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Why is racism seen to be so bad?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
This is one thing I don't quite understand, and I'm hoping someone can explain this to me.

Racism on any level and against any race is deplorable, that's never been a doubt. But then again so is sexism, ageism, homophobia etc but they are not regarded as 'nasty' as racism. Why?

It's as if you can be called sexist, people may frown but it's usually forgotten quite soon. But if you are labelled racist....wow, now that's something terrible.

Why is racism considered to be so much worse than any other form of discrimination?
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Social attitudes change with time. Only 20 or 30 years ago it wasn't considered so bad for people to tell racist jokes even though they themselves weren't racists (or didn't consider themselves so). Now very few people would see racist jokes as 'naughty but acceptable'.

    One day homophobic and sexist jokes will perhaps be considered as unacceptable. Even though I'm not sexist I confess to having cracked the odd 'women joke' if I happen to find it particularly funny (I have also told a few 'men jokes'), but maybe in 20 years time people will shake their heads at such behaviour.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think its because the others arent taken seriously enough. Theyre almost seen as a laughing matter unless its in the extreme, but its sort of socially acceptable to make jokes about gay people or for men to make jokes about women, and for women to make jokes about men. Its horrible really.
    Ageism is more of a subtle thing, A lot of people dont like old people very much Ive noticed, and they treat them like idiots or like children. Nobody seems to say anything about it. Its seen as the norm. :(
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    ....and that is what I don't understand!

    Aladdin, I see where you're coming from :)
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    well I dont think youre going to get anyone giving a good and valid reason why other forms of prejudice as better because theyre not.
    what is it you want, to try and understand it and for someone to win you over to their side, or are you just having a rant about an injustice which is what I thought you were doing (and fair enough)
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by rainbow brite
    or are you just having a rant about an injustice which is what I thought you were doing (and fair enough)

    Once I've been posting here for a while you'll see that I love a good rant, nothing more :D

    I'm just hoping someone can tell me why it seems that a racist is considered a worse person than a sexist, or a homophobe.

    I guess it ain't going to happen!!
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    it depends who you are talking to. I know lots of people who think theyre all as bad as each other.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    There are two very different kinds of racism.
    1st, a set of rules made up by a government to transfer some rights and properties from one group of a population to another, like from black guys to white ones ( as it is were in America, especially in its southern states during 19th-first half of 20th centuries). There is nothing unusual. Every state to save its power has to use some policy of discrimination, to redistribute rights and properties from one group to another in order to bribe some parts of the population at others’ expense. Racism is just a particular kind of such a policy as well as nationalism. sexism, religious fundamentalism, agism so on.
    This kind of racism can and must be abolished of course.
    2nd,
    Racism as a set of feelings that some group of peoples has against others. Again, as well as nationalism, sexism, agism so on. Arabs think Jews are bastards, Jews think Arabs are bastards; Protestants and Catholics, Magyars and Slovaks, Hindus and Muslims, Est and Ost borned Germans hate each other. Plus a lot of men think they are better than women, a lot of guys who happen to be born to rich families think they are better than ones who have to earn for their bread by washing rich guys’ cars (and vice versa), a lot of old blocks think they are smarter than teenagers just because they have got a larger dose of State’s indoctrination…
    This kind of racism ( and other -isms) can’t be abolished easily.
    I’m bloody convinced that every attempt to forbid such things using govt’s power leads to quite opposite consequences. These all anti-discrimination laws don’t reduce a level of a racial hate in any society but rather strengthen it. And consequences of that policy can be horrible. I have no doubts that those bloody things that was happening in Yugoslavia were a direct result of Socialist State’s policy of “friendship of nations” as commies promoted it…
    Education, explanations, enlightenment , and just living among each other, buying and selling, knowing your Bangladeshi neighbours well, understanding their problems and troubles, chatting, helping, playing sports, drinking beer together, inviting them to your birthday party…and the main thing- respecting their property rights!!! none State’s sponsored and forced policy can be better.
    Never.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Islam islam islam
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I wasn't agreeing with you.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    In todays Britian, you have only got to say islam and your a racist! The word racism needs to be reformed.

    You must be paranoid.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    In todays Britian, you have only got to say islam and your a racist! The word racism needs to be reformed.

    rac·ism
    n.
    1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
    2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
    (Source - Dictionary.com)

    So by saying 'Islam' I'm racist... o...k :eek2:

    Yeah, I think it's wrong to make fun of somebody because they're old or young, because they're gay, fat, mentally ill or in a wheelchair... I mean discriminate against all or none, don't just pick one and then say that making a joke about another group is wrong.

    Actually where I work the pub and the people are extremely racist, so I'm used to it.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    I'm not, just telling you the reality. maybe I'm going to far by saying Islam but I'll defend that racism has a different meaning today.

    Don't try to fucking condescend me by saying that's the 'reality'. Your perception of reality is clouded by utter stupidity.

