Correcting Racism

Page 5 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

TruePaige

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2006
9,874
2
0
Originally posted by: n yusef
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: microbial
Correcting racism is exactly like correcting ignorance.

How do you correct ignorance.

You tell them to stop the victim mentality, that's how.

And women who get raped were asking for it, right?

You are going too far.

That's just trolling.
 

n yusef

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2005
2,158
1
0
Originally posted by: TruePaige
Originally posted by: n yusef
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: microbial
Correcting racism is exactly like correcting ignorance.

How do you correct ignorance.

You tell them to stop the victim mentality, that's how.

And women who get raped were asking for it, right?

You are going too far.

That's just trolling.

I was being sarcastic. Spidey07 was victim blaming, so I tried to provide an example that was as ridiculous as his.
 

Darthvoy

Golden Member
Aug 3, 2004
1,825
1
0
Originally posted by: OCguy
Sounds like a beauty pageant question.


You cant stop human nature. There will always be prejudice and racism everywhere. You cant just throw $$$ at something and make it go away, (Even though that is an American mentality)

being racist and having prejudicies is a decision. The thing about being human is that we have the ability to evaluate our thoughts and actions. When people act on those impulses, like for example, not hiring someone who is otherwise qualified simply because he is a minority, then it's a problem. If you were to be able to think about your thought process before you act and go against your impulses, then you have made the proactive decision of not letting your prejudices influence your actions.

It takes a lot of effort, but it's doable. Some lack the capabality to do it and others are just happy being bigots.

The crux of fixing the problem is figuring out how/why people get the prejudices in the first place. I think a lot of it has to the with the way people are portrayed in the media and the very limited contact between the different groups of people. The concept of race didn't exist in me until it was taught to me in grade school. As far as I was concerned, we were all just kids.

 

AFMatt

Senior member
Aug 14, 2008
248
0
0
Originally posted by: n yusef
Originally posted by: ericgomes
You can't stop racism. It's apart of this world, and it always will be. You can go back to India 1500 BCE and see there's racism. As long as there aren't tremendously harsh penalties, it'll always be around.

There was also theft, rape, murder and torture in India in 1500 BCE. Crime will always exist. That doesn't mean we shouldn't do our best to prevent crime, punish criminals and end racism.

You can make it illegal to steal from someone. You can make it illegal to rape someone. You cant, however, make it illegal for someone to dislike you, regardless of their reason. If someone doesn't like white people, because they are white, that's their thing and honestly there is nothing much that will stop it. You can try to educate them, and try to make them see everyone is pretty much the same, but that doesn't mean they will change or that they HAVE to change. As such, racism will always exist in some form or another.
It's almost like trying to convince a Chevy lover to buy a Ford. Or trying to convince a straight and narrow, god fearing wtf ever person there is nothing wrong with people being gay. They are stuck in their ways, and you really have little to no chance at changing it.

The only thing laws can do is try to prevent people being refused something because of their race/sex. Be it a job, or a service, all people should just be people. At the same time, no laws should exist that require hiring people based on race/sex, nor should there be laws that create an atmosphere where a business feels compelled to choose one race/sex over the other in fear of the perception of racism/sexism. If person A is more qualified than person B, person A should be hired, period. If they are equally qualified, flip a coin.
 

theflyingpig

Banned
Mar 9, 2008
5,616
18
0
The best way to end racism is a race war. The winner is clearly the most superior race, and therefore deserves to inherit the earth and enslave the inferior races. This is the law of nature. It cannot be denied.
 

Atreus21

Lifer
Aug 21, 2007
12,001
571
126
The notion that we are so utterly obsessed with something as trivial and meaningless as skin color borders on insanity.

To me racism does not exist. It is insanity, literally, to treat someone differently because of something entirely beyond their control. We might just as well hate people by the size of their noses.

Therefore, when a supposedly race-induced crime occurs, of the likely motivations for the crime, I put race as dead last in probability, because people acting insane is a last resort to explain a crime, on par with a random act of violence.

I don't pretend to ignore racism. I call it what it is: insanity. This is why people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who explain everything in terms of race, live in a world where nothing makes sense. It's no surprise they do the crazy things they do. It's like trying to define everything in terms of nose size, or foot smell. It's sheer nonsense, and yet the whole nation, the whole world is obsessed with it.

People who commit racially motivated crimes need not to be sent to jail so much as treated as someone who is afflicted with madness of the most bizarre type. People like this need to be treated as an oddity, something for researchers to ponder over, in the attempt to figure out what the hell could compel someone to act violently when confronted with a meaningless quality about someone else's physical appearance. Isn't this how we'd treat someone who murdered another on the basis that the victim's legs were too long?

