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How is this racist?

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Originally posted by: MotionMan
Do minorities think that calling all non-minorities racists for every little stupid thing will make people more or less conscious of the difference in the color of our skin? Will it make non-minorities more likely or less likely to want to be around said minorities?

MotionMan
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Come down off your soapbox, it's hurting my neck to look up while shouting to you.

He felt it as racism. IF you can't understand why he might make this mistake and go from there, you need to step out of your own personal ghetto of cultural ignorance.

IOW, the only thing more pathetic than a black guy needlessly complaining about racism is a white/azn needlessly complaining about a black guy misunderstanding a situation as racist.

 
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: waggy
i do not find what the OP mentioned as racist.
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All you need to understand here is WHY he might, and repair the unintended slight from there, is all.
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i would try. but to be honest i wouldnt try to hard. i would suspect the guy is going to have many issues and i wouldnt feel like i have to walk on egg shells with him.

 
Originally posted by: XMan
Originally posted by: Ballatician
Originally posted by: XMan
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: waggy
i think to many look for a reason to call others racist.
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I think clueless, self-satisified white guys who have not experienced determined, pervasive and often explicit racism themselves from cops, real estate agents, loud mouthed good ol' boys, mortgage lenders, white g/f's mommas and random other people who can and do cross the street at their approach continue to keep their collective heads up their asses when dealing with the not unreasonable continuing sensitivity of black people to race.
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OK, but if that's the case, don't you think that treating the white guys who really could care less if people are fuschia or black or have three eyes like crap is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy?
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If they really didn't care then why was him being black used as the only identifier? I'm sure he as some other characteristics.
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I honestly think it was mostly the uniqueness of his name. The class is not entirely white, but his name is definitely the most unique. Everyone else has a very common name - Bob, Sam, Tim, Roy, Jeff, etc.
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I see what you're saying. Perhaps he is just taking the comment the wrong way. If your friend tried to talk to him and was unsuccessful at least he tried to do the right thing by explaining.

 
I was in a waiting room once when I was a kid and there was a large family in the room with the kids playing with crayons and things. They left a big mess when they left the room. A black cleaning lady poked her head in the room, examined it, and then called me a cracker and walked off. The family that actually made the mess was black. I thought it was funny.
 
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: MotionMan
Do minorities think that calling all non-minorities racists for every little stupid thing will make people more or less conscious of the difference in the color of our skin? Will it make non-minorities more likely or less likely to want to be around said minorities?

MotionMan
Click to expand...

Come down off your soapbox, it's hurting my neck to look up while shouting to you.

He felt it as racism. IF you can't understand why he might make this mistake and go from there, you need to step out of your own personal ghetto of cultural ignorance.

IOW, the only thing more pathetic than a black guy needlessly complaining about racism is a white/azn needlessly complaining about a black guy misunderstanding a situation as racist.
Click to expand...

But there are people who make it their life's work to "misunderstand situations as racist". THOSE are the people that are setting back all the good work we have seen in our lifetime to eliminate racism and THOSE are the people to whom I direct my comments.

Combating racism with racism is a lose-lose proposition.

MotionMan
 
Originally posted by: Ballatician
Originally posted by: XMan
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: waggy
i think to many look for a reason to call others racist.
Click to expand...

I think clueless, self-satisified white guys who have not experienced determined, pervasive and often explicit racism themselves from cops, real estate agents, loud mouthed good ol' boys, mortgage lenders, white g/f's mommas and random other people who can and do cross the street at their approach continue to keep their collective heads up their asses when dealing with the not unreasonable continuing sensitivity of black people to race.
Click to expand...

OK, but if that's the case, don't you think that treating the white guys who really could care less if people are fuschia or black or have three eyes like crap is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Click to expand...

If they really didn't care then why was him being black used as the only identifier? I'm sure he as some other characteristics.
Click to expand...

Deliberately avoiding a prominent distinguishing characteristic seems an awful lot like caring.

When I bought my car, I didn't care that it was red. I still don't care that it's red. But when I describe it, I say that it's a red coupe. Why? Because the color is an easily-visible distinguishing feature.

I have a friend who has very long hair (down to her waist). I don't care how long her hair is, but when I describe her, I say that she's the girl with the very long hair. Why? Because the long hair is an easily-visible distinguishing feature.

Describing someone as "black" is no different than describing someone as "bald", "pale", "freckled", "tall", "short", or "red-headed". It's just a physical characteristic that is likely to help jog someone's memory.

That said, Perk is spot-on about trying to understand the other person's viewpoint and repairing the unintended slight.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: waggy
i do not find what the OP mentioned as racist.
Click to expand...

All you need to understand here is WHY he might, and repair the unintended slight from there, is all.
Click to expand...

i would try. but to be honest i wouldnt try to hard. i would suspect the guy is going to have many issues and i wouldnt feel like i have to walk on egg shells with him.
Click to expand...

