Racism, will it ever be eradicated?
Discussion
Promted by this thread LINK
Legally, every person, in this country at least, is treated exactly the same.
Why do we still have racism? It seems to me there are still people out there who view people differently because of their culture and/or colour of skin. Is this just a simple lack of intelligence and understanding, or is there a deeper thought process behind it.
With reference to the term 'pikey' it does seem it's a culture that has an inherrant dislike by the vast majority of law abiding citizens in this country, but is there really substance behind this, or is it just something that's been bred over the years?
I have no statistics to hand, but in my town, there is a travellers site that's been there years, and yet, very few people are even aware of it, so they can't all be bad.
Scum are scum, there are bad people of every different race and religion.
Is there a solution?
PS
I'm not in any way suggesting the people in the above thread were racist, but it did just prompt some thoughts.
Keep it serious people, otherwise this will be locked very quickly, it's a sensitive subject, sadly.
Legally, every person, in this country at least, is treated exactly the same.
Why do we still have racism? It seems to me there are still people out there who view people differently because of their culture and/or colour of skin. Is this just a simple lack of intelligence and understanding, or is there a deeper thought process behind it.
With reference to the term 'pikey' it does seem it's a culture that has an inherrant dislike by the vast majority of law abiding citizens in this country, but is there really substance behind this, or is it just something that's been bred over the years?
I have no statistics to hand, but in my town, there is a travellers site that's been there years, and yet, very few people are even aware of it, so they can't all be bad.
Scum are scum, there are bad people of every different race and religion.
Is there a solution?
PS
I'm not in any way suggesting the people in the above thread were racist, but it did just prompt some thoughts.
Keep it serious people, otherwise this will be locked very quickly, it's a sensitive subject, sadly.
No. Not for a long time. Racism/prejudice are not an issue so long as you do not act on those issues or try to provoke others to do so. Indeed If you are aware of your racist or prejudice views then you are probably (so long as you don't act on them) a more balanced individual that those that deny they have them but actually do.
I think everyone has some form of prejudice in them based on up bringing and experience.
I think everyone has some form of prejudice in them based on up bringing and experience.
dirty boy said:
Why do we still have racism? It seems to me there are still people out there who view people differently because of their culture and/or colour of skin. Is this just a simple lack of intelligence and understanding, or is there a deeper thought process behind it.
Because predjudice is one of our most natural reactions. Racism is just a form of predjudice that is no different than homophobia or chubberism. Nothing to do with a lack of intelligence, we all judge people based on our preconceptions.If we were to completely abondon our national identitiy and allow the UK to become a pure melting pot with every race equally represented and evenly dispersed then racism might end, but it would only be replaced with something else.
Legally, everybody is NOT treated the same. Seeing as the thread you linked to is the "Pikey" thread, the Govt. recently passed legislation where they are treated differently for planning permission.
Many people pointed out in that same thread that they don't have a problem if ALL people are treated the same within the law.
By making Travelers a racial minority (which they clearly are not), then it just makes the problem of labeling and racism worse, not better.
Many people pointed out in that same thread that they don't have a problem if ALL people are treated the same within the law.
By making Travelers a racial minority (which they clearly are not), then it just makes the problem of labeling and racism worse, not better.
The Wookie said:
Personally I've had far more bad experiences with Pikeys than positive ones, and thus would now happily refrain from pissing on one of the robbing b
ds if they were on fire.
If that makes me a racist, then so be it, but I don't acknowledge their status as a race.
That isn't racism. It's "lifestyleism".ds if they were on fire.If that makes me a racist, then so be it, but I don't acknowledge their status as a race.
No. I do not think it will.
Because even if you remove all *overt* racism (so we all act fairly in terms of the law, never use UN-PC language etc) you still have to overcome early socialisation experiences, family influence and environmental experiential impacts which are almost impossible to eradicate.
Also, you might, (in theory), experience numerous occasions of shoddy driving, only to find it's an Asian driving and you might (in theory) form an opinion that Asians can't drive. But you won't be able to say so because it's racist - but you CAN still form the opinion that old people or women can't drive (on the same observation) but that is OK.
Then we're getting into the whole positive discrimination territory. You have 10 applicants for a vacancy. 1 candidate is black but is not the strongest candidate and you have no black employees in your organisation and your HR have received a pack on descrimination in the workplace. What do you do?
It's impossible.
Because even if you remove all *overt* racism (so we all act fairly in terms of the law, never use UN-PC language etc) you still have to overcome early socialisation experiences, family influence and environmental experiential impacts which are almost impossible to eradicate.
Also, you might, (in theory), experience numerous occasions of shoddy driving, only to find it's an Asian driving and you might (in theory) form an opinion that Asians can't drive. But you won't be able to say so because it's racist - but you CAN still form the opinion that old people or women can't drive (on the same observation) but that is OK.
