Support NeoGAF

[h0pper]

One thing some white people apparently can't do is just listen to non-white people for a few pages to see what that's like without chiming in with their own take. I think that thread would have been a lot more interesting if it didn't devolve into the same "but white people totally get this too" stuff as always.

Also, what commedieu said, mostly.

just read that post. definitely agree. that's what I meant by my response "10,000 foot" response to that tweet post.

 

[besada]

Someone tell the white farmers in Zimbabwe they haven't experienced racism.

Did they experience racism, or did they experience blowback from colonialism? By definition, any white farmers in Zimbabwe were the descendants of people who stole the land from the blacks that eventually took it back.

If Native Americans rose up and slaughtered whites to get their land back, I'm not sure I'd call that racism. It seems to ignore the historical context of the conflict.

 

[Deified Data]

One thing some white people apparently can't do is just listen to non-white people for a few pages to see what that's like without chiming in with their own take. I think that thread would have been a lot more interesting if it didn't devolve into the same "but white people totally get this too" stuff as always.

Also, what commedieu said, mostly.

Was this a stated rule of the thread?

 

[hypernima]

I err just swore off talking about this on GAF for the risk of myself getting banned or other people getting banned.

But does it matter what I think? I mean if you are personally offended by it then what would my distinction of Racism and prejudice mean to you?

 

[casabolg]

You won't find many critical race theory nuts here, OP. Better luck next time.

 

[stufte]

One thing some white people apparently can't do is just listen to non-white people for a few pages to see what that's like without chiming in with their own take. I think that thread would have been a lot more interesting if it didn't devolve into the same "but white people totally get this too" stuff as always.

Also, what commedieu said, mostly.

Except that you seem to think that all races are not allowed to participate in a thread about race. Which is wrong.

 

[Tacitus_]

"Just because someone's a member of an ethnic minority doesn't mean they're not a nasty small-minded little jerk"

Just because in the overwhelming majority of history white people have been identified as the purveyors of racism does not mean that white people cannot be the targets of racists or prejudicial treatment.

Awfully eurocentric of you.

 

[Amakusa]

NeoGAF
week of Racism threads

 

[Devolution]

Me being called a "cracker bitch" once is so low on the spectrum compared to the indecences, stereotyping and flat out racist shit my friends have to put up with that I frankly don't care about that incident much.

 

[BeerSnob]

If you don't think white people can be victims of racism, try dating someone from a non-white xenophobic culture. You'll be called things you didn't even know there were words for.

 

[LQX]

Only a race of idiots would think another race cant experience racism and hate.

Also, it's like these threads pop-up only to hurt feelings and anger people. And I think some actually get joy out of it.

 

[Envelope]

I heard something along the lines of this on a debate one day..

But the context of that argument had defined racisim as an actually physical act of oppression regarding the color of one's skin...

Which would technically be called Discrimination.

They were trying to say that in a technical sense, A black person cannot actually interfere or control external factors that involve a white person's life. The system that is in place is slanted beyond our control.

The argument was trying to say there aren't a majority of black cops who profile white people and arrest them.

There aren't a majority of black judges who make biased verdicts across the country.

There aren't a majority of black politicians who cater policies to members of their own community.

There weren't a majority of black people who systematically grouped whites into lower income housing.

And finally the big one... There weren't a majority of blacks who enslaved whites into building the infastructure of an entire nation and then when all was said and done, left them out to dry.

Its a very angry, narrow, and racial charged argument that doesn't really benefit from anything. Im expressing it in detail because I wanted to be thorough... Maybe this was what you were looking for OP??

I personally do not hold any animosity torwards white people, Or any people for that matter. It is truly unfair to hold grudges for past events wayyyyyyy out of our control and present day situation.

But to answer the question straight up, Yes. White people can experience racisim. I hear it everyday amongst everyone, Even other white people

BUT

There will always be a extremely severe disconnect and gap in the severity of such racisim torwards caucasians. Despite racisim being untolerable both ways, I don't think it equates due to what happened long ago and how the effects are STILL being felt today.

