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Is it a good thing to be oblivious of racial stereotypes?

Is it a good thing or a bad thing to be oblivious to the very real stereotypes which


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Tucker Case

Matthew 16:3
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I was reading through this thread: http://www.debatepolitics.com/off-t...y-somebody-needs-ask-no-offence-intended.html and it occurred to me that many people are actually oblivious to some racial stereotypes which exist in this country and are often used to disparage others.

I was then curious as to whether or not people feel that being oblivious to these racial stereotypes is a good thing or a bad thing.

On one hand, a person who is truly oblivious to such stereotypes has probably not directly exposed to much racism in their lives. Which is good. On the other hand, they might be oblivious to the racism because they have not have been exposed to it because they have not had much exposure to people who belong to the stereotyped groups, which is a bad thing.

There's also the possibility that they aren't really oblivious to the stereotypes, but are simply doing the poor victimized white person routine to pretend that the poor victimized white person cannot say anything anymore without being accused of racism".

I'm leaning toward the idea that the obliviousness is feigned, because it is mind-boggling to me that someone can live and interact with other people in our society without ever being exposed to the most common racial stereotypes that exist in our society. I'd be just as shocked if a black person said "Wait, white people being bad dancers is a racial stereotype?!?!?!?!" Unless someone is living under a rock, in a cave, hidden beneath the unabombers shack, I would assume they've encountered some of the most common stereotypes that exist in our society.

Examples: White people can't dance, black people eat fried chicken, asian women can't drive, Italian men are mama's boys, Irish people drink, Polish people are stupid, WASPS have old money, Mexicans mow lawns etc. etc.

So the poll question is: Is it a good thing or a bad thing to be oblivious to the very real stereotypes which exist in the world?
 
Just because someone doesn't know that the association of certain stereotypes does not mean that they are unaware of racism/prejudice etc. (and the driving thing isn't just confined to Asian women. I cannot think of ever being in a car with a female driver where they didn't scare the hell out me at some point......)
 
I actually side with you...I think it's hard to be oblivious when you're talking about pretty widely held stereotypes. Not only do you not associate with racist people but you don't watch television, you don't like comedies since they are centered on those stereotypes...you really have to be living in a bubble. Now if you're Amish or an Innuit it's a bit more believable.
 
Examples: White people can't dance, .

Oh God, the mental image.

But to answer your question no. Not necessarily so you don't accidentally offend someone, but also because I think you should know as much as you can about the people of your nation.
 
Just because someone doesn't know that the association of certain stereotypes does not mean that they are unaware of racism/prejudice etc.

I'm not sure how someone who is truly aware of racism and prejudice could fail to be exposed to such stereotypes, though. It seems to me like their "awareness" of such things would have to be akin to most people's "awareness" of quantum mechanics. They might understand that it exists, but they wouldn't be able to recognize anything about it or talk about it in a meaningful way.
 
BTW, the poll should have been "Good, Bad, Other" not "yes, no, other".

I'm an idiot today.
 
BTW, the poll should have been "Good, Bad, Other" not "yes, no, other".

I'm an idiot today.

why should today be any different from every other day? :lol: :laughat: ;)
 
It's bad to be oblivious. Just because it's bad to not know what would offend someone.
 
On one hand, a person who is truly oblivious to such stereotypes has probably not directly exposed to much racism in their lives. Which is good. On the other hand, they might be oblivious to the racism because they have not have been exposed to it because they have not had much exposure to people who belong to the stereotyped groups, which is a bad thing.

There's also the possibility that they aren't really oblivious to the stereotypes, but are simply doing the poor victimized white person routine to pretend that the poor victimized white person cannot say anything anymore without being accused of racism".

The above is what came to my mind, so I had to vote "other" meaning "I don't know. It depends on the person"

However, I think the ignorance is often feigned, and for the reason you describe
 
Completely honestly and totally would be a great thing. but no one really is
 
I'm not sure how someone who is truly aware of racism and prejudice could fail to be exposed to such stereotypes, though. It seems to me like their "awareness" of such things would have to be akin to most people's "awareness" of quantum mechanics. They might understand that it exists, but they wouldn't be able to recognize anything about it or talk about it in a meaningful way.

perhaps because they are not 100 years old and are unfamiliar with blackface watermelon eating stereotypes, but are familiar with saggy jeans stereotypes. Until Obama got all bent out of shape about it, I did not know that the term "comeuppance" had anything to do with blacks at all--I thought it was a southern thing to do with smart assed kids.
 
