tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171691.post112869624955707553..comments2023-10-19T19:05:19.891+02:00Comments on Josef's blog: Levine the Genius TailorJosefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13272830598221833253noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171691.post-69346397208504926182022-11-28T13:37:06.626+01:002022-11-28T13:37:06.626+01:00Weinberg, of course, is a Jewish name. I have told...Weinberg, of course, is a Jewish name. I have told this as McPherson, the Genius Tailor, because I am Scottish. One can in general only tell ethnic jokes abour one's own ethnicityHenry Trouphttp://aurielia.ca/bigsoftwarenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171691.post-88328252928647773622011-11-06T00:44:47.504+01:002011-11-06T00:44:47.504+01:00I've found this story extremely relevant in a ...I've found this story extremely relevant in a number of contexts where someone says, "I don't need x--I can do just fine with y"--in fact, I found this page as I am about to post a message on a blog about the Delphi language.<br /><br />I've heard the story all my life, but possibly the definitive rendition of it was an article (in <i>Esquire</i>, I think) on Mel Brooks's tribute to Harry Ritz, the master of physical stand-up comedy. As I recall, the article had Brooks falling on the floor laughing just remembering and re-enacting Ritz's performance.<br /><br />(Incidentally: 1) I've always heard it about a tailor named Ginsberg, to be sure no less stereotypically Jewish a name than Levine; and 2) I've heard it with a more PC punch line: As the customer jerks down the street, he is seen by two tailors walking by. "Oh, look at that poor man!," says the first, "He must have been in a terrible accident." "Yes," replies the second, "but look at how well his suit fits him.")<br /><br />As far as I know, it originated in the Yiddish Theatre / Vaudeville, where <b>everyone</b>--performers, audience, and characters--was Jewish. I've heard a lot of Jewish jokes about tailors, and I gather that, in New York's Lower East Side and other Jewish ghettos, this trade enjoyed a regard similar to that of stereotypical used-car salesmen today--aggressiveness, mendacity, sharp practices, and so on.<br /><br />So, as a Jew, I regard the joke as a libel, not on Levines specifically or Jews generally, but on tailors. As Richard says, the story has its history, and I suppose it's a matter of opinion whether that history should be reflected in modern-day retellings of this (and similar) stories, or put in a more modern non-ethnic context. I dunno, somehow telling the story with Wilberforce the Saville Roy bespoke tailor, just doesn't do it for me.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06360648850717897861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171691.post-3709939788744143722011-02-08T19:58:06.075+01:002011-02-08T19:58:06.075+01:00Richard. I'm sorry you were offended by the st...Richard. I'm sorry you were offended by the story. The only point that wanted to make was that of programming language design. The name 'Levine' had no meaning to nor the tailor trade. I didn't know, as I do know, that these things are associated with jews and I agree it makes the story rather anti-semitic. I'll think about removing the post.Josefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13272830598221833253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171691.post-74848681547671394712011-02-06T06:35:18.941+01:002011-02-06T06:35:18.941+01:00butppiI hate this levine story. Perhaps because my...butppiI hate this levine story. Perhaps because my last name is levine, but especially because it is vaguely anti-semitic. You understand LEVINE is a classic jewish last name? And he's here a scammer. It's like saying "Here's a story about Tyrell Jones the basketball star/drug dealer" or "Here's one about Tony the longeshoreman/gangster"<br />Well, I guess this story has it's history but it doesn't mean it should be celebrated/repeated. (It's also not that good, as stories go)rogdoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14264303521457238177noreply@blogger.com