S
sodthisforfun
What is wrong with "shout 'racist!' at every single"..."full on racist"?
Are there degrees of racism?
- I happen to think that "people who shout 'racist!' at every single viewpoint" is an enormous exaggeration. An expression used to emphasise your point, but in reality and close inspection, detracts from your point.
- There are no degrees of racism. There is no such thing as "full on racist". A racist is a racist.
- there are far fewer posters that "shout 'racist!' at every single viewpoint" than there are posters who post "full on racist" comments in this, and other forums, (I'm not just referring to DIY forums.)
Because it's not just shouted at full on racists. It's shouted at any and all viewpoints, about anything negative about any other minority group, how they live their lives. It's got out of hand. We hear about this in the media, certainly witness it enough on here to know its true.
I do think there are various degrees of racism. There are people who make racist comments without thinking about what they are saying who, upon reflection, wouldn't mean anything nasty about it. There are the elderly generation who grew up with casual racism, on TV, on the media, based on stereotypes and was more accepted back in their times. There are people who are racist out of fear, ignorance. There are those who really, truly are racist, think they are better, and/or wish to do other people harm.
So yes, there are many a type of racist out there.
Shouting down racism doesn't change anything. Has, for example, been on the receiving end of BAS's rants changed a view? I doubt it - all it does is reiterate that they guy doesn't know how to speak to people and shuts down debate because people on the receiving end will just think he's a cock. I am not (hopefully) even racist, but when he rants on something I've written I just think he's a waste of my time and not to bother with him.
Education is without THE most powerful weapons against racism. And you can't educate without first, listening to the reasons of racism, then talking and dispelling those reasons. Shouting at them will make people walk away - what good does that do? Nothing other than allow one of the shallow perpetually offended brigade to feel good about themselves.