Racist friends

[MJ5150]

Who do you think?

I have no idea where you're going with your comment, so answer the question please.

I realize we all control our own thoughts, and we see where that has gotten us.

-Mike

 

[farbeyondwillie]

If you can create a racist paradigm you can also create an anti-racist one. Make sense?

Dude my point is no matter what you do you can't control what people think or believe. Racism and discrimination have gone on as long as humans have existed and I don't think that's gonna change. As bad as it sounds I've read test where babies are born kinda racist. Scientist would show newborns pictures of different ethnic groups and the timed how long the babies looked at the photos. White babies would look at the pictures of white people for several minutes while only giving other ethnic groups a quick glance before losing interest. The same with black, hispanic, or Asian babies. They would give the same results favoring photos of people from their race respectively. Im not defending racism I hate it actually. I just really disagree with controlling someones thoughts and ideals.

 

[MJ5150]

Eh, I still think racism is a learned behavior.

Kids can see the difference in color and appearance from one to another, but someone has to put in their minds that for those differences, one is better than another.

I think it was Ice-T who said something about putting a few children of different races in a sandbox and they'd all get along fine until an older person came along and told them any different.

-Mike

 

[Kwesi]

Eh, I still think racism is a learned behavior.

Absolutely! I you live in a place where it's socially acceptable or even encouraged to be racist then that something you'll pick up over the course of years of conditioning. That's how racism perpetuates itself. People don't just decide to be racist with out some kind of outside influence promoting it... well I'm sure some do but I'd assume they are in the minority.

 

[TOOL460002]

one side of my family is in south east missouri and arkansas (not saying all southerners are racist), and my great uncles and the 70+ crowd will definitely use the n word casually, sometimes in a fairly derogatory way. they obviously dont think its out of the usual. im sure their old people friends are of the same mind. its always awkward as hell. i dont spend much time there.

and then theres my dad, who never, ever drops the n bomb, but his high school wasnt desegregated until his junior or senior year (and hes in his early fifties, too [not that old at all]). he has 3 degrees, is a really smart guy, and has grown out of the accent, worked all over the world, and, as a part of his job, has to interact with dozens of different nationalities. he is very tolerant, but has said that deep down there will always be the slightest bit of bigotry (i guess thats what youd call it). we catch him and give him crap every now and again when he says something not so pc (even though its said jokingly).

i think people can definitely change. saying youre of a different generation is no excuse for racism at all.

personally, i went to elementary school in west africa, which was an embassy run place, with people from all over (lots of israelis, nigerians, and americans), so i grew up having friends of all nationalities and religions. still, ive definitely told some not so politically correct jokes in my life; when i was in my teens for sure. nowadays i kind of feel like its a bit immature. ive heard enough people use the n word ironically to last me a lifetime.

 

[farbeyondwillie]

Eh, I still think racism is a learned behavior.

Kids can see the difference in color and appearance from one to another, but someone has to put in their minds that for those differences, one is better than another.

I think it was Ice-T who said something about putting a few children of different races in a sandbox and they'd all get along fine until an older person came along and told them any different.

-Mike

I agree on with you man. I was just trying to show that naturally we are wired to prefer people who look like us. It's an evolutionary thing left over from the bc times when all humanity was in small tribes. Hatred doesn't come into play unless you are taught to hate by your elders and such. Plus I've seen elementary age kids that get along great white, black, Latino it doesn't matter until their taught to dislike someone bases on skin by an outside force. I was just a little ticked off by the whole control thoughts that the other guy was talking bout.

 

[farbeyondwillie]

one side of my family is in south east missouri and arkansas (not saying all southerners are racist), and my great uncles and the 70+ crowd will definitely use the n word casually, sometimes in a fairly derogatory way. they obviously dont think its out of the usual. im sure their old people friends are of the same mind. its always awkward as hell. i dont spend much time there.

and then theres my dad, who never, ever drops the n bomb, but his high school wasnt desegregated until his junior or senior year (and hes in his early fifties, too [not that old at all]). he has 3 degrees, is a really smart guy, and has grown out of the accent, worked all over the world, and, as a part of his job, has to interact with dozens of different nationalities. he is very tolerant, but has said that deep down there will always be the slightest bit of bigotry (i guess thats what youd call it). we catch him and give him crap every now and again when he says something not so pc (even though its said jokingly).

i think people can definitely change. saying youre of a different generation is no excuse for racism at all.

personally, i went to elementary school in west africa, which was an embassy run place, with people from all over (lots of israelis, nigerians, and americans), so i grew up having friends of all nationalities and religions. still, ive definitely told some not so politically correct jokes in my life; when i was in my teens for sure. nowadays i kind of feel like its a bit immature. ive heard enough people use the n word ironically to last me a lifetime.

