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

[Tiger926]

Consider yourself lucky on the Brazilian thing.

Not luck, it's all about perception, and giving what you would like to get in return. There are lots of rude people at WDW in the oppressive summer heat, yet you don't see so many threads about them.

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!)

Because usually it's not relevent. I discuss people in general, so unless I am looking for a trespasser into my school, then I need to give a physical description for safety reasons, but if I'm telling story about a guy, it's probably not relevant to the story as to what he looks like. This constantly happens with sexual orientation as well. One of my teaching colleauges feels the need to make it relevant to stories that someone is gay or lesbian, and it's never relevant, as that is a personal relationship between two people that I don't need to know anything about. It's to segregate people; there is no other reason for it.

Tiger

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Because usually it's not relevent. I discuss people in general, so unless I am looking for a trespasser into my school, then I need to give a physical description for safety reasons, but if I'm telling story about a guy, it's probably not relevant to the story as to what he looks like. This constantly happens with sexual orientation as well. One of my teaching colleauges feels the need to make it relevant to stories that someone is gay or lesbian, and it's never relevant, as that is a personal relationship between two people that I don't need to know anything about. It's to segregate people; there is no other reason for it.

Tiger

I agree with this. Why does it matter if the person who hit your heels with the back of the stroller was overweight, bald and French? Or if the guy who happened to flip you off was gay and chinese. I really do understand that we like to describe things just as a way to tell a story(I've probably been guilty of it on here myself), but more often than not, those descriptions carry underlying things.

 

[Mkrop]

My mom is 65 and does this all the time, it drives me batty. I understand if it is revelant to the story but most times it is not. She was recently telling me about some lady who was sick and was married to a Jewish man, why her husband's faith had anything to do with the story is beyond me and when I asked her about it she had no idea why she added that to the story.

My ILs do it but usually I feel it is to relay a negative flair to the story.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

My mom is 65 and does this all the time, it drives me batty. I understand if it is revelant to the story but most times it is not. She was recently telling me about some lady who was sick and was married to a Jewish man, why her husband's faith had anything to do with the story is beyond me and when I asked her about it she had no idea why she added that to the story.

My ILs do it but usually I feel it is to relay a negative flair to the story.

My mother calls all Asian people "oriental". Isn't that a huge no no? She is the sweetest woman ever and just doesn't even think of it.

 

[mhsjax]

Not luck, it's all about perception, and giving what you would like to get in return. There are lots of rude people at WDW in the oppressive summer heat, yet you don't see so many threads about them.



Because usually it's not relevent. I discuss people in general, so unless I am looking for a trespasser into my school, then I need to give a physical description for safety reasons, but if I'm telling story about a guy, it's probably not relevant to the story as to what he looks like. This constantly happens with sexual orientation as well. One of my teaching colleauges feels the need to make it relevant to stories that someone is gay or lesbian, and it's never relevant, as that is a personal relationship between two people that I don't need to know anything about. It's to segregate people; there is no other reason for it.

Tiger

Sorry, but I and my 2 frineds that are 100% pure Brazilian disagree. Sure not all of them, but I was told by him that most of these tour groups that are young, are usually very well off and sent to WDW by their parents, the chaperones could care less.

And sorry but perception has nothing to do with me and my family stnaading in line at BLizzard Beach and my then 4 year old son getting almost pushed down the stairs from the top of the slide by a bunch of these younger kids, and them pushing their way past everyone, there was about 20 of them. THis is when my Brazilian friend said that this is perfectly normal for them.

So I really don't have a problem with anyone being Brazilian, I do have a problem with their behavior at WDW. Sorry if that offend you, but they offend me when they could have seriously injured my child.

 

[tvguy]

I only use race in a story if there is a reason to. And the circumstances of the story are a factor too.
A vague description from the police of a suspect that includes race will not be included. "White man, red shirt, black pants" would be a time mentioning race isn't called for.

A vague description from police of a missing 6 year old child would be a time that "white child, red shirt, black pants" would be acceptable in my book.
The urgency of this search merits giving people are much information as you can, not matter how vague.

 

[Sweettears]

Something to do with the marathon coming up?

 

[mhsjax]

I only use race in a story if there is a reason to. And the circumstances of the story are a factor too.
A vague description from the police of a suspect that includes race will not be included. "White man, red shirt, black pants" would be a time mentioning race isn't called for.

A vague description from police of a missing 6 year old child would be a time that "white child, red shirt, black pants" would be acceptable in my book.
The urgency of this search merits giving people are much information as you can, not matter how vague.

Maybe I am not understanding, buy why wouldn't a description of a suspect require race?

 

[Tiger926]

Sorry, but I and my 2 frineds that are 100% pure Brazilian disagree. Sure not all of them, but I was told by him that most of these tour groups that are young, are usually very well off and sent to WDW by their parents, the chaperones could care less.

And sorry but perception has nothing to do with me and my family stnaading in line at BLizzard Beach and my then 4 year old son getting almost pushed down the stairs from the top of the slide by a bunch of these younger kids, and them pushing their way past everyone, there was about 20 of them. THis is when my Brazilian friend said that this is perfectly normal for them.

So I really don't have a problem with anyone being Brazilian, I do have a problem with their behavior at WDW. Sorry if that offend you, but they offend me when they could have seriously injured my child.

Sorry this happened to your child. That is absolutely unacceptable.

It doesn't offend me at all. What offends me, is the myriad of threads that imply that all Brazilian students are like this, and that only Brazilian tour groups may be problematic in the parks. Like I said, I have never witnessed any violence or safety issues, doesn't mean it hasn't happened, but again, in the many park trips I've had, I have also witnessed many safety violations from non-Brazilians as well.

I see many people on here with threads about how to avoid the Brazilians and will they ruin my trip. Seriously. If you are going in with that attitude, then you are going to find trouble. This is what I mean by perception.

