Social Media, Bigotry, and Employment

Sure, but sadly not everyone is a good person, and we need to find a way to get them to act good, for the benefit of society.

I'm not sure if this was directed at me, I'll answer it anyway. There's nothing about being a white southerner that naturally inclines someone towards racism, but much of the culture in the south is inclined towards racism (and homophobia) and people raised in that culture can thus be pushed towards racism and homophobia. Though as Confuse pointed out, there's a point where free will kicks in. Okay then, if we're talking bigotry as in a lifetime of deliberate hate than I agree that not forgiving them is perfectly legit, especially when combined with not forgiving not meaning hating (though I'd say it's okay even if that was what not forgiving meant).

True, there is a point where self-responsibility kicks in, but I think something should always be considered in the light of a persons background. It' shouldn't negate what they may have done, but I think it can be used to give them some leeway on not realising it was wrong (or how wrong it was).

I can't disagree with that, I myself have made the speech on how sometimes you have to just write a person off.

You shouldn't have to be responsible for someone else's redemption, but if you're willing to be it can be very good for society. Also, I referance you to my massive hero complex.

If I were running a business, I'd rather my company have a reputation for being "the company that got sued for firing a racist" than "the company that knowingly employs racists". Laws are generally good and it's generally good to have them. But I'm trying to run a business, and I can't do that without customers. I'd rather avoid the Chik-fil-A method of rallying people against a still somewhat acceptable target.

One thing about the free market I guess, we'll see what strategies are effective based on people voting with their money.

I can say so when I think a company made a poor or good decision, but at the end of the day their ability to survive is their business as a .. business. If I decide to boycott a company for making a decision that I do not agree with, then if they still flourish, they made a good decision business-wise. And as public opinion is part of that, it means they handled the PR aspect of it appropriately.

On Chik-Fil-A, I'd only eaten their food a hand-full of times, as there is only one in my county and it isn't terribly close to anywhere I regularly travel. I wasn't very impressed with their food anyway, so dropping them for their opinion on gays was no big loss to a company who has a product I purchase maybe 3 times a year.

Would the issue be important enough for you to drop them if you actually enjoyed the food?

This wasn't directed at me, but I feel compelled to answer it anyway; my concern with what's good for "society" has limits when it comes at my expense with no tangible benefit.

edited 29th Jun '13 5:14:22 PM by Robotnik

^^

Depends I guess. Doesn't really matter if they committed straight up war crimes, I'll keep eating Panda Express.

This is an aspect of bigotry that is infuriating to me but people, both media and individuals seem to keep missing it.

That particular aspect is melanism. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, melanism is bigotry directed at individuals based on the lightness/darkness of their skin, irrespective of race. Typically this translates into lighter skin equals good and darker skin equals bad.

As someone who is black with paler skin and atypical eye color (green), I have gotten hit with this a lot. I fucking hate it.

I am tired of me and my sister being treated as less than a black person by other blacks because of a genetic fluke. I am tired of bigoted people treating me as a person and treating my darker skinned brother as a criminal. we will walk into a store at the same time. He will be followed, given no service and while I receive star treatment. I am tired of being asked "What am I mixed with".

Do this people have any idea how insulting it is to be told you are attractive and have it immediately followed up with "Are you mixed?" Do they even understand the implication? The stigmatization you get from both cultural groups?

I'm not even mixed with white in memorable history. The closest non-black relative is my great grandmother and father who were Native American and Chinese respectively.

I realize this is only covering 1/3rd of the thread topic but it was the closet thread I could find.

Any thoughts on melanism?

Aside from it being a stupid, evil idea with no justification or right to exist?

I tend to look at browner skins and think "you lucky bastard/ bitch: you'll rarely peel, you won't show blemishes quite so badly, you have a lessened chance of skin cancer and you'll grow older more gracefully". However, I don't see these as reasons to hate. Just mildly envy.

Also, I happen to find browner cooler to look at. <shrugs> I was considered weird at school.

edited 4th Jul '13 11:50:36 PM by Euodiachloris

I've always had a ridiculous hard-on for mexican girls, which is convenient since I live in California.

They always just seem to have smoother and more unblemished skin goddamnit... White skin just sort of amplifies every little blemish..

My thoughts on it are it's another leftover thing from when light skin meant you were rich enough to not have to work. Or at least that's how it tended to be read, since lighter skin being favored in women seems to appear across several cultures and ethnicities.

It's another one of those terrible things that we're having a hard time shedding.

you're a man of discriminatory tastes

Yeah but in the west tans are a sign you're rich enough not to work and take long holidays. So it kind of evens out.

@Confuse: If you don't like the way a store treats your brother, do you have the option of shopping someplace else? Or do you live in an area with lots of racists?

Colorism, it's one of our community's biggest issues.

Huh. I'm Scottish, so I look at people with dark skin and think: Lucky sods; No sunburn, no looking like a lobster south of Newcastle; no sunscreen, no genetic chicken skin, no pasty faces, no sweating like an absolute bitch, less rashes...

Beyond that, all forms of prejudice based on skin color are absurd.

edited 5th Jul '13 10:36:16 AM by Achaemenid

After it happens we shop elsewhere. We've learned over time which businesses to patronize and which to avoid.

Still infuriates me that it's something we've had to do.

edited 5th Jul '13 10:36:40 AM by IConfuseMe

Indeed. This isn't supposed to be an issue still.