Why is this tolerated?

[Maleficus1055]

It seems wherever I look that people gather and talk, racism is always tolerated and enjoyed even against Americans. Be it Forum boards, Runescape public chat and clan chats, Xbox LIVE, even television, everyone can make fun of Americans whenever they want and however they want and no one really seems to give a rat's [wagon].

 

Now, most people know the standard things people say, they say Americans are fat, lazy, and/or stupid among other things. Say it wherever and most people seem to join in with the laughs and the haggling. Now, go into any of the aforementioned places, or into public with real people and make a racist comment against Blacks, Jews, Mexicans, Asians, or any other race you can think of. In any form of online place (no, im not counting 4chan or any other board such as that, keep that filth out of this topic) you would instantly be kicked or muted. If you say something like this in public most people will look down upon you. Now, say something about Americans, and everyone has a nice old laugh, but why?

 

I really would like to know why this is tolerated. Don't just say "Because everybody hates Americans lololololol" because I could easily make an ignorant generalization like that right back at you, it doesn't make it any more valid.

 

Please try to keep any flaming out of this topic.

[Giordano]

America isn't a race, that's why. Thus not racism. :wink:

 

*AHEM*

 

It's a sterotype, I don't know why it's allowed. But truthfully, I don't care. Let 'em say [cabbage] since I say [cabbage] back at 'em too.

[Maleficus1055]

America isn't a race, that's why. Thus not racism. :wink:

 

 

It's a sterotype, I don't know why it's allowed. But truthfully, I don't care. Let 'em say [cabbage] since I say [cabbage] back at 'em too.

 

If I make a remark against Jews, they will still get offended and I don't count Jews as a race considering most of them I know aren't of that decsent, they just follow a religion.

Racism doesn't have to be against a race, you can apply that word to stereotyping in general IMO.

[Giordano]

America isn't a race, that's why. Thus not racism. :wink:

 

 

It's a sterotype, I don't know why it's allowed. But truthfully, I don't care. Let 'em say [cabbage] since I say [cabbage] back at 'em too.

 

If I make a remark against Jews, they will still get offended and I don't count Jews as a race considering most of them I know aren't of that decsent, they just follow a religion.

Racism doesn't have to be against a race, you can apply that word to stereotyping in general IMO.

Then it's prejudice against Nationalities. But I was just being a smartass.

 

But so? Let them be offended.

[Dizzle229]

It's fine as long as it's not serious. 90% of the people that make American jokes don't actually hate Americans.

 

And it should be socially acceptable to make fun of us as long as it's still ok for us to make fun of people from the middle east.

[Maleficus1055]

America isn't a race, that's why. Thus not racism. :wink:

 

 

It's a sterotype, I don't know why it's allowed. But truthfully, I don't care. Let 'em say [cabbage] since I say [cabbage] back at 'em too.

 

If I make a remark against Jews, they will still get offended and I don't count Jews as a race considering most of them I know aren't of that decsent, they just follow a religion.

Racism doesn't have to be against a race, you can apply that word to stereotyping in general IMO.

Then it's prejudice against Nationalities. But I was just being a smartass.

 

But so? Let them be offended.

 

Yeah, but why am I not allowed to make a prejudiced remark without consequence and one against Americans doesn't get any consequence at all?

[RSBDavid]

It is not what people say that is racist, it is the context. I know several African kids at my school who say "What up [racist term]'" Is that racist? No.

 

(lol at censor)

[Giordano]

America isn't a race, that's why. Thus not racism. :wink:

 

 

It's a sterotype, I don't know why it's allowed. But truthfully, I don't care. Let 'em say [cabbage] since I say [cabbage] back at 'em too.

 

If I make a remark against Jews, they will still get offended and I don't count Jews as a race considering most of them I know aren't of that decsent, they just follow a religion.

Racism doesn't have to be against a race, you can apply that word to stereotyping in general IMO.

Then it's prejudice against Nationalities. But I was just being a smartass.

 

But so? Let them be offended.

 

Yeah, but why am I not allowed to make a prejudiced remark without consequence and one against Americans doesn't get any consequence at all?

Well that depends on the idiot hosting the internet service. But in real life they can't stop you, really. It's one of those things that you can't do much about and either you fight it with fire or move on.

[Maleficus1055]

It is not what people say that is racist, it is the context. I know several African kids at my school who say "What up [racist term]'" Is that racist? No.

 

(lol at censor)

 

 

If you say the same back to the kids at my school in the same way as a friendly greeting, they get extremely serious about it they act very offended about it and how "You aren't allowed to use our word".

[decebal]

Racism still happens... hell it happens to every country.

 

I know how you Americans making fun of the cold up here too ;)

[Zierro]

I think generalizations are fine if there is truth behind them.

[ElkNight]

Because stereotypes make the world go round.

[champion]

It is not what people say that is racist, it is the context. I know several African kids at my school who say "What up [racist term]'" Is that racist? No.

 

(lol at censor)

 

 

If you say the same back to the kids at my school in the same way as a friendly greeting, they get extremely serious about it they act very offended about it and how "You aren't allowed to use our word".

Yeah, but the white people could intend it as being racist, and most often probably do. Black people generally are not racist against themselves.

