I really hate being called racist

[Ticeorama]

Originally Posted by Kikuichimonji

But this has obviously been stewing inside of you a lot, since you posted this and you responded to posters... I don't know, silently aggrevated is what I can come up with.

You posted this because you felt that it was evidence that you weren't racist, right? You're trying to convince yourself and us that you're not racist. However, you come off as arrogant when you speak as such, and you shouldn't need these things. Don't try to prove to yourself that you're not a racist. Just be confident that you're not. You're mad because they questioned your moral integrity with their words and actions. But their words are insignificant tripe. If you're sure you're not a racist, be confident that you aren't. Evaluate your actions yourself and examine honest criticism other give you, but let these guys waste what little brainpower they're using on you and don't let them unnerve you.

I made this post to hear people's opinions of the situation and hear their thoughts, as suggested by Plato. Yes it does bother me. My keyboard would argue with you about the "silently aggravated " thing.

I was trying to give all these people , who have never met and probably never will (and if they do they won't know that I am me (if that made any sense, which it doesn't)), a picture of who I am. I know I'm not racist but they didn't know that and it gives the whole event some context for them to understand

[The Wandering God]

Originally Posted by Ticeorama

. I know I'm not racist but they didn't know that and it gives the whole event some context for them to understand

Response to bold "them":
Who? Are you referring to the ones who slandered you? Has this story gotten around? Are they popular? Are you popular?

At the heart or racism is power. People who are weak need to feel strong by mentally subugating others and saying, "You are so bad, that I am godly compared to thee." Think about it. That would give certain people a feeling of superiority.

This all ties into your social role as well. You were one, they were many. You were in fact the minority. But what about outside of the situation? What if some random guy of a different skin color said, "Yo, can you get off your ass and help me please?" to you. It kinda goes both ways by basically saying what I'm doing is important, but then it adds a please as a way of throwing a sop to a dog. It actually could sound worse if given the wrong tone of course.

All that said, maybe it's just not a big deal. I don't know you or them well enough to know. I would never judge a man from a single encounter that was described to me.

The Wandering God

[Lockeownzj00]

What do you think trying to clear it up is going to do? They're still racist. All you did was talk to the irrational racist.

So people fill their roles and they are always the same? No one can ever change their mind? I'm saying if you make a stand, and actually embarrass them (in some cases), they might rethink it.

our anarchist nature seems to be slipping through here, because now reporting harassment is giving in to bureaucracy.

While I'm sure that's a part of it, it's just not a good idea to rely on the government or the administration of institution x to solve these kinds of disputes. The problem with what you say next is that you think this punishment--going to the office and explaining yourself (which I imagined as wel, I was extrapolating to serious cases like hate crimes or verbal abuse) makes you change your mind even less.

The big problem with 'punishment' is that it tends to stop being effective after infancy. When a growing organism has to be taught their 1s and 0s, that's one thing. But a grown person only feels belittled, and, like I said, indignant when they are 'talked down to' by an authority figure. If they wouldn't listen to you, why would they listen to the principle?

[Trepie]

My occasional* response to the "because I'm black card" is usually "Yes, it is because you're black" (in a denouncing tone). This works only in very rare circumstances because it is completely unexpected and they have no idea how to react. It also lets them realise how pathetic their accusations sounded.

*Do not try this unless you want to be bashed/stabbed/whatever. Especially do not use this when any of your actions/words may be put under police scrutiny because you will lose whatever case you are trying to make instantly. By occasional I mean that I have only used this line against intelligent individuals who know me and my personality and, as such, know that I am not racist by nature and understand I am making a joke a the expense of their stupidity not their race.

Anyway, I agree the best response so far is to confront them about it WHEN they say something provided you have enough people to back you up. I'm not sure if I can help you with your current problem. Just forget it and continue to be confident that you are not racist by any measure.

Oh and the condescending tones which were mentioned earlier. Stupid people (like these guys obviously were) probably interpreted the "do something useful" comment as "do something useful for a change" which was probably in turn interpreted that you were under the impression that they have never done anything constructive and nor has any other black person ever. Sorry to be so blunt but that was my first impression of their likely reaction to your seemingly innocent comment. Whether you changed your tone of voice or not, stupid people are bad at reading voices.

The best thing to do now is take no action unless they accuse you again, then you know they weren't just being lazy and they actually think you are racist. IF that happens confront them in the ideal circumstances mentioned above.

[Buddha Fett]

Don't let it get to you, man. The guys probably just didn't want to help out and said all that stuff to shut you up. That's probably been mentioned several times, but I feel like I should say that as well.

If this becomes a reoccuring problem, confront them about it. This sounds like just a one-time thing, so ignore it and move on.

[Funka Genocide]

The assumptions to the effect that seeking punishment for these transgressions are driven by a base need for vengeance are...

correct!

I guess I should explain myself further. From a very selfless view what Locke suggests makes sense. If your goal is to try and change the way people think, you can't do it by dropping the authority hammer.

I, however, am not that altruistic, I suppose. I don't give a damn how they think, the mind is one's own purview after all. I only care how they act, and despite feelings of resentment actions can be changed through force.

I also suppose this is a bit tyrannical of me, though I'm a busy person and judging from my own experiences, when something like this occurs I want it resolved quickly and finitely. It would be hubris on my part to assume that through oration alone I can change the very mind set of another person in an instant. Now if a friend of mine, or a coworker, or someone I generally had to spend a lot of time around were a racist or exhibited racist tendencies, I would of course attempt to influence them over time. However a chance run in with people who I am not acquainted with though whom I might encounter again leaves me little recourse but to apply force to achieve my desired results.

so in closing, I'm kind of an asshole, I guess. :B

[The Wandering God]

Originally Posted by Funka Genocide

The assumptions to the effect that seeking punishment for these transgressions are driven by a base need for vengeance are...

correct!

I guess I should explain myself further. From a very selfless view what Locke suggests makes sense. If your goal is to try and change the way people think, you can't do it by dropping the authority hammer.

I, however, am not that altruistic, I suppose. I don't give a damn how they think, the mind is one's own purview after all. I only care how they act, and despite feelings of resentment actions can be changed through force.

I also suppose this is a bit tyrannical of me, though I'm a busy person and judging from my own experiences, when something like this occurs I want it resolved quickly and finitely. It would be hubris on my part to assume that through oration alone I can change the very mind set of another person in an instant. Now if a friend of mine, or a coworker, or someone I generally had to spend a lot of time around were a racist or exhibited racist tendencies, I would of course attempt to influence them over time. However a chance run in with people who I am not acquainted with though whom I might encounter again leaves me little recourse but to apply force to achieve my desired results.

Could you please explain that a bit more clearly? I'm sorry, but I don't quite get what you are trying to say.

The Wandering God

[Funka Genocide]

just basicaly saying that I wouldn't waste my time trying to convince someone to change their whole way of life when all I want them to do is shut the god damn hell up.

XD