Are People Here Racist?

[MrRealDeal]

If we're not allowed to flaunt our stupidity and ignorance, and make ill-founded statements, then surely the same restrictions should apply to our better-educated and more intelligent peers as well, who should be prevented from exhibiting their common sense. Why should only racists and bigots be denied freedom of speech?

SC

It seems interesting enough but I must be missing something ...... I don't see where the non ignnorant people are allowed to be ignorant or where the ignorant are being denied common sence posts ? ingnorance is denied from both sides and both sides are allowed to post common sence ..... I think ..... what did I miss ?

[muythai2013]

people are calling me stupid amongst other things for starting this thread, did notice some deleted post's yesterday for derogatory and racist comments towards thai people.

And other posts were deleted for derogatory and racist comments towards farangs.

Fair enough

so what, i cant point one thing out because of another.

[StreetCowboy]

If we're not allowed to flaunt our stupidity and ignorance, and make ill-founded statements, then surely the same restrictions should apply to our better-educated and more intelligent peers as well, who should be prevented from exhibiting their common sense. Why should only racists and bigots be denied freedom of speech?

SC

It seems interesting enough but I must be missing something ...... I don't see where the non ignnorant people are allowed to be ignorant or where the ignorant are being denied common sence posts ? ingnorance is denied from both sides and both sides are allowed to post common sence ..... I think ..... what did I miss ?

And who's to judge who is ignorant or sensible? Why should the stupid be denied their opinion while the intelligent can express their's?

Personally, if it was up to me, only posters who could write coherent English with a reasonable accuracy in their spelling and grammar would be allowed to post. Kenwhitameenanat, Jimmy?

SC

[Dancealot]

And who's to judge who is ignorant or sensible? Why should the stupid be denied their opinion while the intelligent can express their's?

Personally, if it was up to me, only posters who could write coherent English with a reasonable accuracy in their spelling and grammar would be allowed to post. Kenwhitameenanat, Jimmy?

SC

Good point about judging. Let's not forget the issue at hand has so many different flowing criteria it becomes unclear for the common man to judge what is right or wrong. Even simple judgments like good or bad become trivial depending on where you are.

[smokie36]

I treat everyone equally badly simply based upon my mood.

Sometimes I even exhibit signs of empathy and even happiness.

Just don't expect to see much of it on this forum.

[Dancealot]

I treat everyone equally badly simply based upon my mood.

Sometimes I even exhibit signs of empathy and even happiness.

Just don't expect to see much of it on this forum.

I saw it. For you exhibit-ed that a lot.

[maxme]

For those who like to express views about certain ethnic groups, I would suggest learning how to spell racist first.

If some posters describe people of a certain ethnic group as having general characteristics, general intelligence levels, general behaviour patterns and general skills or capability limitations, than yes, they are racist.

There is no other way to describe these attitudes.

There is a world of difference between being down right insulting and articulating a few facts by personal opinion. The problem is that many of those inflicted by low intelligence and the ignorant are unable to differentiate as to what amounts to an opinion and what is being abusive and insulting.

You make some very valid points. And to answer the OP, YES, there are a whole lot of racist attitudes permeating in these threads. People are constantly judging the entire Thai populace based upon the one or two Thais that they've met. Heck, there was a thread recently titled "Thais and their whistles." How many Thais do you know who even have whistles, other than parking attendants? And then there's the TV Thai News threads. Tons of racist monkeys hanging out on that forum.

But I understand the source of these racist attitudes. In the US, white racists tend to be the less educated and disenfranchised, those who feel a need to blame someone for their crappy lot in life. The truly racist folks on TV tend to be from this demographic.

Yes there are racists on this forum but they are hardly a majority. There are also those who protect the Thais at all cost even though there are a lot of racists among the Thai populace.

And somehow I doubt that these TV racists originate from one country... more like several. If you gonna put the stamp on someone then do it and provide some proof for it while you are at it.

I can point out examples all day... that there are racists on both sides of the line. The only difference is that in my country the Thais have a fighting chance like everybody else which is not the case when it comes to people from Isaan who is treated differently by their "own".

Do I think that there are more racists in Thailand than in the US or Europe for example? No I do not but there sure are a lot of racism floating around here.

[muythai2013]

isaan people are in general good people, i know many many bad ones, but quite a few good ones tio.

you only here the bad.

[maxme]

isaan people are in general good people, i know many many bad ones, but quite a few good ones tio.

you only here the bad.

Come again?

[tinfoilhat]

is it only me who finds these conversations dull?

[MrRealDeal]

If we're not allowed to flaunt our stupidity and ignorance, and make ill-founded statements, then surely the same restrictions should apply to our better-educated and more intelligent peers as well, who should be prevented from exhibiting their common sense. Why should only racists and bigots be denied freedom of speech?

