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-   -   Is it wrong to be racist? (http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/vbz/showthread.php?t=114369)

awein999 10-19-2010 12:11 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
We shouldn't ask "is it wrong to be racist", we should ask what is racism? Is it avoidable? Where does it come from? How do we deal with it?

Racism is the judgment of other people on their race, usually viewing one race as superior to another. No it's unavoidable. It is easy for an individual person to say "I'm not racist" but there are always societal trends that do discriminate against certain races and we are racist on a subconscious level at the very least. Trying to stop racism is a form of racism in itself because we are self-conscious towards certain groups of people, or in other words we are still being racist. (Also it often leads to reverse discrimination).

Racism is deeply rooted in our ancestry. It comes from the human mind as a way for people to say they are better or different from one another.
The only way for racism to stop is for everyone to realize that racism doesn't make sense, that it doesn't physically exist and that it is all a notion perceived in the human mind. Unfortunately this is not happening, not even close because our brains have evolved to be "racist". We can deal with racism by acknowledging it is there and coming to terms with our differences.


I apologize if I'm being redundant or repetitive with what other people have said, I'm not going to review 100 posts, I answered the question without looking at most of them.

Reach 10-21-2010 11:27 AM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Quote:

That's the unfortunate truth of it. The problem is that if colleges operated on admitting people by merit alone, they'd be full of Asian and Jewish kids and almost no blacks/hispanics/etc. The more fundamental problem is that the only way to fix racism is to technically invoke actions that are largely seen as reverse-racism/discrimination
But how is that 'racism'? Racism by definition involves prejudice, or judgments made without evidence. If colleges operated based on merit alone, by definition they could not be racist.

The sum of all people being admitted based on merit alone is racially skewed, not racist.

For some reason, people view it as racism though, but only in the context of something intellectual. Why is that?

For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By1JQFxfLMM

Do you notice anything?

I've never seen anyone claim that the 100m dash is racist, despite being racially skewed, and I've never seen Olympic officials engage in reverse discrimination to include more, slower, non-blacks in the 100m dash.

I could go on (basketball is racist, starcraft is racist), but you should see the point. There's an illogical racism label slapped on any selection process that is racially skewed and relies on methods of intellectual assessment. e.g. the TEST must be racist because of course the x-racial pool could not possibly be performing worse than the y-racial pool (you know, just like blacks could not possibly be running faster than whites; must be the turf).

MrRubix 10-21-2010 11:34 AM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Reach (Post 3318197)
But how is that 'racism'? Racism by definition involves prejudice, or judgments made without evidence. If colleges operated based on merit alone, by definition they could not be racist.

The sum of all people being admitted based on merit alone is racially skewed, not racist.

For some reason, people view it as racism though, but only in the context of something intellectual. Why is that?

For example: I've never seen anyone claim that the 100m dash is racist, despite being racially skewed, and I've never seen Olympic officials engage in reverse discrimination to include more, slower, non-blacks in the 100m dash.

I could go on, but you should see the point.

It's not racist, technically -- but people will interpret it to be, as you stated. A race that is technically below another in terms of average merit is going to feel oppressed and restricted in opportunity. I think there is perhaps less backlash against things like the 100m dash because the opportunity structure is different.

It's conceivably harder to, say, gain access into a school with a race that's statistically of higher merit than it is to simply train yourself for a running event all your life. Athletics are dominated by African-Americans and yet there is ultimately less demand for the average athlete than there is for the average physicist/programmer/etc. Some industries are better suited for high-variance value-adding individuals. It's easier to say "It's not fair that I can't get into the same schools and get the same jobs/education" than it is to say "It's not fair that he's faster than me -- I could theoretically train as hard as I want."

When things seem out of one's hands, the race card is easier to invoke.

Reach 10-21-2010 11:48 AM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
I see what you're saying, and you're right.

The logic still doesn't hold though. The "I could theoretically train as hard as I want" excuse could be applied to school as well; "I could theoretically study as much as I want".

If anything this only goes to prove my point; that by being merit based only, the onus is on the individual to achieve the required standards.

Nobody is banned from libraries or public schools. If anything it's equal opportunity. Factors that contribute to racial skew such as parenting and social class/networking are entirely out of the hands of institutions that are doing the selection, so I fail to see how people can argue for oppression in these cases.


I've been seeing articles everywhere lately about gender gaps in achievement and how women are outperforming men significantly in school. Based on the justification for racial reverse discrimination, I guess we should use reverse discrimination in favor of men too if the problem continues to get worse.

MrRubix 10-21-2010 12:03 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Reach (Post 3318221)
I see what you're saying, and you're right.

The logic still doesn't hold though. The "I could theoretically train as hard as I want" excuse could be applied to school as well; "I could theoretically study as much as I want".

If anything this only goes to prove my point; that by being merit based only, the onus is on the individual to achieve the required standards.

