Discussion:
Naked racism
(too old to reply)
Steve Hayes
2016-05-07 10:46:37 UTC
Permalink
I've noticed a curious phenomenon recently.

A few recent instances of racist abuse on social media got the
chattering classes all a-twitter (if you'll excuse the pun).

There were many words of condemnation (and some in defence), and the
choice of words came in for the strongest condemnation.

Before this had died down someone posted something that was far more
insidiously racist, and nobody said a word. Well, not strictly
accurate, I said some words about it, and eventually put up a blog
post about it here:

https://ondermynende.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/naked-racism/

But still very few people commented.

The difference was that it didn't use any insulting words, but the
assumptions that lay behind the picture and its caption were as racist
as hell.

The basic assumption behind the post was a sense of white entitlement
-- that white people ought be entitled to pay tax at a lower rate than
everyone else.

And the thing that bothers me is that even people who objected to the
racial insults in the other posts said nothing about this one. Some
even shared it on Facebook, with apparent approval.

One commented that it wasn't racist, just honest.

The mind boggles.

Firstly that the person who said that thinks that demanding that white
people be taxed at lower rates than everyone else is not racist. And
surely saying that it is not racist is pretty dishonest.

It seems to me that the racism is so deeply ingrained in the person
who made that comment that it is quite invisible to him.

We get handwringing editorials in the media, about how we can educate
people to stop them being racist, yet very few of my "antiracist"
friends "liked" or "shared" my blog post on Facebook, though if it was
a graphic with a text soundbite saying very little, they would be much
more incluned to do so.

Are we so obsessed with symptoms that we can't be bothered to look at
the underlying causes?


Do people really think that racism is nothing more than insulting
language and taboo words?
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com

For information about why crossposting is (usually) good, and multiposting (nearly always) bad, see:
http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/unice.htm#xpost
Richard Heathfield
2016-05-07 12:16:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by Steve Hayes
I've noticed a curious phenomenon recently.
A few recent instances of racist abuse on social media got the
chattering classes all a-twitter (if you'll excuse the pun).
There were many words of condemnation (and some in defence), and the
choice of words came in for the strongest condemnation.
Before this had died down someone posted something that was far more
insidiously racist, and nobody said a word. Well, not strictly
accurate, I said some words about it, and eventually put up a blog
https://ondermynende.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/naked-racism/
But still very few people commented.
I hadn't seen it. Surely people can't be serious about demanding lower
taxes because of their skin colour, can they? If so, they need to be
re-educated (gently, please!).

<snip>
Post by Steve Hayes
Do people really think that racism is nothing more than insulting
language and taboo words?
I don't think it's either of those. I think it's about making
assumptions about people based purely on membership of a group that they
didn't ask to join. I didn't ask to be white - or rather, pink. If you
make assumptions about the way I will behave, based purely on the colour
of my skin, then that's racism.

