racist or no?

The Bollox

would you think any less of a person who, when describing a person they met / saw / had a fight with/ etc... and one of the describing features was "he/she was black"

for example "I had a run in with a guy in the beer garden last night. tall guy, black, very broad, and had a serious temper..."

or

"I got talking to this really nice black girl at the bus stop yesterday. she had long hair, a beautiful face..."

for me it may come as a momentary shock, but in the end it's just a description and I wouldn't think any less of the person telling the story

rizzla

No, I wouldn't even be shocked. It's not racist.

Turd Ferguson

No, its a description. Is it sexist to say "Aw there was this woman being all loud and obnoxious the other night. She was perioding all over the place too..."

Dudess

It's just a physical feature - made all the more distinctive by the fact that there aren't many black people here (no matter how many have immigrated here, they are still very much a minority).
I'm sure the reverse would apply in predominantly black countries/communities.

Anyone who reads something political into it needs to get over themselves...

SV

how is that EVER racist...



some people....

Wazdakka

Nope, Not at all..

Spent some time out in the caribbean and was called "the tall white boy" all the time..

The Bollox

I agree with all, but if you look at it.

if I was to say "some American guy was burning the ears off me last night" no-one bats an eye. If I was to say "some French/Spanish/Chinese guy was burning the ears off me" you will probably get a look off the person you are talking to as if to say "what does the fact they're from x have to do with anything"

****ing PC Ireland

Dinter

Nope.

From Wiki:

While the term racism usually denotes race-based prejudice, violence, discrimination, or oppression, the term can also have varying and hotly contested definitions. Racialism is a related term, sometimes intended to avoid these negative meanings.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each racial group possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another racial group or racial groups.

The Miriam Webster's Dictionary defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular racial group, and that it is also the prejudice based on such a belief.

The Macquarie Dictionary defines racism as: "the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others."

Can't see how any of those definitions would apply in your examples.

rizzla

Not from me, I'd be like, "Why the hell you talking to the french?"

pickarooney

It's like accents. It's grand to do a Canadian or Uzbeck accent but people think you're being fierce bowld if you talk like a Bangladeshi or a Korean.

CPT. SURF

pickarooney wrote: »

It's like accents. It's grand to do a Canadian or Uzbeck accent but people think you're being fierce bowld if you talk like a Bangladeshi or a Korean.

I know right! A friend of mine bitched at me for doing a stellar Bhutani accent. Sure it was only the other day when he was talking like a Honduran and I said naught

krpc

pickarooney wrote: »

It's like accents. It's grand to do a Canadian or Uzbeck accent but people think you're being fierce bowld if you talk like a Bangladeshi or a Korean.

Especially when you have sellotape stuck to the side of your eyes.

In regards to racism, nope don't consider describing someone as black racist. It's like calling some one ageist for saying "I saw a little old lady doing ... [insert some inappropriate comment here].

Wagon

How is that racist? Your just describing people's appearance. Why are you even momentarily shocked?

Turd Ferguson

Wazdakka wrote: »

Spent some time out in the caribbean and was called "the tall white boy" all the time..

You're always called the tall white boy...even here!

Dinter

pickarooney wrote: »

It's like accents. It's grand to do a Canadian or Uzbeck accent.

That's true, unless you start of by saying; "I saw this black Canadian and he was talking aboot this and aboot that."

It'll suddenly become racist.

KrazeeEyezKilla

The Bollox wrote: »

I agree with all, but if you look at it.

if I was to say "some American guy was burning the ears off me last night" no-one bats an eye. If I was to say "some French/Spanish/Chinese guy was burning the ears off me" you will probably get a look off the person you are talking to as if to say "what does the fact they're from x have to do with anything"

****ing PC Ireland

If you said some Chinese guy it wouldn't be racist. Have you met anyone that sensitive? If you said 'some Chinese c**t' or made a big deal about him being Chinese rather than him "burning the ears" off you then it might be different.

