[Neuromancer]

I figured this would be a good spot to discuss this since this is an intelligent bunch and of all cultures. Being a culturally White male American maybe I do not have the insight that others may have, I am curious.

No do not worry Kal this is not a thread you will have to delete Just had a big discussion about this with some Fam and I am not sure they all get it. I want some outside insight into this.

My argument is that, people want to be with people that are like them. Hence the explosion of BBS/Forums over the last couple of decades. Over the inet it has nothing to do with what you look like. It is about who you are and what you are/say/do. It is the same in life.

For instance... A white person that grows up in a certain culture and acts like it or talks like it, is viewed as the culture they are in. If snotty rich kid.. or poor inner city kid. You can tell. And you know who you want to hang out with based on the way they talk, how they walk and what clothes they wear. It is not a race thing as a white person looking in. It is a predisposition. An aura of culture. Would that "wigger" mix with the country clubbers? No of course not. Would that suburban spoiled brat fit in in the depths of urbania fit in? No of course not.

Adding the words a class is a type of racism. And yes it belies the issue I am trying to raise.

Racism is not about skin color it is about culture. (And yes it is a form of bias) but the more important form. Racism needs to be alleviated, but not how but why. America is supposed to be a melting pot.. instead we end up with "El Barrio" and "Chinatown" and "the hood" and "the burbs" all racially discriminating terms. Culturally discriminating. I think that is the big flaw in the process. We are all supposed to be the same.

The why is self evident when you step back and look at it. People want to hang with people like them. If we were all grey with brown hair and brown eyes, we would still find a way to judge others that are not like us. It has nothing to do with what people look like. It has to do with who we are. Unfortunately 90% of the human race is apathetic. I am on many occasions, although my apathy tends to be against those that are wrong or doing wrong. (perception not fact)

We have a forum here of all cultures (and I am sure all skin colors and backgrounds and colleges and whatever else you can discriminate against) but we are like minded individuals. As many forums are. You will always have the trolls (raises tentative hand) but by and large, like minded people associate despite that. True, we don't all see each other so do not develop those pre-mis-conceptions. Body language is more important to communication and culture than clothes even less so skin color.

Just my 2 cents.


What do you see? People basing a bias on skin color? Or people basing a bias because someone speaks or acts differently then they do? Race vs culture.

EDIT: Tried to make this succinct without leaving out details. Still turned into a essay lol . Please do read it though and leave your personal feelings on the subject, even if you think it is not "PC."

[rickss69]

I like simple straight forward solutions. I say nuke everyone and we will discuss it in the afterlife...

[Kal-EL]

I'm pretty primative, if its unknown to me, I approach with discrimination and caution. Why? Instinct says that things that are unknown contain unknown threats, fear. Will I kill or destroy something merely because I don't understand it? If I can't avoid it or observe it safely then yah, nuke it. That odd looking bug on my table with strange colors and a wierd antenna, it could be harmless but I can't have the fooker roaming around my home and turn out highly poisonous, I smash the sucker.

Does this mean I'll kill the first blue human being I encounter? no, because its obviously humanoid but you can bet I'll have both eyes on that sucker as he wonders around my world, until I'm certain the blue man is safe. Thats totally discriminatory based on color/appearance. Discrimination based on appearances, natural evolutionary trait of self-preservation.

Familiarity generally means "no suprises". In terms of breeding, mating, coupling of peoples, lotta times "Opposites Attract" too. Ying/Yang, ballance of equations, bla bla bla.

Human beings, regardless of upbringing, cultural influences or outside influences have an odd inner sence of right vs wrong. This boils down to self-preservation instincts and grows from there. If the culture you're raised in is murderous and evil, there is a high likelyhood nobody survives, follow that logic thru to conclusion.

bla bla bla bla, enjoy life, its very short.

[Neuromancer]

Self-preservation. I had not thought of that angle. Would make a lot of sense for hte genral humand bias though.

Not saying it is right, just it is a new thought to ponder.

Rick. yeah the world would be great with no humans on it. I am kinda hooked on electricity and internet, dunno if I could handle a cataclysm well. 5 billion less people? sure.. good for the planet...

[Patch]

There will always be racism, just as there will always be thieves, murderers, and overclocking cheaters. There will also always be kindness, respect, honor and loyalty. No system can ever change that.

Think of any class, restaurant, office, park, baseball game you've ever been to. You like some people there. You're indifferent to some people there. And you can't stand some people there. There's no culture, race, religion, etc. that has a monopoly on either desirable characters or on scumbags.

I think a little league game can illustrate the difference between culturism and racism. There's nothing wrong with rooting for your boy and hoping his team outperforms the other. The shared identity brings people closer and feels good. But it's not OK to take baseball bats to the other team's knees because they wear purple shirts instead of yellow ones. That's racism.

I personally like diversity in life. My wife's natural chocolate hair is the sexiest, but that doesn't mean I don't also enjoy when she goes blond or red.

I'm a tolerant guy.

[FACE]

Racism as it is called today is far different from what it was known as decades ago.

That said, in order to look clearly as this, we need to take out the human element, since we tend to muddy the waters a little too much. Lets take a toad and a Bullfrog. They co-exist, but rarely, if ever, mate or "hang out." Why? Because of the purpose of life itself.

What is the purpose of life? Well, on an individual scale, the purpose of life is to procreate in order to further the species. Effing duh, right? Now, in order to further the species, a specimen chooses a mate based on their preferences, which are based on a predetermination created by environment and up-bringing. Then, of course, doing the deed.

Not wanting to "hang out" with, be with, or procreate with those different is culturalism, and is perfectly natural and a fine disposition. Wanting to "be rid" of those unlike you is racism. It really is that simple.

Tell the fam to quit thinking politics, and start thinking biology. It makes things easier.

EDIT: sorry for the spoiler to those seriously searching for the purpose of life.

[Splave]

I have to agree with you neuro, I have black friends, gay friends (romdom), mexican friends and white friends. I have urban white friends, highly educated genius black friends and gangsta asian friends. Its more about who you are than the color and imo, cultural racism is more dangerous than basis just on color.

I cant stand racism, so many times I feel ashamed of being a human. ftl

[rickss69]

I also have not the slightest problem with RomDom's gay lifestyle.

[Kal-EL]

Originally Posted by Splave

I have to agree with you neuro, I have black friends, gay friends (romdom), mexican friends and white friends. I have urban white friends, highly educated genius black friends and gangsta asian friends. Its more about who you are than the color and imo, cultural racism is more dangerous than basis just on color.

I cant stand racism, so many times I feel ashamed of being a human. ftl

Originally Posted by rickss69

I also have not the slightest problem with RomDom's gay lifestyle.

Ah fuck, my wife's hunch was right

[Splave]

when he sent me pics of his green dong I knew