[Kiriyama]

Well, it's been said before, it's because America is a nationality, not a race.

 

When people commit racism, it's often not due to country of origin, yet down to differences in appearance. I've got to deal with 1 racist [bleep]er in college, and I was about ready to smack him one today, but I digress..

 

To the issue at hand, stereotypes about nationalities are never true, and no-one ever takes them seriously, and are often used for comedic effect. I could complain about how the Scottish are protrayed in American media, but I do not, because I actually find it pretty funny that we're seen that way, for comedic effect.

 

I mean, do any of you really believe that I wear a kilt all the time, or any of the other stereotypes? No.

 

In short, shut the [bleep] up about how you American's get it so hard. You're like that racist in my college, you'll try to poke fun at others, but won't take it when people do it back to you.

[RexMilotic]

Personally me and my friends make racist jokes, or jokes about countries all the time. That includes jokes about our nationalities and our countries. I think the problem isn't that it's "wrong" but that people just take things like this too seriously, which in the end helps no one. At least by looking at these things as a joke, people wouldn't be offended by them and they would sooner be disregarded. Eventually these things mean nothing to you, but when people take them seriously they give those things a meaning, even if they want those things to be gone.

Edited January 21, 2010 by laura0077
Having the entirety of your post in one colour makes it difficult to read. ;)

[OldJoe]

Wouldn't put racism. Americans aren't a homogeneous group.

 

But why is isn't it a problem for people to bash north-Americans? Well, the simple answer is the left. Several western countries have had left-politicians leading the countries for decades (and some countries still do), and they are generally anti-"the American way". And another thing is the media, same there, the majority are lefties.

 

It's a funny thing this, you can bash USA as much as you want but if you dare call one of the arab countries something... People will look crossed to you (well most anyways).

[l0rd]

Serious prejudice against Americans is fine. It's just a way to let the human washouts rise to the top and publicly display their ignorancethis goes for any kind of prejudice.

 

I get the same kind of entertainment watching neo-Nazi's spewing pseudo-scientific theories on eugenics as I get watching the Jerry Springer show.

[Dizzle229]

I mean, do any of you really believe that I wear a kilt all the time, or any of the other stereotypes? No.

 

And bagpipes. Don't forget bagpipes.

[Lenticular_J]

Just words, bro. Don't get so insulted. [bleep]ing around with other people is what makes the world go round.

[rangeor]

If you're so upset about it, find a way to prove them wrong.

[Kiriyama]

I mean, do any of you really believe that I wear a kilt all the time, or any of the other stereotypes? No.

 

And bagpipes. Don't forget bagpipes.

 

I did forget. Forgot about haggis too.

 

But in the end, we still have the best dialect and accent.

[Princess Viola]

More importantly, who cares? If you're butthurt by people on Xbox Live then frankly you need to grow up.

Yes.

 

Hell, any online game.

[fakeitormakeit2]

Well, culturally Americans are very isolated from the rest of European-descended cultures. The United States [political entity] also tends to embody the phrase "more gold, faster and less time" as well as gunboat diplomacy.

 

The most ignorant of the American populace seem to be the most notable, such as those who are on shows like Jersey Shore, I assure you, I am not a guido. Although on my vacations to Europe, Americans do seem to be the most blatant tourists taking pictures all the time with their annoyingly loud voices, refusing to try and mingle with the "natives"(the term I so despise and yet I have heard used) and simply demanding that someone speak English. I have also found in my travels, that Americans are the most racist. The amount of insults I sustain for being Middle Eastern in the USA is quite remarkable, with the general assumption of Americans being that I am an extremist Muslim terrorist, ready to serve my demon-god, "Ah-la"(As Americans horribly pronounce it).

 

But in the end, I think "racism towards Americans" is too over blown. In France, I openly stated I was American and the people were the nicest in the world. In Italy, when I was speaking Italian with a bartender at a hotel he asked me where in Italy i was from since my accent since it sounded like a northern accent (as I learned Italian with northern accent as my family is from the north) and I said I was from America, and they said oh how since, where? and I said NYC and they went on about how they would love to live in NYC and how they heard the people were quite nice (which I beg to differ with haha). And in Greece, I was even invited to a village feast/picnic/really big meal because I said I was from America with Greek ancestry and they were overjoyed and wanted me to tell them all about America as we eat.

 

The point is I find racism to America less then what people think. I cannot say how many times in conversation someone will start mocking the French and portray the stereotype with the stripes, beret, mustache, baguette, glass of wine, etc. who hate Americans and yet the people in France were the nicest. To even prove a point I asked a French person in France who I had gotten quite familiar with about the idea of Americans thinking French people hated Americans and he was extremely puzzled and distraught at the thought of it.

We stayed up one night sharing jokes and one he said was what is the difference between an American and a cup of yogurt? The yogurt will eventually gain culture, but it was just all in the spirit of fun, not hate.

[Lenticular_J]

Most jokes are in the spirit of fun. Like you said, the ignorant [wagon] are always the ones that you notice.

[fastortoise]

It's because you people call yourselves American. Once you stop thinking you own the entire continent people will start cutting you some slack :mrgreen: