Are Racial Stereotypes OK If People Don't Mind?

[PieInTheSky]

We live in a world of racial stereotypes, just the way it is. However, there are different ways of dealing with it. You have those that don't care, but then you have those that take offence. Today, I'm talking about those who don't care, so we don't care about those that take offence--no offence, if you fit in that category.

Are those racial stereotypes OK as long as nobody minds? To give you an example that hits closer to home (at least for me anyways), everybody on campus knows that "all black people like chicken." Now, I'm black--or as I've been told, "Technically, you're brown"--but I don't mind the jokes. Of course, that's just one example of things I've heard. Pretty much everyone has their names now, "Oreo", "White Trash", "Wetbacks", and the names go on.

Do you think that these kinds of names are OK as long as no one takes offence?

[BurningGrace]

I think that, regardless of if it's "okay" or not, people are going to continuously stereotype. It's just something humans do, and I couldn't tell you it's going to go away ever.

If I had to pick yes or no, I'd say no, it's not okay. Because there's always a level of narrow-mindedness that accompanies stereotypes. They fuel ignorance in people, and even demotivate people from getting to know others outside of their race. At least that's what I've seen.

Of course, I'm not saying that people who joke about stereotypes 100% believe it and are stupid. I joke about them too, because they're just so ridiculous. But I feel like if everyone always joked about them...some people would start to believe it.

[The Enchanted Muggle]

Nope.

[lalodragon]

No, it makes people think of "us and them". I've got examples, but I'm keeping them private.
Although my mother has been known to identify people as "white trash". We're white. It sounds better than "trashy" I suppose.

[Bowie20049]

I can verify that Asians can't drive.

Source: I'm Asian.

[The Enchanted Muggle]

it makes people think of "us and them". I've got examples, but I'm keeping them private.

Agreed.

[Julian]

...no?

Seriously, isn't this debate a bit... obvious?

[Bowie20049]

It's kinda like cursing: if nobody minds, then nobody minds, but there are better ways of saying stuff without sounding like a bigot :P

[Lizzie]

It's still discrimination.

Simple.

[Infinity_Man]

Since it's impossible to really know if no one takes offense or not (and your friends will likely deny it if you ask them, unless they're feeling confrontational, because they don't want to create tension in your friendship) I'm going to say no.

Basically, if you do use stereotypes you might not offend some people, but there are most likely some people you'll offend, and you won't really know who they are. If you don't use racial stereotypes, then no one gets offended. Zero risk. I don't really see why anyone would want to use racial stereotypes or, more accurately to this thread, why anyone would want people to refer to them in racial stereotypes.

[Syn]

I suppose using them in a serious manner is not really all that good, but if used for joke purposes then I say let it rip!

[Peppermental]

How... seriously how do these topics seem like legitimately controversial issues to whoever starts them? All that can be argued here are varying scales of "okay", but assuming that you're talking from what would be considered the common Amerrriccuuuuhhh moral paradigm, then no they're not okay. Even if no one takes offense you are using vocabulary invented for the sole purpose of suppressing a group of people. You didn't say is it okay to use these words in a new positive way and try to make them into something that isn't hate speech, you just asked if it was okay so long as people are not offended. If you use terms that were invented as insults as general classifiers without altering their meaning at all, you are validating the sentiments of those terms by perpetuating their use without ever changing their sentiments. And it makes you a cunt.

[TheNineMuses]

It doesn't matter if people mind or not, the fact remains that it's discrimination.

If you don't mind, good for you - a thick skin really helps in life - but being dark-skinned doesn't mean that one has to be called names, irrespective of the intent. It just serves to show that the roots of racism run deep even in the 21st century. All forms of discrimination just expose a lack of respect for humanity.

Aren't all of us basically human? We have the same physiology, the same basic body structure and then we ostracize people for being different in pigmentation. (That's only in this case. I'm not touching the topics of religious discrimination.) Where's the logic in all this, honestly?

I remember reading a poem on this issue, Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka. You should read it; it's really enlightening.

[Callum]

A lot of people are just saying 'no they're wrong it's still discrimination' but then again, what happens when it's say, a black person racially stereotyping against black people. Saying something like (this is purely for example and in no way true, or my opinion) 'Niggers steal heaps of things' or they start cracking off black jokes? They're both offensive, and people find both of them offensive. Don't say this doesn't happen either, because I know for a fact it does. I know about half a dozen black people who do these things.

You know? I think that while discrimination IS wrong, it's also wrong as to be so simple minded as to put a blanket ban of sorts on it just because some people find it offensive.

[Jack]

You know? I think that while discrimination IS wrong, it's also wrong as to be so simple minded as to put a blanket ban of sorts on it just because some people find it offensive.

if it's simple minded to be against simple-mindedness then how the fuck have we gotten anywhere as a species.

[horselove2012]

I really think racial stereotypes are just wrong. It's just mean to joke about somebody's color of skin, because it's not like somebody's personality is going to differ because of their skin. I think that we should just all get along and not poke fun at each other because of their skin color.

[Callum]

if it's simple minded to be against simple-mindedness then how the fuck have we gotten anywhere as a species.

Racial stereotyping isn't simple minded if it's done jokingly and none of the parties involved are offended though! It's just like, say, morbid humour.

Off topic, I love your sig.

[Thepoliticalkid]

In life, you want an open mind to most things. If you stereotype people even if they are okay with it, you are narrowing your view of certain races and people and making it so you judge people before a word between you and them is spoken, which is not okay.

[Callum]

In life, you want an open mind to most things. If you stereotype people even if they are okay with it, you are narrowing your view of certain races and people and making it so you judge people before a word between you and them is spoken, which is not okay.

That's when you racial stereotype someone you don't know at all, then I agree with you wholeheartedly.

However if it's done jokingly, with someone you know, and as long as you have the ability to separate those jokes from a 'non joking situation' you're okay. It's when things start to get out of hand and people begin to get offended that it's close minded and wrong.

[bookworm79]

Never

[Thepoliticalkid]

That's when you racial stereotype someone you don't know at all, then I agree with you wholeheartedly.

However if it's done jokingly, with someone you know, and as long as you have the ability to separate those jokes from a 'non joking situation' you're okay. It's when things start to get out of hand and people begin to get offended that it's close minded and wrong.

Even in that situation, I think stereotyping your friends is wrong, but if your friends are okay with it and nobody gets hurt, I think that's okay.

[Something]

Well...in my opinion, even if the person someone is saying it to doesn't mind, people from
the same culture may still find it offensive.
Even if your saying something about your own culture others may not like it.

[chasie]

some people call each other racist names and stuff so people who hear them say it say stuff like it themselves cause they think it's ok

[chasie]

you cannot discount Psychology when thinking about this because it plays a role it this to.