There's more than just one country on this planet

 

[Xdrive05]

I remember this tweet from Adria Richards that got dug up during the whole PyCon sex joke thing.

And black people never have the power in a situation where racism can happen. Got it.

 

[gryz]

it's pretty silly to think that racism is confined to only certain races. how is that not a racist view itself? there are places in the world other than the US.

 

[Raistlin]

I err just swore off talking about this on GAF for the risk of myself getting banned or other people getting banned.

But does it matter what I think? I mean if you are personally offended by it then what would my distinction of Racism and prejudice mean to you?

Way to support your argument

 

[Devolution]

it's pretty silly to think that racism is confined to only certain races. how is that not a racist view itself?

People do it semantically (racism and prejudice) but the idea is that the racism endured by a majority is not on par with the racism dealt to the minority.

 

[SneakyStephan]

It's not that it's impossible, it's that the probability of experiencing racism as a white person in Europe/NA is comparatively minuscule.

Because that's where the majority of the world population lives.

 

[Choke on the Magic]

One thing some white people apparently can't do is just listen to non-white people for a few pages to see what that's like without chiming in with their own take. I think that thread would have been a lot more interesting if it didn't devolve into the same "but white people totally get this too" stuff as always.

Also, what commedieu said, mostly.

Am I reading this right because I'm reading this as "This stories of racism thread would be a lot better if white people wouldn't participate with their own stories of racism." Did it really devolve the thread when I posted my own experience? Or do get a pass since it's an interracial story?

 

[Cipherr]

Anyone can be subject to racism. This is being argued? Are you sure this person is worth arguing with?

This. Its absurd, anyone of any race can be subject to racism.

 

[BrokenEchelon]

We can and we do. We're just not allowed to complain about it because equality.

 

[stufte]

I think thats the core issue.

People seem to use their isolated racism experiences to minimize the institutional problem in the country. It needs to be addressed by everyone.

I don't think anyone's personal experience in any way minimizes the problem institutional racism. It's as if to say complaining about my personal experience is only valid if the collective problem is big enough.

People can still experience real racism even if they aren't a part of a widely subjected section of the (US) population.

 

[Big Baybee]

Of course white people can experience
Racism, lol. But racism against whites is not institutionalized, that's the difference.

 

[la flama blanca]

We can and we do. We're just not allowed to complain about it because equality.

You're complaining about it right now.

 

[freenudemacusers]

We can and we do. We're just not allowed to complain about it because equality.

that must be it

 

[gryz]

Of course white people can experience
Racism, lol. But racism against whites is not institutionalized, that's the difference.

In America. there are other countries in the world.

 

[Deified Data]

We can and we do. We're just not allowed to complain about it because equality.

I think this particular opinion can be expressed without such excessive levels of salt.

I agree with you, but let's not pretend that whites are being stifled by the PC-Brigade from expressing their experiences and opinions. Saying that racism disproportionately effects one race over another isn't denying the experiences latter.

 

[stufte]

Of course white people can experience
Racism, lol. But racism against whites is not institutionalized, that's the difference.

Except to "lol" and minimize the issue of racism because the target had white skin is disgusting. Institutionalized racism or not.

 

[rocketknight]

Was this a stated rule of the thread?

The OP of that thread was specifically asking for non-white people's experiences. I don't know what constitutes a "rule of a thread" but I think that's a reasonable discussion prompt.

Except that you seem to think that all races are not allowed to participate in a thread about race. Which is wrong.

Everybody's allowed to participate, I just think it would be a lot more interesting as a dialog where non-white people share their experiences with race and other people elect to listen and learn about other perspectives and points of view that they may not be exposed to as often. Obviously you can do whatever you want, I just think that would have been cooler than the usual "but white people get this too" stuff. Didn't mean to cause a ruckus, sorry, it's just a familiar scenario from other types of threads about issues like this.

