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[Zeus Molecules]

"nerdy white boy" is a now a racist comment?

Play that funky music white boy now has a new meaningf

 

[Shamrock7r]

I saw white kids getting picked on by blacks and Hispanics a lot at my middle and high schools simply for being "white boys" or "gueros."

You may not see it, but it exists.

Being from South Texas in an area where Hispanic is the majority race, this can be prevalent in certain areas. Growing up, I was teased by certain groups of people, primarily hispanic, for being white (I am actually half hispanic but I look predominantly white). Luckily, my core group of friends growing up were all hispanic, so I was protected often and didn't get it as bad as some others. It does happen. It's not as widespread as others, but it does happen.

 

[SoulPlaya]

All races are capable of racism.

As someone who grew up around black people, trust me, they can be racist, lol. All races are capable of it.

 

[Bjorka]

I saw white kids getting picked on by blacks and Hispanics a lot at my middle and high schools simply for being "white boys" or "gueros."

You may not see it, but it exists.

It does exist, you're right. I never said it doesn't. I just said that, in the grand scheme of things, it's small potatoes compared to what those hispanic and black kids will have to put up with for the rest of their lives.

 

[Valhelm]

"nerdy white boy" is a now a racist comment?

White people are almost never referred to by their race so it could easily be misconstrued as offensive.

 

[Kinyou]

I can't recall the last time I saw a minority discriminate against a white person. I can recall the last time I saw a white person discriminate against a minority. The former happens far, far less often than he latter and has very different repercussions, so a different word (prejudice/discrimination) should be used for the former.

It kind of sounds like you want to sugar coat it. When the discrimination is based on someones race than it's racist.

 

[Dark Knyght]

You were wrong. She wasn't being racist, she was being stereotypical. Being racist means that you feel your race is superior and therefore look down upon other races as not being equal. Sounds like you jumped off the deep end, when she stereotyped his appearance. I'm pretty sure "nerdy white boy" didn't mean she thought she was better than him or hated him for being white..

 

[Dreams-Visions]

You were wrong. She wasn't being racist, she was being stereotypical. Being racist means that you feel your race is superior and therefore look down upon other races as not being equal. Sounds like you jumped off the deep end, when she stereotyped his appearance. I'm pretty sure "nerdy white boy" didn't mean she thought he was better than him or hated him for being white..

Correct.

 

[n00bsauce87]

No, we just think you're wrong, speaking from a position of privilege and ignorance, and likely don't understand what it's like to experience racism every day of your life. When whites talk about racism, they're almost always talking about hypothetical situations. They don't have the authority to argue their views on racial issues are right because race isn't something they live, it's something they talk about.

Even anecdotal evidence (even as few and far between they are) would be appreciated. Needy white guy is not one. Even if what some people say is true in this thread, racism towards white people can be turned off like a switch (I. E. Bethesda(?)) institutions racism will always exist because it's systematic. Criminal racism (I. E. White and black people do drug at same rate yet black people are prosecuted and jailed at higher rates) will always exists because it's systematic. This can't happen to white people because white privilege. The system will always work in their favor when compared to minorities.

But those here can use hypothetical examples of how white people are victims of racism. I must be ignorant of said situation. I must apologize for that.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

I was speaking to someone and they used "nerdy white boy" to describe a pedestrian.

I called them out for being racist and this lead to a discussion on racism and what it is. She said that white people are the only people that can be racist because they're, "the only race that thinks their better than other races." After that, she said you can't argue because she's going by the definition.

It sounds like a variation of the position of power argument to me.

Do any of you have similar opinions, or know anyone that does?

Edit: I want to clarify that I do not think that racism is exclusive to whites.

Edit: I also want to clarify that I'm black, so I really don't think that this is the first time I've met another black person.

Defends herself by claiming not to be racist by using racism. They are idiots.


Racism is not exclusive to a race. All races have those within them that are racist. It's the entire "us vs them" issue.

What the girl said wasn't racist, though.

Her response to the question says otherwise.

In an academic context, I've heard it said that racism is prejudice + power. Black people therefore can't be racist because, while they might be prejudiced, their prejudice doesn't have the backing of a whole host of social systems designed to promote one race at the expense of another.

Mostly seems like a semantic thing to me, but I kinda like having a word to indicate prejudice + power, because it really is qualitatively a different thing from prejudice on its own.

Power can b expressed in more ways than simple socioeconomic standing. Physical violence, media, art, etc.

 

[Zantetsuken]

Anyone can be racist. It’s not exclusive to whoever is in power. To be honest, race is just a ridiculous notion anyway. We’re all human, not one better than the other.

