Poll: Is Not Dating a Certain Race Racist?

[Illithidae]

Well, yes it is.

But as long as you don't reject someone who's otherwise attractive entirely because of their race, it's a pretty harmless racism.

I personally don't want to cut my dating pool, so I'd never be that picky.

Basically this. It's pretty clear-cut that racism is being prejudiced towards a select race or group of races, so yes, he is racist. In this case, I don't see it as much of an issue; it's a benign kind of racism, purely towards their physical traits.

It he wasn't going to date people with a specific type of nose, he'd just be picky.

 

[Jamieson 90]

Can you choose who you're attracted to? And if not is it really racism if you don't have any control over it? I mean it's not a conscious decision, right? I mean I don't even think about it; I either like the person or I don't, their race doesn't even come into it.

Why does it being a conscious decision matter?

Surely nobody wakes up in the morning and says "Today I will consider other races to be inferior to my own". It's a belief or attitude that person holds which affects how they act, which they may or may not recognise and try to minimise.

It matters because I believe intent is important in judging someone's actions, rather than judging their actions and their consequences alone.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I'm gonna say no, it's not racist. What arouses me isn't my choice, and just because I don't want to stick my noodle in someone doesn't mean that I hate/think less of them.

 

[2HF]

I don't date Mexican women. Does that make me a racist? I should hope not, I'm Mexican. Not to say Mexicans can't be racist, they can, but I'm certainly not racist against my own people. I find pale skin to be extremely attractive. That means that I don't tend to date black women too. I don't generally find Indian women attractive either. Does that make me racist? Possibly if you're going by a websters dictionary definition but fuck you if you are, you know damn well that isn't the intention of the thread.

 

[someonehairy-ish]

I don't want to date fat people.

Therefore I must hate fat people.

Nope. Change the adjective to whatever you want, I don't think it works like that. You can treat someone as an equal and still not want to bump uglies with them. Simple as.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I don't want to date fat people.

Therefore I must hate fat people.

Nope. I don't think it works like that. You can treat someone as an equal and still not want to bump uglies with them. Simple as.

Oh, looks like you're touching on the "cotton ceiling". Lots and lots of arguments over that.

 

[Something Amyss]

No. It's not racist. Unless preference in the looks of your mate is somehow discriminatory now. Hasn't been for thousands of years at least.

By its nature, preference in your mate is discriminatory. Seems weird to act like this is a sudden thing. That also doesn't equal racism. Though refusing to date black people is probably racist.

The issue here is "who cares?"

You hurt nobody through your actions, so whatever, right? People are still free to self-determination.

It was NOT racism that started the riots in capetown? It was NOT racism that made slaves out of men and women and after they were freed still had to suffer for decades from restricted education and people rights? And then there was germany.

So...Not dating black people...Will lead to the Holocaust?

 

[someonehairy-ish]

Oh, looks like you're touching on the "cotton ceiling". Lots and lots of arguments over that.

I can imagine. But whatever, that's my 2 cents, I think I'll jump thread now...

 

[Strazdas]

As far as relationship based on intelligence wits whatever i dont care about race.

As far as sexual appeal, i personally do not find black or latinos atractive at all. i however have extra ttraction to asian girls. However i shoudl stress that this is solely sexual appeal and is equal to some people not liking fat people. I do not consider that racist. Their race has certain physical qualities that my brains are not wired to have sexual appeal to, nothing i or them can control. They can still be friends or whatever, all other qualities remain independant of race, however as far pas spysical appeal goes you cant defy biology no matter how much you want. and to blame people for that is absurd.

I firmly believe it has to be learned (even if subconsciously) because otherwise, how else would it happen?

So people learn to sexualy prefer skinny/fat people too you think?

 

[Ihateregistering1]

Not in the slightest.

Now, if you asked this guy "why won't you date black women?" and he says "because they are descended from Monkeys and less intelligent than other races" then yes, he's a racist, but having physical preferences doesn't make one a racist. Maybe he simply likes lighter skin, maybe he like long flowing hair, it could be anything.

I hope I've communicated my thoughts in such a way that no one picks up a racist vibe from these words themselves. It's not my intention to denigrate any race with this question.

Ugh, sorry but this just irks the hell out of me whenever we try and have any sorts of discussions like this. People are so damn paranoid about being called a racist that they have to caveat everything they say to make sure to cover their ass. Sorry to jump on my high horse OP, I just think that people's paranoia holds back the race debate instead of pushing it forward.

 

[Thaluikhain]

So people learn to sexualy prefer skinny/fat people too you think?

Actually, yes. It's only relatively recently that the ideal body shape (in the west) is skinny. A few hundred years ago, larger bodies were popular, because it showed you had enough money to have adequate food.

Once starvation stopped being such an issue, the beauty standard changed to a much slimmer figure. It's only really been skinny recently, as recently as the 20th century, a fuller figure was considered beautiful. Certain actresses around WW2 come to mind.

 

[Smeatza]

I know a guy who won't date Indian ladies because his mum is Indian, there weren't many Indian women in his upbringing and because of that Indian women remind him slightly of her. A la why he doesn't want to have sex with them.
Is that racist? I don't think so.

 

[Smeatza]

Once starvation stopped being such an issue, the beauty standard changed to a much slimmer figure. It's only really been skinny recently, as recently as the 20th century, a fuller figure was considered beautiful. Certain actresses around WW2 come to mind.

I was under the impression it was the 19th century, the Victorian era.
The fashion of repression seeped into people's eating habits. One was expected to have the strength of will to say no to food and being skinny was a sign of this.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I was under the impression it was the 19th century, the Victorian era.
The fashion of repression seeped into people's eating habits. One was expected to have the strength of will to say no to food and being skinny was a sign of this.

I meant a fuller figure than the current rake-thin ideal. I think (not sure, though), that the ideal didn't go straight to being skinny, just got skinnier over time.

 

[The Enquirer]

It really depends on why you don't want to date that person. But in the end appearance isn't what's important in a relationship. I won't lie I'd take the better looking girl over the less attractive one if they had the exact same personality, but eve what type of body people find attractive is subjective to one's own opinion. I feel like racism is also very misinterpreted today. Take the Zimmerman case that happened fairly recently. For those of you who don't know what that is take a quick look (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin). If it was a black man who shot a white boy it would not have been a racism issue. The website blackpeoplemeet.com is no issue of race but if there was a website whitepeoplemeet.com people would be up in arms in it.

The concept of racism is very skewed today. I think in many cases simply rejecting someone for their skin color is wrong, just like rejecting someone for having certain colored eyes, hair, etc. I know there are a few exceptions but none are really coming to mind. If you just don't like the person then its no matter whatsoever.