 

[scar tissue]

If I travel to Kenya and I am refused service in a bar because I'm white, that's racism. Plain and simple.

 

[Choke on the Magic]

I err just swore off talking about this on GAF for the risk of myself getting banned or other people getting banned.

But does it matter what I think? I mean if you are personally offended by it then what would my distinction of Racism and prejudice mean to you?

If you don't use personal attacks for the basis of your opinion you won't get banned most likely. If you noticed a handful got banned for personally attacking you. Yeah I did find your post offensive, but I'm more interested in why you think that this is true statement.

If it was just a troll post fine. You got me I bit, but if not let's hear it.

 

[Big Baybee]

Except to "lol" and minimize the issue of racism because the target had white skin is disgusting. Institutionalized racism or not.

I was laughing at the notion that white people can't experience racism. You clearly misunderStood.

 

[gryz]

If I travel to Kenya and I am refused service in a bar because I'm white, that's racism. Plain and simple.

based on some other posts in this thread, racism apparently isn't racism if they are mad because of stuff other white people did. the underlying cause doesn't change what it is.

 

[soul creator]

Depends on if "racism" in this context is referring to systems and institutions, or just anecdotal experiences.

The latter can be experienced by anyone, the former entirely depends on the society we're talking about. In most western countries, whites don't directly experience the former.

 

[stufte]

I think this particular opinion can be expressed without such excessive levels of salt.

I agree with you, but let's not pretend that whites are being stifled by the PC-Brigade from expressing their experiences and opinions. Saying that racism disproportionately effects one race over another isn't denying the experiences latter.

But that's not what the other thread was about. It was about stories of racism, not stories of institutionalized racism. People in that thread were relating their *personal* experience with racism, but were told by many in that thread that their own *personal* experience wasn't actual racism and that they were just being mocked by "jerks".

 

[Devolution]

If you don't use personal attacks for the basis of your opinion you won't get banned most likely. If you noticed a handful got banned for personally attacking you. Yeah I did find your post offensive, but I'm more interested in why you think that this is true statement.

If it was just a troll post fine. You got me I bit, but if not let's hear it.

I thought it was already known in some circles racism = power + prejudice. And other forms of racism would be deemed "discrimination."

 

[Mudkips]

I err just swore off talking about this on GAF for the risk of myself getting banned or other people getting banned.

But does it matter what I think? I mean if you are personally offended by it then what would my distinction of Racism and prejudice mean to you?

When you tell a person of a specific race that they couldn't possibly be a victim of racism because of their specific race, they might be offended. Or their head might explode trying to navigate the logic involved.

It's the same as saying men can't be victims of sexism, young people can't be victims of ageism, or pro-skubs can't be victims of skubism.

Spoiler

Pro skub for life.

 

[besada]

As a white person, I've never had my race held against me, so far as I know. I do get occasional surprised looks when I drop into Soul Daddy's for ribs, or one of the taquerias I visit, but that's it -- surprised looks, because I'm the only white guy in the room.

No one's ever been rude or mean about race. There are certainly other things about me that get judged, sometimes harshly, but not my skin color. It has always been a blessing -- in getting out of tickets, in calming cops down, in getting treated well by businesses.

If I hadn't had that protection, I suspect I'd be a much different person. Considerably less likely to express opinions in public, considerably less comfortable in going places where I'm a minority.

 

[fluffydelusions]

If I travel to Kenya and I am refused service in a bar because I'm white, that's racism. Plain and simple.

You know I had a friend who went to Africa like 10 years ago and told me they still had black and white bathrooms. I've no idea if he was just screwing with me or what.

 

[Vicetrailia]

based on some other posts in this thread, racism apparently isn't racism if they are mad because of stuff other white people did. the underlying cause doesn't change what it is.

I think it's fair to say that if you are reacting to racism, you're not being racist in the basic way you confirm.