 

[Shamrock7r]

It kind of sounds like you want to sugar coat it. When the discrimination is based on someones race than it's racist.

I feel like, at its core, this is the correct, modern definition for what it means to be racist. It is important to differentiate the different types of racism in order to better tackle and correct discrimination. The reasons for a black person hating a person for being white, for example, would require a different approach to correct vs a white business owner, either consciously or subconsciously, not hiring a black person because of his/her race.

I think better care also needs to be taken in labeling someone a racist for would could just amount to ignorance. When we throw around the word so much, people start to ignore the underlying meaning behind it, and get dismissive when an actual, potential racist situation appears.

 

[Shadybiz]

No, we just think you're wrong, speaking from a position of privilege and ignorance, and likely don't understand what it's like to experience racism every day of your life. When whites talk about racism, they're almost always talking about hypothetical situations. They don't have the authority to argue their views on racial issues are right because race isn't something they live, it's something they talk about.

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I was simply saying that any race can be racist. If you meet me, and hate me because I am a certain body type, or have a certain voice, or have hair that you don't like, or I cut you off in traffic, or blah blah, etc, then whatever..it's just you hating me for various reasons. But, if you hate me because of the simple fact that I'm white, or asian, or middle-eastern, then you're a racist, plain and simple.(Edit): And I might not ever know it. This hatred might not be manifested, or I might mistake it for hatred for a different reason. It doesn't change the fact that the hatred is there, and is therefore racism.

It does exist, you're right. I never said it doesn't. I just said that, in the grand scheme of things, it's small potatoes compared to what those hispanic and black kids will have to put up with for the rest of their lives.

Yes, that is easy enough to agree with, especially in the U.S.

 

[Bjorka]

It kind of sounds like you want to sugar coat it.

Please elaborate. I'm not sugar coating anything. I would never sugar coat someone using a racial slur against someone else.

 

[Kinyou]

Please elaborate. I'm not sugar coating anything. I would never sugar coat someone using a racial slur against someone else.

Well aren't you suggesting to use a different word then racism when a minority discriminates whites since it doesn't happen that often? Why use a different word, and not just call it what it is

 

[boiled goose]

They can be, but nerdy white boy is hardly racist.

Why were you so defensive in the first place?

To be racist it would have to stereotype or discriminate based on negatively perceived attributes of a race.

Singling out someone out for their race is never good, but nerdy white kid would be the equivalent of nerdy black kid. Annoying and inappropriate yes. Racist nah.

If we lived in a society where white people were oppressed for their perceived meekness nerdiness or weakness then it would be racist.

When examples like this pop up it always seems to me like an equivocation fallacy to say see everyone is racist and therefore diminish the cost of actual racism.

 

[LouisaFerre]

Racism isn't exclusive to members of the dominant group, and whites are not the dominant group everywhere on the planet.

Don't bother with stupid people.

 

[n00bsauce87]

If this was south Africa that would be a fair statement, but I'm gonna assume this is in America that op was referring to

 

[TUROK]

Racialism was coined as specifically meaning the belief in the superiority of a specific race around 1908

In the 1930s racism was coined as a synonym

Following WWII racism replaced racialism as the common word for the belief in racial superiority

The term came inti common use during the civil rights movement

The sociological definition has been the accepted one in academia (fun fact: the majority of which is, in fact, not anti-white black folk) for over two decades now. More than a quarter of the term's existence.

The most recent version of the three most cited English dictionaries definitions require a belief in superiority.

At no point, ever, has the colloquial definition as a synonym for prejudice ever been an official definition.

But this is all easily looked up. You don't want anything disproved, you just want to shove your fingers in your ears and play victim.

A belief in racial superiority will inherently read to prejudice against all other races deemed inferior to others.

Would you feel better if instead of calling it racism, we just called it prejudice stemming from racism?

 

[agrajag]

No, we just think you're wrong, speaking from a position of privilege and ignorance, and likely don't understand what it's like to experience racism every day of your life. When whites talk about racism, they're almost always talking about hypothetical situations. They don't have the authority to argue their views on racial issues are right because race isn't something they live, it's something they talk about.

I feel there are misguided comments like this are because you have an America-centric attitude. My mom got assaulted and beat in a subway station for having a "Jew nose." White people can and have been discriminated against.

 

[boiled goose]

I feel there are misguided comments like this are because you have an America-centric attitude. My mom got assaulted and beat in a subway station for having a "Jew nose." White people can and have been discriminated against.

