[lostalex]

When she says "i'm not attracted to black people" it sounds like she doesn't WANT to be attracted to any black person, and that the minute she knows that someone is black, she immediately considers them unattractive.

It doesn't sound like she is open minded at all, it sounds like she has a REASON to find all black people unattractive.

I don't know what that reason is, i don't know where it comes from. But it is certainly racist to say that any black person, no matter who they are are, is automatically unattractive in her eyes, just based on being black.

[cassieparis]

Originally Posted by lostalex

When she says "i'm not attracted to black people" it sounds like she doesn't WANT to be attracted to any black person, and that the minute she knows that someone is black, she immediately considers them unattractive.

It doesn't sound like she is open minded at all, it sounds like she has a REASON to find all black people unattractive.

I don't know what that reason is, i don't know where it comes from. But it is certainly racist to say that any black person, no matter who they are are, is automatically unattractive in her eyes, just based on being black.

The view you describe is rife on this board and posters feel perfectly justified to just throw it out there.
Being attracted or unattracted to a entire race is racist

[sampvt]

Originally Posted by lostalex

When she says "i'm not attracted to black people" it sounds like she doesn't WANT to be attracted to any black person, and that the minute she knows that someone is black, she immediately considers them unattractive.

It doesn't sound like she is open minded at all, it sounds like she has a REASON to find all black people unattractive.

I don't know what that reason is, i don't know where it comes from. But it is certainly racist to say that any black person, no matter who they are are, is automatically unattractive in her eyes, just based on being black.

No need to drive a bus now, you are doing a great job of rubbishing your own argument. Why don't you just come out and say its illegal to say you don't like someone, forgive me but I thought that fell under personal preference which the last time I looked, was a perfectly legal and not at all racist.

This argument you are pitching is about as believable as Rylan getting an award for looking like last years Derby winner.

[Tulin]

Originally Posted by sampvt

Why don't you just come out and say its illegal to say you don't like someone

Oh trust me - that's coming!

Give it another twenty or so years and the PC nannies will have their Thought Police on every corner.

It's EFFING terrifying actually.

[optimisticcynic]

Originally Posted by sampvt

No need to drive a bus now, you are doing a great job of rubbishing your own argument. Why don't you just come out and say its illegal to say you don't like someone, forgive me but I thought that fell under personal preference which the last time I looked, was a perfectly legal and not at all racist.

This argument you are pitching is about as believable as Rylan getting an award for looking like last years Derby winner.

A personal preference based on ignorance is not immediately acceptable. The clarification that Jemima likes "darker" guys "but not black guys" reeks of an underlying idiocy which when probed further elicited the gem "you wouldn't like a white guy". This smacks of "stick to your own kind" stupidity. And to quote "I have black friends" does not permit stupid ideology. This is why I think Jemima is racist.

[sampvt]

Originally Posted by optimisticcynic

A personal preference based on ignorance is not immediately acceptable. The clarification that Jemima likes "darker" guys "but not black guys" reeks of an underlying idiocy which when probed further elicited the gem "you wouldn't like a white guy". This smacks of "stick to your own kind" stupidity. And to quote "I have black friends" does not permit stupid ideology. This is why I think Jemima is racist.

[MatthewS]

Originally Posted by optimisticcynic

A personal preference based on ignorance is not immediately acceptable. The clarification that Jemima likes "darker" guys "but not black guys" reeks of an underlying idiocy which when probed further elicited the gem "you wouldn't like a white guy". This smacks of "stick to your own kind" stupidity. And to quote "I have black friends" does not permit stupid ideology. This is why I think Jemima is racist.

She's talking about what skin tone she usually finds herself dating man, not which 'race' she prefers. and even if she 'prefers' to date white guys exclusively, being a racist is the act of HATING a particular race, not whether you fancy them romantically, or not.

not usually dating or not finding a race attractive ≠ hate

[optimisticcynic]

Originally Posted by MatthewS

She's talking about what skin tone she usually finds herself dating man, not which 'race' she prefers. and even if she 'prefers' to date white guys exclusively, being a racist is the act of HATING a particular race, not whether you fancy them romantically, or not.

not usually dating or not finding a race attractive ≠ hate

Being racist is not the act of hating a race. Oxford English Dictionary states Definition of racism
noun
[mass noun]
the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races:

Hence she is racist, as is the person who says that black people are fast or asians can do math. Your personal interpretation of a term does not invalidate its proper use by others. I do understand that you don't believe she hates black people, but I do believe she is prone to hurtful generalisations which she feels are permissable because she has "ethnic friends".

