Is this a bigoted statement? A simple test.
mrincredible said:
Hey I have friends who are overweight middle-age white guys!
But with GREAT costumes. 
I'm Irish. Being called a "cheese-eating, surrender monkey" wouldn't offend me. Everyone is free to use that when appropriate.
Formerlyjerseyjack said:
I'm Irish. Being called a "cheese-eating, surrender monkey" wouldn't offend me. Everyone is free to use that when appropriate.
You're only part Irish. You're also part Italian. I only mention this because I remember the time Grandma got really pissed at the neighbor and referred to him as "That damn guinea." 
PVW said:
So you're thinking of posting a comment about those people, but worried you'll be accused of being a bigot? Here's a simple rule of thumb:
Replace the target group in your comment with whatever group you personally identify with. Does the comment now sound hateful, inflammatory, or just plain offensive to you? Then odds are, it's a bigoted statement.
Sage advice.
Rich, powerful white men are to blame for America's decline. Is that bigoted?
It's impossible to be bigoted toward rich white men, because that's what I read it on the Internet.
noo2wood said:
Rich, powerful white men are to blame for America's decline. Is that bigoted?
If you only said white it would be. Get it?
Some people here need sensitivity training.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJJpziU7wSs#t=11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S83TlMdHm6Q
All human beings are vulnerable to bias and prejudice. White men can certainly be the victims of bigotry as much as anyone. I posted this in "soapbox" rather than "soapbox: all politics" because I think it's a generally universally applicable maxim, not just a political one.
If we are going to talk about bigotry in a political setting, though, I'd note that powerful people indulging in bigotry is more dangerous than bigotry by people with less power, since the real world effects of bigotry by the powerful have farther reaching effects than that of those with less power.
But if the implication here is that, for instance, liberals and people belonging to groups that tend to have less political power (overlapping but not coterminous groups) also need to practice introspection and avoid bigotry, I certainly agree with that.
What happens to someone like me who enjoys the cultural differences between us? My father had Norwegian heritage. My mother Irish. As a young child when a Italian heritage girlfriend called me a square head, it was the way she said it and I was confused. When my mom told me that just meant I was Norwegian I was fine with that. It was YEARS later I learned she was calling me dumb. That Norwegians were dumb. But I was fine with that having grown up in the culture of Norwegians and know better than she.
I love my Italian friends and I love my own heritage as well.
And I love sharing stories with my Muslim friends from Saudia Arabia and Egypt and Turkey and Pakistan.
And I love coming from Brooklyn and growing up on the Island and living in NJ for a good part of my adult life.
Well, I think I see PVW's point. These are not hateful feelings I have. I don't feel bias or prejudice.
PVW said:
All human beings are vulnerable to bias and prejudice. White men can certainly be the victims of bigotry as much as anyone. I posted this in "soapbox" rather than "soapbox: all politics" because I think it's a generally universally applicable maxim, not just a political one.
If we are going to talk about bigotry in a political setting, though, I'd note that powerful people indulging in bigotry is more dangerous than bigotry by people with less power, since the real world effects of bigotry by the powerful have farther reaching effects than that of those with less power.
But if the implication here is that, for instance, liberals and people belonging to groups that tend to have less political power (overlapping but not coterminous groups) also need to practice introspection and avoid bigotry, I certainly agree with that.
Not only are all human beings vulnerable to bias and prejudice, but all human beings have biases and prejudices...
Not all, I don't think babies differentiate between "looks like us" and "doesn't look like us" (us being people they are normally exposed to socially) until they are about six months old.
marylago said:
PVW said:
All human beings are vulnerable to bias and prejudice. White men can certainly be the victims of bigotry as much as anyone. I posted this in "soapbox" rather than "soapbox: all politics" because I think it's a generally universally applicable maxim, not just a political one.
If we are going to talk about bigotry in a political setting, though, I'd note that powerful people indulging in bigotry is more dangerous than bigotry by people with less power, since the real world effects of bigotry by the powerful have farther reaching effects than that of those with less power.
But if the implication here is that, for instance, liberals and people belonging to groups that tend to have less political power (overlapping but not coterminous groups) also need to practice introspection and avoid bigotry, I certainly agree with that.
Not only are all human beings vulnerable to bias and prejudice, but all human beings have biases and prejudices...