Yes. Definitely racism against jews has bbeen historically and tragically is presently in some parts still very real.

Being called nerdy white boy in the usa is not quite the same.

 

[Spinluck]

"White nerd boy," man that is some oppressing and demeaning shit.

But yeah, anyone can be racist.

 

[Bjorka]

Well aren't you suggesting to use a different word then racism when a minority discriminates whites since it doesn't happen that often? Why use a different word, and not just call it what it is

No, I'm just saying don't use a word as weighty and powerful as "racism" to describe run-of-the-mill discrimination. I'm arguing that whites calling minor acts of discrimination against whites "racism" dilutes the meaning of the word and makes it even more difficult for non-whites to point out and combat serious racism. If everyone believes racism is merely the act of using a slur, then when some sucker raises his hands in university to say he doesn't think racism exists anymore because he hasn't witnessed open discrimination and we have a black president, the lone black kid in class who disagrees won't have much to stand on because racist white people actually aren't walking around using slurs anymore.

At this point, it doesn't really matter. The consensus among white folks seems to be that they can be the victims of racism, and since that's the consensus among whites, that'll end up being the rule. I'm fighting a battle that was already lost.

 

[Zeus Molecules]

They can be, but nerdy white boy is hardly racist.

Why were you so defensive in the first place?

To be racist it would have to stereotype or discriminate based on negatively perceived attributes of a race.

Singling out someone out for their race is never good, but nerdy white kid would be the equivalent of nerdy black kid. Annoying and inappropriate yes. Racist nah.

If we lived in a society where white people were oppressed for their perceived meekness nerdiness or weakness then it would be racist.

When examples like this pop up it always seems to me like an equivocation fallacy to say see everyone is racist and therefore diminish the cost of actual racism.

Great post

 

[Bjorka]

I feel there are misguided comments like this are because you have an America-centric attitude. My mom got assaulted and beat in a subway station for having a "Jew nose." White people can and have been discriminated against.

I never said my comments necessarily apply the world over. For the record, I'm only talking about the United States of America. I'm sorry that happened to your mom though.

 

[AyaisMUsikWhore]

Why is every black person a spokesperson for black people in general
"

God Thank You!

Every time I get into and argument about something that has to do with race with a non black, they jump to some quote that either Jesse Jackson said or Al Sharpton as if they speak for the entire black community. It's so annoying I swear.


I don't think saying nerdy white boy is racist since being "nerdy" isn't actually prejudice. But I do believe black people can be racist, mostly to each other. It's weird and anecdotal, but most of the black people I know family and friends, make it a point to always talk down black people while being black for the most stereotypical things.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

I think that phrase was originally made speaking of institutionalized Racism, slightly different.

because Black people in America have never been in power of anything, they never got busy creating laws and and setting cultural trend that reflect their racist views.

 

[The Adder]

A belief in racial superiority will inherently read to prejudice against all other races deemed inferior to others.

Would you feel better if instead of calling it racism, we just called it prejudice stemming from racism?

1.

The sociological term requiring a social power structure in addition to prejudice? No.

The word people use to define racially based prejudices? Yes.

Is her reasoning applicable to that first one? No.

2. What you described would be "racism stemming from prejudice." Use the word however you want, but I would also advise you to actually read the conversations you interject yourself into.

3. If you're looking for a way to apply the sociology term to black people being prejudiced against white people in the western world then first, why do you care so much, and second, you can't.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

I will put money on the conversation not happening the way the OP described it.

 

[boiled goose]

Actually upon further thought the whole OP is actually racist instead.

The OP didn't post: I was the victim of racism today or I feel terrible today or I was discriminated again. No, the thread was about 'black people'. It was a need to equivocate the racism experienced by a whole group of people by saying: hey, they all do it too.

The OP also felt the need to confront the lady about it, immediately race baiting a response and clearly establishing an us vs. them attitude. I'm not excusing the actions of the lady, they were not great, but this whole situation and the post happened from a very clearly racial perspective in the US, and that perspective was one of white privilege.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Growing up in Cali I will tell you one thing, I heard more from my black friends than I did from my white friends. What I mean is that I never heard but one of my many white friends describe a black person in any derogatory way. I had at least 6 friends who called a white person cracker or white boy. I guess stuff like that just gets brushed under the rug but I will contribute to the conversation and echo some of what's in the TC.

I was younger and I liked my friends and brushed it aside but I have my memories.

