19 ms·

I found it really shocking as well. Not sure how much of it is due to segregation and how much - due to the inability of the person to socialise… which is not u

by pofjer 11y ago

I found it really shocking as well. Not sure how much of it is due to segregation and how much - due to the inability of the person to socialise… which is not uncommon among technical people from all races.

PaulHoule 11y ago
That is what is so hard about it. Everybody gets treated unfairly from time to time, feels awkward, etc. When you are "black" you don't know the line between racism and man's general inhumanity towards man.
- m1sta_ 11y ago
  This is where shallow discussion of racism can be damaging. If someone receives enough messages indicating that they will be mistreated due to race it is likely to have a major impact on their psyche, then on their behaviour, then on the way they're treated... because of their race.
  - PaulHoule 11y ago
    Racism is a very real thing. Look at the way blacks get treated by the cops. Being the middle aged "ethnic white" in the Northeast I am not only submissive to cops, but I look like them -- none of my family are college professors but a lot of them work in various branches of law enforcement. I know their point of view is not the only point of view, but I understand it enough that I come across as somebody who understands their point of view so I have a hard time getting tickets and usually get off with a warning. For instance I was speeding in a residential zone and the officer got a clear picture of somebody who wouldn't like people driving fast in his residential neighborhood, not somebody who has a favorite residential neighborhood to practice Japanese street racing.
- golergka 11y ago
  Lack of smalltalk topics is hardly an "inhumanity".
- pofjer 11y ago
  How about not assuming racism in the first place? It may just be that you are new and people are not accustomed to having you as a part of their group. I'm sure that even if some of them have prejudices, they will accept you as soon as you show them what you are made of and that you are trustworthy. I'm sure everyone knows at least one shhole from their race, so they can accept a decent person from another one when given the opportunity. If despite your best efforts, nobody accepts you, and some even make openly racist remarks towards you, then you ring that bell.
  - noxToken 11y ago
    Because modern racism doesn't necessarily parade itself out in the open. There are subtleties to a lot of the actions that people will take, and like the parent said, you don't know the line between racism and man's general inhumanity towards man. I agree that no one should assume racism right out of the gate. I admit to being guilty of this action before. The line between cliques facing inward and people snubbing you due to race is absurdly blurry. It doesn't help when the entire group happens to be white. Then you start this internal dialogue trying to get to the bottom. Are these guys just really clique-ish to the point where everyone else is an outcast? Am I doing that weird thing where I have a scowl on my face all day? Did I say something that was misconstrued? Are they just racist pricks? Wait, am I just an asshole? This isn't to say that all who socialize with you are racist. I think your last line is a very important consideration in moments of self-reflection.
  - dlreeves 11y ago
    > How about not assuming racism in the first place? Except there is clear evidence that unconscious bias exist. To test your own you can try some of the tests as part of ProjectImplicit (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/ https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/) Pretending it does not exist is not really helpful advice.
- asdfaw3f 11y ago
  > you don't know the line between racism and man's general inhumanity towards man Trenchant observation. I am largely a misanthrope and my wife often points out scenarios where I'm coming across as racist/sexist/discriminatory when the reality is that I'm generally not interested in interacting with people.

by pofjer 11y ago

PaulHoule 11y ago

That is what is so hard about it. Everybody gets treated unfairly from time to time, feels awkward, etc. When you are "black" you don't know the line between racism and man's general inhumanity towards man.

m1sta_ 11y ago
This is where shallow discussion of racism can be damaging. If someone receives enough messages indicating that they will be mistreated due to race it is likely to have a major impact on their psyche, then on their behaviour, then on the way they're treated... because of their race.
- PaulHoule 11y ago
  Racism is a very real thing. Look at the way blacks get treated by the cops. Being the middle aged "ethnic white" in the Northeast I am not only submissive to cops, but I look like them -- none of my family are college professors but a lot of them work in various branches of law enforcement. I know their point of view is not the only point of view, but I understand it enough that I come across as somebody who understands their point of view so I have a hard time getting tickets and usually get off with a warning. For instance I was speeding in a residential zone and the officer got a clear picture of somebody who wouldn't like people driving fast in his residential neighborhood, not somebody who has a favorite residential neighborhood to practice Japanese street racing.
golergka 11y ago
Lack of smalltalk topics is hardly an "inhumanity".
pofjer 11y ago
How about not assuming racism in the first place? It may just be that you are new and people are not accustomed to having you as a part of their group. I'm sure that even if some of them have prejudices, they will accept you as soon as you show them what you are made of and that you are trustworthy. I'm sure everyone knows at least one shhole from their race, so they can accept a decent person from another one when given the opportunity. If despite your best efforts, nobody accepts you, and some even make openly racist remarks towards you, then you ring that bell.
- noxToken 11y ago
  Because modern racism doesn't necessarily parade itself out in the open. There are subtleties to a lot of the actions that people will take, and like the parent said, you don't know the line between racism and man's general inhumanity towards man. I agree that no one should assume racism right out of the gate. I admit to being guilty of this action before. The line between cliques facing inward and people snubbing you due to race is absurdly blurry. It doesn't help when the entire group happens to be white. Then you start this internal dialogue trying to get to the bottom. Are these guys just really clique-ish to the point where everyone else is an outcast? Am I doing that weird thing where I have a scowl on my face all day? Did I say something that was misconstrued? Are they just racist pricks? Wait, am I just an asshole? This isn't to say that all who socialize with you are racist. I think your last line is a very important consideration in moments of self-reflection.
- dlreeves 11y ago
  > How about not assuming racism in the first place? Except there is clear evidence that unconscious bias exist. To test your own you can try some of the tests as part of ProjectImplicit (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/ https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/) Pretending it does not exist is not really helpful advice.
asdfaw3f 11y ago
> you don't know the line between racism and man's general inhumanity towards man Trenchant observation. I am largely a misanthrope and my wife often points out scenarios where I'm coming across as racist/sexist/discriminatory when the reality is that I'm generally not interested in interacting with people.