Poll: Is everyone just a bit racist?

[Verlander]

No, it's down to upbringing. I didn't even know what racism was until I was in my mid teens, it had never occurred to me, and I only discovered it through history lessons etc. I live in East London, very multicultural, and I have a mixed family.

I think Americans have less choice because racism plays a much more important role in your history, and so people are reminded of it constantly and many of the older generations over there are still slightly racist, so attitudes get passed down. I can't speak for any other countries, cos I don't know much about them.

The north of England can be pretty racist though (generalisation obviously)

 

[MikailCaboose]

Yes. Racism is something that we have no cognitive control over. What matters is whether or not we take action on that.

Even if your cognition reveals no difference in race?

I can honestly say that I perceive, consciously in the least, any difference in people solely by using race as a reference point. Does that mean, then, that I must possess some form of "hidden" racism, one that hides unrevealed to my conscious mind?

I'm not trying to prove you wrong, I'm just saying that I don't recognize any racism that I am actively suppressing to be unoffensive.

As far as my IB Psych Textbook states, rascism falls under the same cognitive grouping as general "fear", and the human mind bears only an automatic response to "fear".
Plus (and I can't think of the exact study at the moment, but I'll look for it and tell you) there was a study that found that while a person consciously is not rascist, there is still a bit of a time-lag when physically asked to place "good intentions" with a picture of a member of another race (the study used white v. black), as compared with a member of their own race (this was found mostly in whites).
Sorry if it's a bit difficult to understand how I've worded it...

 

[MikailCaboose]

Yes. Racism is something that we have no cognitive control over. What matters is whether or not we take action on that.

Even if your cognition reveals no difference in race?

I can honestly say that I perceive, consciously in the least, any difference in people solely by using race as a reference point. Does that mean, then, that I must possess some form of "hidden" racism, one that hides unrevealed to my conscious mind?

I'm not trying to prove you wrong, I'm just saying that I don't recognize any racism that I am actively suppressing to be unoffensive.

As far as my IB Psych Textbook states, rascism falls under the same cognitive grouping as general "fear", and the human mind bears only an automatic response to "fear". (well, as far as the most modern view on the matter at least, which may or may not be actually true)
Plus (and I can't think of the exact study at the moment, but I'll look for it and tell you) there was a study that found that while a person consciously is not rascist, there is still a bit of a time-lag when physically asked to place "good intentions" with a picture of a member of another race (the study used white v. black), as compared with a member of their own race (this was found mostly in whites).
Sorry if it's a bit difficult to understand how I've worded it...

 

[MikailCaboose]

*Well, this needs to be removed...*

 

[Furious Styles]

I think everyone has some racism in them, I know I do. Barely any, but there is some there.

It doesn't manifest itself in my behaviour though

 

[Kejui]

Plus (and I can't think of the exact study at the moment, but I'll look for it and tell you) there was a study that found that while a person consciously is not rascist, there is still a bit of a time-lag when physically asked to place "good intentions" with a picture of a member of another race (the study used white v. black), as compared with a member of their own race (this was found mostly in whites).

In saying "mostly" in whites, does that mean out of the races tested, that not every member of another race had this quality. For example, say they tested ten black people. Does that then mean that out of those people, maybe only eight of them had this quality?

If so, I'd say that it could be a trait that is able to be lost through progression and evolution of the species.

 

[Harlemura]

My town is nearly entirely populated by white people. If I see someone who's not, I notice.
I think that makes me racist, even though all I do is have the tiny thought "Hm, that person isn't white", I don't think of them as insignificant or anything.

But that's just me. I'm sure it's different in more diverse areas.

 

[the Dept of Science]

No, it's down to upbringing. I didn't even know what racism was until I was in my mid teens, it had never occurred to me, and I only discovered it through history lessons etc. I live in East London, very multicultural, and I have a mixed family.

I think Americans have less choice because racism plays a much more important role in your history, and so people are reminded of it constantly and many of the older generations over there are still slightly racist, so attitudes get passed down. I can't speak for any other countries, cos I don't know much about them.

The north of England can be pretty racist though (generalisation obviously)

http://www.cracked.com/article_18404_6-shockingly-evil-things-babies-are-capable-of.html

Apparently, at a very early age, we have a natural predisposition to the race of our parents. I'm not sure how this would work in a mixed family though. Similarly, people are naturally tribalistic, but again, if your "tribe" consists of mixed races, I'm not sure if you would have any particular disposition to disliking any particular one of them.

I think we are "naturally" "racist". Naturally is in "s because I mean that it is in some way built in by evolution, but so is our natural inclination to eat with our hands. Babies do it, but it can easily be overcome by a bit of thinking and conditioning. If you interact with people from other races regularly, then you aren't going to treat them any differntly. I have racist in "s because I think its a very base form of racism. Its just a slight mistrust or uneasy feeling you might get. I don't think you naturally have ideas about racial purity or superiority. You may, for example, just feel a bit more uneasy, walking down the street late at night, being approached by someone of a different race than someone of exactly the same demeanor as someone from the same race.

 

[rokkolpo]

racist...as in discriminating other people for their race.
no I don't.

make jokes about their stereotypes...?
Sure, but I also make fun of my own race so yeah.

 

[rokkolpo]

Seeing differences between people is a naturally human thing. We can't really escape from it.

It's stupid to call that racism though.

That's like being sexist because you noticed girls have breasts.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

I am convinced that most Aisans look a lot alike. I mean A LOT alike. Especially girls.

So yes.

Also, acknowledging the fundamental difference in appearance between myself and say, a black person, is not racist. But what I said up there ^^ certainly is.

 

[SnipErlite]

Not actively so, but I think subconsciously there is a certain element of mistrust of people who are different from oneself. It's biological n shit.

 

[ultimateownage]

No, it's not racism that we naturally prefer people who are more like us. Also, racism is thrown about way too much these days, I can make fun of white people, and then black people, but the black people one will get me called racist. It's the same with sexism. This isn't campaigning for equal rights, this is campaigning so that you can take advantage of your 'rights' to make fun of white males while they can't do anything about it. These days being a middle aged, average height, caucasian male is the worst thing to be.

 

[Signa]

No, because our definition of racism is so broad that it encompasses everyone. That doesn't mean everyone hates or discriminates others who are different than them. It just goes to show how thin-skinned everyone is and are willing to retaliate by calling the person who unwittingly insulted them a graver insult that they can't shake off.

 

[thiosk]

Look around any cafeteria at the average makeup at who sits at what table.
Yes, everyone truly is just a little bit racist.

Now, my lunch outings are often populated by a jew, a black, a puerto rican, a korean, and a chinaman, with myself, whitey. And one thing everyone agrees on: [This statement removed under threat of violent jihad].

 

[emeraldrafael]

Depends. You could say its racist just cause you tell an asian person you hate them, but theat could be after they killed your dog.

BUt yeah, I don think there is anyon ein the world who hasnt had a racist thought in their life.