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A Georgia networking event wants to help white people 'Come Meet a Black Person'

Lutherf

Lutherf

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A Georgia networking event wants to help white people 'Come Meet a Black Person' - CNN

https://www.facebook.com/events/166061020654788/?active_tab=about

It's the brainchild of Cheryle Moses, the founder of Urban MediaMakers, a group of independent black filmmakers and content creators. Moses dreamed up the networking event as a response of sorts to a 2013 study from the Public Religion Research Institute that showed about 75% of white people in America don't have any nonwhite friends. The study also found that for most whites, their circle of friends is about 91% white.

Likewise, about 65% of black people don't have any white friends, and the average social circle for a black American is about 83% black.
Click to expand...

Alright.

I'm not going to dispute the statistics. Based on my experience they're probably accurate. I also figure that the organizer's goal is to encourage interaction. That's fine.

However

Why do this as a "Meet a Black person" event? Why make it all about race? Can't you do the same thing with a "Help clean up the park" event? What the hell am I supposed to do at an event like this? Do I pay my $15 and get to ask the black person if he or she really likes fried chicken and basketball? If I cough up another $5 can I touch their hair? What the hell is the point of this!!??

Seriously, if you want people to get together and talk about stuff that matters then build your event around something that matters. This is......I really don't know what it is.
 
I've got plenty of non-white friends. My girlfriend is Hispanic.

I'm good in the diversity department.
 
TheGoverness said:
I've got plenty of non-white friends. My girlfriend is Hispanic.

I'm good in the diversity department.
Click to expand...

Is it safe to assume that you've never tallied up your friends with the intent of determining whether or not your "Friendship Diversity Quotient" is within acceptable PC standards or not? I mean, who does that? Why do they do it?
 
Lutherf said:
Is it safe to assume that you've never tallied up your friends with the intent of determining whether or not your "Friendship Diversity Quotient" is within acceptable PC standards or not? I mean, who does that? Why do they do it?
Click to expand...

No, I've never done that. Because I really don't care about what race my friends are.
 
Lutherf said:
A Georgia networking event wants to help white people 'Come Meet a Black Person' - CNN

https://www.facebook.com/events/166061020654788/?active_tab=about



Alright.

I'm not going to dispute the statistics. Based on my experience they're probably accurate. I also figure that the organizer's goal is to encourage interaction. That's fine.

However

Why do this as a "Meet a Black person" event? Why make it all about race? Can't you do the same thing with a "Help clean up the park" event? What the hell am I supposed to do at an event like this? Do I pay my $15 and get to ask the black person if he or she really likes fried chicken and basketball? If I cough up another $5 can I touch their hair? What the hell is the point of this!!??

Seriously, if you want people to get together and talk about stuff that matters then build your event around something that matters. This is......I really don't know what it is.
Click to expand...

So you agree the stats are probably accurate, you agree that they are simply trying to encourage interaction, but the name bothers you?

Let me ask, just to clarify. Do you think it's a worthwhile goal at all to see that peoples social circles are more diverse? Or is that just an incredibly stupid goal that shouldn't matter to anyone? I'm honestly asking, cause to me I don't understand how we go from "lets have a place where people can expand their social circle with diverse groups of people" to "You like fried chicken?"
 
Lutherf said:
A Georgia networking event wants to help white people 'Come Meet a Black Person' - CNN

https://www.facebook.com/events/166061020654788/?active_tab=about



Alright.

I'm not going to dispute the statistics. Based on my experience they're probably accurate. I also figure that the organizer's goal is to encourage interaction. That's fine.

However

Why do this as a "Meet a Black person" event? Why make it all about race? Can't you do the same thing with a "Help clean up the park" event? What the hell am I supposed to do at an event like this? Do I pay my $15 and get to ask the black person if he or she really likes fried chicken and basketball? If I cough up another $5 can I touch their hair? What the hell is the point of this!!??

Seriously, if you want people to get together and talk about stuff that matters then build your event around something that matters. This is......I really don't know what it is.
Click to expand...




If you live in Georgia, finding a black person to get to know should not be at all difficult. Most places just take a walk and you'll find that opportunity.


South Dakota, maybe a lot harder.
 
Lutherf said:
Is it safe to assume that you've never tallied up your friends with the intent of determining whether or not your "Friendship Diversity Quotient" is within acceptable PC standards or not? I mean, who does that? Why do they do it?
Click to expand...

I do. In fact I use the census every 10 years and the racial makeup of America to create quotas. Can be pretty awkward when I have to drop a white friend because of demographic changes.
 
Goshin said:
If you live in Georgia, finding a black person to get to know should not be at all difficult. Most places just take a walk and you'll find that opportunity.


South Dakota, maybe a lot harder.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but what about the Eskimos? Why aren't they represented? Argh!
 
TheGoverness said:
I've got plenty of non-white friends. My girlfriend is Hispanic.

I'm good in the diversity department.
Click to expand...

Oh now you're pulling the "I have a Hispanic girlfriend" card

:mrgreen:
 
roughdraft274 said:
So you agree the stats are probably accurate, you agree that they are simply trying to encourage interaction, but the name bothers you?