I know what you mean man I live In Arkansas been here my whole life. A good bit of people drop the n bomb but not the majority mind you. Just like most people here don't have an accent.

What perplexes me is my dad always hung around black people every day and never showed any hostility. However when he was at home he'd drop the n bomb a good bit. He was old school not like having a drawl and diping old school. But he'd look at my yard and say things like "looks like a bunch of ****** live here". I figure it's the kinda stuff his dad told him when he was little. So by the time I came around it was just I don't know "normal" to him. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get him to change. It's just even if some people have no problem with other races they may still say things like that cause it's what they heard when they were growing. Can I hate him for that? No but he did other things that took care of that for me.

 

[Phil Smith]

Dude my point is no matter what you do you can't control what people think or believe. Racism and discrimination have gone on as long as humans have existed and I don't think that's gonna change. As bad as it sounds I've read test where babies are born kinda racist. Scientist would show newborns pictures of different ethnic groups and the timed how long the babies looked at the photos. White babies would look at the pictures of white people for several minutes while only giving other ethnic groups a quick glance before losing interest. The same with black, hispanic, or Asian babies. They would give the same results favoring photos of people from their race respectively. Im not defending racism I hate it actually. I just really disagree with controlling someones thoughts and ideals.

Where is the link to this so-called research? What happens to a mixed race baby? See how quickly this all falls apart?

 

[bassteban]

Lots of good points here, but it's getting too deep & wordy for my impatient arse.
A couple comments & I gotta go...
I think racism can be & is learned to some extent, but again- I also feel it's somewhat in human nature to have at least some inclination to believe your particular *club* is superior to *those guys*. NOT neccesarily in everyone, but often(though no excuse).
I also do NOT believe in said superiority, to the extent that I don't think I'm better than some psychotic fool who has, for whatever reason, developed ideas/convictions on this subject that are far different than mine.
I do NOT want to outlaw thoughts of any kind but would want someone to keep an eye(within reason, if there is such a thing)on anyone whose thoughts seem to indicate a potential for discrimination, be it in a work/hiring/promotion area, business or playground/school beatdown or worse.
I condemn racism, but racists are people- I can't just paint them all as a *blight*
Last point: I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, and never asked *What should I do?* In the OP, I believe I said *What would you do?*
THAT said, I welcome all replies, even if I disagree strongly.

 

[sloasdaylight]

Lots of good points here, but it's getting too deep & wordy for my impatient arse.
A couple comments & I gotta go...
I think racism can be & is learned to some extent, but again- I also feel it's somewhat in human nature to have at least some inclination to believe your particular *club* is superior to *those guys*. NOT neccesarily in everyone, but often(though no excuse).
I also do NOT believe in said superiority, to the extent that I don't think I'm better than some psychotic fool who has, for whatever reason, developed ideas/convictions on this subject that are far different than mine.
I do NOT want to outlaw thoughts of any kind but would want someone to keep an eye(within reason, if there is such a thing)on anyone whose thoughts seem to indicate a potential for discrimination, be it in a work/hiring/promotion area, business or playground/school beatdown or worse.
I condemn racism, but racists are people- I can't just paint them all as a *blight*
Last point: I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, and never asked *What should I do?* In the OP, I believe I said *What would you do?*
THAT said, I welcome all replies, even if I disagree strongly.

Racist.

 

[bassteban]

Racist.

 

[Dr_Funkdamental]

Dude my point is no matter what you do you can't control what people think or believe. Racism and discrimination have gone on as long as humans have existed and I don't think that's gonna change. As bad as it sounds I've read test where babies are born kinda racist. Scientist would show newborns pictures of different ethnic groups and the timed how long the babies looked at the photos. White babies would look at the pictures of white people for several minutes while only giving other ethnic groups a quick glance before losing interest. The same with black, hispanic, or Asian babies. They would give the same results favoring photos of people from their race respectively. Im not defending racism I hate it actually. I just really disagree with controlling someones thoughts and ideals.

