SubscribeStatistics as a measure of anti-Semitism?
In his column this week, the editor of the New Jersey Jewish News, Andrew Silow-Carroll, wrote about the Rolan Tynon mess.
Since Tynan is connected with the Yankees, this qualifies as a sports issue so the column’s suggested use of statistics to measure the severity of one’s comments versus the appropriate response seems germane to this venue.
T + S ÷ P + A = R
Let T be the offender’s track record and S stand for the severity of the remark as determined by its classic anti-Semitic content or the hurt perceived by its target. Divide that by P (private or public nature of offense) plus quickness and seeming sincerity of the Apology, and you arrive at the appropriate Rebuke.
Now let’s apply the TSPAR formula to Tynan: If the singer has no record of anti-Semitism or intolerance (check), if the remark was made in a private setting (check), and if the offender was quick to apologize without waffling (check, check), everyone involved should let it go.
As for the content of the remark, is it possible (stay with me here) that Tynan was joking about a certain New York “type” — think Mike Myers’ “Coffee Tawk” character? Stereotypes always have the potential to offend, but we need to distinguish between a racist slur that traffics in classic hate themes and a stab at humor that deals in the kinds of stereotypes we all notice on a daily basis.
Seems quite “sabermetrical” to me.
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You should apply the formula to the Daniel Snyder t-shirt story and see what you come up with.
Okay, let’s try:
T + S ÷ P + A = R
Without knowing who the designer is, T is hard to answer. S, though, ranks pretty high.
P is very high since it appeared on TV. Q? Unknown; as far as I know there hasn’t been any. R is medium, since the first rebuke appeared in a major metropolitan newspaper.
As time goes by, perhaps the figures will need rejiggering.