Let me ask, just to clarify. Do you think it's a worthwhile goal at all to see that peoples social circles are more diverse? Or is that just an incredibly stupid goal that shouldn't matter to anyone? I'm honestly asking, cause to me I don't understand how we go from "lets have a place where people can expand their social circle with diverse groups of people" to "You like fried chicken?"
Click to expand...

I don't consider race as a factor in whether or not someone qualifies as a friend. I tend to be more focused on stuff like whether or not we have similar interests and whether or not they are reasonably trustworthy.
 
I am actually really surprised the statistics are that high. I'm pretty sure I have more non-white friends than white friends... But it does make sense though now that I think about it...

white people are 60-70% of the poulation... so if white people were to pick friends at random it's would be around 60-70% white

and if a black person did the same, they are 13% of the population.... and pick people at random to be friend with, it would 13% black.

but it looks like a lot of people have absolutely NO friends whatsoever of another race O_O.... that's surprising....
 
This is great. Best thing Ive seen all day. I laughed...I smiled...hilarious.
 
Lutherf said:
A Georgia networking event wants to help white people 'Come Meet a Black Person' - CNN

https://www.facebook.com/events/166061020654788/?active_tab=about



Alright.

I'm not going to dispute the statistics. Based on my experience they're probably accurate. I also figure that the organizer's goal is to encourage interaction. That's fine.

However

Why do this as a "Meet a Black person" event? Why make it all about race? Can't you do the same thing with a "Help clean up the park" event? What the hell am I supposed to do at an event like this? Do I pay my $15 and get to ask the black person if he or she really likes fried chicken and basketball? If I cough up another $5 can I touch their hair? What the hell is the point of this!!??

Seriously, if you want people to get together and talk about stuff that matters then build your event around something that matters. This is......I really don't know what it is.
Click to expand...

.
.
.
Lutherf said:
What the hell am I supposed to do at an event like this? Do I pay my $15 and get to ask the black person if he or she really likes fried chicken and basketball? If I cough up another $5 can I touch their hair?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing the idea is to interact with them like anyone else, but not to interact with them like they're a stereotype. The idea, perhaps, is that a person who does this might find out that much like themselves, they find it extremely bizarre to be offered money to have their hair touched by strangers.





I have no comment on the event or idea itself, but.....strange examples. The article does include:

What Moses and Urban MediaMakers hope to accomplish is more than have the cliched "conversation on race," which everyone talks about having, but rarely have. She wants people to connect on a more personal level. "It's a great opportunity to start relationships," she said. "And if you have a relationship with somebody, you are inclined to treat them like yourself. If you don't have that relationship, then you'll only treat them based upon what you may have seen or read somewhere."
 
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Lutherf said:
I don't consider race as a factor in whether or not someone qualifies as a friend. I tend to be more focused on stuff like whether or not we have similar interests and whether or not they are reasonably trustworthy.
Click to expand...

I didn't ask you if face is a factor. Can you answer the actual questions I asked?
 
Lutherf said:
Is it safe to assume that you've never tallied up your friends with the intent of determining whether or not your "Friendship Diversity Quotient" is within acceptable PC standards or not? I mean, who does that? Why do they do it?
Click to expand...

Well, I think something to keep in mind with Gov is that her generation is half non-white. For today's teenagers, they'd almost have to be trying not to have any cross-racial relationships.

Less the case with older people.

Although I get what you're saying about the way this was marketed. It's... unfortunate, certainly.
 
It's pretty ****ing stupid to begin with when you have to think about the skin pigment of your friends.

Don't force your blackness on me, and I promise not to force my whiteness on you.......................................wanna go fishing?
 
Lutherf said:
A Georgia networking event wants to help white people 'Come Meet a Black Person' - CNN

https://www.facebook.com/events/166061020654788/?active_tab=about



Alright.

I'm not going to dispute the statistics. Based on my experience they're probably accurate. I also figure that the organizer's goal is to encourage interaction. That's fine.

However

Why do this as a "Meet a Black person" event? Why make it all about race? Can't you do the same thing with a "Help clean up the park" event? What the hell am I supposed to do at an event like this? Do I pay my $15 and get to ask the black person if he or she really likes fried chicken and basketball? If I cough up another $5 can I touch their hair? What the hell is the point of this!!??

Seriously, if you want people to get together and talk about stuff that matters then build your event around something that matters. This is......I really don't know what it is.
Click to expand...

Why pretend race is not the issue....when race is the issue?

The stated goal of the group is to bring together people of difference races, who are interested and open to meeting people of a different race. Why pretend it's about cleaning up a park (or whatever)? That would be dumb.....the very kind of unnecessary "political correct" nonsense that most conservatives love to complain about.

You don't reduce racism and bigotry (which are not the same things) by pretending to ignore race. Everyone recognizes race. Seeing race doesn't equate with being a racist. And anyone who says they don't see race is a liar.

I really don't understand your confusion here.
 
roughdraft274 said:
I didn't ask you if face is a factor. Can you answer the actual questions I asked?
Click to expand...

I figured my answer covered your question. I don't consider racial diversity to be the least bit important in picking friends.
 
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