Humans - inherently racist?

[bernie14]

the current evidence points to YES

yes, there are increased predispositions to certain medical conditions based on "race" (the word itself, IMO, seems to conjur a bias thinking) or if u prefer, groups that share more commun DNA, among condtions related to blood, sickle cell anemia and beta thallasemia come to mind, there are certain cancers that show increased predisposition in certain populations, neurological disorders such as MS and some studies have even shown that hypertension and diabetes may be increased in some populations (even if you take diet out of the equation), HOWEVER, sometimes it really does not matter how many "facts" someone points to, most people will be able to find some other "facts" to support their point of view.....that is, people will see things that they believe more often than believe things they see....(IMO)

me, Aug 06, 2010

i think people are using "race", "ethnicity" and/or perhaps "culture" interchangeably....

IIRC, in my biology classes (way back in the early 80's), there were 3 accepted human races, the caucasians, negroids and mongoloids.....i dont recall being taught that any one was "superior" to any other, but there were genotypic and phenotypic differences amoungst them....

also, i recall a theory that our DNA was "hardwired" to unconcsiously be attracted to the most "fit" mate, but the definition of the most fit ALSO included "most like".....that is why u can put 100 chimps, dolphins or cardinals in a room and you would have a great deal of difficulty making one individual out from the others, but put 100 humans in a room and the process becomes VERY easy....we are hardwired to notice the slightest, milimetric differences, especailly in faces.....if this trait is "hardwired" into our DNA, could this be a factor to argue that racism itself is "hardwired" in our DNA? in a way, it makes little sense that DNA would cause attraction to "most like", since we know that genetic diversity is actually what makes a species stronger , perhaps environment plays a more important part, that is, you become atrtracted to those whom make you feel most secure

in any case, as more mixing of the races occur, the less the biological definitions fit...as for the political definitions, well, each group has it's reasons to classify people.....

me, April 5, 2011

 

[Zelig]

I'm not inherently racist, I have to work hard at it.

 

[LucyDuke]

I don't think I would call this rasism.

 

[classical_hero]

It is more likely a cultural thing that simple just a skin colour thing.

 

[G-Max]

These charts prove that not only are Asians the master race, but they know it, as well - they just don't like to let anyone in on the secret. But I've known that they were the master race all along

 

[Tee Kay]

Eh. I'm Asian and I'm not particularly attracted to Asians.

 

[G-Max]

Eh. I'm Asian and I'm not particularly attracted to Asians.

For shame!

(yes, I have a gun/military fetish as well)

 

[Kruelgor]

The real truth is humans inherently want to feel safe. It's all about safety. If one feels unsafe in an environment where another race holds the majority then he will naturally have "racist" feelings, or if one feels unsafe about the outlook of the future then he will naturally have "racist" feelings. A person will drop his "racist" feelings only when he feels the danger is gone, or after he has accepted and submitted to defeat.

While safety is the biggest factor, equality and fairness is another factor that can drive racial hatred.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Eh. I'm Asian and I'm not particularly attracted to Asians.

Did you grow up in an Asian or in a White neighborood ?

 

[Tee Kay]

Did you grow up in an Asian or in a White neighborood ?

Multiethnic.

 

[Flying Pig]

The real truth is humans inherently want to feel safe. It's all about safety. If one feels unsafe in an environment where another race holds the majority then he will naturally have "racist" feelings, or if one feels unsafe about the outlook of the future then he will naturally have "racist" feelings. A person will drop his "racist" feelings only when he feels the danger is gone, or after he has accepted and submitted to defeat.

While safety is the biggest factor, equality and fairness is another factor that can drive racial hatred.

I've always said it's unfamiliarity - it's no co-incidence that nobody has stereotypes about their own race, religion or sexual orientation, because they know enough people from that group to realise that you can't make judgements based on that sort of thing.

 

[Rashiminos]

Not so much inherent as it is consistently reinforced by things like language.

 

[Disgustipated]

meh, most Asian women don't do it for me. most of the women in those pictures aren't my type. What's with all the guns and military garb? How is a woman dressing like a man going to turn me on?

I'm white, but I have a huge thing for mexican women. I should like white women, right? But I don't like white women that much. For some reason mexican women rock my world.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

I'm white, but I have a huge thing for mexican women. I should like white women, right? But I don't like white women that much. For some reason mexican women rock my world.

Statistically most white men should prefer white women, not you in particular.
I grew up in a working class neighborhood with a lot of Yugoslavs, Greeks and Turks and a couple of Germans, and I'm into half-asian women with european-sized boobs.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Dude, having boobs the size of Europe is a bit too large in my book.

 

[G-Max]

(yes, I have a gun/military fetish as well)

What's with all the guns and military garb?

Reading fail.

How is a woman dressing like a man going to turn me on?

There is no such thing as "dressing like a man". They are merely dressing like soldiers... probably because most of them who do so are soldiers.

Anyway, are you seriously telling me that you wouldn't nail Col. Carter from Stargate SG-1?

I'm white, but I have a huge thing for mexican women. I should like white women, right? But I don't like white women that much. For some reason mexican women rock my world.

Okay, new challenge. Mexican military women:

Would you, or wouldn't you?

 

[Flying Pig]

Would you, or wouldn't you?

What, do they think they're going to the teddy-bears' picnic or something? Bimbling along with daysacks on and the sacred symbol of the regiment's honour draped back like some scout banner - twenty extras all round.

 

[G-Max]

The pic was for Disgustipated, not for you.

 

[NovaKart]

I think a lot of people are actually attracted to what is rare. In America people want to be tan, in India people use skin-whitening cream. A lot of people in Western countries like Asians and Latinos/as because of the exotic appeal.

I think for Americans, blacks are a different race but not exotic so kind of sucks for them. Still, I've known a lot of white women who like black men, not as much the other way around but I have known white men who preferred black women. I've also seen some examples of black women who preferred white men but it seemed to do with thinking white men treat women better (I'm not saying this is true, just what I've heard some black women say).

I generally prefer darker men but not black. I'm not really into east Asian men either although I have certainly seen some who I thought were very attractive, same with black men. I'm not that into blond men or gingers either but I wouldn't rule them out. It really does take all kinds though, I've seen black men who prefer white men, black men who prefer Asian women, etc.

 

[The_J]

Not to get too Freudian, but people are attracted to what is familiar.

...the question is rather how is it familiar?
Would you make the same distinctions and would have the same problems if you were raised completly multiethnic? In a neighbourhood with black, asian and arab friends? What is then "familiar"?

I'm then looking a bit at myself. In the area where i live there are...mmhh...a good part of turkish people. Hasn't been like that from childhood on, but later it was. I don't have a problem with them in general, but i also don't really know any turkish guys.
If i see now an arabic guy or girl, then it's not something special, i shrug my shoulders, would maybe not even notice it really.
In contrast, here are nearly no blacks. If i see a black person, i always notice it.
So, what is familiar?

(and small connection to above: I find arab girls pretty hot, but nothing special about blacks or asians)

Now, look at how people are mostly interested in their own race:

Pretty dull statistics at this point. Most people know mainly people from their own race, so that's not really a supprise.