Are you racist?
This is for the white folks but could be asked to the black folks, the question would then be reversed.
Whatever, here we go.........You are at a bus stop waiting for, yep, a bus. Its a nice day out, no rain/cold and you are going to the mall, no rush to get there.
The ride is 40 minutes. The first bus that will be coming is full of black folks. (Its hypothetical, just play along) All black. The neighborhood? In terms of crime, its an average U.S. ghetto city. After that bus, 8 minutes later another bus will be arriving, its all white folks on it. Which bus do you get on?
What I have read.....If you say you would get on the white bus, you are a racist. If you say you would get on the black bus, you are lying. So which is it?
Let me guess. I'll get all kinds of 'what if' questions in order to NOT answer the question. Any responses without WHITE bus or BLACK bus.....really is not answering. (big shock!) My answer? The white bus. You see, I just saved at least 20 worthless posts slamming me for not answering. (lol)
Ken
Therefore, I'll get on the first bus.
(1) Change the experment to say that there are two buses coming from two different neighbourhoods. One arrives 5 minutes after the other. The first bus has blacks on it from a ghetto neighbourhood, and the whites on it are from where?
It's important to distinguish what neighborhood their from. Are they from the skinhead neighborhood? The christian fundamentalist neighbourhood? Then I would take the 1st bus. The connotation of just assuming that the white neighborhood is one where crime is low is the assumption but we don't know that for sure. Not enough to answer the question.
But I'll take a leap. If a bus full of blacks comes 5 minutes before a bus full of whites, generally speaking, I'll get on the 1st bus. The bus is going to the mall, which is where I am going.
Ken
All things being equal, most people would choose a bus with people they believe are more like themselves. That's not racist or xenophobic, it's just science.
As for me, I hate people in general. So, enjoy your bus ride. I'll be in my rental car.
And the black folks hate the white folks.
To hate all but the right folks
Is an old established rule.
But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
Lena Horne and Sheriff Clarke are dancing cheek to cheek.
It's fun to eulogize
The people you despise,
As long as you don't let 'em in your school.
Oh, the poor folks hate the rich folks,
And the rich folks hate the poor folks.
All of my folks hate all of your folks,
It's American as apple pie.
But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
New Yorkers love the Puerto Ricans 'cause it's very chic.
Step up and shake the hand
Of someone you can't stand.
You can tolerate him if you try.
Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Muslims,
And everybody hates the Jews.
But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
It's National Everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood Week.
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you.
It's only for a week, so have no fear.
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!
Great song, funny as anything. Personally, I would take the first bus to get to my bus stop.
It only took a couple of trips on MARTA to wonder..."Why am I always the only white person on the train?"
I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a little uncomfortable, even though I didn't experience any problems. It's just a sad part of our human nature, we're all more comfortable around people who are similar to us in some way. And yes, the Avenue Q song sums it up beautifully.
Now, I would avoid getting of the tube in between 9 and 11 at certain tube stops, but that was to avoid the drunks.
Quote: OneAngryDwarfIt only took a couple of trips on MARTA to wonder..."Why am I always the only white person on the train?"
Atlanta used to be a popular spring break location for affluent black college kids and they would swarm upon the city for an extended weekend in an event called Freaknik. There would be several parties and events planned, plus lots of cruising the city streets.
The stadium for the Atlanta Braves is not on the train line, so MARTA will run shuttle buses between the closest train station and and stadium.
I once made the mistake of going to a Braves game during Freaknik. Taking the shuttle back we were stuck in gridlock traffic caused by the cruising kids. It was surreal to be packed in a bus full of white people looking out at all of the blacks driving around in their BMWs and Mercedes.
To answer the original question - If I'm comfortable enough to be at the bus stop in the first place, then I'm comfortable catching any bus that comes by.
Quote: seviayYou can have a bus full of annoying black people or annoying white people -- or a "dangerous" bus of any race/color, so it's not a simple question of black vs. white. If it's going to be a bunch of loud, annoying, or threatening people, I'll choose the other bus. I've been annoyed by every race, color, and age imaginable ... and likewise, I've felt threatened or endangered by many different races, colors, and nationalities.