 

[TwEE-N-Toast]

If this was south Africa that would be a fair statement, but I'm gonna assume this is in America that op was referring to

So white South Africans can no longer be racist since they are no longer in power? And if a black guy who hates whites spends half of his year in South Africa and the other have in the US does does he go from racist to just prejudice?

 

[MikeDown]

Maybe this has been said, but I really don't see "nerdy white boy" as a racist comment, just accurately describing somebody.

 

[agrajag]

Growing up in Cali I will tell you one thing, I heard more from my black friends than I did from my white friends. What I mean is that I never heard but one of my many white friends describe a black person in any derogatory way. I had at least 6 friends who called a white person cracker or white boy. I guess stuff like that just gets brushed under the rug but I will contribute to the conversation and echo some of what's in the TC.

I was younger and I liked my friends and brushed it aside but I have my memories.

White boy isn't a derrogatory term, haven't your heard?

 

[boiled goose]

Growing up in Cali I will tell you one thing, I heard more from my black friends than I did from my white friends. What I mean is that I never heard but one of my many white friends describe a black person in any derogatory way. I had at least 6 friends who called a white person cracker or white boy. I guess stuff like that just gets brushed under the rug but I will contribute to the conversation and echo some of what's in the TC.

I was younger and I liked my friends and brushed it aside but I have my memories.

Do you know how segregated the educational system is in California? Do you know that there are effectively two racially and socioeconomically based tiers in the school system?

that is racism.

 

[TwEE-N-Toast]

Actually upon further thought the whole OP is actually racist instead.

The OP didn't post: I was the victim of racism today or I feel terrible today or I was discriminated again. No, the thread was about 'black people'. It was a need to equivocate the racism experienced by a whole group of people by saying: hey, they all do it too.

The OP also felt the need to confront the lady about it, immediately race baiting a response and clearly establishing an us vs. them attitude. I'm not excusing the actions of the lady, they were not great, but this whole situation and the post happened from a very clearly racial perspective in the US, and that perspective was one of white privilege.

Op is black though right?

 

[TUROK]

1.



2. What you described would be "racism stemming from prejudice." Use the word however you want, but I would also advise you to actually read the conversations you interject yourself into.

3. If you're looking for a way to apply the sociology term to black people being prejudiced against white people in the western world then first, why do you care so much, and second, you can't.

You keep on espousing this notion of the sociological definition of racism, but when you actually explained it (you failed to give an exact definition, or even bothered to give any credible source as to which definition of racism is the one accepted in academia), there was nothing in there about power structures, only the belief of superiority, something that does not require any sort of power.

Actually upon further thought the whole OP is actually racist instead.

The OP didn't post: I was the victim of racism today or I feel terrible today or I was discriminated again. No, the thread was about 'black people'. It was a need to equivocate the racism experienced by a whole group of people by saying: hey, they all do it too.

The OP also felt the need to confront the lady about it, immediately race baiting a response and clearly establishing an us vs. them attitude. I'm not excusing the actions of the lady, they were not great, but this whole situation and the post happened from a very clearly racial perspective in the US, and that perspective was one of white privilege.

... The OP is black, and the comment of "nerdy white boy" was not directed at him.

 

[boiled goose]

Op is black though right?

Then my post is definitely not an accurate characterization. @.@
Something weirder and more subtle definitely going on.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

White boy isn't a derrogatory term, haven't your heard?

It's more along the lines of how they said it. The words don't read as bad as they came out.

Do you know how segregated the educational system is in California? Do you know that there are effectively two racially and socioeconomically based tiers in the school system?

that is racism.

That does nothing to speak to what I went through first hand in the LAUSD school system. I get what you're saying but it does nothing to change what I experienced.

 

[TwEE-N-Toast]

Then my post is definitely not an accurate characterization. @.@
Something weirder and more subtle definitely going on.

He's just buds with the girl and knows here jokes is all.

 

[agrajag]

It's more along the lines of how they said it. The words don't read as bad as they came out.

I think calling grown men white boys is not not meant to be complimentary, but what do I know. I'm pretty sure white plantation owners used to call slaves boy in order to demean them.

 

[RayMaker]

"nerdy white boy" is a now a racist comment?

What about ''nerdy black boy''?

 

[LiquidMetal14]

I think calling grown men white boys is not not meant to be complimentary, but what do I know. I'm pretty sure white plantation owners used to call slaves boy in order to demean them.

There's no changing what has happened in the past but white boy wasn't the only thing. Some of my best friends were those black friends which I had hang outs and cultivated relationships for years prior to moving from CA. I'm not saying I was offended as everything was tongue and cheek given I grew up with 2 brothers. But believe me, those things were said in derogatory ways or to demean.

