? Generic Other Aug 2013 #217

7 paragraphs in response to a Disney pic markiv Aug 2013 #218

5 rather trite posts to say what? Nothing. Generic Other Aug 2013 #219