All things being equal, most people would choose a bus with people they believe are more like themselves. That's not racist or xenophobic, it's just science.
As for me, I hate people in general. So, enjoy your bus ride. I'll be in my rental car.
Ok, lets say you dont know ahead of time if the people on either bus are annoying etc. So, which bus for you?
Ken
Quote: DJTeddyBearThere is no guarantee that the racial makeup of the second bus would be any different than the first bus. The fact is, the racial makeup of the bus, reflects that of the neighborhood, so the next bus will probably be the same.
Therefore, I'll get on the first bus.
"There is no guarantee that the racial makeup of the second bus would be any different than the first bus" >>> Thats a way out. (lol) Its hypothetical, play along.
Ken
Quote: thecesspitWouldn't even enter into my consideration... I'll just get on the damn bus if it goes where I am going. Not really "black" or "white" buses in London anyways. Just poor buses and tourist buses.
Now, I would avoid getting of the tube in between 9 and 11 at certain tube stops, but that was to avoid the drunks.
"Not really "black" or "white" buses in London anyways" >>> (lol), this isn't real, its hypothetical. I learned years ago, the BEST way to learn about someone.....put them into hypothetical situations.
Ken
Ken
If I knew for a fact the white bus was full of inner-city "ghetto" people and the black bus was filled with college educated businessmen that have more or less adopted white culture, I'd pick the black bus. For me it's all about culture and the mass majority of black people adopt black culture and white people adopt white culture. Therefore I prejudge all black people to be part of the generic black culture and white people to be part of the generic white culture.
The only trick is to not let anyone know you are making these prejudgments until you get to know someone.
Quote: mrjjj"Not really "black" or "white" buses in London anyways" >>> (lol), this isn't real, its hypothetical. I learned years ago, the BEST way to learn about someone.....put them into hypothetical situations.
Ken
I didn't realise I was getting graded on my answer, but you seem to have rejected my extra work I gave you by adding some extra explanation for my answer. Sorry you didn't like it.
I learned years ago, put them in real situations and see how they react. Guess we went to different schools.
Quote: thecesspitI didn't realise I was getting graded on my answer, but you seem to have rejected my extra work I gave you by adding some extra explanation for my answer. Sorry you didn't like it.
I learned years ago, put them in real situations and see how they react. Guess we went to different schools.
We sure did. I answer questions without pointing out misspelled words and throwing in extra info in order to THROW the topic in another direction. Keyser is the MASTER at that.
Ken
Quote: mrjjjWe sure did. I answer questions without pointing out misspelled words and throwing in extra info in order to THROW the topic in another direction. Keyser is the MASTER at that.
Ken
What the hell are you talkin' about, Willis?
"throwing the topic in another direction", "misspelled words", "Keyser" ???
I am not Keyser, I didn't point out misspelled (sic, lol, cough) words or throw the topic in another direction. The question was about which bus I would take, based on the racial profile of the occupants. Being a Brit, who lived in London, I was pointing out the question in and of itself has less meaning to ME than it does to someone who grew up in the US. I thought perhaps, perchance, that might help you understand that attitudes to race are different in different places.
But, forbid that anyone gives you information that doesn't sit tightly into your yes/no information gathering. Hell, why discuss anything... we can just let MrJJJ here ask yes/no questions all day. Screw free speech, or organic discussions on a variety of topics, lest Ken gets confused and mark our answers down. I'd hate to somehow have his opinion of me lowered.
Seriously, do you NOT understand how the hell a forum works? You post enough on them, you say. People discuss things, and those discussions often move away from the original title. You might not like it, but suck it up (along with a throat lozenge, to help you with that tickly cough you have). People will ALWAYS answer more than a question asks. Sometimes to attack the questioner, sometimes to discuss something another answer gave, sometimes to add extra information. You can't control it, any more than you can control a roulette ball.
You don't like my answers? You don't have to read or reply to them. Problem, solved, no?
Quote: thecesspitWhat the hell are you talkin' about, Willis?
"throwing the topic in another direction", "misspelled words", "Keyser" ???
