Okay, White 'Murrica....

[Davka]

And you think I lack this perspective ... why?

Because you're a white guy complaining about how hard it is to be racially stereotyped?

Three things:

Do you assume all white guys from Texas are bigots?

I observe that there is a higher instance of open bigotry among white guys from Texas than there is among the population at large.

[quote='Davka' pid='852876' dateline='1421868611']But it also means that his assumption was not "just because you're white." It was because you were white and supporting a perceived injustice. In other words, the assumptions are coming not only from your skin color, but from "white + X."

Wrong. He said that I was for letting the other guy go first only because I shared the same race.

Which means he was assuming you were bigoted because you were white plus supporting a perceived injustice.

Let's not pretend that stereotypes exist in a vacuum. Speaking in a Southern accent increases the statistical likelihood that you are racist.

I don't speak with a Southern accent.

You sure are one for assumptions, aren't you?

I didn't say you did. I was listing a number of traits which go with certain stereotypes. I didn't assume that any of those traits applied to you.

According to the FBI, the three leading states for hate crimes are California, New York, and Michigan.

I don't think hate crime statistics tell us anything about how racist an area is. The highest percentage of White Supremacists is in Idaho, but they didn't even make the list.

I realize that Southerners - especially those who are anything but racist good ol' boys - resent these stereotypes, just as any other group resents negative stereotypes. Thing is, no matter which group you belong to, you're gonna carry some baggage. Kinda sucks, but there it is.

So why is complaining about that -- expressing that resentment -- wrong?

It's not wrong, it's just kind of silly. Reminds me of an old joke: "I had no shoes, and I was sad - until I saw a woman who had no credit-card."

One of the things i find most people never realize is this: no matter what you wear or how you look, you are in costume.
Choose your costume with care.

Would you speak more clearly here?

People will judge you by your appearance. By choosing your appearance carefully, you can - to some extent - control how people judge you.

"Appearance" is more than clothing, too. House, car, neighborhood - they all factor in.