Is this racist?

[Warren Dew]

I have been told, though lack personal experience of this, that the most racist people on the planet are the Japanese, who have a kind of built in belief in their own superiority. Of course, it is not as obvious as with some peoples, because the Japanese also have a culture of exquisite courtesy, meaning they do not openly show the contempt they feel.

However, that is just what I have been told, so could be wrong.

I get the impression their confidence in this has been shaken a bit during the last couple decades of economic problems.

[hadespussercats]

Though St. Patrick's Day isn't an official US holiday, anyone who lives in Boston's greater metro area (ahem) or in New York knows that it's a widely and thoroughly celebrated holiday-- and the celebrants aren't all of Irish extraction. Much like the people who celebrate Cinco de Mayo aren't all Mexican.

It is widely celebrated, but mostly after work, not instead of work.

...or sometimes AT work...

[Warren Dew]

True.

[Svartalf]

Ever tried making something with lots of green, after consumption of much beer (mainly Guinness, Smithwick's, Murphy's, Beamish or Harp) and whiskey?

[Drewish]

Man, even a thread about racism quickly turns into a discussion of alcohol. Clearly the comradery of drinking overcomes all prejudices.

[Svartalf]

Keep that for yourself, not everybody drinks like a Pole.

[mistermack]

I hate all foreigners, so perhaps I AM a tiny bit racist.

But I would happily shag their women, so at least I'm not sexist.

[Bella Fortuna]

Man, even a thread about racism quickly turns into a discussion of alcohol. Clearly the comradery of drinking overcomes all prejudices.

[Audley Strange]

Man, even a thread about racism quickly turns into a discussion of alcohol. Clearly the comradery of drinking overcomes all prejudices.

That's one of the funniest things I've ever read.

[Tyrannical]

All the World is racist. It's just a few naive Whites that seem to still be in denial about it.

[Blind groper]

Tyrannical

You are correct to say all the world is racist. That is the reason we need to try hard to work against it. It is like saying every nations has murders. True. And that is why we need to do what we can to prevent those murders. In the same way, we need to work against racism.

[Robert_S]

I think you have trouble accepting the the is-ought syllogism. Because we have eaten meat, it must follow that eating meat is the way things are supposed to be. Just like how most people who have ever lived believed that diseases are caused by evil spirits. Because people are prone to believe that sort of thing, it must follow that it is fitting that we should. Else, why would we have been believing and eating like that for so long in this world, which is the best of all possible worlds?

[FBM]

Most people get dental cavities, too, but I don't see a lot of people volunteering for them.


Most people also have crap reasoning skills, so they tend to commit a lot of logical fallacies such as the bandwagon appeal. Thus, they become easy fodder for advertisers and mob mentality.

[Drewish]

Seems to me like the 'mob' here are the people who insist that having any notions that they identify as racist (and heaven forbid ADMITTING TO IT) makes one a prime target for ridicule. Amazing how fighting group thought with group thought just gives rise to another form of stupid mob.

[Robert_S]

This thread is somewhat inspired by the thread about an anti-black rally in Israel.

So first a quick confession. I have no problem with Asian people, but the moment I hear one of them mention "Asian pride" I instantly think less of them. I have no issue with Italians, but when one of them wears a shirt with an Italian flag on it or talks about their Italian heritage I view them as racial trash. I have similar views regarding pretty much any racial group or ethnic identity. The more they insist on identifying themselves through racial identity, the more I feel they should be mocked and treated with open bigotry and hostility for it. To this day when somebody makes a point to identify them self as Jewish I think, "Oh great, another one of God's chosen people with a persecution complex." It's not that I stereotype all jews. It's that I stereotype people who make a point to let me know that they're Jewish. For some reason I don't see that as racist. I'm not judging you based on your race. I'm judging you based on your clear desire to conform to that racial identity. Thoughts?

I see the behavior you describe as anywhere from trivial to tiresome to annoying most of the time. But to treat them with "bigotry and hostility" goes a little too far I think. But sometimes a bit of mocking or reasoned critique is appropriate.