I was exposed to different cultures in neighborhoods and work environment. This social environment allowed me to drop any biases and prejudices that were passed on to me through family or friends. As it says in South Pacific musical, "You have to be carefully taught."
spontaneous said:
Not all, I don't think babies differentiate between "looks like us" and "doesn't look like us" (us being people they are normally exposed to socially) until they are about six months old.
Damn those politically correct babies! Making us all look bad.
oneofthegirls said:
marylago said:
PVW said:
All human beings are vulnerable to bias and prejudice. White men can certainly be the victims of bigotry as much as anyone. I posted this in "soapbox" rather than "soapbox: all politics" because I think it's a generally universally applicable maxim, not just a political one.
If we are going to talk about bigotry in a political setting, though, I'd note that powerful people indulging in bigotry is more dangerous than bigotry by people with less power, since the real world effects of bigotry by the powerful have farther reaching effects than that of those with less power.
But if the implication here is that, for instance, liberals and people belonging to groups that tend to have less political power (overlapping but not coterminous groups) also need to practice introspection and avoid bigotry, I certainly agree with that.
Not only are all human beings vulnerable to bias and prejudice, but all human beings have biases and prejudices...
I was exposed to different cultures in neighborhoods and work environment. This social environment allowed me to drop any biases and prejudices that were passed on to me through family or friends. As it says in South Pacific musical, "You have to be carefully taught."
I call BS. Everyone has something they feel biased for or against, whether that be color, weight, height, complexion, intellect... No one is immune, not even the most sainted people.
marylago said:
oneofthegirls said:
marylago said:
PVW said:
All human beings are vulnerable to bias and prejudice. White men can certainly be the victims of bigotry as much as anyone. I posted this in "soapbox" rather than "soapbox: all politics" because I think it's a generally universally applicable maxim, not just a political one.
If we are going to talk about bigotry in a political setting, though, I'd note that powerful people indulging in bigotry is more dangerous than bigotry by people with less power, since the real world effects of bigotry by the powerful have farther reaching effects than that of those with less power.
But if the implication here is that, for instance, liberals and people belonging to groups that tend to have less political power (overlapping but not coterminous groups) also need to practice introspection and avoid bigotry, I certainly agree with that.
Not only are all human beings vulnerable to bias and prejudice, but all human beings have biases and prejudices...
I was exposed to different cultures in neighborhoods and work environment. This social environment allowed me to drop any biases and prejudices that were passed on to me through family or friends. As it says in South Pacific musical, "You have to be carefully taught."
I call BS. Everyone has something they feel biased for or against, whether that be color, weight, height, complexion, intellect... No one is immune, not even the most sainted people.
Hah! I never said I was a saint. It's the gradations of public disharmony. I am not my father's daughter when it comes to what I say and judge others for believing what is right for me personally. Oh gawd, I hated watching Edith and Archie Bunker for those were my parents. Yet, and probably because of my upbringing, I refuse to judge others. Won't do it. Uh-uh. Even darling AJC gets a pass from me if he believes otherwise.
It was learned from my Irish mom. "Ugh. Pay no attention."
It makes no difference to others what I might have internally thought of them, so why shouldn't I open myself to the possibility of the goodness of them?
My most recent discovery was found in Anthony bourdain's travel program when he revealed how loving the Shiites are. What a pleasure to watch.
Oh yes, it does matter what you internally think. Those are your prejudices. I never said that people show their biases, I just said they have them. Like it or not, they are there. and believe it or not, in subtle ways, it does affect your actions
I believe my prejudices and biases can be changed with education, exposure and openness.
Eta: notice I said, "...might have internally thought of them." Past tense.
I can replace these old tapes with my new experiences.
Never said I did. 
I am still surprised at three of my sisters with republican viewpoints. They have yet to convince me.
I am still opposed to individual gun ownership no matter how much my grandson whom I live with tells me it is a good idea.
I still believe in God and my Catholic upbringing no matter how much Dave and others try to tell me to let it go.
Yes I have biases.
Hello. And thank you. If and when I ever thought my biases were harmful to others, I would open myself to reeducation, exposure, and openness.
Right now I enjoy being a democrat, I don't want guns in my house, and I certainly enjoy the fruits of my Catholic upbringing.
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So you're thinking of posting a comment about those people, but worried you'll be accused of being a bigot? Here's a simple rule of thumb:
Replace the target group in your comment with whatever group you personally identify with. Does the comment now sound hateful, inflammatory, or just plain offensive to you? Then odds are, it's a bigoted statement.