+292 Instead of being worried about being labelled a racist, a sexist or a homophobe, you should be more concerned about whether what you have said is actually racist, sexist or homophobic, amirite?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Ok, discussion. We see it all the, people who say “I’m not a racist, but …” – do they actually stop and think about whether what they are about to say is racist, whether it does impact on people of that race, or makes certain races out to be inferior to others, or are they more worried about people thinking they’re racist? Or people who claim not to be homophobic – before you say that, do you actually stop and consider whether your views are placing opposite-sex couples superior to same-sex couples, and if so, do you alter your views to not be homophobic, before you claim not to be a bigot? And before someone says they’re not sexist – do they worry more about what they’re saying about the sexes (and, let’s face it, most sexism is against females) – or do they worry more about whether people will perceive them for holding those views than actually considering that their viewpoint may indeed be sexist? Applies for a lot of shite too – ableism, classism, c...

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I agree on your points concerning homophobia and sexism, but I feel we say things like "I'm not racist but" because certain words and expressions have been demonized to the point of it being ridiculous. If you ever say "that black guy over there" or even the word "black", people will jump all over you and assume the worst if you because you identified someone using a major physical characteristic. What I'm basically saying is almost 99% of the time someone says "I'm not racist but" it's a defense mechanism prompted by over exaggeration of common slang and motives.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

That is very true. And often, the people accusing you of being racist aren't the race in question IE, "I didn't like the food at that Indian restaurant last night" and a non-Indian accuses you of racism.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

While I do agree with you about that, I somewhat disagree with your point about how generally women know about sexism, etc. Is it really sexism, racism whatever or is that what society has told them? For instance, if a women (who we assume was not the best candidate), was turned down for a job and took it okay, would she consider it sexism? But if someone told her the company was sexist towards women and she should be outraged wouldn't her definition of sexism change? I think society skews our perception of what is prejudice and what isn't, even towards the groups who are supposedly suffering.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

That does raise a sound point - I was assuming that having been treated slightly inferior to males all her life, a female would have, I dunno, a "sense of justice", but you're completely right in that all people have human folly, and could perceive an innocent situation (one person was more qualified for the job, and that person just happened to be a straight male) as something more.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Also, this is probably digging too deep into social politics, but if you honestly can’t make a judgement about whether a certain view, belief or action, because you hold privilege in that aspect, try to ask a person that’s marginalised by that. Like, I’m a white guy in a white country – that means that I don’t get to tell women and people of colour what’s racist or sexist. Instead of insisting to a woman that you’re not sexist, ask her opinion on the matter, and fucking listen to it. Don’t tell a homosexual that you’re not homophobic, or a person of colour that you’re not racist, when they point out that what you’re saying supports the systems of belief that marginalised them.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Also, a lot of people think that racism is hatred of people of colour, or a Neo Nazi burning a cross, when in modern society, it’s not that blatant. It’s the belief that a person’s skin colour, race, culture and nationality means that they are on a lower level to others just because of their skin colour, race, culture and nationality. And I get people tell me that they’re not homophobic because they don’t hate gay people – you can profess to love gay people all you want, but if you support legislation that denies certain rights to same-sex couples, or to homosexual/bisexual individuals, or hold beliefs that oppress and marginalise homosexuality, then that’s homophobic.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I would say that there are many people in our world who have been raised with racist or sexist or homophobic views. Many of them just don't know any better. I am none of the above, and I am very lucky because of that. But you also need to think about the difference between the -ism's/homophobia, and stereotyping. People say that it is wrong to stereotype but often, you and others fall into a certain stereotype. Like the most popular girl in school, very often they are rich and pretty bitchy. Or the black guy living in the bad side of town who was never raised to hold the same social standards that most others do, he could very well be a gangster to the fullest extent of the word.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

All I'm saying is that you may not be racist, sexist, or homophobic, but you very well could be a steriotyper.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Yeah, I get what you're saying about stereotyping being different - there was a post yesterday about how saying black people like fried chicken isn't racist, because it's not implying African races are inferior. And I think a lot of prejudice is socialised. Like, just thinking at my work, it's not uncommon for a guy to make a sexist joke and we all laugh.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I recall that same post, and I guess it's more about how people say it. For instance I have a close black friend whom I call nigga, and he knows I mean him no offense by it. The same thin goes with sexist jokes, they are jokes and should be reacted to as such. If however a dim witted guy actually starts to treat women like they are lesser then he, then I am sure there are many men who would set him straight on that one

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Yeah, but I'm not talking just about jokes here. I'm talking about how systems of power in the world that place groups of people beneath other groups of people ie, being born female, even in a 1st world country, even in the 21st century, does put you at a disadvantage.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

You are right, it is unacceptable. But is it changeable?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I dunno. Like, I hear people say stuff like "Oh, feminists will turn it upside down and have women superior to men" but I don't think that will ever happen. Not only because sexism against women is social and historical, but I think the biology plays a large part - that the fact that women are the sex that gets penetrated in heteronormative sex, and can be bought and sold because of that sex value, and the fact that women are the sex that can fall pregnant - I think those two facts alone are what keeps women marginalised. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't aim for equality - legal, social and institutional. It's just something I've been thinking about lately.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Stereotyping can be a form of a racism when you believe that a race of people are all a certain way. If you say, "All black people," or any, "All ____ people," it's racist. dictionary.com: rac·ism    [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA –noun 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others. 2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. 3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. http://www.xiaochin.com/identity/faq-ethnicity.htm

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Hm, that is true. And I guess saying something like "All African-Americans love fried chicken" or some other stereotype is making assumptions about their economic status, and assumptions can get so ingrained that we don't even realise how they affect us. Ie, a teacher not helping a struggling student as much, because they're Latino, and she assumes that they're just going to drop out of school anyway.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Yeah. One of my friends was Chinese and everyone assumed she was great at math and supposed to be super smart, so she didn't want to ask for help when it was hard, and it ended up making her feel really inferior and bad.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

When I was in High School, we had a speaker who was Vietnamese-Australian, and she said a similar thing - that, it isn't racism like someone burning GO HOME on her families lawn, it's the tiny little things that add up - that people at school assume she's smart, or can automatically play musical instruments, that when she goes to a store the cashier speaks slower to her, despite the fact she was born in Australia and can speak perfect English, little kids making "slanty eyes" and everything that just adds up over time.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

It's sometimes the small things that show you just really don't respect people. It's one thing if the girl makes a joke about the stereotype to show it's stupid, but it's another when you play into that stereotype. And you say it like it's a fact. People don't always know when you're joking. I just really don't find racist/sexist/prejudiced jokes funny. People can't help how they were born. Heck, they can't even help if they're stupid!

by Anonymous 12 years ago

How 'bout them character limits, eh, Simon?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

(Chauncy Pickles): Yah. I dunno, I didn't sleep last night, and I felt ranty.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Well, your rants seem pretty well justified.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I wrote a good 3000 character response to someone before I knew about the limit.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I haven't read anything this interesting in quite a while. Thanks.

by Anonymous 12 years ago