There's only two things that set a man apart from any other: mental and physical capability. That's it.
 

n yusef

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2005
2,158
1
0
Originally posted by: AFMatt
Originally posted by: n yusef
Originally posted by: ericgomes
You can't stop racism. It's apart of this world, and it always will be. You can go back to India 1500 BCE and see there's racism. As long as there aren't tremendously harsh penalties, it'll always be around.

There was also theft, rape, murder and torture in India in 1500 BCE. Crime will always exist. That doesn't mean we shouldn't do our best to prevent crime, punish criminals and end racism.

You can make it illegal to steal from someone. You can make it illegal to rape someone. You cant, however, make it illegal for someone to dislike you, regardless of their reason. If someone doesn't like white people, because they are white, that's their thing and honestly there is nothing much that will stop it. You can try to educate them, and try to make them see everyone is pretty much the same, but that doesn't mean they will change or that they HAVE to change. As such, racism will always exist in some form or another.
It's almost like trying to convince a Chevy lover to buy a Ford. Or trying to convince a straight and narrow, god fearing wtf ever person there is nothing wrong with people being gay. They are stuck in their ways, and you really have little to no chance at changing it.

The only thing laws can do is try to prevent people being refused something because of their race/sex. Be it a job, or a service, all people should just be people. At the same time, no laws should exist that require hiring people based on race/sex, nor should there be laws that create an atmosphere where a business feels compelled to choose one race/sex over the other in fear of the perception of racism/sexism. If person A is more qualified than person B, person A should be hired, period. If they are equally qualified, flip a coin.

I feel that you think of prejudice is a logical choice. I see it as ignorance, created from a provincial worldview. The basic position of a bigot is that other people are less human than herself, due to the groups that which other people are a member. I think that bigotry can be fought with education, and empathy for the humanity of others.

I would like to emphasize the effect of knowing someone, respecting someone and loving someone of a group that you are biased against as a path to acceptance. Coming out to my family changed their perspective of homosexuals and homosexuality, because they could no longer ignore the humanity of homosexuals. Similarly, my parents' interracial relationship challenged their family's perspectives on race. My parents' relationship humanized racial issues to my extended family. I can't say that anyone was racist, but I bet that most people on my father's side knew any black people. My maternal grandparents come from a generation of blacks that preferred not to think about race; confronting their issues was important for everyone involved. Most people will empathize with those who they previously "othered," if they are forced. Dick Cheney is empathetic of his lesbian daughter.

Education and compassion are the tools with which we fight ignorance and hate.
 

n yusef

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2005
2,158
1
0
Originally posted by: Atreus21
The notion that we are so utterly obsessed with something as trivial and meaningless as skin color borders on insanity.

To me racism does not exist. It is insanity, literally, to treat someone differently because of something entirely beyond their control. We might just as well hate people by the size of their noses.

Therefore, when a supposedly race-induced crime occurs, of the likely motivations for the crime, I put race as dead last in probability, because people acting insane is a last resort to explain a crime, on par with a random act of violence.

I don't pretend to ignore racism. I call it what it is: insanity. This is why people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who explain everything in terms of race, live in a world where nothing makes sense. It's no surprise they do the crazy things they do. It's like trying to define everything in terms of nose size, or foot smell. It's sheer nonsense, and yet the whole nation, the whole world is obsessed with it.

People who commit racially motivated crimes need not to be sent to jail so much as treated as someone who is afflicted with madness of the most bizarre type. People like this need to be treated as an oddity, something for researchers to ponder over, in the attempt to figure out what the hell could compel someone to act violently when confronted with a meaningless quality about someone else's physical appearance. Isn't this how we'd treat someone who murdered another on the basis that the victim's legs were too long?

There's only two things that set a man apart from any other: mental and physical capability. That's it.

I ask you, would you be able to write this if you were a person of color? I feel that only a white person (or perhaps a non-white racial majority in a foreign country) could think of racism as something as innocuous as insanity. I do not mean this in a negative way. I just think that we have different perspectives based on our lived experiences.
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
42
86
Originally posted by: Craig234
One way would be to transfer wealth

Oh that's your answer to everything. Just put it in your signature then you don't even have to enter a response, your signature will do the talking every time.
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
930
126
Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The best way to end racism is a race war. The winner is clearly the most superior race, and therefore deserves to inherit the earth and enslave the inferior races. This is the law of nature. It cannot be denied.