 

[agrajag]

There's no changing what has happened in the past but white boy wasn't the only thing. Some of my best friends were those black friends which I had hang outs and cultivated relationships for years prior to moving from CA. I'm not saying I was offended as everything was tongue and cheek given I grew up with 2 brothers. But believe me, those things were said in derogatory ways or to demean.

I think you misunderstood me, I am not arguing with you.

 

[keuja]

Everyone can be racist. I thought it was obvious. If it's not to him then it probably means he's an idiot.

 

[MisterGrey3000]

Now this is what I was looking for!

Flawlessly said, btw. <3

Haha, thanks!
Yeah, it's kind of easy to see once you start thinking about how western society (especially in entertainment media) is really good about defining/separating different European cultures (new or old), but could care less about defining/separating non-white/European cultures (unless it's a documentary or entertainment media that has really done it's homework) even if they exist/existed in a completely different places or times.
White people have the privilege of not seeing Greek temples embedded with Old English etchings in viking-ruled Scandinavia (unlike Native American peoples who are often all depicted as hippies with Pacific Northwestern totem poles that are completely out of place for the time/country/tribe/civilization the piece of media is set in)

 

[LiquidMetal14]

I think you misunderstood me, I am not arguing with you.

I'm sorry. Text is hard to judge. Apologies if misinterpreted as I'm only looking to clarify and elaborate more from my experiences and not looking for an argument.

Also, my response wasn't necessarily disagreeing or looking to lock horns with you so I could have articulated myself better there too.

 

[Casimir]

No, I'm just saying don't use a word as weighty and powerful as "racism" to describe run-of-the-mill discrimination. I'm arguing that whites calling minor acts of discrimination against whites "racism" dilutes the meaning of the word and makes it even more difficult for non-whites to point out and combat serious racism. If everyone believes racism is merely the act of using a slur, then when some sucker raises his hands in university to say he doesn't think racism exists anymore because he hasn't witnessed open discrimination and we have a black president, the lone black kid in class who disagrees won't have much to stand on because racist white people actually aren't walking around using slurs anymore.

This is a incredibly offensive argument. No group of people should ever be told to 'deal with it' when faced with bigotry. No matter how much you delude yourself with logical fallicies, everyone is entitled the same basic human dignity.

At this point, it doesn't really matter. The consensus among white folks seems to be that they can be the victims of racism, and since that's the consensus among whites, that'll end up being the rule. I'm fighting a battle that was already lost.

You just admitted that you don't believe certain groups of people should be offered equal protections from bigotry. I think you need to reexamine your own bigotry before trying to champion anything else.

 

[Bjorka]

This is a incredibly offensive argument. No group of people should ever be told to 'deal with it' when faced with bigotry. No matter how much you delude yourself with logical fallicies, everyone is entitled the same basic human dignity.




You just admitted that you don't believe certain groups of people should be offered equal protections from bigotry. I think you need to reexamine your own bigotry before trying to champion anything else.

I absolutely did NOT say ANY of that. If you think simply being able to claim someone was racist toward you is an adequate and viable defense against bigotry, you have no idea how powerful, hurtful and damaging bigotry ACTUALLY is in real life and how hard it is to actually defend yourself against it.

 

[boiled goose]

It's more along the lines of how they said it. The words don't read as bad as they came out.

That does nothing to speak to what I went through first hand in the LAUSD school system. I get what you're saying but it does nothing to change what I experienced.

I guess to me the main objection is that one direction of prejudice has huge social consequences, while to other does not really...

When black people use nerdy white boy, or white boy disparagingly, it is annoying, but that is pretty much it...

Whenever generalizations and stereotypes are perpetuated, well, we know that your are less likely to be hired or interviewed if you name sounds black, we know that products on ebay are less likely to sell and sell for less if being held by a black hand, we know blacks are disproportionately incarcerated for the same crimes, we know laws the further segregate and disenfranchise blacks are being passed in this country, etc. etc. etc.

When the conversation becomes, hey black people are racist too, instead of, let's fix racism that actually matters, we are being counterproductive.

This is a incredibly offensive argument. No group of people should ever be told to 'deal with it' when faced with bigotry. No matter how much you delude yourself with logical fallicies, everyone is entitled the same basic human dignity.

You just admitted that you don't believe certain groups of people should be offered equal protections from bigotry. I think you need to reexamine your own bigotry before trying to champion anything else.

Ironic you should talk about logically fallacies, when my dear friend, your whole post is a huge strawman.:/