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by Arisztid on July 21st, 2009
For me to decide that someone is racist, they have to believe that other people are less than them BECAUSE of their ethnicity ("race") rather than some other issue, such as their behaviour. They have to accept stereotypes wholecloth AS stereotypes, which stipulate "all" of the targeted people, without seeing individuals.
For instance, not liking me because I am a "f*cking/thieving/etc Gypsy" is racist. Not liking me because I am an opinionated *sshole is NOT racist. The first would be a judgment based on a stereotype which does not judge me based on ME. The second is a judgment based on me and me only.
"Pride" does not equate to "racism" to me, thus does not meet my criteria for "racism." Supremacy does and this is the main barometer for me to decide someone is racist. Pride does not equal supremacy because it is possible to be proud of [whatever] about yourself without thinking others are less for being different.
The term "racist" seems to be the new way to admit that you cannot win an argument. "Racist" is a bad enough insult that most people will run from a debate when called it and avoid being called it like the plague.
I have had it used on me during a debate/argument. To derail what I am saying, they will pull the "you are racist!" card out. I do not fall for it, rather saying something along the lines of "that is your opinion, which is moot. NOW... can you debate what I SAY?"
Nobody, so far, can get past that because, by the time they pull that particular insult out, they are at the bottom of the barrel for the debate.
by C u later, thx! on July 21st, 2009
Any one who thinks that somehow the race that you were born into could possibly pre-determine what kind of person you are. Generally, they don't seem to care what country you were born in either...just that you're not the same race as them.
by xhepera on July 21st, 2009
My criteria for determining whether or not I view someone as racist are pretty much threefold.
1. If you believe that any ethnicity has social qualities or characteristics based solely on his or her genetic inheritance, then I deem you a racist.
2. If you view any ethnicity as superior to, or inferior to, another by virtue of said ethnicity, then I deem you a racist.
3. If you dislike, hate, practice or advocate violence against, or discriminate against a person or a group of people based solely on ethnicity or ethnic origin, then I deem you a racist.
All that being said, some people may not be actual racists, but they may indulge in racist speech or behavior. Sometimes racism comes out of ignorance and/or lack of education. Other times, yeah, it's a manifestation of sociopathy. You can usually tell the difference though. The one will move to correct certain behaviors when educated. The other. . .well, I'm sure we all know the other. ;)
by Sid on July 21st, 2009
I think a real racist is one with an element of hate in their thinking, or feelings of superiority over other races. There are some people who might say something which could be construed as racism but who are more guilty of naivety than anything else (there are still old people who use terms such as coloured without meaning to offend, simply because they don't know that this is no longer accepted), but for me a true racist means what they say and views other races in terms of (usually negative) stereotypes, and regularly uses racist terms which they know are offensive.
by cunning stunt who u calling chicken on July 21st, 2009
I think that racism, like any form of prejudice is, as stated by everyone above, a hatred, or marginalization of someone or a group, based on their race or ethnicity.
It is hard for me to consider racism on its own. It falls into that state of negativity that I lump misogyny, homophobia and any kind of invalidation due to personal hatred.
I find that people who are racist are also generally homophobic, and often also misogynistic.
by Scrappy on July 21st, 2009
to me it means hating people of different races because you are a better than they are. For example. Hating all whites because they are all inferior to you. You know that ALL (fill it in) are dirty, filthy creatures who will steal and lie. It's hating an entire group of people even those you don't know just because they are the "wrong color".
by Wide Awake @ has closing date woo hoo on July 21st, 2009
To me, racism is treating someone differently based on your perception of their race. Note that perception is often incorrect.
by Nasiswand on July 21st, 2009
If they think that race plays a factor in how someone will behave or thinks that certain races are less then human/below them.
by iwnit on September 20th, 2009
A racist is someone who will base their appreciation of other people on which kind of "race" they belong. And actually, we prefer to use nowadays the term "ethnicity", because scientist nowadays reject the former division of humanity in different races.
I don't know if such a thing as a "racist" exists anyway. We can just observe instances of racist behavior, including the expression of one's racist opinions.
Nobody have to keep those opinions and that behavior all their life and in all circumstances.
Also, someone could have at first a racist reaction and later think about it, find out it was wrong, modify their behavior and also apologise for it. They could also do it after someone else pointed at it.
There are also diverse degrees of racism, from pure hate to dislike or just avoidance.