Nobody is banned from libraries or public schools. If anything it's equal opportunity. Factors that contribute to racial skew such as parenting and social class/networking are entirely out of the hands of institutions that are doing the selection, so I fail to see how people can argue for oppression in these cases.


Oh, definitely -- opportunity is huge. Even though, logically, both cases of training/studying are possible to achieve, one arguably requires more resources than the other. Some places have very poor library/schooling systems or are ridden with crime. Oftentimes parenting is, on average, poor or directed in such a way that is not conducive to a particular goal that otherwise contributes to a racial divide.

freekilltwo 10-21-2010 03:09 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
racism in thhe context that everybody seems to think of is a bad thing in my opinion, i have seen first hand the effects of someone growing up surrounded by racism at school recently, there was a black guy in my class when we started, and because he was the only black student in the class whenever he had a hard time understanding something like reading a caliper or a micrometer, even tho others in the class were struggling with it too he instantly said, "the teacher isnt helping me as much as you guys because im black" when from my observations the teacher spent more time working with him than anyone else in our class, even stayed late a few days to help him out with diffrent items, within 3 months of starting school his constant falling back on the "my teacher is racist" card caused him so much stress that he dropped out of school even tho he had passed everything that term

Xx{Hunter}xX 10-21-2010 04:00 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Racism is simply an imbecile's way of attempting to feel better about themselves. However, nobody is perfect, and we all have faults. The racist ones fail to realize that, and make life Hell for those who DO accept their flaws.

fido123 10-21-2010 05:20 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by freekilltwo (Post 3318359)
he dropped out of school even tho he had passed everything that term

Guess he's just going to play the race card all his life eh? He'll get what he deserves.


Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRubix (Post 3315675)
That's the unfortunate truth of it. The problem is that if colleges operated on admitting people by merit alone, they'd be full of Asian and Jewish kids and almost no blacks/hispanics/etc. The more fundamental problem is that the only way to fix racism is to technically invoke actions that are largely seen as reverse-racism/discrimination, resulting in backlash. I personally see racism as an unwinnable war. As long as the trends exist, racism will exist. But to eliminate the trends is to step on a lot of toes.

I completely and utterly disagree with this but understand where you're coming form. It's not racist if all the Jewish/Asians get in, their entitled to be in because they EARNED their way into College. If that's the way the cookie crumbles so be it, but it's completely and utterly racist to make somebodies ethnicity a deciding factor into the admittance of somebody. I even view "Black Colleges" as completely racist institutions, they had their place in the 60's and a bit after but they have no place in the world today and should admit anybody who meets the ACADEMIC requirements. Just look at a person as a person, not an asian person or black person...just a ****ing person. Race means ****, people just get race and culture confused all the time. The reason why Asians are so ****ing smart a lot of the time is because it's in their culture to parent your child in such a way where they're going to do well in school.

In Canada recently, our government had an online application. If you checked off your race and gender as anything but a female aboriginal, the page would simply display an error. The government just said it's their way of diversifying their departments. **** diversification, just stop giving even half a **** what anybody is race wise, and look at how good they will preform on the job based off other merits that actually have to do how that person will do in that job.

MrRubix 10-21-2010 06:14 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
I'm not sure why you guys are reading that quote as if I said it was racist.

I am stating an objective fact based on trends: If you were to admit by merit, that is what you would get. While this is not racist, people will say that it is, resulting in much outcry.

The general argument is that this sort of system basically oppresses the "worse-off" races. Even though admitting by merit isn't racist, it keeps blacks and Hispanics out, resulting in a "rich get richer and poor stay poor" divide. Asians and Jews would continue to become educated/financially stable while everyone else would be without the same access to resources.

So if you're a black child who wants to get access into a school that is primarily merit-oriented, what can you do? Statistically, your family won't be as geared towards education and financial know-how like Asian families would be. You won't necessarily have access to the same quality schools or public education. In other words, while merit is "fair," merit is often acquired through means that stem from something "unfair" (i.e. what family you are born into). You don't have the same forms of mentoring.

When such a divide continues to exist, the racial trends do not faze out, and racism continues evermore, infused with kernels of truth.

"The reason why Asians are so ****ing smart a lot of the time is because it's in their culture to parent your child in such a way where they're going to do well in school."

How do you think this happened in the first place?
Why might you think blacks are so behind in terms of average education?

fido123 10-21-2010 06:23 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
I think Asians are like that because of their cultural history. The cultural history of somebody effects people greatly because it's what their parents taught them, and what they teach their kids. Blacks are so far behind because they were slaves, and simply released into an unwelcoming public. It's sad but it's in the past, and shouldn't effect whether you get into school or not. I know a few black families that are very well off, and they teach their kids to do well off. Everybody, at least in my area is given all the resources they need to become successful. Whether they use these with their own will or are pushed into it by their parents doesn't matter to me, although I have a lot of respect for people who do it on their own. Fact is though if somebody wants to, and tries to, they have a good shot at getting into College regardless of their background.

