Racism...

[alkemyst]

those are subjects for P&N.


But yes...there are a lot of people (see Alky's posts) who see simply noticing someone's race as racism.

No, that's not what I said. I said using race as a descriptor is indeed being racist especially when speaking of someone that's not there so the color of their skin has no bearing.

I then said once you start using color as a qualifier non-visually, then that's when other weights are being put on that 'color'.

Then again, this is all well researched and studied so WTF do I know. Pretty much people as a whole buy into groups. Political party, religions, race. I'd say it's damn near impossible to find any living person without some racism in their mindset.

It's always funny though when someone admits 'as a child' they never saw racism where they lived. It's usually because either they were sheltered or blind to it.

I also said there are various levels of this racism. Some it's merely non-derogatories....for others many more stereotypical...finally ending in those that look to harm someone based on it.

To deny it or make claims it really doesn't exist, either has an agenda behind it or quite ignorant/naive.

 

[Locut0s]

those are subjects for P&N.


But yes...there are a lot of people (see Alky's posts) who see simply noticing someone's race as racism.

Actually I agree with Alky's post. I don't think he simply means noticing someone's race. He means going out of your way to point out that so and so is black, or Chinese or whatever. It depends entirely on the context of course. For example if I were going to list my friends for someone I wouldn't mention race. If I were going to describe them to someone I would mention their race as it helps to outline what they may look like but other than that there is little reason to talk about race.

It is a complicated issue for those who don't get it. For example within a race it's usually perfectly fine to talk about and even make fun of your own race. Chinese people and Black people do this all the time. One can even mention stereotypical aspects of some races without being necessarily racist so long as both of you fully understand where said traits are coming from. As someone who has been in retail sales for a while I can tell you the aggressive bargain hunting that is so stereotypical of Chinese and Eastern Indians IS REAL. And it can get VERY annoying for even the Chinese sales guys to deal with. It's not uncommon for my fellow Chinese sales reps to hate dealing with mainland Chinese customers because they are often so pushy and insistent about getting a deal. The problem arises when you don't understand where this comes from and associate the trait as a natural aspect of the people and not something that arises from complex cultural reasons. People who live a tough life and are used to being scammed all the time naturally are very rough towards sales people and think they are always being tricked into buying something 10x more expensive than it needs to be (and in their native country this often is the case). Again the difference is understanding that many Chinese people are stingy because of their cultural background and upbringing and thinking that Chinese people ARE stingy, in the same way that black people are black (colour of their skin).

 

[Locut0s]

those are subjects for P&N.


But yes...there are a lot of people (see Alky's posts) who see simply noticing someone's race as racism.

No I don't think they are subjects for P&N actually. If we actually talk about them then yes this thread will be moved to P&N. But they are very much subjects that involve race and racism. In my mind most of those who are on the side of doing away with affirmative action, black history month etc... are very much racist and if they say it's just politics then they are either blind, fools, or trying to hide.

 

[rudeguy]

No I don't think they are subjects for P&N actually. If we actually talk about them then yes this thread will be moved to P&N. But they are very much subjects that involve race and racism. In my mind most of those who are on the side of doing away with affirmative action, black history month etc... are very much racist and if they say it's just politics then they are either blind, fools, or trying to hide.

I just don't want this to turn into a political thread.

To answer you directly; I think any type of discrimination, affirmative action include is bullshit.

I'm a history nut, so I'm all in favor of BHM. I wish there would be more of a focus on the actual history instead of just a few people.

 

[Locut0s]

I just don't want this to turn into a political thread.

To answer you directly; I think any type of discrimination, affirmative action include is bullshit.

I'm a history nut, so I'm all in favor of BHM. I wish there would be more of a focus on the actual history instead of just a few people.

I don't agree about the affirmative action but in the interest on not turning this into a P&N thread I will drop it for now.

 

[shortylickens]

and damn it...can a mod edit shorty's post so it stops messing up the formatting?

Get a screen wider than 800 pixels.

Also, looks like perk already tried, then changed it back.
I will cut it down some, because even though I am pissed off, I am still a good human being.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I find it funny when race is used to add to the context/description of a post (aka, in a non-racist manner) and some douchebag has to come in and ask "what does being <race> have to do with anything?". I bet those who say that aren't even offended by it but only say to try to make themselves look cool.

