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Post by The Ruescher Empire on Mar 16, 2012 11:17:34 GMT
As you said Yav discrimination is everywhere and racism exists for everyone in one form or another. Racism pervades our society, though where as back 50 years ago it was in the open and people openly acknowledge the fact, today it racism is more of a dark secret most every one possesses but refuses to acknowledge. I don't know which is worse to be honest. Everyone is a little racists in one form or another. We let our view of a particular group of people or culture warp our ways of viewing someone when we initially meet them. The important thing is to realize we acknowledge this fact and compensate for it. For example I acknowledge that I have a stereotype towards Asians, that being they are studious and hard workers. This actually backfired on me last semester at school when I was grouped up with such an individual, then had to do all the work because he slacked off  I was quite disappointed by the situation but the experience was one of those eye opener moments when I realized I held that group of people in such a light and didn't even realize it before this event. So lesson of the story is to try and realize that you have these preconceived notions towards various groups of people and to try and make sure you compensate for it. |
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Dyrachium
Continental Union II 
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Post by Dyrachium on Mar 16, 2012 23:20:16 GMT
Well, it looks like I'm having some download or connection problems. I can't click this one on either. But I think I've seen this one recently, and some people made the sam comments about Fox that you guys did. I think the people waiting in line might have been prompted and scripted. But, it does explain a good point about how anyone will line up for anything free, and they don't know and don't care where any of it is coming from.
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Post by Triune Monarchy on Mar 17, 2012 1:50:10 GMT
Yes, Yavaros, you are very right. And you might be one of the few who know how difficult it is to overcome stereotypes, bigotry, and racism. Good for you! You're a professional woman with an education and the experience to show for it. If other people refuse to see it, you should just pay them no mind.
I read through some of these posts a couple of times, and I have to say that I'm not sure if I should be offended, amused, or indifferent. I really can't believe that there are any racists or white supremists on here (otherwise, I would have picked up on it before and left this forum). And, also understand that I not only recognize the faults and "deficiencies" of my own race, but I also see why misunderstandings and media portrayals can certainly affect people's viewpoint of others. It's really unfortunate that people prefer to use a broad brush because it is easier for them to explain what goes on around them. And why do I say these things? Well, here it goes: I'm a gay black man who has experienced ignorance, discrimination, and bigotry all my life. My family and I are originally from Mississippi where many people still take a very dim view of African-Americans (a monicker I hate). I'm just a plain old American who just happens to be black and gay. Why do I need a label?
The labelling of everything and everyone is part of the engine that keeps racism going. Instead of bringing us together to "celebrate diversity," these labels do nothing less than separate us. Sorry for the tangent. And as an American that just happens to be black and gay, I have to let people know some things I think are important:
Just because I'm black doesn't mean I'm an unemployed pot blazing, crack smoking, drunk violent thug, or a thief, or a disrespectful foul-mouth, or that I'm screwing everything I see with five baby mamas and kids I won't support. Just for the record, I would have to say that a majority of us are actually gainfully employed and responsible contributors to society. Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I have no standards, morals, or values. And, it doesn't mean that I'm always on the prowl looking to get lucky with every guy I see. I can have male friends and even straight male friends without sexual undertones. Why do people want to believe that I would fit any of these profiles or stereotypes?
Minorities are a problem in this country for a number of reasons. We place labels on people, and we make up excuses for the underprivileged and over compensate for them instead of showing them how to be responsible and make good decisions. Of course prejudice and ignorance make up part of it too. Then you have all those individuals who for one reason or another have given up on trying to make something of themselves because getting welfare and not having a job are easier. The worst part of this is that the government also encourages it in its own way. I'm not a conspiricist, but I think sometimes the decision-makers and power brokers of our society may purposely want "minorities" to be disenfranchised and weak because every society needs a lower, down-trodden class to use as both scape goats and to be recipients of some kind of noblesse oblige to cleanse their collective conscience.
It is true, Yavaros, as long as people focus in on how different we are instead of realizing how diversity can be a benefit to society, then we will continue to be slaves to bias, ignorance, bigotry, and discrimination. It's human nature to find the negative in everything instead of seeing the positive. Look at Nazi Germany and the Jews. It's the same thing except instead of discriminating because of skin color, they discriminated based on religion. And, as long as there are too many people living their lives and interacting with others in ways that reinforce stereotypes and biases, then discrimination will never go away.
I am not a bleeding heart liberal. I did not vote for Barak Obama. I believe in major welfare and education reform. Without a strong education system and with an ever increasingly generous welfare system, my peeps (and others in their circumstances) will never get off the poverty, ignorance, and public assistance gravy train. I believe in being just a plain old American. I want to believe in my country, but it's hard because I have increasingly less faith in its society.
I guess I can say now that I'm more amused than anything else. So no one needs to worry. I'm not offended (and I shouldn't be). I think it's kind of funny how people react around me sometimes. They think they have to be careful about saying things around me. It shouldn't be that way either.
