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-   -   how do you react to racism? (http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=40235)

knox 06.22.2010 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Eugene Felikson
I love it when people say "I'm not racist, I have tons of black friends."

I really do.


It pushes the same button as "I'm not sexist, ask my female friends, they say I am nice, I treat women very well, jut not the ones I don't know in person"

IDK

It's the button that triggers internal eye rolling.

knox 06.22.2010 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark
I just ignore it -- no one has ever tried to force me to see their side of things, or involved me in any racist activities, or perhaps I've never met anyone who is a hardcore racist; certainly, I've met tons of people who are a little racist. But, yeah, I haven't lived the life of the people who have formed this opinion, so how can I judge them? Mostly, I just try to mind my own business -- if people get cheated on by women, they'll probably have a bad view on women. If people get shit stolen from them by Mexicans, they'll probably have a bad outlook on Mexicans. That's just how most people are. I don't think most people are really hardcore Nazi racists or something -- at least not around here; the people I've met seem to be insulting towards other races, but also know that you can't base your opinion on an entire race of people because of the fuckheads they've met. People just hate people in general -- people hate their own race probably more than any other race. I mean, people in general are usually bad... so yeah.

...Like I said, as far as my "reaction" goes, I just try to mind my own business -- everyone has political views, outlooks on life, etc. that I don't agree with, but they probably have some reason for getting to that point in their mind. On the other hand, there are people that are completely ignorant and don't seem to have any reason for coming to their conclusions... but that goes with anything. Ultimately, if a person is such a hardcore racist that it influences every facet of their being, of course I couldn't be friends with them... but I've never met anyone like that.

...well, I am friends with a white girl whose mom was raped and chopped up to bits by a black man. Literally cut up to pieces with the body parts put in a garbage bag. So, she's a little racist towards black people now -- mostly stemming from fear. I mean, I can understand that. I'm not racist at all -- but I can see how something traumatic like that could change a person's character... couldn't you?

On the other hand, I know another white girl who was raped by a black guy -- she was 12 at the time. And she's not racist at all... so yeah. Who knows.

If you get to know anyone well enough, you'll probably find a shit-ton of things to hate about them, so my thing in life is to just try not to get too close to anyone else, and hope they don't get too close to me. Makes things a lot simpler.


now that just pushed my core puke button.

thank you very much.

Dr. Eugene Felikson 06.22.2010 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knox
It pushes the same button as "I'm not sexist, ask my female friends, they say I am nice, I treat women very well, jut not the ones I don't know in person"

IDK

It's the button that triggers internal eye rolling.



Yeah, it's one of those things that people do that are so outstandingly lame, that your brain sort of freezes up for a second, and you have a flinch of paralysis due to said lameness.

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 04:27 PM

Um, okay. Feel free to puke -- at least I don't carry hatred in my heart for others based upon opinions they formed that are none of my business. If you read further into my post, you'll see I'm friends with a girl who literally had her mom CHOPPED TO PIECES by a black man -- how can I really hold her racism against her? It's understandable -- that doesn't mean I agree, but people deal with trauma in different ways. I was molested and beaten by a woman, and I have been cheated on by every girl I've been with -- and I don't hate women (mainly because I'm smart enough to realize a few shitty women doesn't mean every woman is shit). But a lot of people who have went through the same shit definitely would -- most people are extremely simple. If I were going to hate everyone because I didn't agree with opinions they formed at some point in their years of existence... well, then, I would hate literally everyone, wouldn't I? I think racism is wrong -- I also think not minding your own business is wrong, too. I can't possibly change a person's mind if they've dealt with traumatic events. Why would I try?

Like I said though, the best thing to do is to just not get close to anyone. That's why I don't keep friends, only acquaintances.

knox 06.22.2010 04:29 PM

So, if her mom had been chopped to pieces by a white person would she try to make herself black? just wondering.

