Racism

DAIR · 23 Dec 2011 at 13:42

This can be seen as a pretty grey topic, as there is no definitive rule book which states whether or not something is (or isnt) racist.

Take Alan Hansen, he used the word "Coloured".

Now, a few black/coloured/brown people may have found this insulting. Which is fair enough but I'm almost certain that there were even more people who didnt find it racist.

So what is racism?

When is someone being racist?

Is it something we (the public) decide or is judgement passed by the lead speaker of each race?

icedbullet · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:05

Can open.

Worms everywhere...

Robbo · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:07

Using the colour of a persons skin to insult/discriminate against them. It requires context.

Generally though, using words that are deemed racist is a bad idea anyway.

I get around · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:07

Racism depends on what the audience finds racially offensive.

PermaBanned · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:09

Racism is discriminating against a person or group because of their race. It could potentially be argued that whatever words you choose are fine as long you don't mean to cause offence with them, after all they all mean the same thing...

But yeah, i don't hold much hope for this thread.

RomanNose · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:11

Treating someone differently because of their race.

Pate · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:11

I used the term coloured once at university. Perfectly innocuously I thought. Wasn't taken as such though hahaha.

DAIR · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:11

Robbo said:
Using the colour of a persons skin to insult/discriminate against them. It requires context.

Generally though, using words that are deemed racist is a bad idea anyway.

Deemed racist by whom though?

Freefaller · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:11

It depends on context and intent. IF you're actively wanting to offend and / or insult someone then of course it's completely unacceptable.

If you just made a faux pas, or you used a term in a way that you were trying NOT to offend someone, but "it came out all wrong" then I think people need to realise that a lot of people are very aware of racism and are probably over-compensating for it.

I think constantly treading on eggshells is counterproductive. AS long as you're not actively trying to offend and you treat everyone equally then there is no racism.

Kenai · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:11

'Racism' these days seems to be more about trying to seek out any term that could remotely be construed as possibly in some way offensive and then being massively outraged about it even though it didn't actually have any affect on your life at all.

dirtychinchilla · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:12

Just because you overlook it, that doesn't make it any less racist!

grimm · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:13

Another racism thread guys?

DAnDan · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:13

Kenai said:
'Racism' these days seems to be more about trying to seek out any term that could remotely be construed as possibly in some way offensive and then being massively outraged about it even though it didn't actually have any affect on your life at all.

And the end result, is that nobody will take racism seriously after too many "boy who cried wolf" claims of racism.

dirtychinchilla said:
Just because you overlook it, that doesn't make it any less racist!

Although, at the moment the chances are that it wasn't racist to begin with anyway.

DAIR · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:13

PermaBanned said:
Racism is discriminating against a person or group because of their race. It could potentially be argued that whatever words you choose are fine as long you don't mean to cause offence with them, after all they all mean the same thing...

Just googled it....

One definition reads "The belief that one race is either superior or inferior to the next"

DAIR · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:14

dirtychinchilla said:
Just because you overlook it, that doesn't make it any less racist!

True.... Does it make it more racist?

Aleksandrs · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:15

Someone needs to write a book that says the do's and don'ts of describing people. I tried describing someones skin as "black" but apparently he didn't like it and he preferred "brown", so I was like oh okay that specific dark skin tone must be "brown", so I referred to someone else's skin as "brown" and he got really offended and said he was "black".

I don't know what to think any more.

dirtychinchilla · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:16

You're telling me that if no one cares about the racism then it is no longer considered racist?! Whether people are offended or not does not change the definition of racism.

RomanNose · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:16

Ignore those that are super sensitive, some people are born with a chip on their shoulder. Describing someone by the colour of their skin is not racism.

DAnDan · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:16

Aleksandrs said:
Someone needs to write a book that says the do's and don'ts of describing people. I tried describing someones skin as "black" but apparently he didn't like it and he preferred "brown", so I was like oh okay that specific dark skin tone must be "brown", so I referred to someone else's skin as "brown" and he got really offended and said he was "black".

I don't know what to think any more.

Just say what you feel is acceptable. If you don't intend it to be racist, then it's not.

DAIR · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:16

Aleksandrs said:
Someone needs to write a book that says the do's and don'ts of describing people. I tried describing someones skin as "black" but apparently he didn't like it and he preferred "brown", so I was like oh okay that specific dark skin tone must be "brown", so I referred to someone else's skin as "brown" and he got really offended and said he was "black".

I don't know what to think any more.

LOL

Nice example. Soon people wont be allowed to acknowledge skin colour!