SENPAIatLARGE
Banned
I've been noticing a worrying trend on internet as of late in regards to racial tolerance and cultural sensitivity. Due to the wonderful moderation team and Gaf's more liberal leanings, we don't see too many posts that look like this on the forum:
But it still happens from time to time. This thread isn't about those people, but rather the more insipid kind of intolerance that the internet seems rife with at the moment. Dubbed Diet Racism, it seemingly comes up in every single thread or discussion that involves either a plea or demand for inclusion, annoyance with cultural appropriation, and most shockingly, black people wanting the practice of blackface to stop.
While full blown racists stick to reddit or 4chan, and get banned here rather quickly, Diet Racists on the other hand do just enough, combing a perfect mixture of smugness with naive ambivalence to keep posting. The purpose of this thread is to reveal the many different types of racism and intolerent attitudes and expose the logical fallacies behind each one. It will also serve as an education tool for people who truly were unaware or acted out of ignorance.
1.) Willful Ignorance
These are folks that intentionally stay ignorant of racial and social issues in order to have their privilege undisturbed. This form of Diet Racism will not fight the fact that racism exists or affects others, but will debate endlessly that what their doing is harmless fun, or not a big deal. To them, racism is black and white with no subtleties and microaggressions do not exist. Watch out for comments such as "I don't see what the big deal is" "Its not that offensive" and my favorite "Its just a joke, lighten up"
2.)Historical Accuracy
Diet Racists have a tendency of using terms like 'Historical Accuracy' and 'Artistic Integrity' like a bludgeon to beat down arguments for diversity or inclusiveness in a movie, game or tv show. This is grade A B.S that should never hold weight. History is rich with color, and diversity has been known to show up in the most unexpected of places. There have been Black samurai, African knights, German women who were fighter pilots in WW2, and cowboys of all shades in the Wild West. If anything, its stranger that so many products take diversity out of their products in order to cater to an audience. The artictic integrity excuse only serves to mask laziness on the part of the creators who many times believe writing a minority or female character is to difficult.
3.) Anecdotal Evidence
Saying you know a (insert minority) whose ok with whatever offensive garbage being done doesnt excuse a damn thing. Knowing a black guy who is ok with blackface or a Native American ok with the Washington Redskins doesnt make either of those things ok. Minorities arent shields you can hind behind when people call you out in an argument, so digging into the well in order to make yourself feel better is a load of bunk.
There are so many more styles Diet Racists swap between in preparation for any argument, so feel free to post anymore in this thread. Exposing their tired and lazy tactics reduces their overall power and hopefully leads to less frustration when they obviously pop up.
But it still happens from time to time. This thread isn't about those people, but rather the more insipid kind of intolerance that the internet seems rife with at the moment. Dubbed Diet Racism, it seemingly comes up in every single thread or discussion that involves either a plea or demand for inclusion, annoyance with cultural appropriation, and most shockingly, black people wanting the practice of blackface to stop.
While full blown racists stick to reddit or 4chan, and get banned here rather quickly, Diet Racists on the other hand do just enough, combing a perfect mixture of smugness with naive ambivalence to keep posting. The purpose of this thread is to reveal the many different types of racism and intolerent attitudes and expose the logical fallacies behind each one. It will also serve as an education tool for people who truly were unaware or acted out of ignorance.
1.) Willful Ignorance
These are folks that intentionally stay ignorant of racial and social issues in order to have their privilege undisturbed. This form of Diet Racism will not fight the fact that racism exists or affects others, but will debate endlessly that what their doing is harmless fun, or not a big deal. To them, racism is black and white with no subtleties and microaggressions do not exist. Watch out for comments such as "I don't see what the big deal is" "Its not that offensive" and my favorite "Its just a joke, lighten up"
2.)Historical Accuracy
Diet Racists have a tendency of using terms like 'Historical Accuracy' and 'Artistic Integrity' like a bludgeon to beat down arguments for diversity or inclusiveness in a movie, game or tv show. This is grade A B.S that should never hold weight. History is rich with color, and diversity has been known to show up in the most unexpected of places. There have been Black samurai, African knights, German women who were fighter pilots in WW2, and cowboys of all shades in the Wild West. If anything, its stranger that so many products take diversity out of their products in order to cater to an audience. The artictic integrity excuse only serves to mask laziness on the part of the creators who many times believe writing a minority or female character is to difficult.
3.) Anecdotal Evidence
Saying you know a (insert minority) whose ok with whatever offensive garbage being done doesnt excuse a damn thing. Knowing a black guy who is ok with blackface or a Native American ok with the Washington Redskins doesnt make either of those things ok. Minorities arent shields you can hind behind when people call you out in an argument, so digging into the well in order to make yourself feel better is a load of bunk.
There are so many more styles Diet Racists swap between in preparation for any argument, so feel free to post anymore in this thread. Exposing their tired and lazy tactics reduces their overall power and hopefully leads to less frustration when they obviously pop up.