SuchFriendsAreDangerous 06.22.2010 04:31 PM

Quote:

..well, I am friends with a white girl whose mom was raped and chopped up to bits by a black man. Literally cut up to pieces with the body parts put in a garbage bag. So, she's a little racist towards black people now -- mostly stemming from fear. I mean, I can understand that. I'm not racist at all -- but I can see how something traumatic like that could change a person's character... couldn't you?

honestly no.

Quote:

Originally Posted by knox
So, if her mom had been chopped to pieces by a white person would she try to make herself black? just wondering.



she gets it :)

knox 06.22.2010 04:32 PM

Tollerating racism is endorsing it.

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 04:34 PM

I get what you're saying, but maybe the better question is: How would you react, either way, if your mom was MURDERED? I mean, who knows? If you've not dealt with that trauma, then how could you comment on it? That's why I'm trying not to... not to judge and to mind my own business on that shit... And she's not going around insulting black people or something -- she's just AFRAID of them now. Which is technically racism, I guess. But maybe it just brings back repressed memories.

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous
honestly no.


Okay, well, I'm taking a wild guess that if your mom got murdered, chopped up, put in a garbage bag, you're not going to walk away from it without something changing in you. [edit]

I'm not endorsing it, I'm understanding her feelings... of fear. She's not "practicing" racism, she's not a fucking KKK member -- and she's 20, this happened when she was 15. I'm sure she'll eventually grow out of that stuff. But how am I supposed to act, am I supposed to rush her into getting over it? "Hey, I know your life was completely ENDED, basically, but here's how I think you should react instead of the way you decided to react."

Rob Instigator 06.22.2010 04:39 PM

only an idiot would hate a "race" because it happens to be the same "race" as someone who did them or theirs griveous harm.

when a person steals from me I hate THIEVES, not whatever arbitrary skin pigmentation and facial features are attributed to their vague "race"

Rob Instigator 06.22.2010 04:40 PM

Most serial killers are white males, but people do not go reacting and hating white males because of it. If they do it is becauise they already held racist views about white folk, before the killin happened.

SuchFriendsAreDangerous 06.22.2010 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark
Okay, well, I'm taking a wild guess that if your mom got murdered, chopped up, put in a garbage bag, you're not going to walk away from it without something changing in you. But I guess it's easy to judge people when nothing like that could possibly happen to you.



I didn't say it wouldn't fuck me up, I just said I couldn't understand it evolving into racism, as traumatic as that event was, a SINGLE event should not could shape a person's outlook of an ENTIRE race of people.

In my own life, many traumatic events have happened. I didn't not blame the race, just the individual. But I have an immensely powerful sense of forgiveness and empathy, so I handle that kind of shit rather well. In your quest for sensitivity you have grossly mashed on ini feelings :(
Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark
But I guess it's easy to judge people when nothing like that could possibly happen to you.



Life is deep, don't ever for a second believe that people do well with trauma simply because they haven't had a traumatic life.

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 04:48 PM

I am empathetic, open minded, and generally peaceful. But most people are not. I agree that a single traumatic event shouldn't shape a person's outlook on life -- but there are so many factors that go beyond a single event. I live in a small town, I can't go down the street with multi colored hair without getting death stares. It's still a fairly close minded town, and still one where people know everything about everyone...

Having said that, there aren't too many people of different races here, all in all. So, some of the only interaction that girl has had with anyone of a different race was this incident. Maybe that has something to do with it.

I'm just saying -- it may be "wrong" for me to, um, I guess, not try to change her mind regarding her attitude -- I'll accept that. But wouldn't it be, more wrong for me to tell her how she should react in the face of such an event?

While I don't agree with her at all, I try to see every side of an argument. And I think she'll grow out of things, but she still has hatred in her heart, and no one to take it out on. She is not some kind of nazi fuckhead or something, just someone who is scared and full of hate. It's one of those things where, the few times she's talked about it, the best thing I can do in my mind is to just not say anything.

