This ignorant **********

[wed3k]

now the only thing that he can really be judged by is how many experiences has he had working with black people?

i mean if it was only a couple of occasions, i dont know if it would be right to come to such a conclusion. I know for a fact that texas has a lot of areas that are well concentrated.

[deevergote]

Well, he grew up on the islands, where there probably weren't many black people at all... so he may have been subject to the opinions of people around him as he grew up (and we all know people can come to believe some crazy things if they start young.) Then he moved to Texas. Depending on where he moved, he may have been exposed very quickly to either 1) racist white Texans, or 2) "ghetto" black people in some of the more dangerous urban areas of the state. Either one would do a good job of "confirming" the prejudices he may have learned in his youth.
Now, that is a LOT of speculation, but it's one way it could have happened.


OR, his opinion may be fully unfounded. That's the beauty of an opinion... as long as you aren't acting on it, or forcing it upon anyone, you don't have to justify it.
In this case, he didn't force it upon anyone. He didn't voice it until he was asked.

[Tnwagn]

To be honest, I feel safer in the "minority" areas than I do in the "white" areas. The only issues I've had with people getting violent have been with "white" people.

I do stay on alert in the ghetto areas, but not because of the ethnicity of the population. I do so because the poor, densely populated urban areas have a higher crime rate. Also, the simple fact that there are more people around in general raises the risk of theft. I'm more likely to lock my car in those areas, whereas in the rural areas, I'll walk half a mile with my car running on the side of the road.

However, I AM aware that someone of a different race might have something against ME. When a white guy holding a notebook is taking pictures and knocking on doors in a predominantly black neighborhood, someone might have a problem with that. I don't expect it, but I am prepared for it.
Would I hold someone in that neighborhood in contempt for disliking me for being white in their black neighborhood? Not really. I understand that their experiences with white people may not have been pleasant in the past, and that their entire life (if lived in such an area) was spent in the company of other black people. People fear and dislike that which they do not understand. They are allowed their opinion. They are allowed their suspicion. I will only hold it against them if they act on it... attack me, call me names, etc... Because THEN, I am being treated unfairly.


That's my point here. Although I don't agree with the opinion of the man in the video, I respect it... because although he holds such an opinion, he doesn't show a lack of respect, even to those that he dislikes. Even when discussing his dislike of black people with a black man (who was getting rather aggressive), he still maintained a respectful demeanor.
A negative opinion of a race is not racism. Acting on that opinion in a negative manner is. As long as your opinion doesn't affect your fair treatment of members of the race you dislike, what harm is done? Why would such an opinion be "wrong", when it is merely an opinion?

I mentioned nothing about race when I referred to the unsavory areas you work in, that's what you brought up.

I wouldn't be afraid of anyone based on their skin color more than I would be where they were from. A white guy that grew up in East L.A. is going to be far scarier to me than a black guy that lives in the Hamptons. I'm afraid of people that have a propensity toward violent behavior, no matter their skin color.

What I've been getting at is that people stereotype and judge for almost everything (like where you are from), which is almost as ignorant as judging someone based on the color of their skin.

People judge the workers at Wal-Mart all day long and treat them like garbage because they assume that every single one of them is an idiot. That isn't the case, but the idiots that people have interacted with screw it up for all the reasonable people that work there. The same can be said for any group.

[WilliamW]

In most cases stereo types happen because of a trend in behavior. I tend to stereo type the people at my work as "mexicans" and at times I hate working here because of them. It's not "all people of Mexican decent" but the ones who work here. Also it's not just these people who work here it's also the people in charge that allows what happens to happen.

Just today when I drove up there was 1st shift drinking beer by the back exit and they left beer bottles and trash all over the ground and broken car parts in the grass and their dirty shirts in the trees. And they just leave it like that.

This is very common for the people I work with and it's annoying because it makes our work look like shit.

I'm not saying stereotyping is good, I'm saying it happens because of how people act.

I'm never mean to anyone here. I try and help them out as much as I can, but many of them have habits that are pretty gross and also dangerous. We've had several get seriously injured because of their own neglect.

[deevergote]

I mentioned nothing about race when I referred to the unsavory areas you work in, that's what you brought up.

I wouldn't be afraid of anyone based on their skin color more than I would be where they were from. A white guy that grew up in East L.A. is going to be far scarier to me than a black guy that lives in the Hamptons. I'm afraid of people that have a propensity toward violent behavior, no matter their skin color.

What I've been getting at is that people stereotype and judge for almost everything (like where you are from), which is almost as ignorant as judging someone based on the color of their skin.

People judge the workers at Wal-Mart all day long and treat them like garbage because they assume that every single one of them is an idiot. That isn't the case, but the idiots that people have interacted with screw it up for all the reasonable people that work there. The same can be said for any group.

Posting in this thread makes it about race, because that is what the discussion is about.

Where you are from, what you do for a living, how you dress... I agree, all of those things are unfair reasons to judge someone as well.
So to extent my response to that level, yes, I do take more care in areas that are poor, run-down, densely populated, and have a higher crime rate per square mile. However, I don't look at any particular person and think "hey, that guy might try to steal my shit!"

Stereotypes often exist for a reason. A noticeable portion of a certain population often DOES fit a stereotype, which is why they exist in the first place. For example, from my own personal experience:
-The majority of the ghetto areas I work in are populated by black and hispanic people.
-The majority of the dishwashers and busboys I have worked with at numerous restaurants have been from Mexico or Ecuador.
-My step family is Jewish. Both my stepfather and his brother are (or at least were) successful businessmen, and they are good with money... as are all the members of their family.
-I have a number of Irish friends. They are all heavy drinkers.
-I'm white. I can't dance for shit.

However, just because some people fit the stereotype doesn't mean that all do... nor does it mean that if someone fits one stereotype that all of the others are true. Some stereotypes exist for legitimate cultural reasons.

[HenRoc]

Being that I'm half Micronesian and half Black..I don't get where this guy is coming from at all. In my opinion he's straight off the boat (I think he mentioned Samoa).

I could see it coming from someone else who actually LIVED here in the mainland for their entire life but I think he has no right to even go there with the comments.

He's a minority just like any other African American or various other immigrants.

Coming from his mouth it does sound pretty stupid and baseless. He grew up on the Islands (like me) but lives in the south (from the tone it sounds like it was recent).

And he dislikes blacks...that I can't wrap my head around.

He immigrated here...he went to school here he got a job here. And if it wasn't for Americans in WWII hell I'll admit I would not exist neither would this guy.

He maybe a Poly just like me but he looks Hispanic. For we know he could've gone thru some profiling himself

[deevergote]

The thing is, he's not making any hateful statements, or voicing his opinion unprovoked. He was asked, and he simply replied. He doesn't like black people. It may not be an opinion that any of us agree with, but as long as it's not acted upon, it's merely his opinion. It's no more wrong than if he preferred oranges to apples.

[thepowderblue]

All I have to add is that its funny how only the black gut got offended, The other people said a few things but not near as much as the black guy.

[ChIoVnIdCa]

Micronesian

I had to Google that one

[HenRoc]

I had to Google that one

I thought you knew bro.

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