Let's Define "Racism."

[busmaster11]

Hey AmusedOne, so you're saying that most of the time when we think of accusing people of being racists they're actually culturists?

 

[dafatha00]

Racism is the belief and implication that a person of a different race is genetically inferior. Period.

Yes, but it is also discrimination or prejudice based on one's race, perhaps because of a feeling of superiority, and perhaps not.

 

[OutHouse]

from www.m-w.com



One entry found for racism.

Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: 'rA-"si-z&m also -"shi-
Function: noun
Date: 1936
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
- rac·ist /-sist also -shist/ noun or adjective

One entry found for bigot.

Main Entry: big·ot
Pronunciation: 'bi-g&t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, hypocrite, bigot
Date: 1661
: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices
- big·ot·ed /-g&-t&d/ adjective
- big·ot·ed·ly adverb

One entry found for stereotype.

Main Entry: stereotype
Function: noun
Etymology: French stéréotype, from stéré- stere- + type
Date: 1817
1 : a plate cast from a printing surface
2 : something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially : a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment
- ste·reo·typ·i·cal /"ster-E-&-'ti-pi-k&l/ also ste·reo·typ·ic /-pik/ adjective

One entry found for prejudice.

Main Entry: 1prej·u·dice
Pronunciation: 'pre-j&-d&s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praejudicium previous judgment, damage, from prae- + judicium judgment -- more at JUDICIAL
Date: 13th century
1 : injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights; especially : detriment to one's legal rights or claims
2 a (1) : preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge b : an instance of such judgment or opinion c : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics
synonym see PREDILECTION

 

[Elledan]

"Humans are like dogs: they come in various sizes, colors, shapes and personalities, but they're still one species."

 

[Moonbeam]

Racism is the attempt by individuals and groups of individuals to drive further into unconsciousness their own feelings of worhlessness by fabricating a set of so called traits that conote some imagined superiority confered by birth genetically. Since there is only one race, homo sapeins sapiens, these divisions and differences are purely imagined. Racism, therefore, is a dilusion and mental illness, the refusal to look within and discover our own crucifixion and potential transcendent rebirth.

 

[Amused]

<< Hey AmusedOne, so you're saying that most of the time when we think of accusing people of being racists they're actually culturists? >>



Many times, yes.

 

[Amused]

<< 1. Stereotype - attributing the supposed, usually inaccurate, characteristics of a group to all members of that group

2. Prejudice - refers to beliefs, ideas, and attitudes about an individual or a group based on stereotypes about that group

3. Discrimination - unfair treatment and denial of access to social resources to people based on their group membership

4. Racism - a system of prejudice and discrimination against a category of people based on their race.

So it would be 1. or 2. >>



Wait a second, YP. If I condemn the Afghani government and system as oppressive, how am I 1. or 2.?

Oh, and if stereotypes are &quot;usually inaccurate&quot; how do they come about in the first place? Let's be honest here and not fall for PC nonsense. Most, (*but not all) stereotypes come about because a large enough portion of said group DOES display or have the characteristics that bring about the stereotype.

 

[b0mbrman]

I think this is so racist. Racism is wrong! How can you not like someone just because of the color of their skin?

 

[Moonbeam]

It puzzles me too. I don't like anyone regardless of the color of their skin.

 

[Red Dawn]

<< Direct insults to people in these forums, whether racially motivated or not, should not be tolerated. >>

Then this would be like romper room. Direct insults make people think twice about posting mindless drivel. Of course some insist on posting it anyway.

 

[yellowperil]

<< Wait a second, YP. If I condemn the Afghani government and system as oppressive, how am I 1. or 2.?

Oh, and if stereotypes are &quot;usually inaccurate&quot; how do they come about in the first place? Let's be honest here and not fall for PC nonsense. Most, (*but not all) stereotypes come about because a large enough portion of said group DOES display or have the characteristics that bring about the stereotype. >>



Large enough portion, but not all the members of the group. As long as there are members of the group that don't fit the generalization then it is a stereotype. In addition, many stereotypes reflect more on the values of the person generalizing than the group s/he is referring to.

