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re: Is "racism" genetic or learned?
Posted on 1/24/14 at 12:50 pm to ballscaster
Posted on 1/24/14 at 12:50 pm to ballscaster
quote:
t is 100% learned, but you could argue that that learning occurs naturally.
I think it is natural but you can learn to accept differences.
I believe its a natural tendency in humans to flock with birds of a feather.
Brown Paper Bag test!
1
Posted on 1/24/14 at 12:53 pm to trackfan
quote:
It's definitely a learned behavior. Small kids don't hate people that look different, they're curious about them, and they're too young to understand the bigoted things that they may be hearing at home. I went to predominantly White (98%) parochial schools up until 8th grade, and I never detected a hint of racism from my classmates until middle school, which is the age when kids start to understand and internalize the indoctrination they're being subjected to. Kindergateners may hear the word "n****r" being used, but they don't yet know it's a derogatory term.
I agree with this. But my experience was a little bit of the opposite. I went to a elementary school that was 70% black. BTW, I wasn't worried about the boys kicking my arse, I was worried about the girls.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 12:59 pm to Tiguar
Noticing color is so very far and away from racism, kids will be kids and having someone to play with is an innate urge they have.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:02 pm to KCT
As animals we are wired to be distrustful from those who a different. Not just in race, but age, sex, ethnicity, etc.
Yeah, we learn to manage out natural fears, or we learn to enhance them. But we are inherently born with some distrust/caution towards what is different.
Yeah, we learn to manage out natural fears, or we learn to enhance them. But we are inherently born with some distrust/caution towards what is different.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:05 pm to Tiguar
Most white people have learned to not even ask another person what their ethnicity or "heritage" is. A minority with an agenda will jump all over that.
So, these days even "just noticing" something needs to be kept to oneself. In fact, the last "mistake" I made of this nature was over a decade ago. There was a guy at work who was always talking about his Mexican heritage, which was okay with me. He was kind of a jerk, so I didn't go out of my way to interact with him. One day he stopped by my office and started talking about what a great athlete he was, and I simply asked him if he had played much soccer. He got all bent out of shape and said that was a racist question. Of course, he made a point of mentioning it to everybody in the office, like I had slapped him or something.
But, lesson learned. I filter like hell at work now, and I've been doing that for years. For a person with an agenda can twist just about anything into an insult.
So, these days even "just noticing" something needs to be kept to oneself. In fact, the last "mistake" I made of this nature was over a decade ago. There was a guy at work who was always talking about his Mexican heritage, which was okay with me. He was kind of a jerk, so I didn't go out of my way to interact with him. One day he stopped by my office and started talking about what a great athlete he was, and I simply asked him if he had played much soccer. He got all bent out of shape and said that was a racist question. Of course, he made a point of mentioning it to everybody in the office, like I had slapped him or something.
But, lesson learned. I filter like hell at work now, and I've been doing that for years. For a person with an agenda can twist just about anything into an insult.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:23 pm to KCT
I think that over time, based on experiences with different races (could be real life or tv) you form stereotypes of the race in general.
Will there be exceptions or misperceptions? Yes
Ask a group of teenagers today what their perception of where white people live and they will say the suburbs. You ask them where black people live and they will say ghetto. Not all but most.
Just watch some comedians. They basically use the sterotypes as their main way to be funny.
It is learned stereotypes that cause people to prejudge someone in their day to day life.
Will there be exceptions or misperceptions? Yes
Ask a group of teenagers today what their perception of where white people live and they will say the suburbs. You ask them where black people live and they will say ghetto. Not all but most.
Just watch some comedians. They basically use the sterotypes as their main way to be funny.
It is learned stereotypes that cause people to prejudge someone in their day to day life.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:24 pm to pistolpete23
Earned
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:26 pm to pistolpete23
It's obviously genetic just like homosexuality.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:28 pm to pistolpete23
Learned.
However, when it comes to sexual attraction a lot of it is hard wired from very early childhood. For example, I've never been physically attracted to heavy women of any race, blacks or red heads. It's not something I talked myself into or was persuaded by others. It's just the way Mr. Happy has always functioned.