    Noone that i know would shout racist if I talked about Muslim's, Arab's, Islam or any other conversations of that nature. If it happens to you then maybe that tells you something.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    I mean society today, well in the UK, racism has a different meaning. Everything is racist from waving an Enlgihs flag to any other loony thing.

    Don't blame the immigrants, blame the racists.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    I mean society today, well in the UK, racism has a different meaning. Everything is racist from waving an Enlgihs flag to any other loony thing.

    Example?

    I've never seen a problem with English flags... why is national pride racist?
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    I blame the Government for letting it get out of hand.

    So it has nothing to do with the far right adapting a once great symbol and making it a sign of xenophobia?
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I bet you think Blackboard is a slur as well don't you Luke
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    In a way I think its more socially acceptable to make jokes about gays women and old people than it is about other races. one of my best friends has a bit of a racist streak, and it makes me cringe, whereas other jokes I just think are stupid but they dont make me cringe in the same way. I dont know why.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    silly jokes wouldnt be SILLY jokes if they werent untrue....

    people make jokes aobut all sorts of groups, whether it old,young blonde brunette,irish,english or whatever

    its jsut some groups have a easily formed standard of joke as theyve always had, i wont say a joke if i know ill offend someone, but somepeople should just take it on the chin, i reckon, i do if someone makes a joke about me....

    obviously you dont make a joke about a group to people you dont know, only to mates, cause they can d oit back to you - just common sense really
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Re: Why is racism seen to be so bad?

    .
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    you tell me!

    You made the statment, not me. So ya got any examples?
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I wonder if I'd be able to wave my Welsh flag in those pubs :p
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    yep true. You can also you an joke about Christians because it doesn't bother them but say something to a Muslim then it's racist! They seem to think we are all against them.

    What? :confused::confused:
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    ok then a recent one, did you read about in the media yes, when 100+ pubs banned the English flag during Euro 2004 because they would affend woman. I know this isn't racism but discrimination but they all are in the same area. Why would it affend woman? This is just causing problems. Also have you seen the town halls accross the UK? None hardly have flags on them, their excuse is because it will afend ethnic minorities.
    Another one, some schools ban it's pupils wearing any England t-shirts etc. Why? Because it will affend ethnic minorites but they acn wear there stuff! That might affend them but that doesn't matter does it?

    Got any evidence that any of these things actually happened?
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Still not sure if I entirely believe it.
    I lived in Birmingham for 10 years, up until last year. When there was a big national football match on, there were loads of English flags everywhere, pubs, curry houses, homes etc.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Depends on how bothered you are about it - you could call up your nearest Arena pub and ask them. I think you'll find it's genuine though....
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    yep true. You can also you an joke about Christians because it doesn't bother them but say something to a Muslim then it's racist! They seem to think we are all against them.
    Well I think you ARE against them, judging by pretty much every argument you make.
    I think if a christian heard you make an obnoxious joke against them, then they would be offended, same as a muslim would. I guess it depends on the individual person more than anythng whether they are willing to be the butt of peoples jokes. Im sure there are some muslims who would turn the other cheek and there would be some christians who would turn the other cheek too, yet there would be some who would be really offended, especially if they suspected it was more than just a joke.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Russ T Bitz
    Depends on how bothered you are about it - you could call up your nearest Arena pub and ask them. I think you'll find it's genuine though....

    I could, but I won't.
    Maybe its true, maybe its not.
    If it is true, then its daft. When I lived in Brum, this sort of thing didn't happen, in fact a lot of Asian shops would have a flag during football events.
    I think it would have been offensive maybe 20 years ago when it was much more a symbol of the far right, but its been rehabilitated over the past few years.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by lukesh
    yep true. You can also you an joke about Christians because it doesn't bother them but say something to a Muslim then it's racist! They seem to think we are all against them.

    sadly have to agree with lukeish here, im a young white male and if i can have jokes about men said around me, then surely women can aobut them etc etc

    but sadly from experience it seems the only people who can get away with jokes are not me, at school i had to put up wth hearing jewish jokes, im not jewish but i still found them really offensive and racist, but as they were from indians/pakistanis it was somehow alrite for the people to air them in class openly, whilst i know if i was to say this, which i wouldnt, i owuld have been suspended or at least sent to see head of year etc
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    its only seen so bad because they have milions pumped into finding fault with something.

    Galaxy were banned from using the slogan eenie meenie miney mo because it was considered racist those who i have spoken to have not linked to why it is racist, most use the word tigger or hippo.

    This are taken out of context
    like punch and judy banned

    baa baa blue sheep, and before anyone shoots me down with this one i have now actually heard it being sung, as have many on my course at uni.
    I do think things are getting bad, personally though if a man makes a comment about my sex, or asks why i am not at the kitchen sink i laugh it off.

    i have seen nasty horrible jokes about dys;exics, epileptics, hearing/sight impairent etc, i think these are sick however know of some who would laugh these off, to me discrimation against disabled person is 10x worse than racism, it is plain evil.
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