[MatthewS]

Originally Posted by optimisticcynic

Being racist is not the act of hating a race. Oxford English Dictionary states Definition of racism
noun
[mass noun]
the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races:

Hence she is racist

So because she typically finds herself dating "dark skinned" men, who happen not to be 'black', you've somehow deducted that she generally views black people as an inferior race? Even though she'd be after Daley if he were single? Surely you see how that's a massive stretch....

Their are numerous definitions for racism btw, it's a controversial term and you won't find one 'right' answer. It's also extremely context dependent. Maybe Jemima is a racist, who knows, I'm just saying that in this particular system 1) race wasn't the basis of her comments and 2) she's allowed to have a physical preference as to what she's attracted to. I've never dated an aboriginal girl in my life. If someone asked me what 'type' I usually date, and I was stupid enough to reply "dark skinned, but not aboriginal", would I be a racist?

[optimisticcynic]

Originally Posted by MatthewS

So because she typically finds herself dating "dark skinned" men, who happen not to be 'black', you've somehow deducted that she generally views black people as an inferior race? Even though she'd be after Daley if he were single? Surely you see how that's a massive stretch....

Their are numerous definitions for racism btw, it's a controversial term and you won't find one 'right' answer. It's also extremely context dependent. Maybe Jemima is a racist, who knows, I'm just saying that in this particular system 1) race wasn't the basis of her comments and 2) she's allowed to have a physical preference as to what she's attracted to. I've never dated an aboriginal girl in my life. If someone asked me what 'type' I usually date, and I was stupid enough to reply "dark skinned, but not aboriginal", would I be a racist?

I employ dark skinned guys, not black guys.
I'm friends with dark-skinned guys, not black guys.
I like dark skinned guys, not black guys.


What is the real difference between any of the above statements and the issue of dating? None. If someone won't date short/tall people, they are discriminating according to height. Fact. This may deprive them of a positive relationship in the future which is their loss, but so be it, and they may accept this. Discrimination based on race shouldn't be renamed because it makes people uneasy. It is racism. You yourself defined the response "dark skinned but not aboriginal" as stupid. Why is this? People can be racist without intending malice, but these prejudices can never be addressed until they are highlighted. The argument that she would date the mixed-race contestant Daley, is akin to the racist saying, "them others can go back where they came from but you're alright cos we've got the same accent".
The situation is overplayed as I doubt there will be many black men crying themselves to sleep at the lost chance to marry Jemima, but her statement in itself is discriminatory.

[jet]

Originally Posted by MatthewS

So because she typically finds herself dating "dark skinned" men, who happen not to be 'black', you've somehow deducted that she generally views black people as an inferior race? Even though she'd be after Daley if he were single? Surely you see how that's a massive stretch....

Their are numerous definitions for racism btw, it's a controversial term and you won't find one 'right' answer. It's also extremely context dependent. Maybe Jemima is a racist, who knows, I'm just saying that in this particular system 1) race wasn't the basis of her comments and 2) she's allowed to have a physical preference as to what she's attracted to. I've never dated an aboriginal girl in my life. If someone asked me what 'type' I usually date, and I was stupid enough to reply "dark skinned, but not aboriginal", would I be a racist?

You would be if the person you were talking to was aboriginal and you assumed they wouldn't date a white person, and told them so.
I have to laugh at how that one comment of J's is continually ignored and the rest of the conversation is used (which isn't relevant) to cloud the issue.
The 'you wouldn't date a white man' is the ONLY part of the convo which showed J was racist, and that is continually pointed out. Why bring up the irrelevant and not address the real elephant in the room? Eh?

[cassieparis]

Originally Posted by MatthewS

So because she typically finds herself dating "dark skinned" men, who happen not to be 'black', you've somehow deducted that she generally views black people as an inferior race? Even though she'd be after Daley if he were single? Surely you see how that's a massive stretch....

Daley isn't black. He's mixed race. A white mother and a Nigerian father. What's with the dismissal of his white heritage?

[MatthewS]

Originally Posted by cassieparis

Daley isn't black. He's mixed race. A white mother and a Nigerian father. What's with the dismissal of his white heritage?

I had no idea he was mixed race until an hour ago, and I forgot. It wasn't intentional. Do we really need to play the PC card and assume I was trying to dismiss "his white heritage"? Sorry for not thoroughly vetting his bio before posting. Perhaps a formal warning should be issued to me as I am clearly a gigantic racist.

[cassieparis]

Originally Posted by optimisticcynic

A personal preference based on ignorance is not immediately acceptable. The clarification that Jemima likes "darker" guys "but not black guys" reeks of an underlying idiocy which when probed further elicited the gem "you wouldn't like a white guy". This smacks of "stick to your own kind" stupidity. And to quote "I have black friends" does not permit stupid ideology. This is why I think Jemima is racist.

Why is it the worse thing you can call something racist is "racist"?
Best post I've read today.