 

[Deified Data]

The OP of that thread was specifically asking for non-white people's experiences. I don't know what constitutes a "rule of a thread" but I think that's a reasonable discussion prompt.

That's not how I read it.

I have been browsing some of the recent threads on things like the Zimmerman verdict, the juror's "reasoning" and Questlove's face book postings and I think it's time we have a thread for people to post their own personal stories of racism in and also try to explain how those being discriminated against feel. I won't limit this to black people, because Hispanic and Arabic people go through it too.

Indeed, it reads like the OP wanted the thread to be as inclusive as possible, even though he failed to mention whites as people who could be effected by racism. If he later stated in the thread that he wanted minority views only, I missed that part.

But that's not what the other thread was about. It was about stories of racism, not stories of institutionalized racism. People in that thread were relating their *personal* experience with racism, but were told by many in that thread that their own *personal* experience wasn't actual racism and that they were just being mocked by "jerks".

Well, I disagree with that view. My point was I don't believe that there's an institutionalized effort to prevent whites from sharing experiences of racism in our country.

 

[Trojita]

One thing some white people apparently can't do is just listen to non-white people for a few pages to see what that's like without chiming in with their own take. I think that thread would have been a lot more interesting if it didn't devolve into the same "but white people totally get this too" stuff as always.

Also, what commedieu said, mostly.

Did you just ask one group of people not to post in a thread?

That is racist.

Spoiler

See what you did there? See what I did there?

 

[Cow Mengde]

There sure are a lot of race related threads on GAF recently.

Anyway, what the OP said is bullshit. Send a white person to a non-white country and watch racism rear its ugly head. The fact that foreigners are more often called by their slang rather than the more respectable terms in Chinese for example, show how alive and well racism is everywhere.

 

[Brinbe]

huh? fucking ridiculous, anyone can experience it. anyone claiming otherwise is being close-minded as fuck.

 

[Choke on the Magic]

The OP of that thread was specifically asking for non-white people's experiences. I don't know what constitutes a "rule of a thread" but I think that's a reasonable discussion prompt.

Everybody's allowed to participate, I just think it would be a lot more interesting as a dialog where non-white people share their experiences with race and other people elect to listen and learn about other perspectives and points of view that they may not be exposed to as often. Obviously you can do whatever you want, I just think that would have been cooler than the usual "but white people get this too" stuff. Didn't mean to cause a ruckus, sorry, it's just a familiar scenario from other types of threads about issues like this.

No the OP was black and posted his experience and wanted to hear other peoples experiences. He didn't say he wanted any specific races experiences, just stories of racism. Sorry if white people's stories ruined the thread for you. Kind of racist.

 

[gryz]

Did they experience racism, or did they experience blowback from colonialism? By definition, any white farmers in Zimbabwe were the descendants of people who stole the land from the blacks that eventually took it back.

If Native Americans rose up and slaughtered whites to get their land back, I'm not sure I'd call that racism. It seems to ignore the historical context of the conflict.

using your logic, if my ancestors were victims of some kind of crime perpetrated by black people, it would not be racist for me to have a problem with black people and discriminate against them.

 

[fluffydelusions]

BTW OP, I'm white and I've lived in a "ghetto" area in NYC and definitely heard racial slurs against me. I was also jumped and robbed at knife point on the street I lived by a bunch of black guys so yeah...

 

[Slavik81]

People say this because critical race theory decided it wanted to reuse the word racism for an entirely different concept.

 

[Cyan]

NeoGAF
week of Racism threads

Not unexpected, given what's in the news right now. It's on everybody's minds.

 

[Mondriaan]

People do it semantically (racism and prejudice) but the idea is that the racism endured by a majority is not on par with the racism dealt to the minority.

I've seen the argument that the suffering of a rich person from hunger (when it happens) is much greater than that of a poor person. How I feel about this argument is roughly how I feel about the idea that racism is the same problem for everyone.

 

[fuzzyreactor]

Of course they can, thinking they couldn't is itself a form of racist thought