If I said I don't trust black people, wouldn't you think that's racist? If I said I don't trust women, wouldn't you think I'm a misogynist? Look, I'm not judging humanodon personally here, maybe he can't help feeling this way, maybe he realises it's wrong. I was just pointing out that being prejudiced against a whole group of people because of their race is the very essence of racism.
I was typing out more, but it ended as a rehash of lil's comment. Let's see how I can try to add more. 1: Humanodon's comment was posted in the "emotional scars" thread, which shows that it was caused by something that did the scarring. 2: Let's assume that it was racism by white people that did it. 3: You said "That's racist". You're not wrong, but you're missing the context of the discussion here. "I don't trust white people" can be assumed to mean "I don't trust white people because I think that they're going to be racist like other white people I've known and treat me badly". It's not phrased as something to be proud about, or something to copy. It's an admission of an "emotional scar", like in the thread name. It's something sensitive. It's not the thread to argue with people about what's right or what's wrong. It's about listening to people. EDIT: I need to post faster. I run out of time to butt in.maybe he realizes it's wrong
:| That's not a good result. Normally I go back and re-edit my post if I see you've already said it better. I can get that "insightful posting" cred by saying something different. EDIT: Like right now when I realize it seems like I'm taking the things you say. Not serious about stealing ideas.
Everyone has prejudices, but I do my best to admit mine. Can you say the same? If so, rad. Also (and this is for everyone) how much of yourself did you project into the reading of my statement? I don't trust white people. Do I trust some individuals who are white? Sure, but as a faceless group? No, that would be absurd of me to, just as it would be absurd to trust anyone I don't know on the basis of race. It is also racist to trust white people simply because they are white. Duh.
Would it be helpful to humano or any routinely oppressed person to get rid of the prejudice against their oppressor they may have, when walking into a situation with their oppressor where it is indeed likely that their oppressor may act as they have done routinely and habitually, and oppress them? Am I using the word "oppress" too much here? It is reasonable to assume that, if a person or people of color has/have a prejudice, as you call it, against white people, the prejudice is as a result of poor treatment by that culture (which we can just call the DWC or Dominant White Culture for short). Humanodon has implied or stated that here. In that case, how does it behoove humanodon to walk into a situation deliberately ignoring his feelings, which are caused by repeated first-hand experience, that it may not be safe for him there? If I have been repeatedly victimized by men in my life, I may be very careful about which men I choose to spend time with going forward. I may refuse to leave bars with strange men or be alone with them. That can be construed as a prejudice. But let's say that I've been sexually harassed or abused three times when I left bars with strange men or was alone with them. Is it smart to say "Well, I just have a natural prejudice against men because of my experiences. I acknowledge it, and now I'm going to refuse to judge other men based on this treatment, and continue to leave bars with strange men or be alone with them." Is that a smart thing for me to do?
The smart thing to do would be to stop leaving bars with strange men and also to stop judging all men negatively. I don't think you're interested in knowing what the smart thing would be, anyway. You seem more interested in providing some sort of justification for racism and sexism.Is it smart to say "Well, I just have a natural prejudice against men because of my experiences. I acknowledge it, and now I'm going to refuse to judge other men based on this treatment, and continue to leave bars with strange men or be alone with them." Is that a smart thing for me to do?
A lot of people would probably see those comments as racist or misogynist -- Your two statements generalize about a whole group of people you don't know. Statements like "I don't trust women" would probably be hurtful to a woman who wants to be trusted by you. You are probably feeling a little hurt by H's statement because you are white and want to be trusted by him. Your question to me was "wouldn't you think that's racist?" My answer is "no" - I'd think you have been hurt by black people or women or white people or whatever and to protect yourself you have decided to stop trusting anyone with any similar characteristics. I often say "I don't like (visual) art." On the one hand, art doesn't speak to me as much as words or music do. Also I was married to a visual artist once and he somewhat ruined art for me. If you were an artist, would you be hurt? Why? You have choices too. You can label H. "racist" and think that your comment is weighty and judgemental and righteous and correct. Or you can maybe say, "It sounds like you're hurting and had a shit-load of crappy experiences perpetrated by white people. it's probably wise to be cautious."
We're talking in a thread about emotional scars, so I assume he's hurting. At the same time I also think he's being racist because, well, that's what it is. Like I said in another comment, I wasn't trying to attack him personally. For the record, I'm Italian. Our "whiteness" is still a matter of debate. When I think of white people, my mind goes to Germany, Norway, etc. I don't feel white and I don't feel hurt by humanodon's statement."You can label humanodon racist" or you can say "it sounds like you're hurting..."