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 04:56 PM

And I would do anything to help her not continue to fester that hate -- but I think there's no words I can say that will help her grow out of something like that. People just get over it, in time... I would just rather not bring it up to her.

Rob Instigator 06.22.2010 04:57 PM

fear of the different is a very strong emotional driver towards prejudice.

RanaldoNecro 06.22.2010 04:58 PM

I am going to get killed for this one but...

Rascism isn't going away anytime soon. I don't support racism in ideal terms (that is I believe everyone to be created equal) but I just don't see the practical world forgetting their prejudices anytime soon.

Many people act racist just because they don't want their own to mix with a certain group. I call that preventive. Would I want my daughter or son marrying into just any group? No.

Many races simply want their own to continue and marry their own ethnic group. And it is possible to not like an ethnic groups values as opposed to the whole group.

There are some peoples values who I don't agree with. Like a Chinese industrialist who doesn't have any sense of the environmental damages he causes through his business. I reserve the right to dislike him!

Pox on you Wang Chung!

RanaldoNecro 06.22.2010 05:00 PM

BTW, some people believe that political correctness is a form of fascism. Thought control.

Derek 06.22.2010 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keeping It Simple
Wrong.

No, the working classes ARE more likely to be racist. It's a matter of education, the middle classes are more likely to be educated so will be more open-minded towards such things. Also, a lot of ethnic minorities occupy working class areas so the working class will be affected more by immigration, housing etc. etc.

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 05:01 PM

Can't we all just get along?

SuchFriendsAreDangerous 06.22.2010 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RanaldoNecro

Many people act racist just because they don't want their own to mix with a certain group. I call that preventive. Would I want my daughter or son marrying into just any group? No.

Many races simply want their own to continue and marry their own ethnic group. And it is possible to not like an ethnic groups values as opposed to the whole group.

There are some peoples values who I don't agree with. Like a Chinese industrialist who doesn't have any sense of the environmental damages he causes through his business. I reserve the right to dislike him!

Pox on you Wang Chung!


why not? what are you scared of for your daughter, that she might expand her own cultural horizons beyond your own expectations of her?

and further, "ethnic groups values" that is a cover for racism, which is to prejudge an individual based upon stereotypes and misconceptions. People do not AUTOMATICALLY follow the perceived socio-cultural patterns of their 'race' so how could anyone judge anyone by these markers? Who the caps fit, let them wear it. Judge a person ENTIRELY by their own actions, and even then you should still avoid judgment, it blocks opportunities for growth.

ann ashtray 06.22.2010 05:02 PM

It depends on several different factors. I usually ignore it.

knox 06.22.2010 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark
I am empathetic, open minded, and generally peaceful. But most people are not. I agree that a single traumatic event shouldn't shape a person's outlook on life -- but there are so many factors that go beyond a single event. I live in a small town, I can't go down the street with multi colored hair without getting death stares. It's still a fairly close minded town, and still one where people know everything about everyone...

Having said that, there aren't too many people of different races here, all in all. So, some of the only interaction that girl has had with anyone of a different race was this incident. Maybe that has something to do with it.

I'm just saying -- it may be "wrong" for me to, um, I guess, not try to change her mind regarding her attitude -- I'll accept that. But wouldn't it be, more wrong for me to tell her how she should react in the face of such an event?

While I don't agree with her at all, I try to see every side of an argument. And I think she'll grow out of things, but she still has hatred in her heart, and no one to take it out on. She is not some kind of nazi fuckhead or something, just someone who is scared and full of hate. It's one of those things where, the few times she's talked about it, the best thing I can do in my mind is to just not say anything.


I think you are forgetting that we're not talking about this specific case. To be honest I didn't even read your whole post because I was so shocked by the first paragraph.

We're not talking about your friend, we're talking about you and the way you seem to be saying that you think tollerating racism is being open minded" and "empathetic". In general.

knox 06.22.2010 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RanaldoNecro
I am going to get killed for this one but...

