AllisonDT

Hi everyone.

1) Why is it virtually wholly acceptable in America, by any race, to make fun of "financially challanged" Caucasian people? The term "white trash" is used so often and so freely, without any guilt or hesitation, that it got me thinking. Why would the term "black trash" elicit immediate gasps and claims of venomous racism, when saying "white trash" elicits knowing nods of agreement and acceptable giggles? Why are jokes about people who live in the hills of eastern U.S. (Appalachian Moutains, specifically) totally acceptable, even among people who are supposedly FOR multi-culturalism and diversity? This line of thought could even be applied to jokes about women with blonde hair. Bottom line: why are white people the only people who remain the acceptable targets of jokes? Is it a majority/minority thing? When whites are no longer the majority race in the U.S. will they then immediately gain the status of being protected from generalized, stereotyped jokes?

2) Most people would agree that black men can run faster and jump higher than wite men (heck, they even made a movie by that name!!). Most people would say that black men have longer penises than white men. Isn't this fully acknowledging that there ARE differences in race? That we aren't all the same? Why then, if someone were to suggest or even hint that white people might possibly be better at ANYthing than black people, or have ANYthing positive that black people don't, why would that person immediately be stamped a vicious racist? Black people dominate sports in America - this is a truism and few people have a problem saying that it's because they are faster, stronger, etc. (sure some will say that it's due to their playing the sports more frequently from a young age onwards, but I sincerely think that a lot of people believe blacks are physically superior to whites). Now think of things that white people dominate. Why is it that nobody is allowed to even ponder the possibility that it's because whites are physiologically better suited for some of those things? Are blacks only different from whites in POSITIVE ways?

This is meant as a serious thought-provoking topic. For those of you who already have your Racist Gun pointed at me with your finger squeezing the trigger, please refrain. I have only posed a couple of legitimate questions which point out some inconsistancies of what is acceptable to believe and say in America. Please don't paralyze this conversation by name-calling and stereotyping me.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

August Spies

Bottom line: pretty much.
Whites are both the majority as well as the group in power. The history of racism against other races and our desire to never do it again makes it so we can't say anything negative about other races for fear of being called racists, but anyone (of any race) can still make fun of whites.

If we cease to be the group in power and also the majority, then yes, I think it would be the new group in power that people could insult.
That is a long time off though, even with the crazy hispanic growth rates.

engly-saxo

I've never seen any definitive study which states that black men have larger penises than whites.

I think what you state are simply stereotypes. Blacks often refer to 'black trash', or other black people who are like white trash as 'n*ggers'.

August Spies

Ugh... I dont' think this is true at all.
The majority of sports stars are white, it is only the NBA that is dominated by blacks.
You say that black people are stronger and faster... but i've never even heard that stereotype... ever. The jumping one, yeah, because it comes from basketball. But stronger and faster? Huh?

Maybe the black community has a stereotype that whites can't be athletic, but I don't think anyone else does.

HOWEVER, I might agree that pretyt much everyone would agree that most white people "can't dance"

August Spies

I've seen studies taht show that black men have large penises and asian men have smaller. Pretty much every study on it has shown this. Blacks = most, whites = middle, asians = least. HOWEVER, the difference between the three "races" is pretty small. Like maybe .25-.5 an inch either way.

I think the OPs point is that any race can make fun of whites, while only minority races can make fun of themselves. As a white person I couldn't call a black person "black trash" but they could call me "white trash"

mightyjoemoon

Actually, Skeptic magazine had a story that pretty much verified the penis size stereotypes. If I can remember to look it up, I'll post which issue.

That being said, I'm avoiding this thread like the plague. Certain topics just can't be rationally discussed on internet forums, and racial issues is one. Abortion is another.

August Spies

I'd say that a simlar trend can be observed with the sexes.
Since the male sex has dominated for so long, women nowadays have pretty much free range to be sexist and no one really cares. Women can make huge generalizations about men and do lots of things that would get men labeled pig-mysoginists.

People who are fairly PC are quick to decry any use of terms like "pussy" or "cunt", but have no problem with people saying "dick" or "prick" or "cock" negatively.

Of course, the problem isn't as pronounced, and you can still be male saying sexist things without any huge backlash. But women definitly have it easier, imo.

Oxidizing Material

Just keep them darkies off my internets and I'm happy!


(not racist)

Reign_Cryogen

Yup. It's a contrast thing. You can't make fun of the less fortunate - for whatever reason they're less fortunate - 'cause it's not nice. It is popular to support the underdog. It gets you points with a) the underdog and b) sympathetic non-underdogs.

You can't look like a big meanie in politics, and by politics, I mean dealing with people other than yourself. Anything equal to or right of supporting the notion of genuine equality makes you look like a big meanie.

I'm as close-mindedly equalitarian as it gets, and believe me - most people I know think I'm a big meanie. Yes, I would absolutely strike a woman. Just like I'd strike a man. I really, truly, unequivocally don't care about your race/gender/sexual orientation/favorite color. I treat everyone like shit.

But that's not popular.

You have to be extra nice to the less fortunate, or you get nowhere.

As someone else said, when white males have been somewhere other than the top for a while, it'll change.

AllisonDT

Really? This seems like the perfect forum in which to discuss these topics. It's anonymous, therefore people don't have to worry about anything. Do you think this topic would be more effective in person? Me no think so. People are much too PC in person because they have reputations and stigmas to avoid.