Then we're getting into the whole positive discrimination territory. You have 10 applicants for a vacancy. 1 candidate is black but is not the strongest candidate and you have no black employees in your organisation and your HR have received a pack on descrimination in the workplace. What do you do?
It's impossible.
People are prejudiced, we all make assumptions based on what we see and hear, you do it when you decide someone is more or less inteligent than you based on what they sound like. Prejusices are hard wired into everyone as we are competing for jobs, money, partners etc and people love to have a reason they failed to get what they deserved.
I'm not racist, but I definitely have at least some prejudices which are at odds with my general attitude of "let people do what they want as long as they don't harm others".
My dad had an interesting attitude towards his fathers racism. Both of them were lovers of music, grandad played piano and organ, and my dad was a guitarist. When he was young, dad decided to get formal lessons - from a black guy. Caused grandad no end of problems, as he couldn't quite figure out what to do or say - begrudgingly appreciated his musical ability, but ultimately hated him just down to the colour of his skin.
My dad had an interesting attitude towards his fathers racism. Both of them were lovers of music, grandad played piano and organ, and my dad was a guitarist. When he was young, dad decided to get formal lessons - from a black guy. Caused grandad no end of problems, as he couldn't quite figure out what to do or say - begrudgingly appreciated his musical ability, but ultimately hated him just down to the colour of his skin.
HD Adam said:
Legally, everybody is NOT treated the same. Seeing as the thread you linked to is the "Pikey" thread, the Govt. recently passed legislation where they are treated differently for planning permission.
Many people pointed out in that same thread that they don't have a problem if ALL people are treated the same within the law.
By making Travelers a racial minority (which they clearly are not), then it just makes the problem of labeling and racism worse, not better.
^ thisMany people pointed out in that same thread that they don't have a problem if ALL people are treated the same within the law.
By making Travelers a racial minority (which they clearly are not), then it just makes the problem of labeling and racism worse, not better.
If someone points out to me that they are different because their grandfather came from a different land they are celebrating their culture.
If I point out to the same person they are different because their grandfather came from a different land I am a racist.
No racism will never be eliminated, it may well change, a lot of white kids are culturally black nowadays.
If I point out to the same person they are different because their grandfather came from a different land I am a racist.
No racism will never be eliminated, it may well change, a lot of white kids are culturally black nowadays.
I doubt you'll ever get rid of it. Up to a point, it's natural.
You might hide it but you won't get rid of it.
I use this factual example. My son attends pre-school with other 4 year olds. One of the children in his class had to pick a partner to do an excercise from a choice of a white girl named Emily or an Asian lad called Arif. The boy innocently picked Emily and cited the reason as being "because I'm the same colour". Racism in it's purest, innocent form ?
You might hide it but you won't get rid of it.
I use this factual example. My son attends pre-school with other 4 year olds. One of the children in his class had to pick a partner to do an excercise from a choice of a white girl named Emily or an Asian lad called Arif. The boy innocently picked Emily and cited the reason as being "because I'm the same colour". Racism in it's purest, innocent form ?
Im sorry, but calling someone a Pikey is not racist in my book, is calling a Chav racist too? or a Boy Racer?
To me a pikey is not someone from Romaina, they are gypsies, A pikey is someone what wants the best of both worlds, and doesn't care about anything or anyone else outside his actual world.
Now, im my past life I have had dealings with pikeys, and trust me, they are not to be trusted at all.. They will go anything to do what they require to get what they want, they have no morals..
I have also had dealings with travellers, they were more honest.
To me a pikey is not someone from Romaina, they are gypsies, A pikey is someone what wants the best of both worlds, and doesn't care about anything or anyone else outside his actual world.
Now, im my past life I have had dealings with pikeys, and trust me, they are not to be trusted at all.. They will go anything to do what they require to get what they want, they have no morals..
I have also had dealings with travellers, they were more honest.
People like people like themselves. One of the first things you learn in selling is to match your client in little ways. They have kids, mention your own....they like dogs, show him a photo of yours (your dog). I saw a guy the other day and within 10 mins it turned out we went to the same school and lived on the same street (albeit 25 years apart)...that was it, sale closed!
The point being....similarity breeds comfort, people will always gravitate to those like themselves. So, at some level, there will always be "isms" because people will always be different. If we all looked the same then you'd fine all the Marks, Michael's and Marys would hang out and the Roberts, Richards and rachel's would hang out!
The point being....similarity breeds comfort, people will always gravitate to those like themselves. So, at some level, there will always be "isms" because people will always be different. If we all looked the same then you'd fine all the Marks, Michael's and Marys would hang out and the Roberts, Richards and rachel's would hang out!
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