It could also be context specific. As an European, you could like to see some Chinese if you are visiting China, but you could hate to see them visiting your country, or even living in your country. You could like to have contacts with black people, but you could hate to have one of them marry your child. You could enjoy the call of the muezzin during your travel in Egypt, but you would hate to hear it again back at home.
You could also be the kind of racist who says that black people are generally lazy, for instance, but that some few of them could be hard-working.
If you go to a party, you would have nothing against an isolated black person, but you would avoid parties with a lot of them.
As a conclusion, there could be very clear cases of racism, but in other cases, it is not so easy to say that someone is a racist. But you could still ask about their racist behavior, if you notice it.
by laser on September 12th, 2009
When one judges against another solely on colour of skin & beliefs.
by Nick on July 22nd, 2009
There have been very good answers to this important question so far, and I am afraid that I will repeat most of what has been said here already.
To me racism is an attitude based on stereotypes and prejudices about ethnic groups that do not take into account looking at specific individuals. It is usually based on the false idea that there are differences between ethnic groups, that indeed there are different "races" of people of which some are better than others. Genetically, it is no longer viable to speak of different human "races". Different ethnic groups vary for social rather than for biological reasons, and social constructions, political bodies, etc. are by nature imperfect. What counts in the end is the individual, and everyone should meet everyone else on the basis of mutual respect.
by Talimze on July 21st, 2009
For someone to be racist, they would have to assume something about a person based on that person's race. Whether what they're assuming is bad or good, it's still racist.
by Greekgod on July 21st, 2009
Hatred based on someone's colour or creed
by terrig on December 10th, 2009
Those who believe they are better than others based on their perceived "race."
by qwerty on October 13th, 2009
I couldn't agree more.
A racist is someone who hates JUST because of race.
I have said before that I watched my neigborhood turn into the 7 th level of ghetto hell over the course of 5 yrs.
Many of my nieghbors are black, I hate 80 % of my neighbors, not because thay are black, but because they are low life a**holes.
I get along fine with the ppl who are decent. I don't approach ppl with pre-concieved assumptions, if you a low life you are a low life regardless of race.
everyone remember only you can oppress you
by sjane23 on September 20th, 2009
I only think of somebody as racist if they hold their race in higher regard of others and deem their race superior. Or just hating people based on colour alone.
by TomFluflu on July 22nd, 2009
Being biased or prejudicial is different than being racist.
.
Everybody is somewhat biased. An example given by jesse jackson - 'if I am walking down a dark street and I hear voices behind me - if these voices belong to young black kids - I get scared. If these turn out to be a bunch of jewish kids - I relax.'
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Racism is what happens when you act out on your bias - such as not hiring certain groups or not letting them advance... and so on.
by G_tech on July 22nd, 2009
My personal criteria that I feel would classify someone as a racist is people who automatically look at others and begin to put them in box's, by that I mean they see people as:
A. white
B Black
C. Male
D. Female
E. Old
F. young
G. Baptist
H. Mormon
I. Jewish
J. Short
K. Tall
L. In a Wheelchair
M. Missing a leg
N. Blind
O. Deaf
P. Bald
Q. Have Turban
R. Have a beard
S. Have Long Hair
T. Speak funny or with a accent
U. Have a birth mark on their face
V. Wear Glasses
W. Has other beliefs such as angels or God
X. Is a Nerd
Y. Is a vegetarian
Z. Is a Dog or Cat Lover
and once they have people in these neat little box's they HATE them, no rhyme or reason, just all people that fit in the BOX are BAD.....
You can't talk to these people, you can't reason with them, they just have a in born hate that is eating them alive
by bobbyshoe on July 21st, 2009
Someone who considers races other than his or her own to be inferior.
N.B. No need to stipulate, just tell us instead.
My GF's Parents Are Racist; What Should I Do?
by RZFI7 on August 5th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Is it racist to call the black one Scary Spice?
by Have A Nice Day on November 4th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
7 White teens in Mississippi randomly select a black man, beat and murder him. What do you think of when you hear Mississippi ?
by Rufus on August 9th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Wouldn't defining anyone by race be considered racism?
by Anonymous on July 8th, 2011
| 5 people like this
Do people really think they can eliminate racism with technical jargon?
by Have A Nice Day on August 24th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
You're reading By what specific criteria do you deem someone to be "racist"? I am not asking for dictionary definitions, I am asking for your personal criteria by which YOU deem someone racist. I shall stipulate mine in an answer.
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Comments
I agree!! Very well said!
by buttkisses on November 17th, 2009
Thankyou very much. :D
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There is just too much calling "racist" on all sides for me.
by Arisztid on November 17th, 2009