Interesting article on racism

[resister]

I read this with interest. If you use the term loosely, please take a moment to read the link.

I think using it so loosely devalues discussion of real racism and does a disservice to the cause by devaluing genuine racism.

FTR, I think hating people for no reason other than skin tone is idiotic, everyone should give people a chance on an individual basis.

Being a genuine racist can prevent you from meeting and forming good alliances in life.https://www.thoughtco.com/reasons-no...racist-2834957

[Dr. Who]

I read this with interest. If you use the term loosely, please take a moment to read the link.

I think using it so loosely devalues discussion of real racism and does a disservice to the cause by devaluing genuine racism.

FTR, I think hating people for no reason other than skin tone is idiotic, everyone should give people a chance on an individual basis.

Being a genuine racist can prevent you from meeting and forming good alliances in life.https://www.thoughtco.com/reasons-no...racist-2834957

First of all, I despise racism, but I will not accuse anyone of racism without first trying to understand where an individual derives their racist point of view. Generally, where I find that their racism is simply a matter of cultural alienation, I will try to explain why what they perceive as impolite behavior is derived from a completely different sociological experience and may not be intended to offend. Take for instance people from large Asian cities. They may seem to be aggressive on public transit, unless you understand that in the societies in which they were raised, there are people hired to push them onto subways and buses. So pushing is normal to them but rude to us. That doesn't mean that some people are not just unpleasant, but people get bent out of shape when they encounter certain behaviors that don't conform to the norm. Personal hygiene is another issue that is very different around the world. However, the availability of inexpensive water for bathing is also very different around the world, so standards vary based on affordability. It may take a while for newcomers to understand that they need to bathe more frequently to conform to the society to which they have immigrated. Then again there are some people who are not worth the effort because they are xenophobes.

[resister]

First of all, I despise racism, but I will not accuse anyone of racism without first trying to understand where an individual derives their racist point of view. Generally, where I find that their racism is simply a matter of cultural alienation, I will try to explain why what they perceive as impolite behavior is derived from a completely different sociological experience and may not be intended to offend. Take for instance people from large Asian cities. They may seem to be aggressive on public transit, unless you understand that in the societies in which they were raised, there are people hired to push them onto subways and buses. So pushing is normal to them but rude to us. That doesn't mean that some people are not just unpleasant, but people get bent out of shape when they encounter certain behaviors that don't conform to the norm. Personal hygiene is another issue that is very different around the world. However, the availability of inexpensive water for bathing is also very different around the world, so standards vary based on affordability. It may take a while for newcomers to understand that they need to bathe more frequently to conform to the society to which they have immigrated. Then again there are some people who are not worth the effort because they are xenophobes.

Interesting observation, culture clash as opposed to racism. But quite a bit of racism occurs between native counrtymen.

What I see is an element of both sides engaging in it and acussing the other side of it.

If I know someone is a racist, I avoid that person. No matter their race.

Racism does seem inherent to some cultures more than others, for sure. I have no use for it myself and think people who are truly racist are not worth associating with.

[Common]

First of all, I despise racism, but I will not accuse anyone of racism without first trying to understand where an individual derives their racist point of view. Generally, where I find that their racism is simply a matter of cultural alienation, I will try to explain why what they perceive as impolite behavior is derived from a completely different sociological experience and may not be intended to offend. Take for instance people from large Asian cities. They may seem to be aggressive on public transit, unless you understand that in the societies in which they were raised, there are people hired to push them onto subways and buses. So pushing is normal to them but rude to us. That doesn't mean that some people are not just unpleasant, but people get bent out of shape when they encounter certain behaviors that don't conform to the norm. Personal hygiene is another issue that is very different around the world. However, the availability of inexpensive water for bathing is also very different around the world, so standards vary based on affordability. It may take a while for newcomers to understand that they need to bathe more frequently to conform to the society to which they have immigrated. Then again there are some people who are not worth the effort because they are xenophobes.

Theres a flip side to cultural alienation and its cultural integration. If a black person lives in a majority white neighborhood they may very well grow up a racist because of incidents. The same with a white person living in a predominantly black neighborhood. It all depends on your experience. My experiences were good ones living in a mixed neighborhood more black than white growing up, some dont have the same

[Chris]

Yes, good article. Racists often don't realize they're racist, true, even racist race card players who also get defensive. It does have different meanings and often used so generally and overused as to be meaningless.

[Dr. Who]

Theres a flip side to cultural alienation and its cultural integration. If a black person lives in a majority white neighborhood they may very well grow up a racist because of incidents. The same with a white person living in a predominantly black neighborhood. It all depends on your experience. My experiences were good ones living in a mixed neighborhood more black than white growing up, some dont have the same

However isolation from other races/cultures also produces people who are immediately uncomfortable with anyone who is different than themselves.

[resister]

However isolation from other races/cultures also produces people who are immediately uncomfortable with anyone who is different than themselves.

In adults, perhaps. Children who see a different race for the first time are fascinated.

[Mister D]

In adults, perhaps. Children who see a different race for the first time are fascinated.

Racism (loosely defined) begins quite early. Do a search for "racist babies" and you'll see what I mean. Official "America" has come to rely on old sociological canards (e.g. that bias is only taught, human beings are a blank slate and racism is produced by a lack of contact with other races) but I tend to agree with Chris. The term has been used inappropriately with such consistency that it has been rendered meaningless for all intents and purposes aside form character assassination and intimidation.

[Trish]

I agree - this was an interesting article and it made me stop and think. I'm not sure it's changed how I feel about things but it did make me think about how others may view it differently than I do.

[Dr. Who]

Racism (loosely defined) begins quite early. Do a search for "racist babies" and you'll see what I mean. Official "America" has come to rely on old sociological canards (e.g. that bias is only taught, human beings are a blank slate and racism is produced by a lack of contact with other races) but I tend to agree with Chris. The term has been used inappropriately with such consistency that it has been rendered meaningless for all intents and purposes aside form character assassination and intimidation.

That notion also disregards the fact that babies also often flip out when they see a man with a beard, or a man that is distinctively different than anyone the baby has seen before. If the baby has seen nothing but blonde people, seeing people with dark hair can produce anxiety. The truth is that at different stages of development, babies react to people differently. Do you suppose that in the deep south when the caretakers of wealthy people's infants were black that they reacted to skin color? Babies are fine with anyone they see on a regular basis. They go through stages where they are hyper vigilant about anything they don't recognize and then those where they like everyone.