I am not Keyser, I didn't point out misspelled (sic, lol, cough) words or throw the topic in another direction. The question was about which bus I would take, based on the racial profile of the occupants. Being a Brit, who lived in London, I was pointing out the question in and of itself has less meaning to ME than it does to someone who grew up in the US. I thought perhaps, perchance, that might help you understand that attitudes to race are different in different places.
But, forbid that anyone gives you information that doesn't sit tightly into your yes/no information gathering. Hell, why discuss anything... we can just let MrJJJ here ask yes/no questions all day. Screw free speech, or organic discussions on a variety of topics, lest Ken gets confused and mark our answers down. I'd hate to somehow have his opinion of me lowered.
Seriously, do you NOT understand how the hell a forum works? You post enough on them, you say. People discuss things, and those discussions often move away from the original title. You might not like it, but suck it up (along with a throat lozenge, to help you with that tickly cough you have). People will ALWAYS answer more than a question asks. Sometimes to attack the questioner, sometimes to discuss something another answer gave, sometimes to add extra information. You can't control it, any more than you can control a roulette ball.
You don't like my answers? You don't have to read or reply to them. Problem, solved, no?
"Being a Brit, who lived in London, I was pointing out the question in and of itself has less meaning to ME" >>> Means nothing to me. My POINT being (not just for you, anybody), when you get a hypothetical question, it makes NO SENSE to throw in other BS. I laid out the question the way I WANTED TO. If you want to re-write the question, thats fine but start your own thread on the subject and ask it HOW you want to. Are we clear on that? Thanks man, dont make me repeat myself.
"Sometimes to attack the questioner" >>> lol, Yep, sounds like message boards.
Adding extra info is fine as long as the *ORIGINAL* question gets answered. Its like me asking you what your favorite meal is and you tell me.....your car is red.
So in other words, by your definition, you answered me, correct?
Ken
Quote: mrjjj"Being a Brit, who lived in London, I was pointing out the question in and of itself has less meaning to ME" >>> Means nothing to me.
Durrrrrrr, that's my point, wise guy.
Quote:My POINT being (not just for you, anybody), when you get a hypothetical question, it makes NO SENSE to throw in other BS. I laid out the question the way I WANTED TO. If you want to re-write the question, thats fine but start your own thread on the subject and ask it HOW you want to. Are we clear on that? Thanks man, dont make me repeat myself.
"Sometimes to attack the questioner" >>> lol, Yep, sounds like message boards.
Adding extra info is fine as long as the *ORIGINAL* question gets answered. Its like me asking you what your favorite meal is and you tell me.....your car is red.
So in other words, by your definition, you answered me, correct?
Ken
I'll answer the question anyway I damn well please, bubba. You don't have to like my answer. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it or respond to it, no? You can't control my answers any more than you control the wind.
For the record, as your reading comprehension is in fail mode :: "I'll just get on the damn bus if it goes where I am going. ".
I not only answered your hypothetical question, I gave you a reason why I answered that way, which should, for any reasonable human being who is engaging in intellectual pursuits of inquiry, ADD to their knowledge. "Oh look, this question means less to someone from a different culture... why is that... I wonder?". Get your mind out of your little corner of the world, pal, by seeing how add to their simple yes or no, you might learn something. I suspect not, as every question can only be yes or no answered.
Ken
Quote: mrjjj"I'll just get on the damn bus if it goes where I am going" >>> Ok, the FIRST or the SECOND bus under the conditions I laid out?
Ken
Are you serious? Or just that good at acting the fool?
I'll also note your original question pre-supposes the skin colouration of the person waiting for the bus.
Quote: thecesspitAre you serious? Or just that good at acting the fool?
I'll also note your original question pre-supposes the skin colouration of the person waiting for the bus.
You said....you would 'get on the damn bus', correct? You did not say which bus. Am I lying?
Ken
Quote: mrjjjYou said....you would 'get on the damn bus', correct? You did not say which bus. Am I lying?
Ken
Well, considering my answer, that would be the first damn bus that came along.
Black, white, yellow or green. If it was red, double decked and heading to Dulwich Library, I'd pop in to see my mate Danny for a slice of cake and a cup of tea on my way.
I'd avoid the short bus. You might be on that one.
