tsurara

To quote a brilliant musical number in Avenue Q: "if we could all just admit that we are racist just a little bit, even if we know that it's wrong, maybe it would help us get along."

Though nearly all of us value understanding, interculturalism and love of our fellow men: we're all just a wee bit racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, or wary of religions other than our own. Either on account of our religious beliefs, personal experience or just plain misunderstanding: there are people we pin judgements on the second you notice their gender, skin color, sexual orientation, politics or religion...

So let's talk about it.

What are your biases? Why do you think you have those biases?
Have you ever had your opinions challenged or changed by an encounter with someone extraordinary?

__________________

divine_punishment

It's one of the best songs in the musical (which I'm going to see next week).

Good Lord, this thread will get us all killed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a (primarily) Caucasian individual, I'm not allowed to say anything for fear of sounding racist, which I think is rather unfair.

I hear African-Americans talk about "black power."

I have Mexican friends who are "Latino and proud."

If I were to say anything along the lines of "Woohoo, yay for being white," I would get shot. It's reverse racism!

__________________

rematche

it's normal and if ya can handle it...well too bad because that's life. i understand and forgive a person who gave me a racial slur in a situation but if that same person keeps doing that to me...i'll just kill him.
:-)

__________________

tsurara

That's all very nice, but no one's actually answered the question yet.

Shall I be the one to start?

-"Foreigners". (gaijin)

This is a strange one. I live in Japan... and AM a foreigner. That said, I have absorbed a lot of the prevailing assumptions about non-Japanese people in the country to a point. When I run into a foreigner on the street that I don't know, I automatically assume they can't speak Japanese, that they are tourists and am rather harsh in judging their lack of manners or respect.

- Israel

Sorry Jewish friends, I have nothing against you... but the Palestinians win this particular gripe-war in my head. Reguardless of what agreements were made and the incredible prevailing and unreasonable anti-semitism embraced by the Palestinian populace: Israel is screwing those people HARD. The illegal expansion of settlements, the violence against civilians, the police opression, the way Israel has the U.S. in it's pocket: it all strikes me as extremely unfair.

- homophobes/homophiles

I can't handle people who are irrationally afraid of/uncomfortable with/condemning of homosexuality... likewise, I can't handle people who insist on living in their own little worlds surrounded by nothing but. BL fangirls who insist on rp-ing gay men or declaring themselves "gay men trapped in women's bodies" annoy me just as much as people who use "fag" every 3 words. Gayness exists. We're here, we're queer: deal. But not EVERYONE can be (or wants to be) spontaneously converted to gayness by you showing them your gay porn collection and extoling the virtues of girlie-man porn written by a bunch of middle-aged Japanese women who've never had dates ~_~;

Oh... and girls, yaoi IS hentai. So you can stop pretending you're so much better than the guys wanking over at 4chan ~_~;

- the French

I'm just bad with the French. I had some bad experiences in international university and in Quebec that have scarred me for life. Though I suppose it is worth noting that the French Canadians are not necesarily representative of the French ^^;

__________________

NevesElocin

For the most part I don't have any of these. And I know its wrong to feel that way. Growing up where I have, I hate racism with a passion. There is no way I would allow myself to have any racism in me, not even a little bit. If you are biased to a person because of how they look thats a problem that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Not just talked about and get a little slap on the hand for it.

__________________

Our love will go on until the end of time. I will always be yours and you will be mine.

Arukih

well what i can say about it from my all experience (coz Im Mixed) is; everyone has a lit bit racism inside no matter what they can say about it coz ppl fears everything and everyone who is different, but i wont blame anyone for that, its just part of our sociedy, it is truth we born without fear but we start to feel it when we are able to think by ourselves and we start to choose who hang out with just for the looks or maybe coz we just have to ...and this not going to END...we just have to deal with it...

__________________

Abu Dhabi

i'm pretty much racist about everything and everyone...

it's not in a malice way, but more of how i describe who they are and how they seem to me. like if i was describing someone who was black and into anime, i would say, "you know, he's one of those otaku kind of black kids." and for the most part people would know what i'm saying. you don't want to know what i say about the Chinese (mostly the women, Soshi's Ex is Chinese... i'll leave it at that). and if someone is foreign born, i will say they are and compliment them in my head on how well thier accent adjusted or how good their english is.

as for sexist, yes i am. guys, get some balls and talk loud. girls, you're not that great. when you have to move a couch, who do you call? when there's a roach in your room, who do you call? when it's time to pay the check, who do you look to? that's right, shut up and get a real job besides bitching!

what else, gay people? as long as they're funny i don't have a problem with them.
the elderly? i describe their stereotypes like how i do other races.

but just so we're clear! i don't run off my mouth to anyone! i only talk this way to people who know me very well and vice versa. if they're okay with it, then i talk like that. if they're not, then i don't.

^_^ being "observant" doesn't mean you have to be an asshole.

__________________

dude101

man this so sounds like vilifying a certain group of people in the world. be it race, sex, whatever.

hmm well i think i'll cut straight to ur questions in the fear that i might end up wondering off the path.

What are your biases?

well the way i see it, i don't sort people out on the simple thing that if their black or white. i more or less vilify on the basis on how well they carry themselves, social skill as u would or otherwise me just calling them a nerd with no confidence in themselves, but if they're proud of being a nerd then they are cool with me. but the worst thing to see is a nerd trying to act cool which puts them into another lower category as try hards. so virtually people who try to be something they're not i will generally look down upon.

as for the rest of the people such as race and religion and sexuality, i really don't give a damn. i will only look down upon these people if they are preachy about it, pretty much shouting it out loud every few seconds. which i put those people in their own little group. they special cause i will try and kill them if i get the chance. i mean if ur gay ur gay and don't rape me in a back ally, if ur a lesbian, invite me over for a threesome. if ur black don't shoot me, and if ya asian pls don't kungfu my a$$. in all ur race is ur race and what not and by looking at u we can already guess, but u don't have to shout it out as if its a big thing, like as if that it makes u who u are for crying out loud. sheesh, ur human act like it.

Why do u think u have these biases?

well to be honest, i think i have only one main reason for this. that is, i generally find these people really sad, a was of their own life so to speak of. i know its harsh but its what i think. in all honesty the people that i vilify need it. they need to be sent into deep depression where they will met their fears and try to become a better person, or just simple scrap their feet until what not.

Have you ever had your opinions challenged or changed by an encounter with someone extraordinary?

as far as i know. nope that has not happen so far and i doubt that it will ever happen. what i think right now i'm pretty sure is here to stay, i just can't see it any other way. even if i tried, so a doubt anyone else will ever stand i chance in changing it.

__________________

tsurara

I think this is the best quote so far to prove that we are, indeed, all "a little bit racist" :P

... that entire sentence was nothing but a string of stereotypes and irrational fears ^_^

__________________

dude101

thx, i'm glade u enjoyed it. just a little something that has become pounded into me over time. ahh but seriously, asian can really F u up if u give them the chance. well that what my little chinese friend was able to get people to believe, that he knew kungfu. man people can be so gullible to racist stereotypes. now that proof racist can be used to do good things, like making sure nobody messes around with u.

__________________

equinn

ok well im kinda resist to the english because...

the army killed members of my famile years ago but im still holding the gurge agest some thats what i dont have many english firends....
and also i know there a grady contrie of ofence of your from there tho....

and the french...
they came up with all the verbal abouse talk like F*** mostly anyways...

__________________