Accusing someone of racism is worse than racism

[CreekDog]

to a person who has not experienced or suffered the effects of racism.

[Shandris]

1. Umm...okay.

I hate these little games that get played in GD sometimes, I'm no good at them. What prompted this, CreekDog?

[CreekDog]

2. some, a relatively few number of my fellow white people...

seeming to be more troubled by the accusation of racism than the rather pervasive presence of it.

[Shandris]

5. Ahhh, okay. Now it makes a bit more sense.

Thank you. I must have missed that/those topic(s?) so far. Ah well, I'm sure I'll get to them eventually.

[treestar]

3. It does kind of make sense

Since we can't experience the effects, the worst we can experience is being called racist. It's embarrassing. Except to Stormfront types who just admit it.

[bettyellen]

4. or the "we're all bigoted" gambit, also popular here. BTW, IBTL!

[Shandris]

7. You'll have to explain this gambit to me.

In a technical sense, we -are- all bigoted. Against Republicans, if no one else. I sure as heck am. I've had to live with them before, that's my right. It's darn near my obligation.

[bettyellen]

10. I'd say bigoted means an unfair hate for someone not because of their behavior, but because they are

"other", i.e. not your group. I really do not hate run of he mill republican individuals, do you? I am fair and tolerant to them, friendly even. I do feel sort of sorry for them more than anything. I reserve hate for people who personally have done horrible things.

[Shandris]

12. If we go by that definition, then I'd agree -- no, I don't hate them. I don't 'hate' almost anyone.

It's one of those words that seems to be changing from its most recent dictionary meaning (which is the one I've been familiar with). I hate 'living language' sometimes, I always seem to fall behind with it. Something about mostly being a shut-in will do that to ya.

[bettyellen]

14. I hate a few sociopaths because if I let my guard down, I'd be soo fucked over.

But otherwise I have not found it serves me well to get all emotionally invested in people I disagree with. Hate is pretty rare.
I can be a tough cookie, and that confuses some people, they confuse it with being emotional LOL.

[etherealtruth]

6. It sometimes appears that way

I am still reeling from that "takimag" (read: stormfront for those that are literate) post that was allowed to stand

[Squinch]

28. That was a disgusting moment, wasn't it?

[etherealtruth]

31. Disturbing, distressing, disgusting

I was on the original jury for the post and voted to hide it

Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This poster and this post are way out of hand. From the article "These arrogant Orientals flaunt the racist moniker “model minority.” As a people, these Asians need to recognize they got to where they are not by the virtue of hard work but by stepping on the backs of others."

Even a tongue in cheek article such as this can be (and is) very offensive.

At that point I had no idea what Takimag was ... I simply understand what a vile post the OP was

After researching his source ... I was truly sickened by the entire thing

[Squinch]

32. Hoping that poster is siphoned off.

[Cleita]

8. Sometimes pointing out a truth isn't an accusation.

Many people don't know they are racist, sexist or homophobic until you explain to them why they are. It isn't an accusation just a fact. I've had to do so with some of my relatives over the years.

[JTFrog]

17. "Many people don't know they are racist, sexist or homophobic until you explain to them..."

And even then, they will likely deny it or defend their actions. Just a fact.

[Cleita]

18. So much for me running you off the board as I was accused.

Welcome back.

[JTFrog]

19. You sincerely hurt my feelings and said horrible things to me.

But you don't have the power to run me off.

[Cleita]

20. Well let's talk about it by pm tonight.

You hurt me too. It's a two way street.

[JTFrog]

21. No thank you.

I apologize for hurting you.

I really don't think there is anything you could possibly say to me at this point that I'd want to hear. I quit forgiving my abusers years ago.

However, I still may have opinions on the things you post, and this being a discussion board, may discuss them with you from time to time.

[Cleita]

22. Actually don't. I won't reply.

If you don't want to have a real discussion about this and by that I mean a private one about very personal things then there is no point in. If I hurt you I apologize to you too, but don't bother to interact with me.

[JTFrog]

33. I'll interact with whomever I please.

However, I have no desire to have private discussions with 99.9999% of the posters on DU. I think the "real" discussions are the ones we have here in the forums.

Besides, the things you initially said to me weren't said privately, why would you want to go private now? I'm not ashamed nor embarrassed and have nothing to hide.

I accept your apology, because there were no "ifs" about it.

[Squinch]

29. Well done! And very, very good to see you.

[AverageJoe90]

25. There may be some truth to this.

Here's the thing, though: Outside of perhaps the Men's Group, homophobia & misogyny aren't actually all that common on this site. And bonafide racism is even significantly rarer (yes, even anti-Semitism, too.) than that, overt or otherwise.

And when the occasional (actual) racist does show his head, guess what? He gets shoved out the door faster than you can say "Lollapalooza". Same with homophobes and misogynists(and their opposite number, too, I would imagine) as well.

[Nye Bevan]

26. Were your relatives grateful when you explained to them how they were racist,

or sexist, or homophobic? I hope so. They are lucky to have a relative like you who is willing to earnestly explain to them what their faults are, so they can try to improve themselves and be better persons going forward.

[Cleita]

27. Not at first. Eventually some got it and other preferred not

to socialize with me. Some just accepted the fact that I was a ...lover (insert insult of choice) and it didn't affect my personal relationship with them. We just agreed to disagree. Many over the years evolved though. One of my homophobic cousins came around to accepting our gay cousin and his partner of many years after some time. My mother is Hispanic. My "Aryan" cousins introduced me to their playmates, when we were kids, as their cousin, the beaner.

Think of my family as Modern Family. My dad was the rich old man (not assets just good job) with the young hot Latina wife. I guess I'm Joe. My cousin and his partner were the gay couple and the rest were most the straight middle class couples with blond children. But unfortunately my family had all the prejudiced baggage to overcome. So you can see I had my work cut out for me.

[madinmaryland]

9. Accusing someone of racism who IS a racist...

mmmmkay.

[myrna minx]

11. Is this similar to how everyone is suppose to "lighten up" about slurs

used against them, unless the two words "white privilege" are mentioned? All loaded words are "freedumb" of speech, unless gawd forbid the shocking words of "white male privilege" are mentioned all in a row!?

[redqueen]

13. lol

Nicely said

[Squinch]

30. Yep!

[Iggo]

15. Yup.

[OnyxCollie]

16. And claiming that "used car salesman" is a racist term reeks of desperation.

[AverageJoe90]

23. My response. Make of it what you will.

Honestly, the only reason people on this site are getting upset, 99% of the time(We can, of course, make an exception for trolls, which we do have a few, unfortunately), is because there are a certain few individuals on this site, who have been throwing around the word with seeming abandon, simply because the other person may not agree 100% with their views, regarding whatever particular thing is being discussed. And it gets to be a real pain in the ass having to deal with that shit, especially once false accusations start getting purposefully thrown around.

And, also, outside the occasional trolls, I can't think of a single person who isn't troubled, to some degree, by the racism that does still linger in society, not just personally, but on the institutional level, as well.

And yet, this apparently doesn't matter to this certain few. Because, frankly, the majority of the members of this little clique aren't trying to discuss things in good faith. They are here to bully and nothing more.

[Cal Carpenter]

24. And don't you even dare mention systemic racism