Rascism isn't going away anytime soon. I don't support racism in ideal terms (that is I believe everyone to be created equal) but I just don't see the practical world forgetting their prejudices anytime soon.

Many people act racist just because they don't want their own to mix with a certain group. I call that preventive. Would I want my daughter or son marrying into just any group? No.

Many races simply want their own to continue and marry their own ethnic group. And it is possible to not like an ethnic groups values as opposed to the whole group.

There are some peoples values who I don't agree with. Like a Chinese industrialist who doesn't have any sense of the environmental damages he causes through his business. I reserve the right to dislike him!

Pox on you Wang Chung!


1- EH?

2- Disliking industries that pollute the environment has nothing to do with disliking chinese people. If that was the logic, everyone would hate americans in general. I dislike cunts, no matter where they're from.

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 05:15 PM

Me being "open minded" and "empathetic" was in reply to SuchFriends's later post -- you know, like 10 posts after the post you "replied" to. But, um, lemme simplify it for you: I try to ignore, and mind my own business, and if someone IS racist, then it's probably not someone I want to hang out with, but in that specific case which I devoted all my posting time to that you ignored -- well, I can understand how something traumatic would cause someone to act irrational. Simple.

Dr. Eugene Felikson 06.22.2010 05:15 PM

Not every racist is a klan member. In fact, most aren't even necessarily open about their racism in public. They save it for private, harmless moments with their friends, it isn't necessarily something that they think about on a daily basis.

A person can be outstanding in many other ways, to the point that their racism is completely overshadowed by how overly awesome they are. To ignore their positive qualities based on their hatred for something that doesn't directly involve you is sorta... bigotist.

Derek 06.22.2010 05:33 PM

This reminds me of the feminist argument atsonicpark had with luxinterior... so all we need now is atsonicpark to argue about sexuality with ANOTHER female member and we should have all the bases covered! Haha!

I could see WHY your girlfriend thinks that way but personally I still don't think it's right. Something bad someone from a certain race has done does not speak for a whole ethnic group. It's definitely a grey area.

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 05:36 PM

No, Knox isn't worth arguing with, she doesn't even read whole posts.

But anyway. My girlfriend?!

My girl .......... friend.

As I said, if someone chops up my mom and puts her in a garbage bag, who knows how I'd react? It probably wouldn't make me a racist, but some things can make good people turn bad. Can't really comment on it till it happens to me -- I mean, it's easy to be politically correct when everything is flowers and rainbows -- but my life has been absolutely TERRIBLE, and I'm still positive and don't carry hatred in my heart. But I don't expect everyone else to be the same way...

Derek 06.22.2010 05:36 PM

Quote:

A person can be outstanding in many other ways, to the point that their racism is completely overshadowed by how overly awesome they are. To ignore their positive qualities based on their hatred for something that doesn't directly involve you is sorta... bigotist.
Of course people are allowed to have thoughts even if they are not morally right. I'm all for free speech. If someone is awesome and keeps these thoughts to themselves then cool, but if they openly throw the n-bomb around and just act disrespectfully towards another race then that's just a trait I can't personally tolerate regardless of how awesome a person is.

Besides my idea of an awesome people wouldn't be so close-minded with these matters but rather embrace different cultures.

Derek 06.22.2010 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark
No, Knox isn't worth arguing with, she doesn't even read whole posts for one thing.

But anyway. My girlfriend?!

My girl .......... friend.

As I said, if someone chops up my mom and puts her in a garbage bag, who knows how I'd react? It probably wouldn't make me a racist, but some things can make good people turn bad. Can't really comment on it till it happens to me.

Woops sorry I misread. I thought you were talking about your old lady :)

atsonicpark 06.22.2010 05:40 PM

Hell no.

knox 06.22.2010 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Eugene Felikson
Not every racist is a klan member. In fact, most aren't even necessarily open about their racism in public. They save it for private, harmless moments with their friends, it isn't necessarily something that they think about on a daily basis.

