rachel on 16/1/2009 at 09:59
French emperor? Thanks :cool: Have another cigar.
R Soul on 16/1/2009 at 14:17
Quote Posted by Papy
People are not as idiot as you think they are.
I know in the grand scheme of things that doesn't really matter, but lol anyway.
SD on 16/1/2009 at 16:10
Quote Posted by Papy
I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
Sorry, let me clarify as I wasn't clear. When I say "not necessarily genetic characteristics, but certainly external, inherent natural characteristics", I ought to have put not
all genetic characteristics, just some external ones. Nobody would generally say that ripping on ginger kids constitutes racism.
Quote Posted by Papy
What puzzles me is you say religion is not an inherent characteristic. I would agree it's not absolutely inherent, but the fact is very few people choose their religion. The vast majority just follow the religion imposed by their culture.
People are free to choose or not choose to follow a religion. Religion is always a choice. Of course, it's a choice that is heavily influenced by parents, peers etc, which is why I compared it to support of a sports team.
Quote Posted by Papy
As for what is racism, I think you are looking at the word a bit too superficially.
I dunno, racism is pretty superficial you know. It's about skin colour. But oh no:
Quote Posted by Papy
The real source of racism is cultural differences. This is what racism is about. Visible physical differences, which could define a "race", are only a way to identify those cultural differences, they are not the cause of racism.
You could argue that insofar as racism can be considered a form of xenophobia, an irrational hatred of people because they are different. But that does not mean all xenophobia = racism (and nor is all hatred irrational, either).
Quote Posted by Papy
In that sense, racism is only indirectly linked to the concept of "race", despite the etymology of the word. As a religion is clearly a sign of cultural value, "racism" is the correct word to use. People are not as idiot as you think they are.
Racism is fundamentally not the correct word to use in those circumstances. Anyone who uses the word "racism" to refer to hatred, dislike or distrust of a religion or the people who follow it is a Grade 'A' moron.
DDL on 16/1/2009 at 16:29
But, as happens frequently with language, if that becomes the collectively accepted term to use, it's effectively correct.
Languages evolve fairly quickly, and usually by mass consensus. And there are a lot of highly vocal grade A morons out there.
R Soul on 16/1/2009 at 18:49
Lots of people using a word incorrectly does not make it correct.
Of course since people from one part of the world tend to have the same religion as each other, it is possible to disguise racism as dislike of a religion, but it makes honest debate very difficult when everyone who criticises a religion is smeared as a racist.
Trance on 17/1/2009 at 15:31
server's back up woot \:D/