I think Sergio Garcia's comments were given far more attention than they deserved.

His remarks were stupid but then again so was the reaction from Tiger Woods, the media, etc.

Overall, I think most stereotypes are about as shallow as this one and getting worked up over it is equally shallow, so I'm indifferent as to whether being unaware of them is a good or bad thing as these are mostly things that people shouldn't be getting mad at anyway.
 
Some people forget there is a reason they have that sterotype my step mother drives like a lunitic . I was litteraly afraid for my life twice this year .
 
I like fried chicken and watermelon, so I find it hard to view those as some kind of stereotype.
 
IMHO, I think the whole "getting offended" by some stereotype is ridiculous. the vast majority of stereotypes are based to some degree or another in truth.

But, I guess it depends on the stereotype.


stereotype: blacks are criminals = offensive
stereotype: blacks like fried chicken = really? tell us something we don't know mother****er

stereotype: white people can't dance = and???
stereotype: white southerners **** their sisters = offensive


still puzzled by the fact that it's more offensive to make a comment about fried chicken than it is to call someone a liar.
 
perhaps because they are not 100 years old and are unfamiliar with blackface watermelon eating stereotypes, but are familiar with saggy jeans stereotypes.

The stereotypes being discussed are not obsolete ones that one must be 100 to have encountered. They are used all the time today.

Until Obama got all bent out of shape about it, I did not know that the term "comeuppance" had anything to do with blacks at all--I thought it was a southern thing to do with smart assed kids.

What are you talking about here and how does it relate to stereotypes?
 
Some people forget there is a reason they have that sterotype my step mother drives like a lunitic . I was litteraly afraid for my life twice this year .

my brother's wife is Korean and she scares the livin hell out of me any time I have to ride with her. Not only is she a crappy driver...she's also borderline narcoleptic.
 
The stereotypes being discussed are not obsolete ones that one must be 100 to have encountered. They are used all the time today.

Perhaps by comedians, but not so much other people

What are you talking about here and how does it relate to stereotypes?

Apparently comeuppance has something to do with uppity black people. Ask your President. He was the one who felt McCain or whoever was be racial.
 
IMHO, I think the whole "getting offended" by some stereotype is ridiculous. the vast majority of stereotypes are based to some degree or another in truth.

But, I guess it depends on the stereotype.


stereotype: blacks are criminals = offensive
stereotype: blacks like fried chicken = really? tell us something we don't know mother****er

stereotype: white people can't dance = and???
stereotype: white southerners **** their sisters = offensive


still puzzled by the fact that it's more offensive to make a comment about fried chicken than it is to call someone a liar.


This is not really about whether or not the comments should be viewed as offensive (although it's pretty clear that they were intended to disparage Tiger Woods in some way, and I perosnally think that should be taken into account when deciding if something should be taken as offensive).


this thread is more about whether or not people being oblivious to the racial stereotypes is good or bad. There are presumably plenty of threads discussing whether or not the comments are offense worthy already.
 
Perhaps by comedians, but not so much other people

You'd be shocked at how many people think they are comedians, then.


Apparently comeuppance has something to do with uppity black people. Ask your President. He was the one who felt McCain or whoever was be racial.

Again, what are you talking about and what does it have to do with stereotypes? I'm not going to ask Obama, because Obama is not here, in this thread, talking about something which has nothing to do with stereotypes. Please do not **** up my thread with partisan nonsense.
 
This is not really about whether or not the comments should be viewed as offensive (although it's pretty clear that they were intended to disparage Tiger Woods in some way, and I perosnally think that should be taken into account when deciding if something should be taken as offensive).


this thread is more about whether or not people being oblivious to the racial stereotypes is good or bad. There are presumably plenty of threads discussing whether or not the comments are offense worthy already.


I think almost everyone has heard at least a few racial stereotypes. but I am sure that there are many people who don't know ALL the racial stereotypes.
 
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