Why do people feel the need to include race into their stories/posts?

[MistressMerryweather]

Really? I don't get it. Just reading through some other threads and I am shocked at how many times people include the "race" of the offending party. What does that matter? Funny enough, I haven't ever read a post that said something like, "A white couple in front of me..." or "This man was waiting with his kid at the bus stop, he was white..." Someone. Enlighten me, please. It's really discouraging to read over and over and over again.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Really? I don't get it. Just reading through some other threads and I am shocked at how many times people include the "race" of the offending party. What does that matter? Funny enough, I haven't ever read a post that said something like, "A white couple in front of me..." or "This man was waiting with his kid at the bus stop, he was white..." Someone. Enlighten me, please. It's really discouraging to read over and over and over again.

Stereotypes exist for a reason. I think maybe it is shorthand for the storyteller to try and set-up their story.

You wouldn't start off a story like this: This person drove a car right into the coffee shop.

Instead, you'd say: This bat-crazy old lady in curlers drove her car right into the coffee shop.

Stereotype? Yes. But it gets the point across.

Race is just another short-hand indicator. And I'm not saying it is right. I'm just explaining why people do what they do.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Same reason they include their weight or gender... because it seems that frequently, people like to pigeon-hole people into nice, neat little boxes.

 

[rie'smom]

Really? I don't get it. Just reading through some other threads and I am shocked at how many times people include the "race" of the offending party. What does that matter? Funny enough, I haven't ever read a post that said something like, "A white couple in front of me..." or "This man was waiting with his kid at the bus stop, he was white..." Someone. Enlighten me, please. It's really discouraging to read over and over and over again.

It can't be too common because I've been a member for several years while I've noticed comments about bratty kids, unruly teens, hateful parents, inept CMs, cheerleaders, football players, and Brazilians, I have never noticed anyone's race being a factor.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Really? I don't get it. Just reading through some other threads and I am shocked at how many times people include the "race" of the offending party. What does that matter? Funny enough, I haven't ever read a post that said something like, "A white couple in front of me..." or "This man was waiting with his kid at the bus stop, he was white..." Someone. Enlighten me, please. It's really discouraging to read over and over and over again. [/QU I have noticed this often in rude guest threads on the planning boards. There's a post there now about a Hispanic man doing something rude during a parade. The man was rude, but that he was spanish didn't have anything to do with what he did.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

It can't be too common because I've been a member for several years while I've noticed comments about bratty kids, unruly teens, hateful parents, inept CMs, cheerleaders, football players, and Brazilians, I have never noticed anyone's race being a factor.

Wow! You should have a look at a few of the thread bopping around right now. Sheesh! Apparently, Brazilian people have no respect for personal space...rude black people are from the ghetto and make up most of the rude people at DW...etc. etc.

 

[rie'smom]

Wow! You should have a look at a few of the thread bopping around right now. Sheesh! Apparently, Brazilian people have no respect for personal space...rude black people are from the ghetto and make up most of the rude people at DW...etc. etc.

Yikes! Can you tell me where to find the posts? I'd love to see them. Please don't think that I'm doubting you. I want to post how sad I am that they would do this.

 

[beaucoup]

My parents do this but they are elderly and its sadly how things were in past times.

I ask them your question when they do it, and they just look at me. I don't think they realize they are doing it. Or at least I hope that is the case. I don't know.

My dad actually called one of my friends "your black friend" to me and I had no idea who he was talking about. LOL I forgot she's black. He could have said your friend who works at xxxx, and I would have known who he meant.

 

[rie'smom]

Ok, I found the thread. There were a few posts about hispanics and a couple about black people. They were all offensive and I'm glad so many pointed it out. I was expecting to see several threads with this slant. Thank goodness that among the thousands of DISsers there are only a few who have these attitudes.

 

[pospisil]

My parents do this but they are elderly and its sadly how things were in past times.

I ask them your question when they do it, and they just look at me. I don't think they realize they are doing it. Or at least I hope that is the case. I don't know.

My grandmother does this too, I don't think she even realizes it.

 

[Tiger926]

I never do this, and am raising my kids to do the same. I frequently get yelled at because people have trouble with a description I might give when discussing a person, as I never include skin colour, weight, etc. and frequently ask them why it's no big deal when white people are not described in this manner?

I usually get a look like I have 10 heads...funny thing is, I feel that most people around me have 10 heads, most especially people who insist on talking like this.

Many pople love to stereotype and love to be prejudiced, it seems...

The Brazilian tour group threads really bother me, as I've been every July for 2 weeks straight, for 10 years, and I can tell you that most of the problematic behaviour I see isn't from those student groups.