Calling me "honky" is not racism, unless the intent is to belittle me or
to intimidate me. Among my black friends, so-called "racist" words
(black-on-white and white-on-black) are common currency in our
conversations - and that's fine, because it's ironic, it's affectionate,
it's mocking the simple-headed society we live in.
--
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within
Steve Hayes
2016-05-07 18:27:09 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 7 May 2016 13:16:51 +0100, Richard Heathfield
Post by Richard Heathfield
Post by Steve Hayes
I've noticed a curious phenomenon recently.
A few recent instances of racist abuse on social media got the
chattering classes all a-twitter (if you'll excuse the pun).
There were many words of condemnation (and some in defence), and the
choice of words came in for the strongest condemnation.
Before this had died down someone posted something that was far more
insidiously racist, and nobody said a word. Well, not strictly
accurate, I said some words about it, and eventually put up a blog
https://ondermynende.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/naked-racism/
But still very few people commented.
I hadn't seen it. Surely people can't be serious about demanding lower
taxes because of their skin colour, can they? If so, they need to be
re-educated (gently, please!).
I think in the instance I mentioned it's done without thinking through
the implications of what they are saying. And that is what makes it
more insidious. Using rude words to or about other people is something
most people are conscious of. But making racist assumptions is
something that many people are hardly aware of.
Post by Richard Heathfield
<snip>
Post by Steve Hayes
Do people really think that racism is nothing more than insulting
language and taboo words?
I don't think it's either of those. I think it's about making
assumptions about people based purely on membership of a group that they
didn't ask to join. I didn't ask to be white - or rather, pink. If you
make assumptions about the way I will behave, based purely on the colour
of my skin, then that's racism.
Quite. It'staking taking colour as an important, if not the most
important characteristic of a person.
Post by Richard Heathfield
Calling me "honky" is not racism, unless the intent is to belittle me or
to intimidate me. Among my black friends, so-called "racist" words
(black-on-white and white-on-black) are common currency in our
conversations - and that's fine, because it's ironic, it's affectionate,
it's mocking the simple-headed society we live in.
And that's fine, where people have got fare enough beyond racism that
they can joke about it. Unfortuinately racism seems to be on the rise,
at least in this neck of the woods.
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
Unknown
2016-05-14 00:30:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by Steve Hayes
Post by Richard Heathfield
Post by Steve Hayes
I've noticed a curious phenomenon recently.
A few recent instances of racist abuse on social media got the
chattering classes all a-twitter (if you'll excuse the pun).
There were many words of condemnation (and some in defence), and the
choice of words came in for the strongest condemnation.
Before this had died down someone posted something that was far more
insidiously racist, and nobody said a word. Well, not strictly
accurate, I said some words about it, and eventually put up a blog
https://ondermynende.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/naked-racism/
But still very few people commented.
I hadn't seen it. Surely people can't be serious about demanding lower
taxes because of their skin colour, can they? If so, they need to be
re-educated (gently, please!).
I think in the instance I mentioned it's done without thinking through
the implications of what they are saying. And that is what makes it more
insidious. Using rude words to or about other people is something most
people are conscious of. But making racist assumptions is something that
many people are hardly aware of.
Post by Richard Heathfield
<snip>
Post by Steve Hayes
Do people really think that racism is nothing more than insulting
language and taboo words?
I don't think it's either of those. I think it's about making
assumptions about people based purely on membership of a group that they
didn't ask to join. I didn't ask to be white - or rather, pink. If you
make assumptions about the way I will behave, based purely on the colour
of my skin, then that's racism.
Quite. It'staking taking colour as an important, if not the most
important characteristic of a person.
Indeed [if you can think deeper] "color is to race" as "size is to
childhood": it's PeeCee-talk to disguise the massively different other
attributes.
Post by Steve Hayes
Post by Richard Heathfield
Calling me "honky" is not racism, unless the intent is to belittle me or
to intimidate me. Among my black friends, so-called "racist" words
(black-on-white and white-on-black) are common currency in our
conversations - and that's fine, because it's ironic, it's affectionate,
it's mocking the simple-headed society we live in.
And that's fine, where people have got fare enough beyond racism that
they can joke about it. Unfortuinately racism seems to be on the rise,
at least in this neck of the woods.
If you deny the existence of Ubuntu, then you obviously can't detect
to very different mental attributes of the races, and perhaps you think
male and female are also NOT genetically different mentally?
Steve Hayes
2016-05-14 03:43:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by Unknown
Post by Steve Hayes
Post by Richard Heathfield
Post by Steve Hayes
I've noticed a curious phenomenon recently.
A few recent instances of racist abuse on social media got the
chattering classes all a-twitter (if you'll excuse the pun).
There were many words of condemnation (and some in defence), and the
choice of words came in for the strongest condemnation.
Before this had died down someone posted something that was far more
insidiously racist, and nobody said a word. Well, not strictly
accurate, I said some words about it, and eventually put up a blog
https://ondermynende.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/naked-racism/
But still very few people commented.
I hadn't seen it. Surely people can't be serious about demanding lower
taxes because of their skin colour, can they? If so, they need to be
re-educated (gently, please!).
I think in the instance I mentioned it's done without thinking through
the implications of what they are saying. And that is what makes it more
insidious. Using rude words to or about other people is something most
people are conscious of. But making racist assumptions is something that
many people are hardly aware of.
Post by Richard Heathfield
<snip>
Post by Steve Hayes
Do people really think that racism is nothing more than insulting
language and taboo words?
I don't think it's either of those. I think it's about making
assumptions about people based purely on membership of a group that they
didn't ask to join. I didn't ask to be white - or rather, pink. If you
make assumptions about the way I will behave, based purely on the colour
of my skin, then that's racism.
Quite. It'staking taking colour as an important, if not the most
important characteristic of a person.
Indeed [if you can think deeper] "color is to race" as "size is to
childhood": it's PeeCee-talk to disguise the massively different other
attributes.
Post by Steve Hayes
Post by Richard Heathfield
Calling me "honky" is not racism, unless the intent is to belittle me or
to intimidate me. Among my black friends, so-called "racist" words
(black-on-white and white-on-black) are common currency in our
conversations - and that's fine, because it's ironic, it's affectionate,
it's mocking the simple-headed society we live in.
And that's fine, where people have got fare enough beyond racism that
they can joke about it. Unfortuinately racism seems to be on the rise,
at least in this neck of the woods.
If you deny the existence of Ubuntu, then you obviously can't detect
to very different mental attributes of the races, and perhaps you think
male and female are also NOT genetically different mentally?
Ubuntu is much talked about, but is rather difficult to find these
days.
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com

