tayls123

is racial profiling the same as being a racist...

for example...americans are notorious for making jokes about the state of british teeth...is this racist?

if i make fun of...lets say arabs for being predominantly lazy...does that make me racist or observant?

Blue Cat

interesting, as not all Arabs are lazy, I would say you are generalising

tayls123

so you wouldn't consider it racist?

Blue Cat

no I don't think I would, it is no different than saying scousers are all tea leafs, it's a generalisation

kittycat1

Really? I've not heard that before? whats wrong with our teeth?

tayls123

Kittycat... its a staple of american humour to take the michael out of the general british public's state of dental hygiene...

Boomhauer

It depends....

Too lazy right now to explain things

Yup Americans make fun of Brit's teeth all the time. All in good fun though, doesn't come across as vindictive. They also joke about the French and to a lesser extent continental Euros not being too concerned with personal hygiene.

tayls123

so if someone comments on all asian women in the middle east being 'pros' or all indians are stupid...does this cross the line? where is the line between generalisation

Note: i dont hold these views, trying to understand why people feel its okay to make comments like this and still not consider themselves racist...

kittycat1

hmm- I thought that was the chinese... and as for the americans don't they all have ludicrously white teeth? those in glass houses.

Well the irish are thick, the scots are tight, the welsh shag sheep, the french- well they are just french.

Personally I think the world is far too international now to make these sweeping statements, although having said that every scottish man I've known has short arms and deep pockets

Blue Cat

well then they would be stupid as we all know that all Asian women are not Pro's, and all Indian's are not stupid, so that is generalising. Do you consider some one as being racist for making these comments?

tayls123

and the english?? interestingly enough you missed them out...

Boomhauer

The English are the sheep

tayls123

trawling through some of the comments littered throughout this board, i see a lot of 'generalisation'...the same people seem to be quick to defend themselves as not racist.

the dictionary defines racism as: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

so again (and im only asking, not excusing) do you think its racist to say arabs are lazy? or indians are stupid?

Blue Cat

and your point is?

tayls123

thought i made my point pretty clear?? im wondering if you consider it to be racist to make a derogatory statement about a nationality of people?