Race and Racism! Let's talk about it!

[Mr. Peanuts]

1) I do approve of it. My girlfriend is a Muslim so technically I wouldn't be able to marry her but from my feelings for her right now, I'm sure I could love her enough to marry her. Love shouldn't be constrained by someone's race, beliefs or culture, but it is. I think the younger the generation, the more accepting you are of interracial relationships because the more you see them, the more you become acceptant and aware of them. Its a gradual process. The sad thing is that I know that my grandfather would not approve of my choice of partner.

2) All stereotypes have some truth behind them, if somewhat blinkered and exaggerated sometimes. You have to think about how they were formed. I think many kids these days are proud to be 'alternative' and would like to break away from looking like any other kid. Personally, I don't conform to any stereotype and I have had people ask me in the past; "what are you?" Hey, I'm me and I really wouldn't appreciate it if you summarised me like that thanks. It annoys me how the majority of kids have to be so segregated because of the way someone dresses, what music they like, how they talk etc.

3) I really couldn't say. I could get into detail. I don't know any Scandinavians, Germans, Dutch or Australians. If you are talking about the colour of someone's skin then I'd say I don't know any typically Arabic people, though my girlfriend is from Jordan, her skin is quite pale. I believe that knowing people from other cultures educates and a lack of education in such areas can lead to racism. I'm trying to think of more for this one but I just can't right now.

4) When you say Asian, remember that you generalise not just China, Japan, Thailand etc, you also throw the middle-east into that category. I'd rather someone call me English than European. Why? Because I don't speak French, German, Dutch or Spanish as my primary language.

Anyway, I may have to edit this for incoherence tomorrow night. I've pulled an all-nighter again thanks to a teacher at my school who told us that we could hold a project back until September when actually it has to be handed in on Friday.

Great.

[Subjugation]

I don't think it's racist to call them Asian or Mexican, unless you happen to know that they don't come from Asia or Mexico. Otherwise, how the hell are you supposed to know?

You could just ask them what their ethnic background is... :ermm:

[Riesen]

You could just ask them what their ethnic background is... :ermm:

I guess I should've added on to that. I've never really been in a situation where I was talking to someone and called them some race or nationality they weren't. I'm not too sure how it would happen, unless it was in a derogatory manner. Like, for instance, my car thing. Say I'm going to hitch a ride from a friend of a friend who appears asian, and I say, "I'm not getting in that car. I've heard about you asian drivers." Then they might yell at me and tell me how they're from Haiwaii or somewhere. I was only asking a question, even though it was stupid.

Also, not all stereotypes are bad. There are some that we should embrace, like Jews controlling the money. That's not bad, that's a good thing. Black people having giant penii. Asian people being smart. Etc., etc., etc..

Izor, I imagine you look like Terri Schaivo. Why does racism towards white or anyone have to even be an issue? Especially over the internet. On the internet, you have anonymity. If someone is being racist against you, it's your own fault because you let them know what race, creed or whatever you are. If you'd just SHUT UP and PLAY, it wouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately, there are a lot of trigger happy children who play this game, and when someone calls them stupid or newb, watch out cat, kitten has claws. Me personally, I don't care what you call me, they're just text. Granted, it's poorly spelled text. Even more reason to just dismiss it.

[Liquid Blue]

It's not really a racial thing is what I'm saying, it's a cultural thing. When you call someone a *** in todays world, you are grouping them together with the people who live after the sterotypes we already mentioned, and not necessarily even black (aka wiggers). Not all blacks follow that of course - it would be dumb to think so. But in the same way, when you call someone trailer trash, you're referring to low income whites who fall into a bunch of stereotypes themselves. This is also racism. But why is it ok to make fun of it? Why isnt there something done when people are called rednecks? Rednecks are by definition white. When you think of nerds, you think of little scrawny white kids wearing glasses sitting behind a computer wearing a star wars shirt. Again, no racism bans for that. Why is it ok to make fun of stereotypes that are aimed at whites if it's not ok for any other race?

It's not ok to make fun of it, idiotic white people that feel the need to use the N-word are just as responsible for keeping it as one of the words to flip out over as blacks are. Why not call someone white trash when they get killed in pub then, since that's also racist, eh? Because it won't garner quite as big of a reaction as the N-word, and they know it. Not only that, but most white people didn't have an era where they were persecuted, therefore derogatory words aren't going to have as much bite to them as if you were Jewish, or if you were Black. That's besides the point though, you shouldn't be using redneck words in the first place. I don't go around calling white people rednecks or trailer trash to "make myself feel better". It's not hard to keep that type of negative shit out of your mouth, you have free will (and most have common sense) so learn to use it.

