On the accusation of Racism.

[brodie21]

Racism has become a word that is very casually tossed at people who do things that the minorities do not like. if you think that those living in america should know english, you are branded a racist. if you dont support obama, you are a racist. if you dont like rap, you are a racist.

so many things are branded as racist now, it has just lost all meaning. casual observations about a person can be construed as racism if it is a white guy talking about a black guy, but not a black guy talking about a black guy. and if i am describing a black guy to someone, of course i am going to mention that he is black, its a defining feature. just as i would mention a mustache, or freckles. or, in my personal experience, people who are from india generally do not tip well or at all, and it is extremely frustrating to know that even though one person in your raft speaks english and you are doing the best you can to get them down the river, that you will be lucky to get five dollars. if it means anything, packs of older women are very picky about their rides, and boy scouts will not have enough pocket change for a tip.

this thread can go multiple ways. either discuss the topic of racism, or describe a time you had an encounter with racism.

 

[Marter]

I feel the same thing about sexism, although not because the opposite gender is in the minority. These words just get tossed around all willy-nilly, just like profanity, have lost most of their meaning.

 

[Free Thinker]

I'm apparently racist by doing Russian, Chinese, Hindu, Canadian etc. stereotypical accents. You can't deny a good impersonation is funny.

 

[brodie21]

I'm apparently racist by doing Russian, Chinese, Hindu, Canadian etc. stereotypical accents. You can't deny a good impersonation is funny.

of course it is. however, comedy is always funny until it hits close to home

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

i made a comment about this subject once before and i experienced mod wrath because of it so i'll just let Foamy say it for me


Edit: i don't fully endorse what Foamy says here just that i think the concept of racism now is really stupid.

 

[Avatar Roku]

I hear you. While, to go with your example, I think there were definitely people who didn't like Obama specifically because he was black, there were way more who didn't like him for legitimate reasons. Hell, there were a lot of people who DID like him specifically because he was black, and that's just as racist.

 

[NewGeekPhilosopher]

Hmm, I think this is the answer to your problems:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9CSnlb-ymA

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Racism used to be an active thing. You actually had to express hatred of another race.

Now, like a lot of the other -isms, it's a passive thing. Unless you specifically do something, then you're a racist.

Whether this is good or not is open to debate, but it does allow the true racists to hide away under politically correct speech, while those that are simply ignorant of race are treated like criminals.

But, it's just another buzzword of the moment because:

Dammit, Newgeek!

 

[Fox242]

I feel the same thing about sexism, although not because the opposite gender is in the minority. These words just get tossed around all willy-nilly, just like profanity, have lost most of their meaning.

Exactly. I hear the word "racism" being thrown around by a number of people with many given situations and it is just becoming ridiculous. People these days are extremely politically correct and they love to shout "Racism!" whenever they see or hear something that they think is offensive.

 

[Stormz]

From what I can see if you're white you're racist no matter what you say. Honestly it's stupid and unfair. I don't care what people think, I'll say and do whatever I want.

 

[brodie21]

i made a comment about this subject once before and i experienced mod wrath because of it so i'll just let Foamy say it for me

he seems quite angry

 

[ArcWinter]

Racism? Hilarious.
Sexism? Hilarious.

Actual racism or sexism? Not okay. However, in this world, nobody cares about that.

Someone was stabbed and lay in the street for hours, yet nobody helped them. This happened last week in a city near where I live.

So apparently everyone is fine with violence, and in extension racism/sexism. Didn't see that one coming!

Also, racism and sexism have to exist a tiny bit, because the different races and sexes are different. While treating them differently to an extreme is stupid, you have to treat them differently because they are different. Simple enough? Not if I explain it, man did anyone even understand that?

Anyway, whenever I'm accused of sexism, I say "I'm not beating my wife to death. What are you talking about?"
When accused of racism, I say "I'm not hanging anyone. Well, later in the afternoon I am. Wanna join? Afterwards we're gonna withhold some civil rights!"

Sadly, I'm not accused of racism or sexism often.

 

[Chicago Ted]

I've been called racist and ignorant for not acknowledging Ireland of being its own continent...

 

[Del Monte]

People certainly do get called racists a lot nowadays, often unjustly. However, in the first post, brodie says that Indians don't tip well. Negatively judging people based on their race is racism, that's obvious. What he said about old ladies is a form of prejudice too, but it's not racism since it's not based on race. I don't find what he said offensive, it's very mild, but you can't really get offended when people accuse you of racism if you're going to say racist things.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I've been called racist and ignorant for not acknowledging Ireland of being its own continent...

I think even Furburt would have trouble defending that. Country maybe.

 

[bjj hero]

OP, the Indians not tipping will be cultural. If you get any Brits in where you work they never tip and when they do its shit. we expect our serving staff to get a living wage and not be proped up with tips. Service should be outstanding to get a tip. Im a little different having lived in TX for over 2 years. Mr Pink doesn't tip either...

I was once told that giving ginger kids grief was racist... she was ginger though so I think she was biased.

If you have grown up regularly experiencing racism, if its a normal everyday part of life for you, then you may well attribute none racist acts as racism. A bit like if a kid slaps you round the back of the head day in, day out. Next week he trips and falls into the back of you hitting your head. You won't be believing it was an accident.

This is different to arse holes who say "You can't say black board, it's racist. Its a chalk board". This sort tend to be middle class, white folks who may have done some training but have no idea about real racism. Yes I'm generalising but I've been working around this sort for the past 10 years.

Arguing over whether its racist to sing baah baah black sheep belittles actual racism where some one doesn't get a job or gets the shit kicked out of them because of their race. I feel the same way about women who object to page 3 girls or being referred to as a lady. Sort out the important things like the fact you earn less than you male coworker, then we can talk about the trivial things.

 

[Demongeneral109]

Honestly, I feel it boils down to political correctness, its in the same catagory as "Happy Holidays" instead of Marry Christmas, or that woman who got offended because some Brits called her "Luv"

Just express yourself... i mean... how much outright action as taken with these sort of things?

EDIT- the woman thought the comment was sexist, she had no problem with the familiarity of the term.

 

[brodie21]

I've been called racist and ignorant for not acknowledging Ireland of being its own continent...

but Ireland is and island, i mean remove the 're' and put in an 's' and you have got island.

 

[KdS_22]

Being from Alabama, I get bashed a lot by my friends from out of state (in a joking manner) about the "racism" that all Southerners in the US supposedly harbor. I have known some actual racists in my time, and their views flat out disgust me. But I hate that the term "racism" gets thrown around as soon as someone does something that may be inconvenient to minorities.

From what I can see if you're white you're racist no matter what you say. Honestly it's stupid and unfair.

Also this. I have had people call me racist before for simply asking why a man - who happens to be black - is living off of welfare checks while driving around an Escalade with 24" rims and chrome trim. It has nothing to do with his race, dammit! It's not as bad in the town that I live in now, but back in my hometown, this was an extremely common occurence.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

If you get any Brits in where you work they never tip and when they do its shit.

Uhm, Wrong I'm afraid. For a start, tips are gratuity, and I tip. Being British I think that you should at least adjust that to "Brits you've come across".

And given we don't have any distinguishing marks that set us aside as Brits, I think you're perhaps strengthening the cause there.