However, when it comes to sexual attraction a lot of it is hard wired from very early childhood. For example, I've never been physically attracted to heavy women of any race, blacks or red heads. It's not something I talked myself into or was persuaded by others. It's just the way Mr. Happy has always functioned.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:33 pm to KCT
quote:
Most white people have learned to not even ask another person what their ethnicity or "heritage" is. A minority with an agenda will jump all over that.
One time I saw an extremely attractive woman in the gym whose ethnicity puzzled me. I went up to her and asked "I'm curious. What is your ethnic background?"
She said "German-Mexican".
And then it struck me. Linda Rondstadt is German-Mexican and when she was young I thought she was the prettiest female singer I'd ever seen.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:41 pm to pistolpete23
It's forced upon you when you observe the behavior of the worst of the species......
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:43 pm to GumboPot
quote:
Racism is specifically the thought or act of believing that you are superior to other people because of the color of your skin. I do not believe that to be genetic.
If that is the definition there isn't much racism in the world.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:44 pm to pistolpete23
Learned.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 1:58 pm to roygu
quote:
I think it is natural but you can learn to accept differences.
I believe its a natural tendency in humans to flock with birds of a feather.
Brown Paper Bag test!
It's natural to assimilate with folks who you have things in common with (eg. language, culture, height, skin color, etc.) but it's not natural to hate folks that you have differences with. Furthermore, language is much greater assimilating characteristic than race, because communication is the most important survival tool that we have.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 2:09 pm to pistolpete23
quote:
I myself believe we are all racist in one way or another... is it something we're born with or is it something we learn as children growing up?
No one is born with racist thoughts or beliefs. That's something you learn or are taught. However, we all discriminate in some form or fashion. Whenever you have a preference, you discriminate. However, when you discriminate based on non factors such color, gender, sexual orientation, etc......then you enter the realm of Racism. If you believe that something is true for an entire race regardless of background, then you are a racist. It's like looking at a black person that you've never met or don't know anything about and immediately coming to the conclusion that that person is lazy.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 2:42 pm to PurpleKnight88
quote:
If you believe that something is true for an entire race regardless of background, then you are a racist.
Then there are no racists. People who make generalizations about race do not ascribe it to everyone in the race.
IE, there are lots of blacks who are far more intelligent than me. But I know that blacks generally are less intelligent than whites because I've read the IQ studies.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 3:25 pm to CarrolltonTiger
quote:
Racism is specifically the thought or act of believing that you are superior to other people because of the color of your skin. I do not believe that to be genetic.
quote:
If that is the definition there isn't much racism in the world.
The definition of "racism" I was taught is that "racism" is the belief that your race is superior to all the other races.
Nowadays, "racism" appears to mean not liking someone who happens to be another race.
Therefore, when someone of another race who I don't like calls me a racist I just tell them, "I don't dislike everyone of your race. I just don't like you."
That usually shuts them up.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 3:30 pm to PurpleKnight88
quote:
However, when you discriminate based on non factors such color, gender, sexual orientation, etc......then you enter the realm of Racism.
If you unfairly discriminate based on gender isn't that being a sexist not a racist?
Posted on 1/24/14 at 3:33 pm to PurpleKnight88
quote:
. However, when you discriminate based on non factors such color, gender, sexual orientation, etc......then you enter the realm of Racism.
Not sure if serious.
quote:
If you believe that something is true for an entire race regardless of background, then you are a racist.
Not necessarily.
quote:
It's like looking at a black person that you've never met or don't know anything about and immediately coming to the conclusion that that person is lazy.
Prejudice and racism may be related but aren't the same thing.
Posted on 1/24/14 at 4:52 pm to RogerTheShrubber
@RogerTheShrubber
Every now and then, someone comes along and critiques your work and it ends up helping you to see where there are flaws in your logic. Thank you for an honest eye.
Every now and then, someone comes along and critiques your work and it ends up helping you to see where there are flaws in your logic. Thank you for an honest eye.
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