Darragh29

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

She was perioding all over the place too..."

Where in the name of Jasus did ya dream that one up Turd!?!?! I'm picturing that in my head, maybe not quite how it's meant to be pictured and laughing my arse off here!!!

:D:D:D:D:D:D

Saint_Mel

There's still a confusion in some places over descriptions like that ...

I remember way back in the day being told it was insulting/racist to describe someone as a "black person", instead the term to use was Coloured.

Then as soon as people got used to saying that, suddenly it was an insult to use coloured and it was Ok to say black again.

I remember years ago watching League of Ireland games when Mark Rutherford started playing here .... "Who got the goal" would be asked .... and when answered with ... "The black fella" ... queue looks of shock on some peoples faces ... Still though, everyone knew who they meant

Ruu_Old

I wouldn't be shocked at all, just a description as mentioned and I've used it often. Though in the USA, it is normally African-American male/female. We can't be seen to offend anyone now can we?

Dinter

Ì remember when I started second class coming home to tell my mum how there was a black guy in my class. Was pretty rare at the time.

Turd Ferguson

Dinter wrote: »

Ì remember when I started second class coming home to tell my mum how there was a black guy in my class. Was pretty rare at the time.

6 years later, you're still in second class and now you're the only white boy there. Oh how times have changed :pac:

R0ot

If you said you had a fight with a guy that was black and he started throwing water melon pips and fried chicken bones at you then yes that would be racist.

Calling someone black is not a racial slur just as calling someone ginger isn't although the way some gingers act about it would make you think otherwise.

/me looks at Vialli :pac:

Dinter

R0ot wrote: »

If you said you had a fight with a guy that was black and he started throwing water melon pips and fried chicken bones at you then yes that would be racist.

What if the fight broke out after a picnic?

Kold

I'd be taken aback if someone said something like; "That black bastard."

KTRIC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xg5aBCiy_g

Sums it up perfectly

Silenceisbliss

tbh, I would consider it more racist to draw attention to and ask about such a stupid thing.

so what, the person is black. its's descrptive. use it how you want to. I personally consider it more racist to pussy foot around the issue, it suggests that your not confident and comfortable anough calling someone black, hence insinuating theres something wrong with being black

Saint_Mel

Kold wrote: »

I'd be taken aback if someone said something like; "That black bastard."

Just remembered a good few years ago my cousin used to work in an office and one of the new employees in his section was black. Now my cousin would make a joke over anything and got on very well with the new lad so they both came up with a scheme to try and shock people. This is about 12-15 years ago.

Cousin came in and let a shout down the office ... did anyone see that little black bastard anywhere ... the rest of the office nearly died ... then later on the othe guy would come in and say, if anyone see's that pink bastard, tell him Im over in the other building

WindSock

I think just about as little of people who bandy that word around so readily, as I do actual racists. To me, a racist is a person who discriminates against others and thinks they are superior in every way. I have been called a racist a few times, but I have yet to have someone a decent example as to why they call me it.

Silenceisbliss

Ruu wrote: »

Though in the USA, it is normally African-American

Those racist americans...ALL OF THEM ARE RACIST! yes people...it's a pun

anyway, its ignorant saying African -american, because youre making two distinct assumptions: that the person is african, and that the person is american. of all the black people I know, none of them fit this description.

SoWatchaWant

R0ot wrote: »

If you said you had a fight with a guy that was black and he started throwing water melon pips and fried chicken bones at you then yes that would be racist.

Haha, stylish description:D

Gyalist

I don't know anyone (apart from a few Saffies) who describes himself as coloured.

When I am born, I am black
When I grow up, I am black
When I am sick, I am black
When I am out in the sun, I am black,
When I am cold, I am black
When I die, I am black

BUT YOU?!?!

When you are born, you're pink
When you grow up, you're white
When you're sick, you are green
When you go out in the sun, you are red
When you're cold, you go blue
When you die, you're purple

And you have the nerve to call me coloured?!