h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi

Who thinks we should all talk openly and honestly about racism??

I think it would do the world a lot of good if those who were racist openly and frankly discussed their views. Nothing sickens me more than the lounge bar racist joke teller who then at work is Mr "oh so politically correct" and talks of the fact that "some of his best friends are.......". Wouldn't it be best if at least we all knew where this ignorant hatred came from? Or is that the mystery that has let racism linger for so long.........?

I went into a real estate agent with an aboriginal friend of mine. There were places advertised in the window but they told him they had nothing. He didn't do anything about it and wouldn't let me do anything either but with some help I did embarass them. Another friend of mine rang them the next day and asked about the same sort of places. They were very encouraging and told him they had some available. He replied "If you have some for me today, why didn't you have any for my friend yesterday?" He hung up on their stunned silence.

Right on Ythika

I reckon the time has come for us all to make some kind of response when these sort of incidents occur.

For far too long, these small incidents occur where an overtly racist thing has happened and to keep the peace and not cause a fuss all the parties involved just walk away from the issue. Like your friend wanted to just ignore what happened ....probably because these small "problems" have been occurring all his life. But its not right.

I think people think small acts of racism are OK but the problem is is that if you have to contend with three or four incidents every day then it changes your perspective on yourself and it changes the way you see everyone else in your soceity. It couldnt help but have a detramental effect.

Byrnesnight

This sort of stuff happens in the UK as well.

Members of my family have been refused to be shown properties by some estate agents. They have then gone on the web and rang up, or dealed with some Saturday staff in the same office and suprise surprise they suddenly have been allowed to view the property.

However the estate agent in one case then tried to stop the home owners from selling the property to one of them even though my cousin was paying the exact asking price and the home owners were very happy to sell to them.

Hi

This sort of thing seems to be very common everywhere.

However, I dont think the people who do these things are "really" racist. It comes back to the guy in the pub who will tell racist jokes. If he was in the company of of people of other nationalities or colour he wouldn't tell the jokes and more than likely if he continued to spend the night in the pub and would leave thinking he'd made new friends. Its really a matter of communication or something......dont you think?

BFS

I disagree. We are all subject to racial stereotypes and also all subject to the jokes. I heard someone telling a joke about lots of Indian young people going out for an English meal and ordering the blandest thing on the menu. If you understand British culture you'll get the joke.

I'm British and I thought it was funny. If I were that bloke in the pub I wouldn't tell my "racist" joke to begin with, but I'd hope to be able to when I felt comfortable in the "other nationality's" company, hoping they'd laugh with me and maybe tell me a few more jokes poking fun at British stereotypes.

Not selling someone a house is not on. However, we do have to be careful, without someone "white" walking in next and ask the same question, we don't know that we aren't imagining racism that *may* not be there. Telling stories like that *can* make things worse not better.



PS I am NOT in denial, I know these things do happen, I just don't know how often and Chinese Whispers can be a dangerous game.

Hi Bambi

I think Ythika was pointing out a valid example of a racist incident occurring and not passing a Chinese whisper.

As you said yourself. You know these things occur.

The kind of joke I was referring to would not be the kind that pokes fun at stereotype but is blatantly offensive and derogatory. The point I'm trying to make is that these kind of remarks are generally made out of earshot, have you ever been in the situation where this kind of joke was being told?

BFS

BFS, Hi.

Of course I wasn't accusing Ythika (or anyone else) of passing on rumours or falsly accusing someone, that's why I added the PS. But we all know the fact that fish have a 3/4/5/6/7/whatever second memory and no-one seems to know where it came from. ANd everyone knows a different number of seconds too

The point I'm trying to make is that it's possible that in some cases problems are exagerated because context, accuracy and rumour conspire to make it look worse than it is.

Yes, I've been the butt of "jokes" - I was called 'chocolate face' at school and I know some of the people I work with say things I consider offensive about others behind their backs. Not necessarily racist or discriminatory, but offensive nevertheless. So I'm sure they do the same to me. And what do I do about it? Well, now a days I keep my head down and when the opportunity arose I reported it to the boss. Because of where I work and the situation, there wasn't an immediate response, but I things will change over the next 6 months or so and to be honest I prefer it that way.

Hi Bambi,

Apologies for not replying sooner.......

As you say we can all dislike other people and even be offensive about them behind their backs but that to a degree is just human nature. People will fall out because of natural differences in their personalities that cause them to conflict but its this blanket hatred of others - complete prejudice -that I find ... ..so pathetic. These people are too stupid to give themselves an opportunity to broaden their horizons....its fine disliking people, but you 've got to know them first

BFS

I heard a story about a black woman in Denmark phoning a company for a possible job. She gave her real last name which was African. They said no immediately. Then the woman called up the same company giving a Danish last name, and guess what...yep, she got the offer. Pretty sad actually.

But I think sometimes we shouldn't go crazy of the slightest hints of racism, specifically jokes. I mean, some jokes can hurt but a lot is just good-hearted comments. There are a difference between 'poking fun at' and discriminating. I love it when people can make fun of their own nationality/race/culture but I don't hesitate laughing when it comes from somebody else (I LOVE 'Godness Gracious Me', which I think most British people would know, and those who don't...WATCH it!). In Denmark there are tonnes of jokes about Swedes, but it isn't suppose to be hurting people, only to make people laugh.

So for those who critisise 'racist' jokes, just remember that there is some kind of border between the acceptable and unacceptable.

Racist joke

I work in a Scandanavian company so I know this one....

How can you tell an extrovert Finn from an introvert one? He looks at "your" toes when he's talking to you....

Its a joke the Swedes are very fond of telling.

However, I think this kind of joke is very light hearted, the point I was really trying to make at the start of this conversation is that I think we would all be a lot better off if racist people were at least openly racist and we all knew the reason why they were rather than they behave in one way in a work situation and then behave completely differently when they are in the pub.

Is this a good idea..??

BFS

I dont mind when my friends make fun about the colour of my skin or hair and they are not offende when I do the same to them.

Howevr I am alarmed and offended when I hear a stranger making similar jokes. Its because we live in a world where people are often killed, beaten, imprisoned denied housing or jobs based on the colour of their skin. It is this situation of oppression which makes racist humour unacceptable in the public arena, because it can give the impression that real racist problems are some sort of joke.

What's the difference between a dead cat in the road and a dead white/black/asian child in the road?

There are skid marks infront of the cat.

Hi bb

I can see your point. The problem though with this joke is that if you said "What's the difference between a dead cat in the road and your boss in the road?"

Everyone would laugh at the joke. Everyone has some kind of "problem" with their boss so they can see why to run over your boss has some comedy value. It would be a funny joke.

To dislike somebody of another colour just because they are of another colour not because you know them or have any reason to dislike them is just ignorant. It creates a division between people where one didn't need to exist.

I havent got a problem with two people disliking each other if they just dislike each other be they white/black/green ............. but to dislike someone you don't know is just dumb.... It must be a sign of stupidity.

BFS