Probably because I'm a highschool teacher of at-risk students, so not much bothers me at this point, so I know how to avoid, and I also know how to keep the peace. I have walked right into the middle of many Brazilian tour groups as we have crossed paths, and I have not had any issues whatsoever.

Tiger

 

[mhsjax]

Sorry this happened to your child. That is absolutely unacceptable.

It doesn't offend me at all. What offends me, is the myriad of threads that imply that all Brazilian students are like this, and that only Brazilian tour groups may be problematic in the parks. Like I said, I have never witnessed any violence or safety issues, doesn't mean it hasn't happened, but again, in the many park trips I've had, I have also witnessed many safety violations from non-Brazilians as well.

I see many people on here with threads about how to avoid the Brazilians and will they ruin my trip. Seriously. If you are going in with that attitude, then you are going to find trouble. This is what I mean by perception.

Probably because I'm a highschool teacher of at-risk students, so not much bothers me at this point, so I know how to avoid, and I also know how to keep the peace. I have walked right into the middle of many Brazilian tour groups as we have crossed paths, and I have not had any issues whatsoever.

Tiger

What you say is true also. I think for me, it is because they travel in very large groups that it is a little bothersome. So do cheerleaders, and I have one of those. I stay clear of them at all cost.

I also want to point out to everyone that says that people with those scooter try and run over people and don't watch, well my DH had knee surg and had to use one, I can't tell you how many people just stepped out in front of him. One man actually rolled his eyes at his own wife because she crossed in front of my DH 3 times and never saw him. Some people are careless with these other time the pedestrians are utterly clueless. I guess in short, there are crazy people in all walks of life, including me, I just like to describe which crazy I was talking about at the time.

 

[MomRN]

It doesn't bother me unless it's just blatantly racist. Sometime a description of the purpose is needed just to add to the story, as someone else mentioned.

 

[3smithboys]

The reason race gets mentioned is because so often the world is "seen through white eyes;" therefore, whenever a person who is not white might enter into the "story" race may become a describing factor that sets them apart. No matter how "color blind" we think/say we are, we notice race and it becomes a way of describing someone. It doesn't have to be in a negative way. (Although often times on the boards (or in life) it is, and that is why this has been brought up....)

 

[jeepgirl30]

oh gosh, i hope i'm not an offender! I posted about a yearbook pic and how they messed up my son and another child. I had called the company way early because we got the saftey check photo with my son's pic but the name and info of a another child of a different race. I wanted them to correct it for the police files. the lady on the phone did not know the kids so the easiest way to explain the mixup was to say my child is X color and that child is Y color. I would have wanted it changed no matter if the other child was purple but since the color was the easiest give away i went with that. Now if she knew the kids i could have explained another way.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I haven't found myself to use this....but I don't get offended if others use it as long as it isn't racist.

I like to know what people look like--it is sad that skin color/ethnicity are so taboo to mention at all. We are a country of appearances--and if someone asks what someone looked like, we shouldn't be afraid to describe it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Maybe I am not understanding, buy why wouldn't a description of a suspect require race?

I only use race in a story if there is a reason to. And the circumstances of the story are a factor too.
A vague description from the police of a suspect that includes race will not be included. "White man, red shirt, black pants" would be a time mentioning race isn't called for.

A vague description from police of a missing 6 year old child would be a time that "white child, red shirt, black pants" would be acceptable in my book.
The urgency of this search merits giving people are much information as you can, not matter how vague.

I'm not following either. Unless it tracks back to the Susan Smith debacle and they better be sure of whom they are looking for if they mention an ethnicity/skin color.

 

[MushyMushy]

My mother calls all Asian people "oriental". Isn't that a huge no no? She is the sweetest woman ever and just doesn't even think of it.

I got into this discussion once with a friend of mine who was from Japan. I had called her "oriental" to my husband and he had a cow, telling me it was rude and wasn't PC, etc. So I asked my friend. She told me she didn't know anybody it would be offensive to, and it was one of those crazy American PC things.

I'm not saying other Asians wouldn't be offended by it, but she thought it was silly.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

oh gosh, i hope i'm not an offender! I posted about a yearbook pic and how they messed up my son and another child. I had called the company way early because we got the saftey check photo with my son's pic but the name and info of a another child of a different race. I wanted them to correct it for the police files. the lady on the phone did not know the kids so the easiest way to explain the mixup was to say my child is X color and that child is Y color. I would have wanted it changed no matter if the other child was purple but since the color was the easiest give away i went with that. Now if she knew the kids i could have explained another way.

I don't see anything offensive about that at all.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I haven't found myself to use this....but I don't get offended if others use it as long as it isn't racist.

I like to know what people look like--it is sad that skin color/ethnicity are so taboo to mention at all. We are a country of appearances--and if someone asks what someone looked like, we shouldn't be afraid to describe it.

I agree with this. It's the posts that are basically written about someone having offensive behavior tacked on with a description of that person. Somehow, to me, it just doesn't sit right. I don't see too much of, "this really handsome guy, about 6 foot 2 and obviously Hispanic told me to keep my brat quiet"...kinda of thing. It seems that when describing positive situations we use positive descriptions but negative situations get negative descriptions? I guess that would be totally natural.

 

[npmommie]

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

my mom does it too.
and all my elderly patients, especially the men, the first thing they want to know about me is if I am French or not.

Conversation:
me: Hello mr. smith, I am npmommie, one of the nurse practitioners here, how are you doing?
Mr. Smith: nice to meet you, so what are you. are you French?

 

[beaucoup]

My college age niece calls her boyfriend her "Rican" all the time on FB. It makes ME cringe when she does it. Apparently its cool to be a white girl with a "Rican" boyfriend?