Okay, White 'Murrica....

[Davka]

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

No, he said nothing about a "perceived injustice".

Come on, you're smarter than this. The perceived injustice was that you let the other guy go first. Which he most definitely did reference.

Which you clearly know full well, because you yourself referenced it right after denying that it existed:

And I wonder what's more unjust, having to wait a couple of minutes to pump one's gas because another car was in front of yours, or having your character slurred because of your ethnicity?

Does it really matter?

All I'm pointing out here is that his assumption was not based only on the fact that you are white.

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.

And that's a fair point. But I think it's also fair to regard that information as one metric on the intensity of the bigotry at hand. And it certainly points out that bigotry is not a regional affair in America.

No, it certainly isn't. I have found, however, that people in the south (especially the deep South) are far more likely to voice racist opinions. maybe they're just more honest. Or maybe it's more socially-acceptable in the South.

That doesn't mean there aren't just as many racists elsewhere, it just means that Southern culture is more tolerant of racist speech.

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.

Well, judging someone as probably racist because he drives a pickup truck and wears cowboy boots doesn't seem to make much more sense than judging someone as probably criminal because he drives a dropped 67 Impala and cops a sag with his jeans, now does it?

It makes exactly the same amount of sense.

We are pattern-seeking animals by nature. And the way we choose to present ourselves in public says something about us. Looking like a typical Southern or Western bigot doesn't mean that's what you are, but it does mean that you identify with at least some characteristics of that group, and that you clearly don't mind being identified with them.

Looking like a "gangsta" doesn't mean you're a criminal, but it does mean that you identify with at least some characteristics of that group, and that you clearly don't mind being identified with them.

We can complain about stereotyping all we want, but that won't make it go away. So choose your stereotype carefully, because you will be judged by it.

[Thumpalumpacus]

No, he said nothing about a "perceived injustice".

Come on, you're smarter than this. The perceived injustice was that you let the other guy go first. Which he most definitely did reference.

And you're smarter than this. He said that I was acting unjustly because I was white, the same race as the other guy, when that in fact had nothing to do with my suggestion. The incident merely brought that attitude of his to the surface.

Which you clearly know full well, because you yourself referenced it right after denying that it existed:

And I wonder what's more unjust, having to wait a couple of minutes to pump one's gas because another car was in front of yours, or having your character slurred because of your ethnicity?

Does it really matter?

I am arguing the point on your terms, not accepting them as truth. It's a rhetorical device, not an admission of your veracity. In other words, if you think being forced to wait a few minutes to pump gas is unjust, then what do you think of the comparative injustice of having your character slurred based on irrelevant criteria? Which do you think cuts deeper? That's my point.

All I'm pointing out here is that his assumption was not based only on the fact that you are white.

And you'd be wrong. His assumption was based on my skin color. His anger was based on his being inconvenienced.

No, it certainly isn't.

Why not? Don't you think that someone so bigoted as to commit a crime shows a higher level of commitment to his own hatreds than someone who is simply an ignorant asshole but keeps it to himself?

I have found, however, that people in the south (especially the deep South) are far more likely to voice racist opinions. maybe they're just more honest. Or maybe it's more socially-acceptable in the South.

My own opinion, and it's only an opinion, is that it's considered more acceptable here, mainly because it's a less-cosmopolitan region of the country than either the Boston/New York/DC corridor (which still has a high amount of bigotry) or the West Coast.

That doesn't mean there aren't just as many racists elsewhere, it just means that Southern culture is more tolerant of racist speech.

Perhaps.

Well, judging someone as probably racist because he drives a pickup truck and wears cowboy boots doesn't seem to make much more sense than judging someone as probably criminal because he drives a dropped 67 Impala and cops a sag with his jeans, now does it?

It makes exactly the same amount of sense.

To wit, none.

So choose your stereotype carefully, because you will be judged by it.

Rather than choose stereotypes, I prefer to challenge them ... and recognize them in myself, so that I don't make ungenerous assumptions about strangers that aren't borne out by the facts.

[Davka]

Whatever. You're clearly more interested in being butthurt than in honest conversation. Have fun with that.

[Minimalist]

[Minimalist]

[Thumpalumpacus]

Whatever. You're clearly more interested in being butthurt than in honest conversation. Have fun with that.

No, I'm not butthurt. I'm not accepting your argumentation, based as it is on multiple assumptions which you're clearly unwilling to question, and ending with a "whatever". You haven't answered my questions, even as I've tried to answer yours. "Honest conversation", indeed!

Believe it or not, I don't give two shits what you, yourself, think of me. I was hoping for a good discussion -- clearly naive on my part. I'll know better with you, going forward.

[paulpablo]

[Minimalist]

You missed the point, Paul. It is not just the cops. The whole system is rampant with racism.

Put it another way. Let's say Sarah Culhane was poor and black. Do you really think she would get the same deal from the D.A.?

Really?

[paulpablo]