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United States24500 Posts
On November 22 2010 00:51 MasterOfChaos wrote:Show nested quote +On November 22 2010 00:03 StarStruck wrote:On November 21 2010 23:46 Flicky wrote: which is unusual because not many black people live around my area because it's expensive? Wait, what? You try so hard not to be racist yet you make a remark like that. ._. Sounds completely objective to me. Everything I read about the racial situation in the US indicated that black people are on average poorer than white people. So it'd hardly surprising if in a rich are black people are less common. It in no way implies that black people are inferior or any racist opinions like that. But if you have any statistical data that proves this statement wrong I'd love to see it. That's one of those things where being vague because you are technically correct is still politically incorrect. It's true that there is a socioeconomic disparity between each race in many countries, but that isn't necessarily implied in what Flicky said. It wasn't delicate. I get what he means and I don't mind, but I also realize that it can get him into trouble.
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On November 22 2010 00:03 StarStruck wrote:Show nested quote +On November 21 2010 23:46 Flicky wrote: which is unusual because not many black people live around my area because it's expensive? Wait, what? You try so hard not to be racist yet you make a remark like that. ._.
Minorities in the UK are screwed trying to get to just be working class let alone middle class. At least he's black he hasn't got it half as bad as brown asians; trust me.
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im sick and tired of black people pulling the race card.... i dont have a problem with them at all but really how much of a asshole do you have to be to report a instructor that has been helping you because he told you to put sun block on....
it seems like everytime they dont get what they want its time for the pocket races.
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If you need to try in order not to be racist, then are you actually racist at heart? I see you have to remind yourself of your special training so you can keep pretending.
Sorry, I'm sure it's nothing like that in reality but the way you describe your relationship to racism makes it seem like it's something that's innate and that you need to suppress.
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I'm sure you're in no way racist...but something about your wording throws me off..
On November 21 2010 23:46 Flicky wrote: I work as a Kayak instructor in the summer and I got a call from my boss today saying that I had a complaint filed against me for racism. It's a lazy job and my bosses (there are two) never bother going through complaint forms until the end of the year, unless of course someone goes crazy at them.
So all my life at school we were taught how not to be racist. Instead of teaching tolerance and what not, we were always taught to "treat everyone the same". So I've kept this in mind since I learnt it because I don't want to be racist.
My boss was talking to me about a complain from August this year from one of my groups. I had a black student in my two day-session, which is unusual because not many black people live around my area because it's expensive. There is maybe two people in my Village who are black. It wasn't the first time I've taught a black kid but this time I was worried about being racist because of a friend who got suspended for being racist from his job at KFC.
So I'm very careful about not being racist. I make sure I treat everyone the same, like I was taught. I gave all the kids the same wetsuits and gave everyone the same tuition and time. The issue came on day 2.
It was very sunny that day and as you may guess, there are many issues with hot sun and weather on an open body of water. So, we make sure they have hats and whatever. The issue was when we're handing out sun-cream. I was making sure to treat everyone the same so I made sure everyone had some on. But when I got to the black kid and asked him why he doesn't think he needs sun-cream when everyone else does. I told him he wasn't any different and made him wear it.
Now suddenly I'm racist.
WTF TL. What did I do wrong?
If you're genuinely not racist then you hardly need to try not to be racist. You're just not. "Trying" implies you're resisting some latent urge. I'll assume this is merely a matter of slightly odd wording though.
Either way, is it a policy where you work that they have to wear suncream? Otherwise I would have just offered it around and whoever wants it can have some and whoever doesn't, doesn't. Seems much easier.
On the whole though, I sympathize, it's a pretty harsh thing to be accused of just for trying to be nice handing out suncream.
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Black people have a much higher tolerance to sun than white people. He was right. The more pale you are the less sun you need. This is simple fact. Ask any health practitioner.
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black man keeping the white man down even in his homeland.... its worse in America believe me.
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First of all, everyone is racist, whether or not you'd like to admit it. It's just a part of group identity, a fundamental property of human nature.
For OP's case, if any fingers were to be pointed at who's racist, I'd say it's the black kid for thinking the White Man is out to get them when it was actually well intention. Black people (or any other visible minority group) pulling the race card is a form of reverse discrimination.
Slightly off topic, but as a visible minority myself, I actually quite dislike affirmative action and other preferential treatment of minorities. I would feel uncomfortable or even inferior if I got a job that hired me only because they needed to meet some minority quota.
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As a Ph.D. in genetics and someone who understands cancer, I can tell you that ANYONE can get skin cancer, the complaint is ignorant.
Read this post by a doctor:
"Routinely, I find that patients with darker skin feel a false sense of security with regards to the sun. While it may be true that someone who has a Mediterranean background and has an olive complexion may "tan" when exposed to the sun, that doesn't mean they are not going to develop skin cancer and/or wrinkles down the road. The same is true for my African American and Hispanic patients. And, while "normal" amounts of sunlight here in the U.S. may not cause a sun burn, I can't tell you how many patients have called me upon their return from the tropics because they're puzzled as to the cause of their skin condition and are often surprised to hear the diagnosis."
Here is the link, you can probably find many like it and prove your case.
http://www.dermadoctor.com/article_Sunburn-Prevention-and-Treatment_157.html
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Depends on what you said, exactly.