Christ, it was bleeding well obvious from my answer that the race of the bus wasn't even in my consideration. Which I guess makes me a liar according to what you've read.
You calling me a liar?
You are still completely presupposing the race of the bus rider, which is a huge flaw in the question. But as you'd wait to get on the second bus, may be I shouldn't be surprised.
Quote: mrjjjAm I lying?
Ken
No, but you're an idiot. It's pretty clearly implied that the first bus is the one that would be taken.
Quote: thecesspit
You are still completely presupposing the race of the bus rider, which is a huge flaw in the question.
Ken's allowed for both white and black riders, and said that "in the case...the busses would be reversed." So as long as no asians, native-americans, middle-easterners, or latinos want to ride the bus, he's totally got everyone covered. There's only 5 Billion of those people in the world, so it's all good...;-)
Quote: thecesspit
But as you'd wait to get on the second bus, may be I shouldn't be surprised.
Yet another reason for me to get on the first bus - annoyance with other people at the bus stop.
Quote: rdw4potusKen's allowed for both white and black riders, and said that "in the case...the busses would be reversed." So as long as no asians, native-americans, middle-easterners, or latinos want to ride the bus, he's totally got everyone covered. There's only 5 Billion of those people in the world, so it's all good...;-)
Oh, I thought that meant they'd be driven backwards....
Quote:Yet another reason for me to get on the first bus - annoyance with other people at the bus stop.
I'm pretty sure Ken would wait for the short bus.
Quote: thecesspit
I'm pretty sure Ken would wait for the short bus.
I don't know...I think he should. But I don't think he would. So maybe that means I should ride the short bus? Hmmm...but what if he does ride it?
.
Quote: mrjjjOk, lets say you dont know ahead of time if the people on either bus are annoying etc. So, which bus for you?
Ken
I'm impatient, which is why I would be in my rental car. Having said that, without a rental car, it's the first bus. I hate all people equally ;)
Quote: rdw4potusNo, but you're an idiot. It's pretty clearly implied that the first bus is the one that would be taken.
+1. It appears he is arguing for the sake of being an irritant (as usual), rather than keeping a robust conversation going.
Quote: thecesspitWell, considering my answer, that would be the first damn bus that came along.
Black, white, yellow or green. If it was red, double decked and heading to Dulwich Library, I'd pop in to see my mate Danny for a slice of cake and a cup of tea on my way.
I'd avoid the short bus. You might be on that one.
Christ, it was bleeding well obvious from my answer that the race of the bus wasn't even in my consideration. Which I guess makes me a liar according to what you've read.
You calling me a liar?
You are still completely presupposing the race of the bus rider, which is a huge flaw in the question. But as you'd wait to get on the second bus, may be I shouldn't be surprised.
"that would be the first damn bus that came along" >>> Thank you, now you answered. 'FIRST'......is the key word. Enjoy your day.
Ken
Quote: rdw4potusNo, but you're an idiot. It's pretty clearly implied that the first bus is the one that would be taken.
Implied? (lol) ....I would get on the damn bus IMPLIES its the FIRST bus? Nice try braindead.
Ken
Ken
Ken
Quote: HeySlickIf this question was asked in another country e.g. America -- personally I wouldn't put myself into any situation where to many black people were present --- hateful angry Blacks are prone to violence whenever/ OR whatever situation they dominate. IMO President Obama has caused many of the racial problems in America to worsen since he was elected -- I am sick and tired of hearing about how racist America is and, white people are to blame for black peoples problems on and on and on. If Black Lives really mattered why don't they start addressing the real problems within their ranks? IMO to many black people destroy their own communities and they refuse to address that issue -- YEAH!! just blame others and ignore the real reasons for said destruction.
So somehow reviving a 5 year old thread for the purpose of demonstrating your political extremism is a necessity? Really? What part of your rant doesn't just scream "racist "?
Gee , the good Ole days on here, when people had ugly conversations like this. What a pity you missed being a member then.
Some facts to back up your assertion that it's OBAMA who's caused relations to worsen, and not resentful white racist backlash (which is what I see), might be useful.