YES! It's always helpful during a minor misunderstanding to rely on your own lazy assumptions about a guy you don't even know to help guide your reaction, even if there is a more knowing and nuanced and helpful way to look at the situation. 😉

 
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: waggy
i do not find what the OP mentioned as racist.
Click to expand...

All you need to understand here is WHY he might, and repair the unintended slight from there, is all.
Click to expand...

i would try. but to be honest i wouldnt try to hard. i would suspect the guy is going to have many issues and i wouldnt feel like i have to walk on egg shells with him.
Click to expand...

YES! It's always helpful during a minor misunderstanding to rely on your own lazy assumptions about a guy you don't even know to help guide your reaction, even if there is a more knowing and nuanced and helpful way to look at the situation. 😉
Click to expand...


well if the guy is going to call people racist because of what the OP said yeah. seems to me he is going to be one to call every little slight real or imagined as racist. I have no time to try to someone from getting there feelings hurt over something.

as you said it was a minor understanding yet the guy chose to go around saying the OP and his friends are racist before getting the whole story. It cuts both ways there perknose.


 
Originally posted by: MotionMan
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: MotionMan
Do minorities think that calling all non-minorities racists for every little stupid thing will make people more or less conscious of the difference in the color of our skin? Will it make non-minorities more likely or less likely to want to be around said minorities?

MotionMan
Click to expand...

Come down off your soapbox, it's hurting my neck to look up while shouting to you.

He felt it as racism. IF you can't understand why he might make this mistake and go from there, you need to step out of your own personal ghetto of cultural ignorance.

IOW, the only thing more pathetic than a black guy needlessly complaining about racism is a white/azn needlessly complaining about a black guy misunderstanding a situation as racist.
Click to expand...

But there are people who make it their life's work to "misunderstand situations as racist". THOSE are the people that are setting back all the good work we have seen in our lifetime to eliminate racism and THOSE are the people to whom I direct my comments.

Combating racism with racism is a lose-lose proposition.

MotionMan
Click to expand...

Do0d, I asked you nicely to come down off of that laughably pompous soapbox of yours. You're risking a splinter! 😛
 
Originally posted by: XMan
So I'm in a training course with a bunch of fellow employees from around the US and Canada. A couple of weeks ago, the guy in my sub group (from Vancouver) was trying to remember the name of one of the other guys in the class who has a unique name that you don't hear very often. He said, "oh, you know, that guy, Cleveland." From Family Guy, you know.

We all laughed and told Vancouver guy, no, that's not his name, it's such-and-such.

Well, "Cleveland" found about the thing and now he's giving our group the cold shoulder because he thinks we're racist. He even went so far as to tell one member of the group that he's dealt with racism his entire life and this is nothing new to him.

I mean . . . WTF? I actually thought he was kind of a cool guy the first few days I knew him; we had some good, interesting conversations about all sorts of things, but now he's been acting like a tool for two weeks because of something that was said in passing, just because a guy couldn't remember his name after having known him for two days.

If I'm in the wrong here, please, enlighten me, cause I just don't see it.
Click to expand...

Its not racism but its bullying.
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Ballatician
Originally posted by: XMan
Originally posted by: Perknose
Originally posted by: waggy
i think to many look for a reason to call others racist.
Click to expand...

I think clueless, self-satisified white guys who have not experienced determined, pervasive and often explicit racism themselves from cops, real estate agents, loud mouthed good ol' boys, mortgage lenders, white g/f's mommas and random other people who can and do cross the street at their approach continue to keep their collective heads up their asses when dealing with the not unreasonable continuing sensitivity of black people to race.
Click to expand...

OK, but if that's the case, don't you think that treating the white guys who really could care less if people are fuschia or black or have three eyes like crap is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Click to expand...

If they really didn't care then why was him being black used as the only identifier? I'm sure he as some other characteristics.
Click to expand...

Deliberately avoiding a prominent distinguishing characteristic seems an awful lot like caring.

When I bought my car, I didn't care that it was red. I still don't care that it's red. But when I describe it, I say that it's a red coupe. Why? Because the color is an easily-visible distinguishing feature.

I have a friend who has very long hair (down to her waist). I don't care how long her hair is, but when I describe her, I say that she's the girl with the very long hair. Why? Because the long hair is an easily-visible distinguishing feature.

Describing someone as "black" is no different than describing someone as "bald", "pale", "freckled", "tall", "short", or "red-headed". It's just a physical characteristic that is likely to help jog someone's memory.

That said, Perk is spot-on about trying to understand the other person's viewpoint and repairing the unintended slight.

ZV
Click to expand...

Agreed - avoiding a prominent characteristic does qualify as caring. If they had identified the person in question as black I don't think it would have been a problem. By identifying him as Cleveland and then laughing and not realizing how it may look from his perspective is pretty ignorant.
 