And lastly no, I don't think skinny white kid when I hear the word nerd. I've seen so many nerds of different races, sizes and colors that white comes nowhere near the equation when I hear it. That isn't racism, it's just your own insecurities being reflected back at you. Just because you think skinny white guys fit the nerd stereotype doesn't mean everyone does.

Riesen hit the nail on the head before but I didn't want to just directly quote his response as a reply.

[Arikel]

yes we arent spanish nor portuguese. But you forgot Brasil had an atypical independence when you talk about Latin american independences. We didnt fight for our independency. Agricultural elites "used" D. Pedro, prince of Portugal and the one suposed to "inherit" Portugal throne to "buy" our independence. So yes "we" bought our independence and no blood was shed. To other countries recognize our independence there was an agreement made with Portugal with England mediating it that costed us 2.000.000 pounds of debts that Portugal was supposed to pay to England. Some ppl claim that this is the "origin" of our international debts that represents nowadays more than 50% of our GPD(PIB) do we pay more taxes than canada and have way worse return of it.

I agree with you that noone likes to be generalized. Im not spanish nor Latin American. I think im a Brazillian.

I know Shope.

O GRITO DO IPIRANGA!

By the way calling someone a N***** or a G*** is just giving way to the continuing disbelief and feelings of discrimination that some persons feel. Just by using that words you are continuing the long spiral that comes from centuries ago, even if you are joking when you say it and you are calling that to a friend.

[SaucyKing]

Make sure you know what race I am before you warn me for being racist. kthx

[Superted]

Make sure you know what race I am before you warn me for being racist. kthx

Because only white people can be racist.

[ZeUs!!]

Make sure you know what race I am before you warn me for being racist. kthx

Doesn't mean people can't take offence from it. Make sure you let people know what race you are before posting racist slurs. kthx

[Troll King]

Izor, I imagine you look like Terri Schaivo. Why does racism towards white or anyone have to even be an issue? Especially over the internet. On the internet, you have anonymity. If someone is being racist against you, it's your own fault because you let them know what race, creed or whatever you are. If you'd just SHUT UP and PLAY, it wouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately, there are a lot of trigger happy children who play this game, and when someone calls them stupid or newb, watch out cat, kitten has claws. Me personally, I don't care what you call me, they're just text. Granted, it's poorly spelled text. Even more reason to just dismiss it.

That's a very naive way to look at it. In essence, you're doing what a lot of people do online and that is to place the blame on the victim of racism. If your stance is that "it's your fault for letting people know you're Black" then it really isn't as far as you think from "it's your fault for being Black". I don't understand why this kind of view is so common. Whenever an issue of racism comes up there's always someone that places the blame on the victim without even mentioning the faults of the person who was being racist in the first place. It's the same thing with the "it's your fault if you feel offended by it" argument. That completely ignores the fact that the person making the racist comments was intentionally trying to offend. Why do people criticize the victim instead? It's like seeing someone getting punched in the jaw and then telling them they shouldn't have thrust their face into someone else's fist.

[PH]

I'm going to sound like an asshole in this post, but I don't care.

There's a difference between a punch in the jaw and a kid online spouting the N-word because he knows he can get away with it. The latter is laughable at best for a couple of reasons. For one, look at the reasons that are usually behind the language these kids use. "Oh no, he spawnkilled me! I'd better insult his racial background! Oh, but I don't know what race he is! I'll just assume he's black! YOU STUPID SPAWNING N*****!" Wow, you died in a game that's all about dying. Cry me a river. Two, I personally find it difficult to be offended by anyone that seems to be barely coherent enough to put together and type a legible sentence. Whereas a punch in the jaw does hurt. Badly. Sometimes it IS the victim's fault though, if he sees it coming and doesn't duck. But I digress.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Almost everyone who feels big and bad because they can say "n*****" online would get buried in a heartbeat for saying it in real life. You're not going to stop that, because there are millions of worthless failures that feel empowered by the anonymity that the Internet offers, and they're going to find any excuse possible to use that so-called power to make themselves feel better. I just laugh every time I'm called "white trash" or "redneck" because I know that the kids using these insults are covering up for their own insecurities. It's just sad that it comes down to things like this, but I guess I really shouldn't have expected much more from people that thrive on saying things like "ez" "no ur mom is ez".

