Who's White?

[R. Laevinus]

And what makes white people white?

Seriously, guys; let's leave the racism and the agendas and whatnot out of it, and have a lighthearted yet gainful discussion on what makes a person white or not-white. Understand, of course, that the term is not being used to imply any sort of superiority or anything like that.

The reason I ask such a potentially loaded question, fellow bassers, is that I was having a discussion in a bar last night (wish you were there, Quickie! ), in which a fellow was trying to explain to me his view that 'white' is a term that can only be 'properly' applied to people of British, Irish or Scottish heritage. He argued that, for example, Russians aren't white; nor Italians. The French though, according to him, can play in the British playground.

Me, I just figure that if you're not not-white, then you're white. What do you think? Is your definition of caucasian limited to a specific heritage or geographical area? Why?


Note: I am only 50% white, therefore I am permitted by the Intergalactic Political Correctness Cadre of Police Type People Who Like Political Correctness to initiate discussions on this sort of subject.

Note 2: If this starts to get nasty in any way though, it oughtta be closed down by the Mod Squad.

[macaroni tony]

If you ain't black, you white


...OK, OK, Sorry; I just had to do it. Too easy.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

If you ain't black, you white


...OK, OK, Sorry; I just had to do it. Too easy.

LOL! The way I see it, the terms "white" and "black" are just ways to simplify what we call that guy over there with a particular skin color without knowing their exact ethnicity -- a shortcut description, so to speak. No idea why it hasn't spread to other ethnicities though.

[MatticusMania]

I think its determined by the amount of melanin in ones skin.

[Phalex]

I am a Caucasian sir!!!!

[joeyl]

well your 50% white, where does it come from and why do you say it's white?

I'm not white BTW
To me, somebody says: hey I'm white, I'm like: ok cool.

[SpitfireCWII]

^ I agree with Kwesi.

Next question is, are zebras white with black stripes ? or black with white stripes ?

[R. Laevinus]

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

If you ain't black, you white


...OK, OK, Sorry; I just had to do it. Too easy.

Hey man, it's a valid argument; it's also the way I see it.

The reason I was concerned about this dude's argument, was that I sort of felt that he thought he was in some way superior to, say, Eastern Europeans, because he was Western European (dude was Irish).

I guess I picked up on some white-on-white racism, and I was a bit disturbed by it; mostly, to be honest, because there isn't a lot of racism in general in my neck of the woods.

So yeah, the way I see it is, if you're not black/Asian/native American/indigenous other, then you're white.

And as far as I can see, all white people are more or less the same; about as similar, I would say, as any white person/black person, or white person/asian person, or what have you.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

If you ain't black, you white

You look like there mighta been a Anglo in the wood pile at some point........

[fenderhutz]

Of European-ish decent before people starting moving around too much.

I think that's a close enough answer

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by SpitfireCWII

^ I agree with Kwesi.

Next question is, are zebras white with black stripes ? or black with white stripes ?

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by SpitfireCWII

^ I agree with Kwesi.

Next question is, are zebras white with black stripes ? or black with white stripes ?

Both, even their skin is striped when the fur is shaved....

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Of European-ish decent before people starting moving around too much.

I think that's a close enough answer

Ive heard of middle eastern people referred to as white as well, even Egyptians.

[R. Laevinus]

Joey, I'm half Korean and half French-Canadian; I figure I'm half white 'cause my old man is, well, pretty white looking.

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I think its determined by the amount of melanin in ones skin.

Bingo. I think that's it!


Kwesi - hasn't it, though? I know that I tend to refer to Oriental folks as just Asian when I'm not sure what country they're from. I also just tend to refer to Native Americans as Natives or Indians (depending on whether or not I know them, and whether or not they care), when I don't know what tribe they're from.

I would think that we do sort of use catch-all terms for this sort of thing.

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

Joey, I'm half Korean and half French-Canadian; I figure I'm half white 'cause my old man is, well, pretty white looking.

well I would try to date you if you were a girl....childhood buddy of mine is same: French Canadian and Korean, and his sister had half the males in the neighborhood following her around...

[onosson]

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

If you ain't black, you white


...OK, OK, Sorry; I just had to do it. Too easy.

Ironically, most people on the planet are neither.

[Jim Nazium]

If you snap your fingers on beats 1 & 3 when you dance, you are white.

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by Phalex

You look like there mighta been a Anglo in the wood pile at some point........

lolwut?

Forgive me, I'm on limited sleep and whatever you were saying here just whizzed right over my head somehow

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

If you snap your fingers on beats 1 & 3 when you dance, you are white.

HAHAHHA!

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

If you snap your fingers on beats 1 & 3 when you dance, you are white.

bwahahaa