 

[HansHurt]

All Americans are useless f^#$%@'n warmongers w/ their heads up their A$$es...they are f^$%@'n losers...Illinois is the worse state in the Union, full of bigots, and f%@#$%ers who don't f#$#%'n know up from down.



Is this OK AmusedOne...I want your opinion.....??

 

[Cyberian]

<< All Americans are useless f^#$%@'n warmongers w/ their heads up their A$$es...they are f^$%@'n losers...Illinois is the worse state in the Union, full of bigots, and f%@#$%ers who don't f#$#%'n know up from down.

Is this OK AmusedOne...I want your opinion.....?? >>



It's quite rude and arguably untrue, but it is not racist.

 

[HansHurt]

Yes I agree that it is RUDE, and most definately UNTRUE, but even if it is not racist, it is still an ignorant, generalization that should be left unsaid.

The effect of the staement could arguably be just as offensive as a &quot;racist&quot; statement. I just don't get what AmusedOne is after here; prejudice, racism, bigotry, discrimaination etc..it's all bad, and hurtful. Is it the label of RACISM that he is having a problem with? I mean what's the point of arguing about semantics when someone has been insulted?


At worst, the people should be corrected in their usage of the word RACISM, but to me that is really insignificant. Is AmusedOne the resident English teacher here?

 

[GasX]

<< I mean what's the point of arguing about semantics when someone has been insulted? >>



Well as I have said often here in ATOT, many people cry racism and isult when people post the most banal crap. A semantic argument is the best way to determine whether or not the poster is being an ass or if the reader is a misguided hyper-sensitive f-tard.

I have been accused of racism here on ATOT a number of times and in EVERY case the reader was an idiot. I had made no statement that an intelligent person would take offense to (except direct insults at people with whom I was having a heated debate with...).

Just because someone feels an insult doen't mean there is one.

 

[HansHurt]

Mwilding,

Yes, I am familiar with the arguments.

 

[Cyberian]

<< At worst, the people should be corrected in their usage of the word RACISM, but to me that is really insignificant. >>



I do not claim to know what AmusedOne thinks.

My personal take on this is if ABC says 'the Croats shouldn't bomb the Serbs' and XYZ calls ABC a 'racist', XYZ is confusing things.
Croats are not a 'race' and even if they were, no one criticized all of them or claimed to be superior.
I don't want to be labeled a racist if I am not, and this has been happening with increasing regularity.

 

[HowardStern]

<< Folks, there have been some charges of racism on this board, some of it justified, MOST of it not.

Racism is the belief and implication that a person of a different race is genetically inferior. Period.
>>



You forgot one thing:
Racism is having preferential treatment with respect to hiring and promotions (i.e. - &quot;Affirmative Action&quot.

 

[Amused]

<< All Americans are useless f^#$%@'n warmongers w/ their heads up their A$$es...they are f^$%@'n losers...Illinois is the worse state in the Union, full of bigots, and f%@#$%ers who don't f#$#%'n know up from down.



Is this OK AmusedOne...I want your opinion.....?? >>



It's an opinion based on nationality and the state a person comes from. Not race. It's a wrong, in my opinion, on the subject of the US... but then, I'm not very fond of IL myself.

 

[Amused]

<<

<< Folks, there have been some charges of racism on this board, some of it justified, MOST of it not.

Racism is the belief and implication that a person of a different race is genetically inferior. Period.
>>



You forgot one thing:
Racism is having preferential treatment with respect to hiring and promotions (i.e. - &quot;Affirmative Action&quot. >>



Howard, the preferential treatment is a result of the core belief that one race is better than another. There would be no preference if that core belief did not exist. My definition stands, your definition is of but a symptom of the basic racism itself.