I understand what you're saying with people will get angry that "Black people aren't getting into College", and will call it racist but that would make them flat out wrong and organizations shouldn't bend to people's will just cause they're playing the race card. They need to suck it up. Also I'm not saying your racist, I'm just saying that I completely disagree with your approach on this.

MrRubix 10-21-2010 06:27 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
I haven't technically shared my approach with you. I'm simply stating facts and giving scenarios at this point, while asking questions.

You say that Asians have had a healthier cultural history while slavery held blacks back, and at the same time you argue that people need to "suck it up and just work hard."

Do you acknowledge that it would be incredibly difficult for a black person to achieve the same level of ability as an Asian person if we operate by meritocracy? The Asian might, for instance, be born into a family with two parents who went to college. The child has a nice home to live in, is pushed to excel and develop intellectually, encouraged to read, supported well financially, sent to school, etc.

Compare that to a black kid from a poor neighborhood with either indifferent/uneducated parents, a lack of decent school system, no encouragement from others to excel academically, lack of financial support and/or financial issues altogether, etc. It's going to be loads harder for that child to "work hard" and get into a great college/job to keep up with the competition.

Any thoughts on this scenario?

fido123 10-21-2010 06:42 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Sorry, I assumed what you were saying was your opinion.

I understand what you're saying, but simply lowering somebody's requirements for acceptance based on their racial ethnicity is a load of bull. What if a black person who was born into an amazing background were to apply? I think we should honestly not to divide people by race when trying to find ways to give people better opportunities, rather than if that person is living in conditions that would put him at a disadvantage. White people can be put at a disadvantage too, just look at Eminem (His past not what he's made of himself). He's white and he's grown up like most black people have.

I'm not sure if the best way to help these people is to raise their chances of getting into college based on this, but I can agree that these people deserve a bit of help.

MrRubix 10-21-2010 06:50 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
"What if a black person who was born into an amazing background were to apply?"

The key difference here is that you're picking out an upper threshold point/outlier.

Consider that most blacks do not come from amazing backgrounds. The average Asian application is loads better than what the average application would be from an African American.

fido123 10-21-2010 06:53 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Being black doesn't make them poor though, that's all I'm saying. The program would probably simply then consist of more black people than any other race assuming most people facing these kinds of problems are black.

rushyrulz 10-21-2010 06:57 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
We all have our reasons/experiences that lead us to believe one way or the other if a certain race is different (and should be regarded differently) than others. The fact of the matter is, more blacks are involved in crime, therefore I have a solid reason to have a fear for any black individual who looks threatening to me. However, if I saw a black man with a briefcase wearing a business suit, I wouldn't have any opposition to him whatsoever.

The same trend goes with other races. If I see a white man who looks threatening to me, I would have a fear for him as well. Same case with the white man with a briefcase and business suit. So it's not a fear of race, so much as a fear of getting involved in a dangerous situation, and statistically blacks are more likely to be involved in those situations. The connection between those two and my fear of danger adds up to what some individuals might call "racism"

MrRubix 10-21-2010 06:58 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by fido123 (Post 3318601)
Being black doesn't make them poor though, that's all I'm saying. The program would probably simply then consist of more black people than any other race assuming most people facing these kinds of problems are black.

Being black doesn't inherently make you poor, but black people are generally much poorer and less-educated due to reasons you yourself stated.

AKA are you okay with the fact that colleges would only admit Asians and Jews if they were to operate under meritocracy?

who_cares973 10-21-2010 06:59 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
the question really shouldnt be is it wrong to be racist but is it wrong to be right

fido123 10-21-2010 07:05 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by MrRubix (Post 3318605)
Being black doesn't inherently make you poor, but black people are generally much poorer and less-educated due to reasons you yourself stated.

AKA are you okay with the fact that colleges would only admit Asians and Jews if they were to operate under meritocracy?

They wouldn't only admit Asians and Jews, they'd admit everybody who belongs there and I can guarantee there will be some black people in that College. People shouldn't look at somebodies race for anything like this.

MrRubix 10-21-2010 07:14 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by fido123 (Post 3318616)
They wouldn't only admit Asians and Jews, they'd admit everybody who belongs there and I can guarantee there will be some black people in that College. People shouldn't look at somebodies race for anything like this.

You're missing my point, here.

Statistically speaking, Asians and Jews, by far, have better credentials, educations, applications, etc. If you took the entire applicant pools and admitted the best of that pool from top-down, you'd have almost no blacks/Hispanics at all.

fido123 10-21-2010 07:15 PM

Re: Is it wrong to be racist?
 
Then that's the way it would have to be. We don't live in a perfect world, and admitting people by race and not by merit isn't going to help, nor is it fair.


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