Poll: Does being racist instantly make you a bad person?

[Sparrow]

Uhm.. I don't like Asian men, not because of their skin colour, but because three tried grabbing me in town once, one tried mugging me and three tried to pick a fight with me earlier. People stupidly call me racist because of that.
As long as he doesn't act on it, he's not a bad person.

You are stupidly racist for not liking Asian men. If three white women grabbed you and tried to mug you would you suddenly dislike all white women? It's the discrimination of putting all people with some similar physical characteristics in the same boat - which is what you're saying you're doing - that's racist. Doesn't matter what you're reason for it is.

I'd have to agree with this. It's a double standard. It's like if a white guy mugs a white guy, he's angry because he gets mugged. But if the same white guy gets mugged by a black guy, he could take the fact that he's black into consideration.

 

[interspark]

i think i should just point out on the side, i HATE those people who start screaming RACIST RACIST!!! at the slightest mention of the word "black" i mean, who the HELL is gonna be offended by "baa baa black sheep"?!?!

 

[JoJo]

and what deos that mean exactly if its sac=rcastic i cant tell over the internet

I was just wondering about a few things, really. Like, as a genuine Nazi, do you support the annexation of Austria to Germany? And do you believe that The Aryan people (people born in Germany) are superior to other nations (such as people born in America)?

What's your stance on The Stalin Hitler Pact?

i'm not a
aryan nazi i'm a reformist nazi i believe in the discipline of the regime and the order that follows
hitler and stalin were stupid evil bastards that deserved to die and get stabbed in the back
no the aryans did not exist it was made up by that foul evil minded arsehole who everyone associates us with.
it would be like me asking a american what do you think of southern take on slavery in such a such time period he proberly wont no or care
just because i believ in order amognst chaos and peace among mewn under a certain name does not make me a bad person

Out of pure interest, do you support the oppression of other policital parties by the Nazis in Germany during 1933-1945 then? And do you support any of their race ideology?

 

[Matt-the-twat]

Don't you dare call me racist. I hate it when morons throw that word about.

Well hey, I hate it when racists call me a moron, ain't life a *****? You have changed your story now, saying that you don't like most of the Asian men you know is fair enough, saying you don't like all Asian men - regardless of knowing them or not - IS racist.

 

[BabySinclair]

Being a racist isn't necessarily bad. It's a matter of what racist impulses one acts on. If you're just cautious because of the person of another skin tone/ethnicity walking down the street, who cares? Now if you're the type of person who makes active discriminations based off ethnicity that another this entirely (ie. not employing the better qualified person, racial epithets, firebombing someone's property, etc.)

Now reverse racism is just as bad as regular racism, example: giving an less qualified person a position because of their minority status... (aka affirmative action) Which can lead to an increase of racism (Ironic ain't it?)

 

[Signa]

I'm going to say no just based on the fact that a person can have their own bad experiences with a group of people of a certain race and be soured by it. It DOES make him a bad person if he never lets those prejudices go if an individual breaks his preconceptions.

In other words, if I got robbed constantly by a lot of black guys, and then a black dude came up to me and wanted to be my friend, I have a right to be hesitant/suspicious/pissed off, but if that guy genuinely proves his is a friend and not some one else trying to rob me, then I'm the bad guy if I keep hating him because of what others did.

Of course if they were just raised that way by bad parents, then he's just a moron for not reevaluating his childhood lessons. No kid believes his parents are 100% right about everything, and only the stupid takes their every word at face value.

 

[interspark]

Uhm.. I don't like Asian men, not because of their skin colour, but because three tried grabbing me in town once, one tried mugging me and three tried to pick a fight with me earlier. People stupidly call me racist because of that.
As long as he doesn't act on it, he's not a bad person.

you ARE a racist because of that! you're discriminating the occupants of several countries because of the actions of 3! its not like all white people are saints you know!

 

[Lemon Of Life]

I would just tell them that's not on. I'm not being friends with an idiot.

 

[Darth Sea Bass]

Nah just stupid and ignorant.

 

[johnman]

I know a fair few racist people, I let them get on with it.

 

[Danglybits]

Judging people based on their ethnic background seems pretty shitty to me. Hate someone for the person they are, not something that has nothing to do with you or their failings as human.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Uhm.. I don't like Asian men, not because of their skin colour, but because three tried grabbing me in town once, one tried mugging me and three tried to pick a fight with me earlier. People stupidly call me racist because of that.
As long as he doesn't act on it, he's not a bad person.

you ARE a racist because of that! you're discriminating the occupants of several countries because of the actions of 3! its not like all white people are saints you know!