Actually if youre referring to this research article that was in Newsweek:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Its not true. They were really just saying that babies identify color sooner than parents think as well as their behaviors towards them. Also, they are more comfortable with what they are familiar with (not news, we all are). Too bad so many ppl (like Limbaugh) went off on the article with out really seeing what it was saying.

 

[Phil Smith]

Dude my point is no matter what you do you can't control what people think or believe. Racism and discrimination have gone on as long as humans have existed and I don't think that's gonna change. As bad as it sounds I've read test where babies are born kinda racist. Scientist would show newborns pictures of different ethnic groups and the timed how long the babies looked at the photos. White babies would look at the pictures of white people for several minutes while only giving other ethnic groups a quick glance before losing interest. The same with black, hispanic, or Asian babies. They would give the same results favoring photos of people from their race respectively. Im not defending racism I hate it actually. I just really disagree with controlling someones thoughts and ideals.

Invalid Link Removed

This is a link to the full article in news week and a testament to how people "spin" things to fit an agenda they want to promote. And yes, I'm referring to you farbeyondwillie, nice try.

 

[Relic]

Actually if youre referring to this research article that was in Newsweek:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Its not true. They were really just saying that babies identify color sooner than parents think as well as their behaviors towards them. Also, they are more comfortable with what they are familiar with (not news, we all are). Too bad so many ppl (like Limbaugh) went off on the article with out really seeing what it was saying.

Amen.

 

[Waterpilot]

This is a link to the full article in news week and a testament to how people "spin" things to fit an agenda they want to promote. And yes, I'm referring to you farbeyondwillie, nice try.

People "spin" things for their own agenda?

 

[farbeyondwillie]

Invalid Link Removed

This is a link to the full article in news week and a testament to how people "spin" things to fit an agenda they want to promote. And yes, I'm referring to you farbeyondwillie, nice try.

That is not the test I am referring to Phil. I have no agenda.

 

[Phil Smith]

That is not the test I am referring to Phil. I have no agenda.

Cool, provide a link to the test you are talking about or the name of the authors that created the test you are referring to, though IMO your time would be better spent reading the Newsweek article.

 

[Phil Smith]

People "spin" things for their own agenda?

Yes!

 

[farbeyondwillie]

Cool, provide a link to the test you are talking about or the name of the authors that created the test you are referring to, though IMO your time would be better spent reading the Newsweek article.

I read your article. The one I was referring to was with newborns being shown pictures not videos. I read it in school around the 2003-2004. Your article was showing videos and talking with 5-7 year olds. The only issue I've had with your statements is where you said thoughts should be controlled. I disagree with that 100%. It just sounds so soviet to me. Not trying to be an arse man. I dislike racism but we can't go forcing people to think this way or that. It's just not right.

 

[Deleted member 92857]

The belief that another group of people are inferior to you merely because they look different than you do is something that needs to be controlled and stamped out.

Your desire to stamp out and control thoughts puts you 180° opposite of the Bill of rights and the ideas the United States of America was founded on. Lots of famous People have shared your views that thoughts they did not agree with must be stamped out, such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and lots of others. Thank God you don't hold the power to implement such ideas.

History shows over and over that controlling and stamping out thoughts leads to controlling and stamping out the people who think those thoughts. And the category of unacceptable thought usually grows and grows.

Part of freedom is you have to accept the freedom of others to be stupid, racist, narrow minded, hateful, and have any number of other thoughts that may be distasteful to you, me, or anyone else. Otherwise, nobody is free.

Remember, somebody out there probably doesn't like some of your thoughts. I'm sure that they probably think they are 100% on the side of right, just as you do on this issue. If they come to power, is it OK to stamp your thoughts out? You OK with that?

The flip side of it is you and I and everyone else has the freedom to disassociate ourselves from anyone whos thoughts we disagree with.

I respectfully submit that you are too idealistic or too politically correct if you would sacrifice freedom of thought for freedom from racism.