Do you think there is more racism today than there ever has been?

[Nessa 23]

You definitely aren't born being a racist.... so, somewhere along life's journey, it must happen somehow.

Actually, I think that everyone is born a racist, and then society tells you that it's wrong.

People naturally dislike anyone and anything that is different, it's a basic part of human nature.

nessa and i talked about this poll last night. i agree with that above.

now no dinner for me

You're allowed to have different views than me. I think it's a basic part of human nature to fear what's different and what's unknonwn, but not to dislike. And your theory that if all cavemen were brunet with brown eyes and a blonde with blue eyes showed up they'd think they're the devil, well guess what, we have evolved, we know better now. Everybody in the world know there are all types of people, all skin color, eyes color, hair color, etc. it's not like something bizarre or new to anybody. So I don't agree in disliking someone only based on the fact they're different than you, and I definitely don't believe we're born racist, otherwise everybody would be racist til they're grown up and decide ''oh I think I'll change and NOT be a racist anymore'', makes no sense to me.

[Jenn! 918]

I think that racism is mostly fear of the unknown. We're born racist because we haven't had any experience to show us that other races are ok.

I was thinking caveman level, too. I don't think humans have evolved to become not racist.

Edited March 14, 2007 by jenn3539

[notrepetiteashley 0]

As a psychologist-to-be I would have to respectfully disagree. There is no real, peer reviewed evidence that suggests people are *born* disliking people that are different than them. It's true, people are attracted to like-minded individuals and will often set up groups in which different others are not allowed, but this mostly has to do with ego problems and the need for a personal identity. Like the study in which kids were randomly split into 2 groups, which eventually became violent toward one another, based on the team colour. Those kids had no animosity toward one another until they were split into 2 teams, given a team colour, and were taught all sorts of chants and songs and given other things to create a group identity. In other words, they didn't hate one another until an outside source told them they were different and put them into an environment where they were different. Interesting stuff. Anyway, that was the really short version of that, and it leads most psychologists to believe (along with other evidence) that racism and groupthink is environmentally-created, not inborn.

I believe we are all born with endless opportunities as to what kind of person we will become...and when you grow up with your parents telling you a certain race is bad, you are probably going to believe it. What child wants to believe their parents are wrong (until they are teenagers, of course)? It's very sad and I feel psychologically abusive to teach children hatred for other human beings.

[Jenn! 918]

Maybe some of us are operating with a different definition of racism here. To me racism is fear of or thinking that someone is different than you because of the color of their skin, not necessarily having a negative view, or dislike.

Edited March 14, 2007 by jenn3539

[notrepetiteashley 0]

The fear of someone different would be a phobia. Racism is not a phobia, but it is certainly part of one. Or not, it could be outright hatred. Doesn't have to be a fear of, but many would argue hatred stems from fear.

[notrepetiteashley 0]

In other words,

rac·ism

–noun 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

(from the dictionary, I didn't write that)

[Kez/JWolf 6]

My parents brought me up to be open minded and to be honest I never really thought about the diffrent color of peoples skin.... but I did have a friend who was black and we were always together... until her parents told her she should not play with the white people because they dont like blacks.... and there our friendship ended we were 9 years old at that time...

I have heard so many black people here shouting about how baddly they are treated and yet they are the first to admit that in there culture they have brought up there kids to belive that it is ok to screw the system and take what they can from the white man.....

I take people on face value if they are nice to me then I will be nice to them... no mater where they are from or what color their skin...

Kez

[Nessa 23]

I was thinking caveman level, too. I don't think humans have evolved to become not racist.

I don't think we're ever going to be so evolved there will be no racists in the world, I didn't say that.

I think we're born free of prejudice. My sister has Down Syndrom and I've seem adults and older kids being prejudice towards her, but I've never seen a small kid doing so. For them she's just another kid to play. We're born naive, everybody is the same, we don't see hate as a kid like we do as grown ups.

[Alex+R 0]

Maybe some of us are operating with a different definition of racism here. To me racism is fear of or thinking that someone is different than you because of the color of their skin, not necessarily having a negative view, or dislike.

Yeah. I think racism is part of human nature because it's actually part of our psychology to make generalizations. It's a survival tactic. If a caveman was hit in the head with a blue rock he might steer clear of blue rocks from then on, and so forth.

If a group is in the minority, we tend to focus on something negative one member might have done, and then generalize that to the entire group, subconsciously. If blacks are reported as criminals in the media a huge amount more than whites, people begin to think of blacks as criminals in general, and that is fear-based, not hate-based.

It comes from a survival instinct, and it's something one has to overcome. You are born with that instinct and then your society teaches you how to apply it and that's what you have to overcome.

Actually I think we are moving into a time when overt open racism is becoming acceptable again (toward Arabs and Hispanics especially, although verbal expressions of anti-Black prejudice remain taboo). Not sure if that is better or worse than before...

[Jack and Barbara 0]

I belivbe this is the nurture agrument. People are not born into being racists but growing up in an environment where evreyone tells you directly or indirectly how to act or think will do a lot to forming how you will perceive others in the future. Of course, you can change those perceptions with your own real experiences, but experience over a lifetime is key in how you form your opinions and possibly prejudices. This seems to be true with everything from political bias to favorite MLB team.

[sj5 4]

i voted: 1,1,&2

i pretending they're a puppy whining in my backyard.

how much money i make to report a racist? (i don't mind to do it if i can make $)

Edited April 21, 2008 by SJ

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Fear of the unknown is a very human thing alright, much to do indeed with survival. But racism is a learned -and hence taught- behavior. A child is not born a racist (or misogynistic, or homophobic); but is taught to be one by sharing a certain set of beliefs by those around him/her.

[Jack and Barbara 0]

agreed