Originally posted by: compuwiz1
People of race are using the race card too much lately. This does not help, infact, it hinders progress.
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That's why the dude in the CNN article said we're a nation of cowards for not putting our foot down and collectively discussing the issue, stomping out the damn race card problem. And the guy that said it is black!
 
..he's been brainwashed by the media and secular progressives to play the vic.card at every oppertunity. There're legions of professional pseudo victims hanging on every word spoken now a days.
 
Originally posted by: Hacp
Originally posted by: XMan
So I'm in a training course with a bunch of fellow employees from around the US and Canada. A couple of weeks ago, the guy in my sub group (from Vancouver) was trying to remember the name of one of the other guys in the class who has a unique name that you don't hear very often. He said, "oh, you know, that guy, Cleveland." From Family Guy, you know.

We all laughed and told Vancouver guy, no, that's not his name, it's such-and-such.

Well, "Cleveland" found about the thing and now he's giving our group the cold shoulder because he thinks we're racist. He even went so far as to tell one member of the group that he's dealt with racism his entire life and this is nothing new to him.

I mean . . . WTF? I actually thought he was kind of a cool guy the first few days I knew him; we had some good, interesting conversations about all sorts of things, but now he's been acting like a tool for two weeks because of something that was said in passing, just because a guy couldn't remember his name after having known him for two days.

If I'm in the wrong here, please, enlighten me, cause I just don't see it.
Click to expand...

Its not racism but its bullying.
Click to expand...

How so?
 
Originally posted by: XMan
Originally posted by: Hacp
Originally posted by: XMan
So I'm in a training course with a bunch of fellow employees from around the US and Canada. A couple of weeks ago, the guy in my sub group (from Vancouver) was trying to remember the name of one of the other guys in the class who has a unique name that you don't hear very often. He said, "oh, you know, that guy, Cleveland." From Family Guy, you know.

We all laughed and told Vancouver guy, no, that's not his name, it's such-and-such.

Well, "Cleveland" found about the thing and now he's giving our group the cold shoulder because he thinks we're racist. He even went so far as to tell one member of the group that he's dealt with racism his entire life and this is nothing new to him.

I mean . . . WTF? I actually thought he was kind of a cool guy the first few days I knew him; we had some good, interesting conversations about all sorts of things, but now he's been acting like a tool for two weeks because of something that was said in passing, just because a guy couldn't remember his name after having known him for two days.

If I'm in the wrong here, please, enlighten me, cause I just don't see it.
Click to expand...

Its not racism but its bullying.
Click to expand...

How so?
Click to expand...

Well someone in your group labeled him and laughed about it. The blame might not be yours, but the guy who mocked "Cleveland" likes to be a jerk.
 
Originally posted by: Hacp
Originally posted by: XMan
Originally posted by: Hacp
Originally posted by: XMan
So I'm in a training course with a bunch of fellow employees from around the US and Canada. A couple of weeks ago, the guy in my sub group (from Vancouver) was trying to remember the name of one of the other guys in the class who has a unique name that you don't hear very often. He said, "oh, you know, that guy, Cleveland." From Family Guy, you know.

We all laughed and told Vancouver guy, no, that's not his name, it's such-and-such.

Well, "Cleveland" found about the thing and now he's giving our group the cold shoulder because he thinks we're racist. He even went so far as to tell one member of the group that he's dealt with racism his entire life and this is nothing new to him.

I mean . . . WTF? I actually thought he was kind of a cool guy the first few days I knew him; we had some good, interesting conversations about all sorts of things, but now he's been acting like a tool for two weeks because of something that was said in passing, just because a guy couldn't remember his name after having known him for two days.

If I'm in the wrong here, please, enlighten me, cause I just don't see it.
Click to expand...

Its not racism but its bullying.
Click to expand...

How so?
Click to expand...

Well someone in your group labeled him and laughed about it. The blame might not be yours, but the guy who mocked "Cleveland" likes to be a jerk.
Click to expand...

Oh baloney, we laughed at the guy who called him Cleveland. The guy who called him Cleveland forgot his name, he wasn't mocking him. He's one of the most self-effacing anti-jerk people I've ever met.
 
People like to pull the racist card just because.

I was telling people to stop using the N word in public chat on my server then they started calling me racist because I have a necro character called Black Squirrel. Since when is using the word Black when referring to a species, or necromancy, considered racism? lol
 
Some people really do look for reasons to call others racist. It has to do with that feeling everyone gets when they feel like they are championing a just cause in the face of opposition. It feels good to be pissed off and to think you are right to be; that the whole world would agree with you if they knew the situation. But what if you have mistakenly misjudged something harmless for true bigotry, which is so easy to do once you have tasted the joy that is righteous fury. Then YOU become the enabler, because you find it where it doesn't exist. Then it is YOU who doesn't want the object of your anger to end, because it feels too good to throw a fit over it.

It doesn't say much for the guy's previous experiences if he feels this event is racism BTW. I wonder if he's resisting making amends so he can chalk this up as another instance of the "racism he has dealt with his entire life".
 
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