Because why would it matter online what color he is unless that changed something?

Ah there we go.

 

[Schfifty Five]

No, that's not what I said. I said using race as a descriptor is indeed being racist especially when speaking of someone that's not there so the color of their skin has no bearing.

I then said once you start using color as a qualifier non-visually, then that's when other weights are being put on that 'color'.

Then again, this is all well researched and studied so WTF do I know. Pretty much people as a whole buy into groups. Political party, religions, race. I'd say it's damn near impossible to find any living person without some racism in their mindset.

It's always funny though when someone admits 'as a child' they never saw racism where they lived. It's usually because either they were sheltered or blind to it.

I also said there are various levels of this racism. Some it's merely non-derogatories....for others many more stereotypical...finally ending in those that look to harm someone based on it.

To deny it or make claims it really doesn't exist, either has an agenda behind it or quite ignorant/naive.

So if I am introducing a black friend to someone in person, it's ok for me to say "hey this is my black friend so and so".

But if I'm telling someone online I have a black friend name so and so, it becomes racists?

WTF? you're an idiot.

 

[purbeast0]

So according to Alkemyst, if I make a thread on this forum and titled it "Describe what you look like..." and the OP said "I am 5'11, 215lbs, white, athletic build, hazel eyes" then I would be a racist, because I described myself with my color?

I've been around here a long time and never realized how stupid this guy is, or he is just a troll ... or both.

 

[HAL9000]

I'm not racist, I don't really have any friends that are members of an ethnic minority, but I don't understand racism, the principles behind it are illogical.

 

[jonks]

I'm not racist, I don't really have any friends that are members of an ethnic minority, but I don't understand racism, the principles behind it are illogical.

Never start with "I'm not racist" because if true it doesn't need to be said and only sounds like you're protesting too much.

I disagree to an extent. Racism is an extension of the biological imperative of distrust of outsiders. You don't trust what you don't know, that's pretty logical. Cutlures aside, today we know that no race is superior to another because of skin tone or facial features. But you trust your family before your neighbors, your neighbors before strangers. Feeling some hesistancy towards those that look or act different is natural. Overcoming it is what elevates us above animals. But the Avenue Q song "everyone's a little bit racist" is funny because it's true, and it's true because it's rooted in a logical reaction to things that are 'other'. I suppose a child raised by mixed race parents in a village with all races represented might not end up even a little bit racist, but then he'd just express some other prejudice in some other area, like fearing/distrusting people from the next village over.

 

[HAL9000]

Never start with "I'm not racist" because if true it doesn't need to be said and only sounds like you're protesting too much.

I disagree to an extent. Racism is an extension of the biological imperative of distrust of outsiders. You don't trust what you don't know, that's pretty logical. Cutlures aside, today we know that no race is superior to another because of skin tone or facial features. But you trust your family before your neighbors, your neighbors before strangers. Feeling some hesistancy towards those that look or act different is natural. Overcoming it is what elevates us above animals. But the Avenue Q song "everyone's a little bit racist" is funny because it's true, and it's true because it's rooted in a logical reaction to things that are 'other'. I suppose a child raised by mixed race parents in a village with all races represented might not end up even a little bit racist, but then he'd just express some other prejudice in some other area, like fearing/distrusting people from the next village over.

That's interesting, but I would argue while feeling slight distrust towards those who are unusual in someway (compared to what you are used to) before you have gotten to know them, can't really qualify as racism, It's more prejudiced against people who look different from you rather than their race.

 

[airdata]

Sweet... racism discussion. My thread yesterday about the " asians in the library" girl quitting school because of death threats and harrassment was locked/closed in under 5 minutes!

Most people don't have a correct definition of what racist is. Sure, there are still racists but most people born after the 70's don't just have racism in their heart unless they were raised out in the woods with no running water or electricity.

Way too often people cry racist for things that are simply racial and then the people that point it out get screamed at for not being ultra sensitive to racial discussion.