 

[Amused]

<< Yes I agree that it is RUDE, and most definately UNTRUE, but even if it is not racist, it is still an ignorant, generalization that should be left unsaid. >>



Hmmm, so you chide ME for being the &quot;resident english teacher,&quot; yet you take it upon yourself to be the resident speech police???



<< The effect of the staement could arguably be just as offensive as a &quot;racist&quot; statement. I just don't get what AmusedOne is after here; prejudice, racism, bigotry, discrimaination etc..it's all bad, and hurtful. Is it the label of RACISM that he is having a problem with? I mean what's the point of arguing about semantics when someone has been insulted?


At worst, the people should be corrected in their usage of the word RACISM, but to me that is really insignificant. Is AmusedOne the resident English teacher here? >>



Hans, the charge of &quot;racism&quot; is one of the most damaging accusations one can level in today's society. More so than any social, or national bigotry charge.

We are all bigots in one way or another, as we all prefer one thing over another thing in our lives. The simple act of having an opinion makes us bigoted. And that opinion IS offensive and unpleasant to anyone who has the opposite opinion.

However, racism is an especially hurtful and damaging form of bigotry that goes far beyond what has been discussed. It's not &quot;semantics,&quot; Hans. There is a distinct difference between insulting someone for something that is NOT inherent, i.e., culture, beliefs, politics, etc... and insulting someone for something that IS inherent, i.e., color, disability, looks, etc.

That you think this is insignificant only shows that you've taken this &quot;hurtful&quot; thing too far.

As Mwilding pointed out, we've become a nation of thin skinned pussies. People ARE going to have an opinion of you, your beliefs, your politics, and your country. Not ALL are going to be positive. Get over it.

 

[bigd480]

<< . There is a distinct difference between insulting someone for something that is NOT inherent, i.e., culture, beliefs, politics, etc... and insulting someone for something that IS inherent, i.e., color, disability, looks, etc. >>

do you think anyone cares? an insult is an insult and whether someone says &quot;you're a <cultural insult>&quot; or &quot;you're a <color insult>&quot; the effect is the same...
if anything it's an excuse to be able to get by with more bigoted behavior saying &quot;oh it's not racism, it's just talking about culture&quot;... if you find it OK to say &quot;the Chinese are communist bastards&quot; and say &quot;it's not racist i'm attacking a political belief&quot;, i seriously doubt most Chinese ppl would agree...


<< One is insulting a country or culture, and the people in it. The other is insulting a race.
If you can't see the difference, I suggest you're far to uptight and need a beer and a blowjob in the worst way. >>

i suggest the same if you DO see a difference... that's quite an uptight/nitpicky statement to make...

 

[spyordie007]

i'm surprized that nobody in this thread has mentioned someone of jewish heritage, jewish is both a race, and a culture, just though I'd bring that up.

I think that giving anyone preferable/unpreferable advantages based on race is bull sh*t, for example:
When I was applying for scholorships for college I came across much of this, you can only get this scholorship if you are a woman, only if you are black, etc., schools will select students of races other than white first because they want to be diverse. I have an idea, let's start up a scholorship for white males! I wonder how much opposition that would have from the public.

 

[dew042]

Let's use our time to attempt to respect others around here. Why waste our time with definitions. If there are questions as to whether a comment is racist it was most likly disrespectful and innappropriate in the first place.

A comment may or may not be 'racist' but regardless it may be in poor taste and disrespectful. Think before you post.

Pointless comments that poke fun at other cultures: Are they absolutely nessesary? What do you get out of it? Just try to practice some restraint. That doesn't seem to happen here much.

If you gotta say it, then say it.... but think twice on how your words can affect others.

dew.

 

[GasX]

<< 'm surprized that nobody in this thread has mentioned someone of jewish heritage, jewish is both a race, and a culture, just though I'd bring that up >>


This is a thread about racism not races.