MDchanic
Connoisseur d'Junque
One more thing I would like to say, because I believe this is an interesting thread, and I also expect it to be locked, and because I think it applies not just to me but to everyone here.
I was brought up to believe that acting in a way that is bad for one person or good for another, because of his race or religion, is bad.
Thinking bad things about him isn't good, but if you think bad things, but do good things, you've got a pass.
We all have a tendency to be racist (or whatever-ist, really damn-near-everything-ist), because it is human nature to look askance at anyone who is different or from a different "group."
None of us is without sin in this area, and he who claims to be is lying, just like he who claims he doesn't... you know.
The trick is to be a decent person, and to give everyone a fair shot. I try to do that.
I was raised to avoid expressing racist ideas in public, because it is rude and gross, just like letting your butt hang out of your drawers. You've got a butt. You don't need to show everyone.
Now, I was also raised by my grandfather, who was as old school dyed-in-the-wool racist as you will ever see. He had words for groups of people I'd never even heard of.
He would be happy to tell you, and keep telling you, about every group, and exactly what they did, and how, and to whom.
I have to tell you, even as a child, it got tedious. He wasn't happy, and he wasn't easy to listen to. And after hearing enough of what he had to say, it wasn't hard to see how none of it made any damned sense, even as a little kid. He was a great guy, he was generous, he loved his family, but he was a good example of why it's better not to be a real, committed racist.
So what's my point? I think that a certain amount of racism is inevitable, but I think it's shameful and not to be aired in public, kind of like any other sin. You may be messing around on your wife, but you know it's wrong, and you don't bring your goumada to church on Sunday.
I also think the ability to speak freely is vital to all civilized people, and that that includes the ability to be rude, or be racist, or be a jerk. I don't think people should do that, but I don't think they should be out and out stopped either. I think that if we, or any people, are going to be able to stick together as a country, we need to be able to communicate with each other, and that part of that is being honest, but part is also being polite, or at least civil, and that the hard part is finding the right balance, which seems to have been particularly hard in recent years, but that that doesn't mean that it isn't vitally important that we try.
Personally, I don't mind if someone posts something blatantly (or subtly) racist from time to time. I may chuckle or I may roll my eyes, but I won't be bothered by it, and I don't think anyone else should either. I'm sure that this forum has some areas where people post political stuff all day that I don't agree with. I don't like to argue on the internet, and I don't like reading stuff I see as dumb, so I just don't go there. Why would I?
BUT, this is a private site, and as such, like any other private place, it has the right to set limits on what people who come there can do. So even if I don't mind seeing something a bit too far-out from time to time, a site owner may want to avoid reputational problems that could arise from something that is, shall we say, blatantly racist being noticed by the wrong person and massively amplified, and that is his (or her) right.
Also, considering how discussions can go in some places, such as Twitter, YouTube discussions, news site discussions, etc., you can't blame a site owner for trying to keep discussions focused on what we agree on, and away from things that might spark hostility. It wouldn't take long for the "paying customers" to wander off somewhere else.
So what? We should all try to have thicker skins (a few of us in this world more than others), but we should also all try to avoid offending others for no reason.
We are (almost) all Americans here, brothers and sisters, heirs to a great, 250 year experiment that has honestly worked out pretty damned well, but that can only work if we all pitch in to help it along, rather than undermine it. So, live and let live, but try to bring people together more than push them apart. Because we want to pass this on to our children and grandchildren, in good shape, and we can't do that if all we do is try to piss each other off for fun.
- Eric
I was brought up to believe that acting in a way that is bad for one person or good for another, because of his race or religion, is bad.
Thinking bad things about him isn't good, but if you think bad things, but do good things, you've got a pass.
We all have a tendency to be racist (or whatever-ist, really damn-near-everything-ist), because it is human nature to look askance at anyone who is different or from a different "group."
None of us is without sin in this area, and he who claims to be is lying, just like he who claims he doesn't... you know.
The trick is to be a decent person, and to give everyone a fair shot. I try to do that.
I was raised to avoid expressing racist ideas in public, because it is rude and gross, just like letting your butt hang out of your drawers. You've got a butt. You don't need to show everyone.
Now, I was also raised by my grandfather, who was as old school dyed-in-the-wool racist as you will ever see. He had words for groups of people I'd never even heard of.
He would be happy to tell you, and keep telling you, about every group, and exactly what they did, and how, and to whom.
I have to tell you, even as a child, it got tedious. He wasn't happy, and he wasn't easy to listen to. And after hearing enough of what he had to say, it wasn't hard to see how none of it made any damned sense, even as a little kid. He was a great guy, he was generous, he loved his family, but he was a good example of why it's better not to be a real, committed racist.
So what's my point? I think that a certain amount of racism is inevitable, but I think it's shameful and not to be aired in public, kind of like any other sin. You may be messing around on your wife, but you know it's wrong, and you don't bring your goumada to church on Sunday.
I also think the ability to speak freely is vital to all civilized people, and that that includes the ability to be rude, or be racist, or be a jerk. I don't think people should do that, but I don't think they should be out and out stopped either. I think that if we, or any people, are going to be able to stick together as a country, we need to be able to communicate with each other, and that part of that is being honest, but part is also being polite, or at least civil, and that the hard part is finding the right balance, which seems to have been particularly hard in recent years, but that that doesn't mean that it isn't vitally important that we try.
Personally, I don't mind if someone posts something blatantly (or subtly) racist from time to time. I may chuckle or I may roll my eyes, but I won't be bothered by it, and I don't think anyone else should either. I'm sure that this forum has some areas where people post political stuff all day that I don't agree with. I don't like to argue on the internet, and I don't like reading stuff I see as dumb, so I just don't go there. Why would I?
BUT, this is a private site, and as such, like any other private place, it has the right to set limits on what people who come there can do. So even if I don't mind seeing something a bit too far-out from time to time, a site owner may want to avoid reputational problems that could arise from something that is, shall we say, blatantly racist being noticed by the wrong person and massively amplified, and that is his (or her) right.
Also, considering how discussions can go in some places, such as Twitter, YouTube discussions, news site discussions, etc., you can't blame a site owner for trying to keep discussions focused on what we agree on, and away from things that might spark hostility. It wouldn't take long for the "paying customers" to wander off somewhere else.
So what? We should all try to have thicker skins (a few of us in this world more than others), but we should also all try to avoid offending others for no reason.
We are (almost) all Americans here, brothers and sisters, heirs to a great, 250 year experiment that has honestly worked out pretty damned well, but that can only work if we all pitch in to help it along, rather than undermine it. So, live and let live, but try to bring people together more than push them apart. Because we want to pass this on to our children and grandchildren, in good shape, and we can't do that if all we do is try to piss each other off for fun.
- Eric
