Coming back from Koh Samet yesterday I found myself on a speedboat with a group of Chinese people amongst other nationalities.

When it came to getting off the boat at the pier, I decided to stay back and let the Chinese off first because experience tells me that they are unlikely to give any consideration to their fellow passengers and push and shove to get off first. My concerns where founded when some poor unsuspecting chap nearly took a dive into the water following a side swipe from some Chinese guy who just couldn't wait his turn to get off.

Afterwards I got thinking: I deliberately chose a cause of action based entirely on the race and culture of those Chinese people without knowing anything else about them first which by definition would make my decision a racist one, yet my decision also prevented the possible incident of either myself, my wife or my daughter from taking a potentially tragic fall into the water.

So, where to draw the line?

Absolutely, it was racism.

Technically it was racism.

It just proves that racism should not always carry a negative connotation.

I like to think that I am not racist, in the PC, modern, commonly accepted definition, but I do make generalisations based on race or nationality.

I agree with your view on queue ettiquette, Chinese version.

I have my own....Asian drivers.... grrrrrr...unless they are 2nd gen Kiwis. Particularly Korean and Chinese.

I think you draw the line instinctively. If you really are not "racist" (in the common sense of a bigot), then you know, as YOU know, that it is not harmful or derogatory racism. You might even argue that it is factual, therefore beyond reproach of any negative accusation.

I am not so so sure it is rascism.

You made a decision based on the information that was known to you at the time and acted on it, that's being clever, not racist.

They just happened to be Chinese.

Other decisions you will make will be based on similar information, or lack of information perhaps, if you consider those decisions racist, you will fast become xenophobic.

A few definitions of Racism exist. I think this definition is as good as any

"a belief that human races have distinctive characteristics that determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one’s race is superior and has the right to control others."

The last bit in red is the key as to wether your racist or not. IMO.

In this instance I wouldn't say you thoght you was being superior. Just honestly aware of the Chinese characteristics. Sleep easy.

I used to love the Hong Kong underground railway. I used to wait till the train came and body surf into the carriage.

Just ride that wave of elbowing shoving kneeing flesh into the train.

Some people don't know what good clean fun is.

I used to love the Hong Kong underground railway. I used to wait till the train came and body surf into the carriage.

Just ride that wave of elbowing shoving kneeing flesh into the train.

Some people don't know what good clean fun is.

I remember those days in HK....working in the bloody humid heat and walking for miles with my briefcase, all sweaty, and no taxi around willing to take me. They don't like sweating whities

And than....finally...aaaaahhhhhhhh the MTR station in Mong Kok or even further away...the lovely cool airconditioning and the SPACE...the space I got since the Chinese don't like sweaty Whities....

They just move away from that sweaty white man and make a circle, allowing me to enjoy that lovely cool air

LaoPo

I used to love the Hong Kong underground railway. I used to wait till the train came and body surf into the carriage.

Just ride that wave of elbowing shoving kneeing flesh into the train.

Some people don't know what good clean fun is.

I remember those days in HK....working in the bloody humid heat and walking for miles with my briefcase, all sweaty, and no taxi around willing to take me. They don't like sweating whities

And than....finally...aaaaahhhhhhhh the MTR station in Mong Kok or even further away...the lovely cool airconditioning and the SPACE...the space I got since the Chinese don't like sweaty Whities....

They just move away from that sweaty white man and make a circle, allowing me to enjoy that lovely cool air

LaoPo

I noticed the same thing years ago on the Moscow metro & buses. Old ladies not wanting to sit near the foreigner. The foreigner who was probably the only one who had showered that day and was using deodorant. Fine, more room for me.

I used to love the Hong Kong underground railway. I used to wait till the train came and body surf into the carriage.

Just ride that wave of elbowing shoving kneeing flesh into the train.

Some people don't know what good clean fun is.

I remember those days in HK....working in the bloody humid heat and walking for miles with my briefcase, all sweaty, and no taxi around willing to take me. They don't like sweating whities

And than....finally...aaaaahhhhhhhh the MTR station in Mong Kok or even further away...the lovely cool airconditioning and the SPACE...the space I got since the Chinese don't like sweaty Whities....

They just move away from that sweaty white man and make a circle, allowing me to enjoy that lovely cool air

LaoPo

It's the umbrellas on rainy days that I remember most. All about eye level.