This is racism, right?

[mrtn]

...edit: Mrtn, in other words, youre saying this guy has bad breath because he's Ethiopian. You sure you arent one of my coworkers?

Of course that's what I meant.
No, but people may be right that his food smells funny. And that's probably because it's African food, which, I assume, is quite exotic for your coworkers.

 

[HannibalBarka]

Since you think the guys doing it are really racist, than it is racism indeed. A french humorist once said about that subject "We may make laugh about everything, but not with every one". A joke about Jews coming from a nazi will indeed be very offensive. The same joke would be very funny when told by Woody Allen. I myself, a french from a arab descent, exchange racist jokes with my "french" french buddies.

 

[C~G]

Since you think the guys doing it are really racist, than it is racism indeed. A french humorist once said about that subject "We may make laugh about everything, but not with every one". A joke about Jews coming from a nazi will indeed be very offensive. The same joke would be very funny when told by Woody Allen.

All in all there's some truth to it but in my opinion anybody can joke about anybody. It's about how you joke about it.
It's the nuances that count in human communication.
I usually tease some women with jokes about their characteristics. It's not certainly flirtation neither it's meant to be insult, it's more like that I just adore the way they are. Some women like it and even wait for it, because they want attention. Some women get quite angry about it if you don't watch out.

If somebody wants to joke about my characteristics, go ahead. But if I'm looked down as a person at the same time, it's all different issue. If person is characterized only by single trait and then mocked because of it, it becomes burden especially if it affects everyday life example in office.

It's fun to notice the differences and similarities within human beings but it's the motive and the method how the joke is done that gives hint whether it's only meant taken jokingly or try to get leverage over the other person.

I know this fella from Rwanda with who I joke all the time about our differences. Sometimes he has said some things that are borderline racist about people I know but at the same time I know he hasn't been really serious deep down.

We live in different worlds but it's that we try to step outside of the box and meet others in halfway that counts.
Of course, some people just lay in their box pointing fingers to everything that doesn't fit their view of ordinary world.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

So it's not ok to make light of the fact that the guy is black, but it's ok for you two to treat the women in your workplace as sex objects? I just want to be clear on this.

Youre kidding right? I said looking at womens butts, not pinching them, grabbing the women around the waist, and making them sit on my lap.

 

[Azash]

I don't get it. Where is the supposed racism? People like to make fun of other people and usually, they pick the most obvious distinctive characteristic to do that. Just look at schoolchildren: "She has blonde hair, she is stupid, he hee -laugh-", "he is fat, he hee -laugh-". Is that racism too? When I was young, we made fun of our classmate, who came from Canada Later on, we parodied the surname of other classmate instead. What's the big deal?

When adults do that, it's called "discrimination".

 

[Tulkas12]

When adults do that, it's called "discrimination".

Which is exactly why adults have so many frickin issues, they aren't honest with themselves or each other. Lot of penned up opinions in your typical western society adult. This is overall negative, the PC police should whither away. I thank ppl such as carlos mencia for getting rid of this ignorant, holier than thou mantra.

 

[C~G]

Which is exactly why adults have so many frickin issues, they aren't honest with themselves or each other. Lot of penned up opinions in your typical western society adult. This is overall negative, the PC police should whither away.

I hate some PC issues as well.
But this hasn't anything to do with it. If you cannot cope with other people and only comment about their lifestyle while you see yourself as perfect society isn't place you to live.

You are right that people are negative, and that's because they are negative about other people. Making other people feel bad seem to some people make feel good.

And it's true that people learn restrain themselves of doing things when they grow up. Or some do, others stay in the kindergarden level saying to mommy that nanny is naughty because he won't allow insulting other kids.

Everybody it would be time to get grip of yourself.

 

[.Shane.]

I think everyone is racist to a degree, its instinctive. Chimp troop A chases away Chimp troop B, because for some reason, those chimps are 'the other'. It goes way back. The question for me isnt whether or not people are racists, its whether or not they act on their racism, and treat people badly because of their race.

I wouldn't say everyone is "racist" to a degree, but I'd say that we all have biases. What matters is, are you cognizant enough to recognize them and put them aside when they are harmful?

 

[Tulkas12]

I hate some PC issues as well.
But this hasn't anything to do with it. If you cannot cope with other people and only comment about their lifestyle while you see yourself as perfect society isn't place you to live.

You are right that people are negative, and that's because they are negative about other people. Making other people feel bad seem to some people make feel good.

And it's true that people learn restrain themselves of doing things when they grow up. Or some do, others stay in the kindergarden level saying to mommy that nanny is naughty because he won't allow insulting other kids.

Everybody it would be time to get grip of yourself.

Yea, get a grip on yourself and realize we are all human and any differences we have are bull#@$% anyways. I was raised ina multi-ethnic family. If you have racial issues, it prolly has to do with the fact that you are uncomfortabe around other races. Thats your issue, now some things go to far. In this case it might have gone to far, but in general people need to get a sense of humor and lighten up.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I wouldn't say everyone is "racist" to a degree, but I'd say that we all have biases. What matters is, are you cognizant enough to recognize them and put them aside when they are harmful?