SC

It seems interesting enough but I must be missing something ...... I don't see where the non ignnorant people are allowed to be ignorant or where the ignorant are being denied common sence posts ? ingnorance is denied from both sides and both sides are allowed to post common sence ..... I think ..... what did I miss ?

And who's to judge who is ignorant or sensible? Why should the stupid be denied their opinion while the intelligent can express their's?

Personally, if it was up to me, only posters who could write coherent English with a reasonable accuracy in their spelling and grammar would be allowed to post. Kenwhitameenanat, Jimmy?

SC

That's a different topic but fair enough question .... On this site it would obviously be the owners and the agents they use to enforce their choices , in a more general nature the same basic thing applys , the American Medical Journal get's to decide what's ignorant or not in their publication , Yahoo or the New York Times the same, and if you were to make a publication and your standard of ignorance was proper spelling then it would be you. The stupid are not denied their opinions..... they are denied, the publication of their opinions in private publications, such as the ones I mentioned and this one.

I am not even saying weather or not they should be, but am saying no private publication should be forced to publish them . the reason as to why most publications deny people pulication of ignorance is because it simply makes the publisher look foolish as well, and most of their customers don't buy their publications or go to websites in an effort to find ignorance, and they feel it's unwise on a number of obvious fronts including financially.

The overall reason is because the Rights of Free Speech include getting to decide what is printed in your own publication and more importantly in this case, ...... what is not.

You would have the opposite of Free Speech if everyone were required to post or say things they didn't believe or found ignorant, then you wouldn't be very "Free" at all would you ?

[MAJIC]

My view is that all humans are racist. Everywhere. It's a matter of degree and severity and harm done, if any. I think we are hard wired for racism as a species. So the answer: simply yes.

Yes there it plenty of overt racist expression here but I would say the majority of communication here is not overtly racist and the average/typical level of racism of foreigners in Thailand regarding Thai people is moderate and not very toxic.

Foreigners aren't necessarily living in Thailand because they are especially fond of Thai people in general. Is that an immigration requirement?

Well Jing unfortunely if one is intent on finding Racialism (as you seem to be)one will most certainly find it,that is a fact!

It has got to such a level of ludicrous stupidity that the most innocent, of recognising the difference of the person you are speaking to,as being from a different country and culture than your own,will carry a label of.....Racist!

Some of my most memorable encounters,and time spent on my world travels,were with those of a different race and culture than my own.But I didn't have to agree with everything they had to say,good company never the less!

Perhaps you are taking it all much too serious,and literally,....would I help a fellow human being in distress,regardless of their Religeon,Colour,Sexual Orientation,?or opposing views to mine? and give them some money to help them on their way in life? in all honesty? .................knowing I may be a soft touch,.......................Yes.

"My view is that all humans are racist. Everywhere. It's a matter of degree and severity and harm done, if any. I think we are hard wired for racism as a species. So the answer: simply yes"

The answer is simply not "YES" : you see what you personally, are hard wired (conditioned )to believe,the reality may be what you don't choose to believe, your untrue statement i.e "My view is that all humans are racist" and therefore you will never believe otherwise! you personally may be hardwired to believe everyone else is hardwired to be racialist but can't see,that is far from the truth.And also a ridiculous statement ,which is most definately not true! unless you think the world agrees with you?

[Jingthing]

I have adjusted my statement already to really mean people are hard wired to have reactions to perceived otherness (not only perception of race without obsessing over the issue of is there really race in the first place) but I didn't mean to imply that these NATURAL human responses need to be acted out as negative or destructive in any way. (Again: otherness as a social construct different in different cultures.) Sometimes, many times, they are of course. I still think that for the global disease of racism to be better addressed a higher consciousness about recognizing these feelings/responses within ourselves is a good place to start. In the U.S. there have been groups which get black and white people together, and most of these people will tell you they are not racist and actually THINK they are not racist. Ultimately, feelings do come out from ALL that could be seen as racist. Not many people are going to subject themselves to that kind of UNCOMFORTABLE internal probing, but there it is. Given that, sorry, I don't believe ANY person who says they are totally clean of any trace of racist thoughts or feelings, but I accept they may not admit it or be conscious of it. Obviously, different societies are going to have DIFFERENT racial issues. The USA black white thing was just used as one example.

If you don't agree with me or think my opinion is ridiculous, fine with me, not interested in getting hot about this.

[473geo]

I think Jing you are trying to intertwine the acceptance that every person is different in that they are an individual or of differing appearance, with the stereotyping of groups in order to justify non equal treatment. In my opinion the two are separate. The first is nature, the other is a calculated action - racism. I do not believe all the people in the world partake in the calcuated action. But as the OP states I believe there is evidence of such superiority complex creeping into comments across the forum on occasion

[Jingthing]

I disagree. People can and do have "racist" thoughts and feelings and realize that acting on them in any way certainly any way that unfairly harms others is wrong. However, any racist ACTIONS or communication/expression that some people act out are rooted in those thoughts and feelings.