EDIT - To follow up on whether or not stereotypes have truth to them: I am from Texas. I live on a farm, drive a tractor, sleep on a haystack out in the barn, have sex with my sister, wear tight Wranglers and spit chewing tobacco everywhere I go. Fuck you if you don't like it. Yee haw. I'm proud to be a Texan, y'all hear?

Simple as that. Don't view things that are beyond your control as weaknesses, because that gives the kids a weapon to use against you. I can't help that I was born and raised here, and when someone finds out I'm from Texas I hear a lot of the above statements. I laugh, because I know they're looking for a reaction out of me. The Internet's anonymity gives cowards the courage that they need to be Billy Bad-Ass, and if you give them the attention they want they'll tear into you like a black man into a bucket of chicken. LOL OH SHIT SON, THAT'S HILARIOUS.

But seriously, they're a box of matches looking for a can of gasoline. Don't be that can of gasoline, and eventually they get bored and go listen to Linkin Park.

EDIT #2 - I guess I should answer the four questions you posed at the outset, Perry.

1) I view interracial marriage the same way I view same-sex marriage. I don't give a fuck what people do with their life as long as they're happy.

2) About 50 yards behind one of the local KFC's is a run-down apartment complex with about 85% black residents. There is a constant stream of blacks going between the complex and KFC. I don't know if that's the case in other parts of the country, but I kind of doubt it since everything in east Texas is fucked up.

3) I honestly don't come into contact with many Asians outside of SS. The last time I encountered even a small group of Asians was at a LAN center in Houston. Fucking nerdy Asians.

4) A similar thing happens outside of racial boundaries. A popular phrase among the people who regularly visit surrounding states is "Fuck you, I'm from Texas". I think what you're talking about is a similar form of pride, albeit maybe less ignorant and obviously on a much larger scale.

PS: You don't mind if I call you Perry, do you? :wub:

[Izor]

Wow liquid youre a fucking liberal piece of shit gg. If someone stole your bike 15 years ago how long would you hold it over on them? Slavery is something that nobody can say they can remember, at least in American culture. And the jewbaggers havent been enslaved for thousands of years. Give me a fucking break. I'm tired of paying for a crime that me, my dad, my grandfather, and even my great grandfather didn't commit. I'm tired of people playing the racism card to get out of anything and everything in life. A prime example being affirmative action. Are there really fucked up libs out there that honestly think letting intellectually inferior students in a school to meet a quota helps the system?

And I havent heard any jews whine about the holocaust during my life. Even with their tendency to whine and complain, they usually are reasonable people for the most part. Theres a big difference between people keeping alive the memory of what their ancestors went through to mourn it and using it to get pity out of everyone.

[Troll King]

Funny, I was just noticing how those crimes which you don't think you should be held accountable for, have had lingering consequences that have affected the content of that very post.

[404 Not Found]

And I havent heard any jews whine about the holocaust during my life. Even with their tendency to whine and complain, they usually are reasonable people for the most part.

I love this part "Even with their tendency to whine and complain"


Nice comment....I do not know if this is from a lack of education or sarcasm?

Not being a relegious person nor a person of great relegious-cultural background....I never hear anyone of the Jewish faith or culture complaining of this outside of there families or friends either. But I do hear on a weekly basis others blaming the jews for one thing or another! or stereotyping them as you have with your whine & complain note. I hear more people of other backgorunds bitch and whine about things and they are of every walk of life...how do you classify a culture & relegion to one group of people. Should we just say that all mormons are bigomists and that all catholics do not practice birth control and that all presbyterians are out to convert everyone to there thinking of WWJD. Next I am waiting to hear that all Polish people are idiots cause the Polish guy that won the Gold Medal in the olympics had it bronzed. Gimme a break!

Usually blame is from the people that can not get ahead in there job or life & need to blame there failures & a poor excuse of a life on someone else, be it relegion, culture, color or whatever.

The people that complain about others due to there race, culture or relegion, are usually the people that are the racist bigots we live with today, not the people they are pointing the fingers at!

[SaucyKing]

What if I posted a picture with the word 'cracker'? Would that be racist too, even though half my family is white? The other half of my family is black, so how was my other post racist?

[Troll King]

Your race has less to do with it than the context in which you posted it. If you did post a similar picture with the word "cracker" instead, then the answer to your question is yes.