These days even simple biases can be labelled racism, but I agree though that a bias doesnt make one a racist. Maybe you could say that a bias crosses the line and becomes racism when it leads people to harm others just because of their race.

 

[Narz]

People sterotype all the time (for race, size, last name, color or hair, voice tone, sex, perceieved physical strength, or just because they don't like you). Personally I have made it my mission (during times in my life, mostly young life, when I felt ostrisized) to take advantage of the situation somehow but letting people's underestimation of me somehow work for me.

I agree Bozo that your co-worker's behavior is somewhat childish but it does seem mostly harmless depending on how the guy takes it. Perhaps he'll get them back (in an equally harmless way) somehow and they'll all feel the closer for it.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Narz thats true, maybe he wont take it so bad, but since he might, I think its a good idea to refrain from writing his name on a lawnjockey.

 

[Narz]

Yes, probably a good idea.

 

[C~G]

Bozo, How about just writing your own name into it.

But I have suspected all along that you were just trying:
A) Ask permission from us so you can yourself write his name into it
B) Ask forgiveness from us as you already wrote his name into it at least once
C) Either A or B, only you and this man from Ghana work in the office and coworkers being non-existant you originally bought the statue by yourself.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Or D) I drive a taxi, I bear a striking resemblance to Robert DeNiro, and Im going to save my Ghanian friend from those evil racists!

 

[shadow2k]

Youre kidding right? I said looking at womens butts, not pinching them, grabbing the women around the waist, and making them sit on my lap.

You think I'm kidding. Interesting.

Let me ask you this. When the woman who's butt you're checking out turns and looks at you...do you quickly divert your eyes so you don't get caught? Would you be checking out her butt if she knew you were doing it? Would you ask her to turn around so you could check it out some more? Maybe ask her to bend over or something?

Remember that old senator or whatever who not too long ago was caught on tape doing this sort of thing? He asked her to come back and walk away again so he could get another look.

What's offensive is entirely up to the person who's supposedly being offended. Checking out some girl seems natural to most guys. Many women aren't going to appreciate you checking them out in the workplace though.

Same thing with this statue thing. I think calling this racism is stupid. But if the guy feels as though it's maliciously directed at him due to his race, then suddenly it is racist.

See my point here?

 

[Tulkas12]

You think I'm kidding. Interesting.

Let me ask you this. When the woman who's butt you're checking out turns and looks at you...do you quickly divert your eyes so you don't get caught? Would you be checking out her butt if she knew you were doing it? Would you ask her to turn around so you could check it out some more? Maybe ask her to bend over or something?

Remember that old senator or whatever who not too long ago was caught on tape doing this sort of thing? He asked her to come back and walk away again so he could get another look.

What's offensive is entirely up to the person who's supposedly being offended. Checking out some girl seems natural to most guys. Many women aren't going to appreciate you checking them out in the workplace though.

Same thing with this statue thing. I think calling this racism is stupid. But if the guy feels as though it's maliciously directed at him due to his race, then suddenly it is racist.

See my point here?

And this point would be valid if it didn't assume that the woman and man weren't both being silly taking offense at such things. It is also easily handled if you do take offense to such a thing.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

You think I'm kidding. Interesting.

Let me ask you this. When the woman who's butt you're checking out turns and looks at you...do you quickly divert your eyes so you don't get caught?

Depends.

Would you be checking out her butt if she knew you were doing it?

How could she not know Im looking at it? Why wouldnt I? Why would she want people to not look at it?

Would you ask her to turn around so you could check it out some more? Maybe ask her to bend over or something?

Only in my elaborate fantasy life. For chrissakes, you never checked out a chicks butt who was walking passed you on the street?

Remember that old senator or whatever who not too long ago was caught on tape doing this sort of thing? He asked her to come back and walk away again so he could get another look.

Well at least he's taking another look before making a decision, thats a good quality in a Senator.

What's offensive is entirely up to the person who's supposedly being offended. Checking out some girl seems natural to most guys. Many women aren't going to appreciate you checking them out in the workplace though.

Yeah sure Remember, 'checking out' merely means 'looking'. When you work with people, most of the time you have to look at them. Hmm, I got an idea, lets make the women wear bhurkas so we wont be enflamed with desire

Same thing with this statue thing. I think calling this racism is stupid. But if the guy feels as though it's maliciously directed at him due to his race, then suddenly it is racist.

So a bunch of white guys writing a black guys name on a lawnjockey is ok, but looking at a chicks butt is out of the question?

See my point here?

I still think youre pulling my leg

 

[.Shane.]

See my point here?

Comparing the use of a lawnjockey to offhand comments made at break is preposterous. Lawnjockey's are widely known to deragotory caricatures of blacks. My grandfather had one in his back yard and he'd cover it up whenever any non-white people were over. He knew what it meant and purposefully had it there.

Now, the individuals involved may not be racists all themselves, but the action is racist and insulting.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Whether this is racist depends on both intent and reaction.

The intent could be to poke a little fun at a coworker. Or it could be to make him feel uncomfortable.

The reaction could be a good-natured, "okay, so you are making fun of me. Ha ha." Or it could be to feel offended.

Unless both the intent and the reaction are good-natured, it is racist. If one is going to use race and racial differences as a source of humor one had better be darned sure of how the intended target is going to react.