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Post by The Ruescher Empire on Mar 17, 2012 21:42:41 GMT
A very interesting read, I do wish to point out that I do not mean to imply that every race has a deficiency, what I was trying to get across is that everyone has preconceived notions of people from different cultures and/or races. Having these preconceived notions could be considered a deficiency in one's reasoning, hence why you have to compensate for it. What I mean by compensate is to simply realize that you will always have preconceived notions of other races/cultures because it is impossible not to (I could get in a whole discussion on the matter, but I will try and focus here), so you simply have to recognize this deficiency in your reasoning, so that you can compensate your thinking and try to take people as individuals, and not representations. Also I have to say I do agree with most of what you wrote, though I would argue that the government does not want people to remain poor, capitalism requires that there be a lower downtrodden people, It's how capitalism works and I would say that is more economics then the government creating such people in the lower class. Mind you the government certainly does enable people to partake in huge abuses. Also I wish to note that Nazi Germany did not target the Jews based on their religion, they targeted them because of their bloodline. I'll steal a wiki quote for you to explain it easier "The Jews also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and an ethnoreligious group, originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation." Jews are an ethnicity, like the Germans or the Manchus. But I do get the point you were trying to make there. Also note I do not care personally what your race/creed/religion/gender/preferences/whatever as long as you never take whatever I say as an insult. I will generally make very inappropriate comments towards various groups of people, but I try to do it all equally And I do it not so much to be serious, but for shock value and/or to be ironic. Personally I tend to make fun of my own background more than anything (German/French/Native Canadian) but because no one can say anything about being a self-hater. Wish I had a bit of Jewish to be honest....so many jokes.....ANYWAYS what I was trying to say is you should join the Progressive Conservative Party From what I can tell your political views would be right at home there  |
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Post by Adriaticus on Mar 17, 2012 23:54:21 GMT
All you guys have made some really good points about all this. I really think this is a discussion worthy of its own thread now since we've gotten away from the original topic...and that's not a bad thing. And TRE, no need to worry about the rest of us. We were warned in advance that you can be most inappropriate  But you know sometimes you need inappropriateness to liven things up a bit and make people get over themselves. I think some people take things a little too seriously. I like that sound byte rider about the Progressives...nice touch. |
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Post by The Ruescher Empire on Mar 18, 2012 1:26:15 GMT
Lol the best conversations are the ones that deviate so far from the original topic you have no idea what's going on anymore Also question, who warned you? I need to make sure he (or theoretically she, though I don't think any female knew me from before....) lets people discover the fun for themselves And exactly! People take themselves far too seriously these days, gotta liven things up a bit ya know? Lol I am effectively whoring the Progressive Conservative party out to try and attract as many members as possible. Mainly because I learned in the past that it's a hard party to be based on as people tend to be either more right winged, or more left winged, and very few end up taking a bit from both. Mind you in my case I take extreme cases from the left (partial command economies, public education) and the right (I'll admit I like some aspect of Fascism and a strong military). |
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Post by Xanxabara on Mar 18, 2012 3:01:47 GMT
It was me! I warned them after Mono told me. He was in one of the three letter regions (can't remember which) and told me about how you'd bully your way through a thread topic and tear it to shreds. But, hey, no complaints here.
Whoring it out. Well, that's ok just as long as it doesn't look better than me in a little black dress!
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Post by The Ruescher Empire on Mar 18, 2012 22:40:44 GMT
 I don't have a comparison shot of Xan but this is clearly how I plan to whore out the PC party to every possible person So perhaps better than Xan in a little black dress? |
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Post by The Ruescher Empire on Mar 18, 2012 22:48:50 GMT
I have now come to realize I wasted 20 minutes of my life finding images and cropping it to be like that. Man what a life the internet has given us
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Post by Yávaros on Mar 21, 2012 3:15:11 GMT
@ TRIUNE: Thank you for your comments. And yes you are very correct! If they cannot see my value, then I will not waste my time trying to prove them wrong. You also need to know that no one here is evil and I have not see anything that makes me think we have racist people here. Sometime we make "inappropriate" comments about things but it is all for fun. One of the guys said something about we take ourselves too seriously. I agree. Sometimes you need to laugh at yourself and others around you. Not to make fun of them but to lighten things up a little.
@ TRE: Yes, the net is a wonderful thing. 20 minutes? I think you spent 18 of those minutes staring at the little black dress!
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Post by The Ruescher Empire on Mar 21, 2012 3:30:23 GMT
Correction Yav, I spent 18 minutes looking at 150 different women in various versions of a black dress....
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Post by Exarchos on Mar 21, 2012 18:27:54 GMT
@ TRE LOL! I think I would only be able to get through 50 in 18 minutes! You can't just glance at beautiful women! You have to savor them! BTW, I love Family Guy! @ Triune Monarchy My story about my girl's experiences in Las Vegas were not a dig at anyone, only an observation. I agree with what Sab and Yav had to say about these things. It is a shame that people don't realize what they do some times and how bad it looks to others. You're right. Just because you're part of a group doesn't mean you are like the stereotype.
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Post by The Ruescher Empire on Mar 21, 2012 19:04:41 GMT
Savoring is good and all, but then you start noticing the imperfections that come with humanity That and you can only enjoy pictures so much... Also I immediately use stereotypes, people are generally more humorous that way Hence why I fall into the Nazi German every now and again. Just fun to do |
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Dyrachium
Continental Union II
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Post by Dyrachium on Mar 21, 2012 22:58:04 GMT
Why does the idea of "racial hygene" come to mind when you mention "imperfections" and "Nazi German" in the same post? |
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Post by The Ruescher Empire on Mar 21, 2012 23:22:18 GMT
Hahaha I'm not gonna touch on that one any further Perhaps that was my intention, perhaps many things |
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I was quite disappointed by the situation but the experience was one of those eye opener moments when I realized I held that group of people in such a light and didn't even realize it before this event. 
But you know sometimes you need inappropriateness to liven things up a bit and make people get over themselves. I think some people take things a little too seriously. I like that sound byte rider about the Progressives...nice touch. 