For information about why crossposting is (usually) good, and multiposting (nearly always) bad, see:
http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/unice.htm#xpost
Richard Heathfield
2016-05-14 06:03:03 UTC
Permalink
<snip>
Post by Steve Hayes
Post by Unknown
If you deny the existence of Ubuntu, then you obviously can't detect
to very different mental attributes of the races, and perhaps you think
male and female are also NOT genetically different mentally?
Ubuntu is much talked about, but is rather difficult to find these
days.
Hmmm. http://www.ubuntu.com still seems to be active.

I can certainly recommend Ubuntu, by the way. It has long since reached
the stage where you can ditch Windows completely and use Linux
exclusively. I rarely bother to boot my Windows laptop nowadays.
--
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within
Steve Hayes
2016-05-14 09:22:51 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 14 May 2016 07:03:03 +0100, Richard Heathfield
Post by Richard Heathfield
<snip>
Post by Steve Hayes
Post by Unknown
If you deny the existence of Ubuntu, then you obviously can't detect
to very different mental attributes of the races, and perhaps you think
male and female are also NOT genetically different mentally?
Ubuntu is much talked about, but is rather difficult to find these
days.
Hmmm. http://www.ubuntu.com still seems to be active.
Wrong newsgroup.

That's the problem of giving software the same name as an everyday
word or a person's name -- Ubuntu and Android and Pascal are notorious
examples. It's better to use made-up words like Drupal or Dripsnot --
it certainly makes Google searches a lot easier.
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com

For information about why crossposting is (usually) good, and multiposting (nearly always) bad, see:
http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/unice.htm#xpost
Richard Heathfield
2016-05-14 09:56:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by Steve Hayes
On Sat, 14 May 2016 07:03:03 +0100, Richard Heathfield
Post by Richard Heathfield
<snip>
Post by Steve Hayes
Post by Unknown
If you deny the existence of Ubuntu, then you obviously can't detect
to very different mental attributes of the races, and perhaps you think
male and female are also NOT genetically different mentally?
Ubuntu is much talked about, but is rather difficult to find these
days.
Hmmm. http://www.ubuntu.com still seems to be active.
Wrong newsgroup.
That's the problem of giving software the same name as an everyday
word
Ubuntu is an everyday word /apart/ from as a Linux distro? Any clues as
to its other meaning?
Post by Steve Hayes
or a person's name -- Ubuntu and Android and Pascal are notorious
examples.
The worst thing about the C programming language is the name. It makes
Web searches terribly tedious.
Post by Steve Hayes
It's better to use made-up words like Drupal or Dripsnot --
I heartily concur, although I'm not sure about Dripsnot. :-)
--
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within
Steve Hayes
2016-05-14 16:16:39 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 14 May 2016 10:56:15 +0100, Richard Heathfield
Post by Richard Heathfield
Post by Steve Hayes
On Sat, 14 May 2016 07:03:03 +0100, Richard Heathfield
Post by Richard Heathfield
<snip>
Post by Steve Hayes
Post by Unknown
If you deny the existence of Ubuntu, then you obviously can't detect
to very different mental attributes of the races, and perhaps you think
male and female are also NOT genetically different mentally?
Ubuntu is much talked about, but is rather difficult to find these
days.
Hmmm. http://www.ubuntu.com still seems to be active.
Wrong newsgroup.
That's the problem of giving software the same name as an everyday
word
Ubuntu is an everyday word /apart/ from as a Linux distro? Any clues as
to its other meaning?
Ubuntu is a Zulu word meaning humanity or humaneness.

The South African who decided to call his Linux distro that thought it
was a name with good vibes, like "Love" or "Peace", and has caused
endless problems for people who want to search on Google for
references to the real meaning.

Ubuntu refers to a worldview and a society in which people care for
one another and treat each other as people and not as things, or as
target groups for advertising campaigns or bombs and missiles, or
anything other than human beings.
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com

For information about why crossposting is (usually) good, and multiposting (nearly always) bad, see:
http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/unice.htm#xpost
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