You're about 3 french fries short of a happy meal, aren't you?
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
930
126
Originally posted by: n yusef
Originally posted by: Atreus21
The notion that we are so utterly obsessed with something as trivial and meaningless as skin color borders on insanity.

To me racism does not exist. It is insanity, literally, to treat someone differently because of something entirely beyond their control. We might just as well hate people by the size of their noses.

Therefore, when a supposedly race-induced crime occurs, of the likely motivations for the crime, I put race as dead last in probability, because people acting insane is a last resort to explain a crime, on par with a random act of violence.

I don't pretend to ignore racism. I call it what it is: insanity. This is why people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who explain everything in terms of race, live in a world where nothing makes sense. It's no surprise they do the crazy things they do. It's like trying to define everything in terms of nose size, or foot smell. It's sheer nonsense, and yet the whole nation, the whole world is obsessed with it.

People who commit racially motivated crimes need not to be sent to jail so much as treated as someone who is afflicted with madness of the most bizarre type. People like this need to be treated as an oddity, something for researchers to ponder over, in the attempt to figure out what the hell could compel someone to act violently when confronted with a meaningless quality about someone else's physical appearance. Isn't this how we'd treat someone who murdered another on the basis that the victim's legs were too long?

There's only two things that set a man apart from any other: mental and physical capability. That's it.

I ask you, would you be able to write this if you were a person of color? I feel that only a white person (or perhaps a non-white racial majority in a foreign country) could think of racism as something as innocuous as insanity. I do not mean this in a negative way. I just think that we have different perspectives based on our lived experiences.

You have some serious hangups. Our lived experiences should never drive our futures, but sadly too many people let the past put mental roadblock after mental roadblock in front of them. Living with resentments over your past will kill your future. I'm convinced of it. The past has no value, other than a quick glance back to see what we have learned. The problem is, when we associate today with the past, it's far too easy to look at everything with an "oh, shit, where have I seen this before" attitude. Ultimately, we make today's decision based on what we believe will be the outcome, based on a previous similar experience; sadly when we look thru those glasses, we get exactly what we were expecting. We get what we think about, our thoughts almost insure the outcome. n yusef, move on and let go. I came at you pretty harshly because it was your thinking that was screwed, not your person, not your race, not anything, but your belief that you are somehow a victim. I have no idea what ethnicity you are.

 

1prophet

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
5,313
534
126
The only way to unite all races under the banner of humanity is through war against aliens.
 
Oct 30, 2004
11,442
32
91
Originally posted by: Cogman
Lets say that you have to come up with a plan to end racism in America (and the world if you like). Whatever the plan, it must be completed in 100 years time. Budget doesn't matter, changes in government are able to be made in whatever way you like.

The best way to do this would be to remove any actual basis for racism, which would mean increasing the rationality factor amongst racial groups that tend to have a high irrationality factor, such as members who commit large amounts of crimes and have children they can't afford to take care of, etc. It may be impossible to change genetic traits that might result in some inferiority (such as lower average IQs) without eugenics. However, behavior and philosophy of people in groups can be changed.
 

whylaff

Senior member
Oct 31, 2007
200
0
0
"The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race"
 

microbial

Senior member
Oct 10, 2008
350
0
0
Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper
Originally posted by: Cogman
Lets say that you have to come up with a plan to end racism in America (and the world if you like). Whatever the plan, it must be completed in 100 years time. Budget doesn't matter, changes in government are able to be made in whatever way you like.

The best way to do this would be to remove any actual basis for racism, which would mean increasing the rationality factor amongst racial groups that tend to have a high irrationality factor, such as members who commit large amounts of crimes and have children they can't afford to take care of, etc. It may be impossible to change genetic traits that might result in some inferiority (such as lower average IQs) without eugenics. However, behavior and philosophy of people in groups can be changed.

I'm assuming your post is tongue-in-cheek, and not on-the-level.

Just in-case: there is no biological basis for race and racial distinction amongst humans. That is to say, within the species Homo sapiens sapiens there is not enough genetic variation to sustain a credible argument for race distinction.

And so, races do not exist within humans. Period.

I do agree that rational thought would help. Basing any worldview or philosophy on the mythical, metaphysical, and/or theological can be quite counterproductive.
 

Udgnim

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2008
3,681
124
106
Originally posted by: Cogman
Lets say that you have to come up with a plan to end racism in America (and the world if you like). Whatever the plan, it must be completed in 100 years time. Budget doesn't matter, changes in government are able to be made in whatever way you like.