So bringing out another version of 'Roots' is going to heal/help -- how many more generations of angry Africans is it going to take before the entire system breaks -- IMO to many AA's despise and hate anyone who doesn't agree with their destructive agenda --- seriously what do SOME African Americans do to make America a better place to live? nothing but complain and snivel about what's owed to them. IMO if white people left America, Black people would destroy America in 10 years or less - FYI try visiting any totally black community within America and see how corrupt and destructive those communities are -- I'm sick and tired of hearing how racist America is and blacks can't succeed because of the racist system ---- BS!!! GO BACK TO AFRICA THEN!!
And more probably would be in Africa as you wish if their ancestors hadn't, you know, been brought here and enslaved or something like that
Quote: beachbumbabsSo somehow reviving a 5 year old thread for the purpose of demonstrating your political extremism is a necessity? Really? What part of your rant doesn't just scream "racist "?
Gee , the good Ole days on here, when people had ugly conversations like this. What a pity you missed being a member then.
Some facts to back up your assertion that it's OBAMA who's caused relations to worsen, and not resentful white racist backlash (which is what I see), might be useful.
How would he pull it off? I wondered.
How would Barack explain to his press groupies why he sat silent in a pew for 20 years as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright delivered racist rants against white America for our maligning of Fidel and Gadhafi, and inventing AIDS to infect and kill black people?
How would he justify not walking out as Wright spewed his venom about ?the U.S. of K.K.K. America,? and howled, ?God damn America!?
My hunch was right. Barack would turn the tables.
Yes, Barack agreed, Wright?s statements were ?controversial,? and ?divisive,? and ?racially charged,? reflecting a ?distorted view of America.?
But we must understand the man in full and the black experience out of which the Rev. Wright came: 350 years of slavery and segregation.
Barack then listed black grievances and informed us what white America must do to close the racial divide and heal the country.
The ?white community,? said Barack, must start ?acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination ? and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past ? are real and must be addressed. Not just with words, but with deeds ? .?
And what deeds must we perform to heal ourselves and our country?
The ?white community? must invest more money in black schools and communities, enforce civil rights laws, ensure fairness in the criminal justice system and provide this generation of blacks with ?ladders of opportunity? that were ?unavailable? to Barack?s and the Rev. Wright?s generations.
What is wrong with Barack?s prognosis and Barack?s cure?
Only this. It is the same old con, the same old shakedown that black hustlers have been running since the Kerner Commission blamed the riots in Harlem, Watts, Newark, Detroit and a hundred other cities on, as Nixon put it, ?everybody but the rioters themselves.?
Was ?white racism? really responsible for those black men looting auto dealerships and liquor stories, and burning down their own communities, as Otto Kerner said ? that liberal icon until the feds put him away for bribery.
Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America.
Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to.
This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these:
First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.
Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.
Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the ?60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream.
Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks ? with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas ? to advance black applicants over white applicants.
Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks.
We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?
Barack talks about new ?ladders of opportunity? for blacks.
Let him go to Altoona and Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for ?deserving? white kids.
Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America? Is it really white America?s fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?
Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?
As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence. Is Barack Obama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time?
Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse?
We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena. And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.
Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before. about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars edited to fix the mess you made of quoting me.
Quote: ]Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse. [/q
If you can back up the numbers you may have something.$1700, 18, 19, 1920, 40, 60,... :/ Thx 'Do it again'. I'll try
Quote: mcallister3200Instead of long angry rants, you could have simply answered the question of the thread "yes" and made the same point with less effort
And more probably would be in Africa as you wish if their ancestors hadn't, you know, been brought here and enslaved or something like that
AFAIK, the slaves were sold by the Africans to the white people.
Quote: RSAFAIK, the slaves were sold by the Africans to the white people.
Of course denial and actual facts mean nothing to Most African Americans --- America is the land of opportunity and millions upon millions of African Americans have succeeded in spite of other AA's negativity and resentment. I 'm just tired of the same OLD excuses over and over.
Quote: RSAFAIK, the slaves were sold by the Africans to the white people.
Point? So they weren't brought over?
Quote: MoosetonIf you can back up the numbers you may have something.
Here's some real numbers from the DOJ
http://www.amren.com/news/2015/07/new-doj-statistics-on-race-and-violent-crime/