Different topic but consider murder. Who hasn't had a personal enemy you might wish to be dead? That's a murderous feeling. Totally harmless and normal really. As opposed to acting out that feeling or even voicing that feeling (which might have bad consequences) ...

[473geo]

Unfortunately Jing it would appear you are the one trying to justify your 'rooted' thoughts by claiming it applies to all, good luck!

[Jingthing]

Unfortunately Jing it would appear you are the one trying to justify your 'rooted' thoughts by claiming it applies to all, good luck!

Or I might be more honest than some.

Only God knows if there was a God.

Anyway, I reject your idea that my motivation in discussing this issue is self justification.

It's convenient to color it that way; doesn't make that the truth.

[473geo]

A question Jing, if one feels superior to all other humans on the planet, does that make one a racist or an arrogant person? In your claim that racism is rooted in nature do you think that all species who meet another of differing appearance automatically feel 'superior'. I think you are drinking to much coffee jing, put the newspaper down and concentrate.

[Jingthing]

A question Jing, if one feels superior to all other humans on the planet, does that make one a racist or an arrogant person? In your claim that racism is rooted in nature do you think that all species who meet another of differing appearance automatically feel 'superior'. I think you are drinking to much coffee jing, put the newspaper down and concentrate.

I don't get that so can't answer. I wasn't talking about feelings of superiority. That's only one aspect of racism. I think this is getting too hot and personal so time to gracelessly exit engagement with you. Cheers.

[MrRealDeal]

I guess it might be helpfull to post some sort of link where the topic is how people are "hardwired" for racisim, because pretty much everything I read talks about everything but being hardwired for it ..... things like lack of education , personal experiences , ect.

Instinct is a synonym for "hardwired" ..... i didn't look at that long but I couldn't find one site that calims it's instinctual for humans to feel their group is superior to another , but quite the opposite, in that all the sites would claim it's a learned behavior.

As a point of fact it's not instinctual based on the defenition : To be considered instinctual, a behavior must: a) be automatic, be irresistible, c) occur at some point in development, d) be triggered by some event in the environment, e) occur in every member of the species, f) be unmodifiable, and g) govern behavior for which the organism needs no training

Hardwired : genetically or innately determined : inborn <creature whose every action is a reflexive, hardwired response

[MrRealDeal]

I was able to find numerous sites agreeing with Jing using the word "inate" some using MRI scans and some pretty sophisticated medical arguments to support and agree with his points.

[473geo]

so would you explain how 'inate' behavioral patterns would develop in a species that had no experience outside it's own species. Surely the 'inate' tag can only be applied where racism is learned and passed on. The initial contact with another race would trigger no inate feelings? And what if ones parents were not racist, can this 'inate' reaction ba passed down? or are we saying it only works one way?

[473geo]

Further more is an inate ability to identify your own grouping a direct link to your following up with the superiority complex that is the core aspect of racism?

[473geo]

And would a person who has experienced no trigger to activate this inate organism quite simply be a non racist?

[muythai2013]

is it only me who finds these conversations dull?

yet here you are, well over 100 posts so someones enjoying it.

[canman]

My view is that all humans are racist. Everywhere. It's a matter of degree and severity and harm done, if any. I think we are hard wired for racism as a species. So the answer: simply yes.

Yes there it plenty of overt racist expression here but I would say the majority of communication here is not overtly racist and the average/typical level of racism of foreigners in Thailand regarding Thai people is moderate and not very toxic.

Foreigners aren't necessarily living in Thailand because they are especially fond of Thai people in general. Is that an immigration requirement?

I would agree that all humans are at their core racist; I believe it's genetic. There is a differance however between racisim and bigotry, and that understanding that differance is the key.

[MrRealDeal]

The medical articles and studies would answer all those questions better than me ..... I found them quite interesting just google "is racism inate" I don't agree or disagree with them I was just pointing out that Jing's beliefs are shared amoung some very sophistacated research Scientists.

[473geo]

The medical articles and studies would answer all those questions better than me ..... I found them quite interesting just google "is racism inate" I don't agree or disagree with them I was just pointing out that Jing's beliefs are shared amoung some very sophistacated research Scientists.

From what I can gather there is apparently some reaction in the area of the brain where the 'inate' reactiveness is stored when a person is confronted by another race, what is not said is that the same effect would not be recreated when a person meets a lion or alligator for example; in my opinion we may well be hard wired in such a way that inate reactions are stimulated by certain events, but not conclusive on the inate racism front, the reaction could be for any out of group meeting, thus at the point of inate reaction we are doing no more than recognising the out of group experience.

[muythai2013]

if its genetic, why does mine focus mainly on indians

[toybits]

What about the thread about Thais not wearing sunglasses to protect their eyes when riding motorbikes - and one member said - it because they have slanted eyes - or something of that sort. Isn't that kind of racist (post number 17 0 by Krisb) ? I certainly think so.