What is your solution? More strict laws against racist comments? Kill every race except for one? Or should we just ignore it and hope it goes away. (Or do you think it is pretty much already gone)

I'd be interested to see what sort of solutions are offered?

if budget doesn't matter, then make everyone rich (although inflation kind of fucks this up and unrealistic)

anyways, just making an opinion that social inequalities are less defined when you got money
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
We will all have to be the same skin pigment for it to cease or correct itself. But dont worry we will find other ways to segregate ourselves. Some of the worst atrocities happen between people of the same skin color killing each other over things like religion, ideology, or undesirable traits.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,021
55,485
136
Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The best way to end racism is a race war. The winner is clearly the most superior race, and therefore deserves to inherit the earth and enslave the inferior races. This is the law of nature. It cannot be denied.

You're really obvious at this whole trolling thing. Everyone knows this. It cannot be denied.
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
37
91
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: Corn
Originally posted by: Craig234
Well, I think a real answer would be wasted here, so I'll make a point instead.

One way would be to transfer wealth so that nearly all blacks are the wealthiest people in he nation. The new Bill Gates, the new Walton family, the new Warren Buffet, all black.

Drive to the nice gated community, look to the CEOs, the owners of businesses, you see mostly black faces. Filling the ghettos, mopping the floors, are whites.

People's tendency to worship the wealthy would lead them to think well of blacks.

Yeah, redistribution of wealth worked out really swell for Zimbabwe.......certainly a cure-all for all their ills. :roll:

Silly liberals.

Yeah, redistribution of wealth worked out really swell for most of the countries in Western Europe and nearly every industrialized nation on the face of the planet!

Oh wait, it did.

I will make this promise to you and Creig. If you guys work hard, and go get a life skill that someone is willing to pay you the kind of money you want, you will stop having this fantasy about getting everyone elses money. You will have your own, and be proud that you earned it. :thumbsup:

 

Dragula22

Member
Jul 9, 2004
95
0
0
Originally posted by: polarmystery
I don't think racism will ever go away in my lifetime but I wish it would because I've already been told by 4 different women that they had a problem with me being mixed (spaniard/black) before, during, or after I started dating them. Knife in the heart.

Everyone thinks I'm Cuban at first glance. It's not until I say I'm half black does it become a problem.

That's not racism. That's different tastes.

That's choosing a lollipop over chocolate.

 

Dragula22

Member
Jul 9, 2004
95
0
0
Time.

Give it time and it all goes away. It all has to do with the society you grew up with.

The dinosaurs who lived through the civil rights movement are starting to die away.
Then their kids (who were no doubt influenced by their parents) will die away.
Then the next generation who had to live with AA will die away.
So on.

 

n yusef

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2005
2,158
1
0
Originally posted by: Dragula22
Originally posted by: polarmystery
I don't think racism will ever go away in my lifetime but I wish it would because I've already been told by 4 different women that they had a problem with me being mixed (spaniard/black) before, during, or after I started dating them. Knife in the heart.

Everyone thinks I'm Cuban at first glance. It's not until I say I'm half black does it become a problem.

That's not racism. That's different tastes.

That's choosing a lollipop over chocolate.

That's racism. And he needs to find better women.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,021
55,485
136
Originally posted by: OCguy
Originally posted by: eskimospy

Yeah, redistribution of wealth worked out really swell for most of the countries in Western Europe and nearly every industrialized nation on the face of the planet!

Oh wait, it did.

I will make this promise to you and Creig. If you guys work hard, and go get a life skill that someone is willing to pay you the kind of money you want, you will stop having this fantasy about getting everyone elses money. You will have your own, and be proud that you earned it. :thumbsup:

Right. I'm quite well off myself and have no need for anyone else's money. If you guys read up about the rest of the world you'll see that a redistributive system works quite well.
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
37
91
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: OCguy
Originally posted by: eskimospy

Yeah, redistribution of wealth worked out really swell for most of the countries in Western Europe and nearly every industrialized nation on the face of the planet!

Oh wait, it did.

I will make this promise to you and Creig. If you guys work hard, and go get a life skill that someone is willing to pay you the kind of money you want, you will stop having this fantasy about getting everyone elses money. You will have your own, and be proud that you earned it. :thumbsup:

Right. I'm quite well off myself and have no need for anyone else's money. If you guys read up about the rest of the world you'll see that a redistributive system works quite well.

Well why wait for the government to take it from you?? Anything extra you should be giving to charity/homeless/random poor people on the street.

If you truly believed in wealth-redistribution, you wouldnt have to wait for a government mandate that is never going to happen. You should be happy to do it on your own.