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Is that racism?

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Apocalypse

Apocalypse

DEATH TO ANTARCTICA!!!
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The situation is this:
One guy calls another person an ape in the internet, without visibly seeing him.
This person then reveals to the other guy that he is black, and then continues to accuse the other guy of racism for calling him an ape.
The first guy explains that he didn't know that the other person was black, but that he would not change his mind, because he made the comment without knowing what the second person's race was, and changing it once knowing what his race is would be wrong.
The second guy claims that he is still racist because he did not change his opinion once he was informed about the race.

Now my question is this:
Is the first guy a racist?

Edit: Please add a poll, and make it public.
 
if someone insults another person's race, is he considered a racist, even if it does not project his views in general?
 
youknowwho said:
if someone insults another person's race, is he considered a racist, even if it does not project his views in general?
Click to expand...
The first person called the second an ape because the first person thought the second was acting like one, races were not involved until the second person's comment.
 
If he called him a dancing ape, yes I see that as racist. Of course you know this.

Funny how you are now trying to prove something by making a thread about it upstairs. :roll:
 
Well i personally do not see the word 'ape' by itself a racist comment but then again i am not American where the word may have a totally different meaning and history of use.
 
Blackdog said:
If he called him a dancing ape, yes I see that as racist. Of course you know this.

Funny how you are now trying to prove something by making a thread about it upstairs. :roll:
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Because upstairs if you are acting stupidly someone is going to make that clear to you, while in the basement it's pretty much screaming and kicking.
 
Laila said:
Well i personally do not see the word 'ape' by itself a racist comment but then again i am not American where the word may have a totally different meaning and history of use.
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Would it matter?
The first person did not know that the second is Black once he made the claim.
 
Apocalypse said:
Because upstairs if you are acting stupidly someone is going to make that clear to you, while in the basement it's pretty much screaming and kicking.
Click to expand...

That true, but this is getting stupid. Nobody should have to tell you that.
 
Apocalypse said:
Would it matter?
The first person did not know that the second is Black once he made the claim.
Click to expand...

Don't leave out after it was known he stood by the claim even after being told it was racist and the second person apologized.
 
Blackdog said:
Don't leave out after it was known he stood by the claim even after being told it was racist and the second person apologized.
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I made that clear in the first post.

The first guy explains that he didn't know that the other person was black, but that he would not change his mind, because he made the comment without knowing what the second person's race was, and changing it once knowing what his race is would be wrong.
Click to expand...
 
Apocalypse said:
Would it matter?
The first person did not know that the second is Black once he made the claim.
Click to expand...

If you didn't know then no you are not racist, you made the comment in ignorance.
 
Apocalypse said:
The first person called the second an ape because the first person thought the second was acting like one, races were not involved until the second person's comment.
Click to expand...

that was a general question. in this case, consider the worst possible case, that the first one really meant to insult the second one's race. if it's a one time only racial insult made because of the anger toward the other person, is the first guy considered racist, although his views differ from those of a racist?
 
youknowwho said:
that was a general question. in this case, consider the worst possible case, that the first one really meant to insult the second one's race. if it's a one time only racial insult made because of the anger toward the other person, is the first guy considered racist, although his views differ from those of a racist?
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Again, he couldn't know what his race was, he couldn't insult his race.
He called a person in the internet an ape, and then that person revealed that he's black and accused the first with racism.
 
No the first person is not racist. In order for it to have been even considered racist was if the first person knew the race of the second person before he said it. Since that is not the case then the first person did not say a racist comment.

However in my opinion the second person is being racist for continueing to claim the first person is racist even though the second person knows the first did not know the second persons race. It is legitimate to not change what the first person said since they did not intend it to be racist in the begining. As was obvious since the first person did not know the race of the second person when said comment was said.
 
Kal'Stang said:
No the first person is not racist. In order for it to have been even considered racist was if the first person knew the race of the second person before he said it. Since that is not the case then the first person did not say a racist comment.

However in my opinion the second person is being racist for continueing to claim the first person is racist even though the second person knows the first did not know the second persons race. It is legitimate to not change what the first person said since they did not intend it to be racist in the begining. As was obvious since the first person did not know the race of the second person when said comment was said.
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A remarkable post, thank you, that was exactly my thought on this issue.
 
"but that he would not change his mind, because he made the comment without knowing what the second person's race was, and changing it once knowing what his race is would be wrong."

How would taking it back be worng? This makes absolutly no sense at all.
 
Apocalypse said:
Again, he couldn't know what his race was, he couldn't insult his race.
He called a person in the internet an ape, and then that person revealed that he's black and accused the first with racism.
Click to expand...

my point was, you cannot define someone's identity based on a one-time happening. it's called labeling, it's the purest form of bigotry and ignorance. so my answer to the op's question is that he is not, since he had made it clear that he does not believe in racism, regardless of what happened before.
 
Blackdog said:
"but that he would not change his mind, because he made the comment without knowing what the second person's race was, and changing it once knowing what his race is would be wrong."

How would taking it back be worng? This makes absolutly no sense at all.
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Blackdog, the comment was made while not knowing the other person's race, hence the comment can in no way be racist in its meaning or intention.
Hence, the revealing of the race of the second person to the first person should not make him take his words back, as the insult was made towards the individual and not a collective thing such as a race.
 
Kal'Stang said:
However in my opinion the second person is being racist for continueing to claim the first person is racist even though the second person knows the first did not know the second persons race. It is legitimate to not change what the first person said since they did not intend it to be racist in the begining. As was obvious since the first person did not know the race of the second person when said comment was said.
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rac⋅ism  /ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA

–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.

You are wrong.
 
Apocalypse said:
Blackdog, the comment was made while not knowing the other person's race, hence the comment can in no way be racist in its meaning or intention.
Hence, the revealing of the race of the second person to the first person should not make him take his words back, as the insult was made towards the individual and not a collective thing such as a race.
Click to expand...

And you had the opportunity to say Oh sorry about that you are still a jerk or whatever. But you knew and kept it up anyway, after you knew it was a racist term.
 
Blackdog said:
rac⋅ism  /ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA

–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.

You are wrong.
Click to expand...
"a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement"
Hence, changing a claim towards an individual once learning of his race, is wrong.
Whether it's a positive change or a negative change.
 
youknowwho said:
my point was, you cannot define someone's identity based on a one-time happening. it's called labeling, it's the purest form of bigotry and ignorance. so my answer to the op's question is that he is not, since he had made it clear that he does not believe in racism, regardless of what happened before.
Click to expand...

So even though he kept the term after knowing it was racist, because he says he is not, it's OK? I see.
 
Apocalypse said:
"a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement"
Hence, changing a claim towards an individual once learning of his race, is wrong.
Whether it's a positive change or a negative change.
Click to expand...

My comments had nothing to do with your culture or mine. You should have changed it and let it go.
 
Blackdog said:
And you had the opportunity to say Oh sorry about that you are still a jerk or whatever. But you knew and kept it up anyway, after you knew it was a racist term.
Click to expand...
The first person stood by his words, because he did not want to change his opinion based on race alone.
The first person has also made it clear that he is against racism towards blacks and in general.
 
Blackdog said:
So even though he kept the term after knowing it was racist, because he says he is not, it's OK? I see.
Click to expand...
The term is only racist when applied to a certain race.
The first person did not know the other person's race.
When he used the word 'ape' it carried no racist meaning.
 
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