"I don't care what color your skin is. If you're kayaking under my supervision/instruction then you'll wear sunblock today." would have been perfectly appropriate, if a bit tyrannical. But if you're entrusted with the safety and well-being of your students, then it's okay to not be a pushover.
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Korea (South)1897 Posts
By singling him out, it would have made him feel you were picking on him, regardless of what you were talking about, also the tone and the approach could have been construed as putting him in his place that he didn't warrant any special attention regardless if he had a reasonable response or not, BUT then again, if just said, yeah sure no worries, its cool don't put on the sun screen, then he might have thought afterwards, 'wtf man, this guy doesn't give a crap if I burn or not' so, in this type of sensitive cultural situation, it can go either way. But a lot of black guys get challenged all the time for things that white people (aka the majority) take for granted, its call 'White Privilege' you should look it up if you feel so inclined, but it could have been that reaction that he felt he was being reasonable and you weren't, thus you were racist!
I wouldn't think to much about it, but since you're English, you probably did sound like a patronizing ass. LOL just kidding! ^^ Don't worry about it, life is about experience and exposure, at least you have something to reflect on. Don't worry nearly every foreigner who comes to Korea remarks that we are the most racist people in the world until they get to know our women and soju!
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people tend to misconstrue stereotypes as racism all the time. it's really frustrating. even in this very thread. like his remark about his rich area having less black people living in it is not racist in any way. it's a stereotype based around surveys (or common knowledge) that indicate on average black people are poorer than white people in the US. it's as harmless as pointing out black people have darker skin. we all stereotype. all the time. based on age, sex, race, you name it. it's never been an issue before... it's when these PC idiots get into the fray and starting calling these statements racism that we run into a problem. last i checked, you're not implying superiority by stereotyping grrrrr
@lutarez, no. not everybody is racist. everybody does stereotype though. it's simply impossible to live otherwise.. treating everything as if its totally unique from prior experiences will make your brain explode.
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United States24500 Posts
On November 22 2010 00:58 Audigy wrote: im sick and tired of black people pulling the race card.... i dont have a problem with them at all but really how much of a asshole do you have to be to report a instructor that has been helping you because he told you to put sun block on....
If this was the entirety of your post I wouldn't have said anything.
it seems like everytime they dont get what they want its time for the pocket races. No? That's incredibly rude and insensitive. Are you attached to those words or would you agree with "It bothers me greatly when black people choose to unnecessarily play the race card"? I don't think you should lump all black people together since a large % of them would be mortified to get associated with the behavior of this black child's parents.
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You should have told him to enjoy his pending sun burn. If he said "black people don't get sunburn," you could have just laughed in his face about his lack of education oh wait-
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JeeJee, do you happen to know the only valid definition of racism? Because racial stereotyping and racism is virtually the same animal. You shouldn't mindlessly go by the wikipedia definition of racism and imply that it always revolved around believing in superiority of one race compared to another. Racism is also a belief that race determines many human traits and abilities, which accounts for racial stereotyping in your context.
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On November 22 2010 02:24 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On November 22 2010 00:58 Audigy wrote: im sick and tired of black people pulling the race card.... i dont have a problem with them at all but really how much of a asshole do you have to be to report a instructor that has been helping you because he told you to put sun block on....
If this was the entirety of your post I wouldn't have said anything. Show nested quote +it seems like everytime they dont get what they want its time for the pocket races. No? That's incredibly rude and insensitive. Are you attached to those words or would you agree with "It bothers me greatly when black people choose to unnecessarily play the race card"? I don't think you should lump all black people together since a large % of them would be mortified to get associated with the behavior of this black child's parents.
true i worded it badly but it just frustrates me that 98% of the time i see anything about racism, its a black man/women complaining...
i can see them complaining if it is really a problem and they should, but come on...some of the stuff you see them using as an excuse is just ridiculous, like what happened to the OP.
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In this case you treated everybody exactly the same, it wasn't racism. Did you explain the situation to your boss?
I actually got put in a similar situation when I was in charge of drumline. A new girl, Corey, joined and refused to practice because I put her on cymbals and not on snare drum. She couldn't hold drumsticks properly (refused to use traditional grip because it was "dumb as hell") and had a terrible sense of rhythm.
During practice she'd just text, roll her eyes, etc. I told her to go back to the band room and to not bother coming out to practice with us unless she was going to participate. She later complained to the band director that I was only mean to her because she was black. The next semester, go figure, I was taken off the captain position for being "too harsh and divisive". I wasn't happy about it, but what can you do.
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dude, you're fine.
On November 22 2010 00:16 A3iL3r0n wrote:Show nested quote +On November 21 2010 23:46 Flicky wrote: My boss was talking to me about a complain from August this year from one of my groups. I had a black student in my two day-session, which is unusual because not many black people live around my area because it's expensive...
Racist? No. Stereo-typing? Yes.
wtf, he was stating a fact about race related to the socioeconomic status of his area. how the hell is that "stereotyping"? -_-
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You're racist BECAUSE you try really hard not to be. That's okay everyone is a little bit racist. Okay, the sunscreen deal, that's something minorities kids/teens do a lot when they feel singled out or if they're trying to get out of something/get someone in trouble. It's an easy scapegoat for them and works enough times that its a viable strategy.
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that isn't racist at all, and the idea that black people can't get sunburned is a myth they absolutely can they're just a little more resistant to it. it was a good idea for him to wear sunscreen idk what the problem is.
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