A person can be outstanding in many other ways, to the point that their racism is completely overshadowed by how overly awesome they are. To ignore their positive qualities based on their hatred for something that doesn't directly involve you is sorta... bigotist.


so what are you trying to say? if someone is "awesome" i'm suppose to tollerate them being racist? no racist person can be "awesome", that just cancels the whole thing out.

doesn't directly involve me? - so i'm only supposed to care about racism if i'm a victim of it?

i'm supposed to shut up and let them be their racism-but-awesome selves without even mentioning how disgusting it is?

this is why the world is a rotting bumhole.

Keeping It Simple 06.22.2010 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knox
Tollerating racism is endorsing it.


Sanctimoniously preaching against racism just encourages it.

floatingslowly 06.22.2010 05:42 PM

^^^ unfortunately, I agree. people being people, they never respond well to criticism. which I why I mentioned earlier that you would lose a lot of friends if you based it soley on racist remarks. you would also not be doing "the cause" anything, because they would just assume that because of yr reaction, they are right. if these people are truly yr friends, try leading by example.

brb cup o' piss time now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark
No, Knox isn't worth arguing with


I dislike you a little bit for saying this.

not enough to neg rep you, as that would imply that I care too much, but it certainly puts you in a negative light.

and by negative light, I do not mean, black light, as that would be racist.

knox 06.22.2010 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsonicpark
No, Knox isn't worth arguing with, she doesn't even read whole posts.

But anyway. My girlfriend?!

My girl .......... friend.

As I said, if someone chops up my mom and puts her in a garbage bag, who knows how I'd react? It probably wouldn't make me a racist, but some things can make good people turn bad. Can't really comment on it till it happens to me -- I mean, it's easy to be politically correct when everything is flowers and rainbows -- but my life has been absolutely TERRIBLE, and I'm still positive and don't carry hatred in my heart. But I don't expect everyone else to be the same way...


I don't know. I read that. Like Rob said most violent crimes are commited by white males. And I don't see that causing people to hate all white males.
So there's something way deeper there.

Derek 06.22.2010 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keeping It Simple
Sanctimoniously preaching against racism just encourages it.

No it doesn't. I honestly don't think you believe half the stuff you say... you know it's wrong and in saying that you know we will jump on your back about it. Hence you get a small kick out of your mundane shitty life that consists of getting a rise from people on the internet.

knox 06.22.2010 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keeping It Simple
Sanctimoniously preaching against racism just encourages it.


Yeah, a bit like sex education makes children wanna fuck right.

Derek 06.22.2010 05:49 PM

Too much sex education would encourage children to do it.. same with drug education. I do think that shoving your view down someone's throat will of course make them revolt against it.. but people that are so openly racist are shoving THEIR view down MY throat.

Keeping It Simple 06.22.2010 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knox
Yeah, a bit like sex education makes children wanna fuck right.


The UK has the worst underage sex rates in Europe according to the World Health Organisation. So sex education does make kids wanna fuck.

floatingslowly 06.22.2010 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek
Too much sex education would encourage children to do it.. same with drug education. I do think that shoving your view down someone's throat will of course make them revolt against it.. but people that are so openly racist are shoving THEIR view down MY throat.


then you look at them with a shameful eye. practice in the mirror.

shame works much better than preaching....unless yr a catholic, and then it's all the same (lulz).

floatingslowly 06.22.2010 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by verme (prevaricator)
when i see a black person, i often think back to the time when i trade my school lunch to them in exchange for sex behind the trash bins. the trash bins make me realize how lucky i was not to be black, and also made me feel a little dirty when they stuck their large black hands inside me. i never gave the chinese people any school lunch because their fingers and sex members were often too small. i need bigger. i need blacker. i need dumpster bin sex.


racism is often disgusting, but you take it to a new level. kudos.


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