Tiger

 

[Magic Mom]

Probably the same reason a small handfull of posts causes someone to make a post claiming "so many" make race an issue.

 

[KimR]

I've not ready any of the posts that prompted this thread, but I think there is a difference between racist comments and those comments that point out cultural differences to explain certain behaviors. As un-PC as it may be to say so, cultural differences do exist. For instance, Brazilians differ in their perception of personal space and that probably helps explain why some of the things they do may seem rude to us. I don't see anything wrong in pointing that out.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'll be honest and confess that it's something I do. I live in a town where the minority population is something like 1%, so it's an unusual occurrence if the incident being described is done to or by a minority. I don't feel that I'm doing it to stereotype (though I won't say I've never done that), but rather to point out something unusual. It might not even have to do with a minority, so I might say something like, "There was this guy. He was from New York" just to make the story more colorful.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Probably the same reason a small handfull of posts causes someone to make a post claiming "so many" make race an issue.

That's just silly. I said, "I am shocked at how many times people include the "race" of the offending party." I didn't say anything about "so many" making race an issue. Perhaps you should reread my post.
FTR, I have seen this in several other posts, not just the one going on now that is being referenced. I think people are so used to it, that it isn't even noticed much of the time. I am not implying in any way that tons of people on the dis boards are racist, for pity sakes. I'm just saying it is discouraging to see it over and over again. I have been here less than a year and I've seen it several times, but I also see the same thing on other boards. I think a lot of people don't think it's wrong to refer a rude black person "back to the ghetto they came from". I guess that really got to me.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I've not ready any of the posts that prompted this thread, but I think there is a difference between racist comments and those comments that point out cultural differences to explain certain behaviors. As un-PC as it may be to say so, cultural differences do exist. For instance, Brazilians differ in their perception of personal space and that probably helps explain why some of the things they do may seem rude to us. I don't see anything wrong in pointing that out.

Thanks for this post. That makes sense to me.

 

[mhsjax]

I never do this, and am raising my kids to do the same. I frequently get yelled at because people have trouble with a description I might give when discussing a person, as I never include skin colour, weight, etc. and frequently ask them why it's no big deal when white people are not described in this manner?

I usually get a look like I have 10 heads...funny thing is, I feel that most people around me have 10 heads, most especially people who insist on talking like this.

Many pople love to stereotype and love to be prejudiced, it seems...

The Brazilian tour group threads really bother me, as I've been every July for 2 weeks straight, for 10 years, and I can tell you that most of the problematic behaviour I see isn't from those student groups.

Tiger

Consider yourself lucky on the Brazilian thing.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I never do this, and am raising my kids to do the same. I frequently get yelled at because people have trouble with a description I might give when discussing a person, as I never include skin colour, weight, etc. and frequently ask them why it's no big deal when white people are not described in this manner?

I live in a very multicultural community, and the second description most people would use in describing me would be 'white' or 'gringa' (after Canadian).

I don't see why describing someone's physical characteristics is a bad thing? If someone has a black, Japanese, or East Indian appearance, is slender or a little overweight, is European or Hispanic, then why should it be ignored when you are describing them? I guess I find 'ignoring' these characteristics almost as more offensive...as if there's something wrong with being these things and therefore they are something that be shouldn't discussed.


(Note - I am only referring to times when you are describing a person to someone else. I do agree that pointing out someone is 'black' or 'fat' or whatever when it's irrelevant to a story is a different matter entirely!)

 

[Pakey]

I live in a very mulicultural city and I would never use race in a definition or story. I've never found it relevant.

 

[rie'smom]

I live in a very multicultural community, and the second description most people would use in describing me would be 'white' or 'gringa' (after Canadian).

I don't see why describing someone's physical characteristics is a bad thing? If someone has a black, Japanese, or East Indian appearance, is slender or a little overweight, is European or Hispanic, then why should it be ignored when you are describing them? I guess I find 'ignoring' these characteristics almost as more offensive...as if there's something wrong with being these things and therefore they are something that be shouldn't discussed.


(Note - I am only referring to times when you are describing a person to someone else. I do agree that pointing out someone is 'black' or 'fat' or whatever when it's irrelevant to a story is a different matter entirely!)

This was my feeling too- thanks for expressing it. If I had to describe my husband, I'd could only say, "He's a man" because his physical characteristics are:
short
overweight
thinning hair
Guess I couldn't say blue eyes because that would stereotype him as European.
BTW, even with that description, he's a cutie, the sweetest man in the world, and all mine!