Asians in the library? girl probably shouldn't have put out a youtube rant about asian people but nothing she said was racist and she's not a racist for observing behavior of people interrupting her studies... and then when she's the one getting death threats, you have to re-evaluate who the victim of the situation is.

 

[Aikouka]

I don't think it's racist at all.

All you are doing is describing someone by the physical characteristics that you notice, and I think we tend to do this in direct comparison with ourselves. You may not use the term "Caucasian male" or "white guy", but if someone had a dark tan next to you (and you're as pale as can be), I'd definitely see you remarking about the tan in a description.

In short, you're classifying him by his differences compared to you which is race and stature.

That's my thought on it anyway....

 

[soulcougher73]

I'm pretty sensitive about racism. More than most. Perhaps because I'm more sensitive about things in general than I should be or perhaps because I'm of mixed racial heritage, 1/2 Chinese. But simply talking about someone's race or noticing it? That's not only not racism but not something that I have come across as being labeled as racism either.

However there are somethings that do bother me that are talked about by, usually whites, from a reverse racist perspective that I don't agree with. For example many whites would like to see an end to affirmative action, black history month etc... The idea being that these are racist because they focus on race, make a deal out of being black etc. The idea that we can't have a white history month, etc... I don't agree with this and feel that those who would like to see an end to these are often, though not always, racist themselves.

How do you feel about the above topics?

To me that is not about racism but the fact why is one group of people allowed to do something that another group of people is not? I would love to start the WET (White Entertainment Televesion) channel but im if i did i would get a ton of shit and never aired. But they are allowed to have BET and its ok. That is a double standard. Has nothing to do with racism as their is not hatred involved.

 

[soulcougher73]

Right, but when people put other values on that color and use that color when it can't be 'seen'.

I don't expect you to get this.

It doesnt matter if it can be seen with the naker eye or not. Using a color is just a discriptor nothing more. Imagine if you were trying to point out a cool car that just drove by but could use a color.

"Man did you see that car?"
"Which one?"
"Right there..the (not insert color) one that just drove by"

You are trying really hard to find some kind of racial slant to a color its pathetic. Are you a closet racist who is ashamed?

 

[Numenorean]

I don't think it's racist at all.

All you are doing is describing someone by the physical characteristics that you notice, and I think we tend to do this in direct comparison with ourselves. You may not use the term "Caucasian male" or "white guy", but if someone had a dark tan next to you (and you're as pale as can be), I'd definitely see you remarking about the tan in a description.

In short, you're classifying him by his differences compared to you which is race and stature.

That's my thought on it anyway....

We differentiate on appearance. Nothing wrong with that.

I bet his black friend describes him as his white friend. I see no issue with that.

Now, if you're making negative comments that would appear to be only because you describe someone as black, that's different.

 

[purbeast0]

only on ATOT will you be labeled a racist for calling a white person white or a black person black.

 

[soulcougher73]

They really need to start teaching what actual racism is in elementary school or something. Some of you are completely retarded thinking that just because someone uses a color of someones skin to describe what they look like is not racism as it denotes no hatred towards them.

 

[FallenHero]

only on atot will you be labeled a racist for calling a white person white or a black person black.

racist!

 

[Joseph F]

Left handed people are a blight on our populace.

Hey Fuck you, Buddy!

 

[Perknose]

Hey Fuck you, Buddy!

^^^ Typically sinister behavior.

 

[FallenHero]

Hey Fuck you, Buddy!

Get out of here heretic! Take your southpaw devil worshiping elsewhere!

 

[blurredvision]

What the younger generation thinks as "racism" is completely different than what the older generation knows it as. That's my opinion of course, but 40 years ago, racism was excluding those of color from everything that was Caucasian. Different seats on the bus, different water fountains, different schools, etc. Nowadays, the younger generation argue whether pointing out the color of skin is racist and that's pretty much the extent of it. Pretty damn good progress IMO.

None of the examples in this thread is racism. Hell, some people stereotype and think that's racism, but it's not.

 

[Barfo]

I know my dad was "trained" not to use his left hand as a child when in school. He'd get smacked with a ruler or was forced to have it lashed behind his back. This was in the 60's and 70's

This was done to me in the 80's.