Oh, for crying out loud... look at what I said to that troll in a previous post. There's a difference between prejudice and racism. But when it's a different skin colour it always seems to be racism.

 

[Sparrow]

I'm just curious as to how you, the Escapist public, would respond to this. Would you instantly call them out on it? Would you respect their opinion even if you don't agree with it, or alternatively, if you do agree with it? Would you try and change them? And ultimately, would it affect your friendship to the point where you would consider no longer being friends with them?

I'd need more data to answer the question.

The world has an abundant supply of people who talk shit about race. Not all of the really mean it, which is to say that not all of them actually behave in ways that reflect the nonsense coming out of their mouths; sometimes the nonsense is just learned stuff they picked up from their environment growing up, or stuff they're saying to fit into a certain setting, or stuff they heard somewhere and are repeating without thinking. To talk shit isn't ideal, but that's something you can deal with over time by occasionally asking your friend if they really believe what they just said, asking them why they believe it, showing them some of the contradictions. That's an okay approach.

Someone who's dedicated enough to act on racist guff, though -- who gets uncomfortable if people of The Offending Race are seated near them in a restaurant, or who treats people shittily specifically because they're from The Offending Race, or who'd have a huge problem with someone of The Offending Race dating a member of their family -- yes, that's a dealbreaker. I'd give it a couple of shots at talking it out, very seriously, but after that I wouldn't associate with them. (And yes, that's a call that I've had to make in a couple of cases.)

It's left a bit vague. I mean, if the the OP was in too much detail some people might not be able to relate to it.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

I have a VERY good friend who absolutely hates muslims, she never says why but she just absolutely hates them,

 

[QuickDEMOL1SHER]

There is a big difference between disliking or even hating other races and actually acting on it. Most people that are racist today would maybe talk about doing something, but never actually would. Similarly, what some people would call racist, is different then what other people would. For instance, I tell and laugh at racist jokes all the time, but I have no genuine hate for any of those races. (just humanity)

All in all, I think it really comes down to weather there is real hate or intentions and not just ego and ignorance.

 

[Sparrow]

Uhm.. I don't like Asian men, not because of their skin colour, but because three tried grabbing me in town once, one tried mugging me and three tried to pick a fight with me earlier. People stupidly call me racist because of that.
As long as he doesn't act on it, he's not a bad person.

you ARE a racist because of that! you're discriminating the occupants of several countries because of the actions of 3! its not like all white people are saints you know!

Oh, for crying out loud... look at what I said to that troll in a previous post. There's a difference between prejudice and racism. But when it's a different skin colour it always seems to be racism.

Hey, that's a step too far. Maybe you have different views toward being racist, but that guy wasn't a troll for calling you out on what you said. The way you phrased it came across as you saying "I don't like Asian people" to me, and if he calls you out on that it's him acting on his opinion and not being a troll.

 

[trueluigi7]

If that happened to me it wouldn't because I hate racist people, why because they hate someone for a reason that the person can not change about themselves.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Everyone is a little baised towards other races and nationalities, aslong as he doesn't get tunnel vision about the matter then it's okay. If, however, he's constantly bringing up how much he hates black people or whatever, then you can label him as a racist dickweed.

 

[Lawyer105]

I suppose it depends what you mean by racist.

If you mean 'the irrational hatred of somebody purely because of his race", then I'd probably have to say that the person is a bit (or maybe a lot) ignorant.

However, it's really easy to class things as 'racism'. In these times, it's almost become a sort of 'Get out of jail free'-card. Black dude gets fired from a mostly-white company - OMFG RACISM! Nobody ever asks whether he skipped work, stole from the cash box, whatever. It's just automatic racism. And yet (coming from a South African), the government-sponsored appointment of black people over equally (or better) qualified non-blacks is 'Affirmative Action'. Not racism. Funny how it works that way, isn't it?

I come (originally) from South Africa. Statistically, 90%+ of all violent crimes are committed by black Africans. 90% of all citizens are black Africans. I don't see anything significant in that - 90% black criminals hardly means that black Africans are criminals if 90% of the population are black... it means that they're no better or worse than anybody else!

But if I'm walking down the street at 01:00 AM, and see 6 black dudes in hoodies heading towards me, you better believe I cross the road. Racism? I don't really think so.