Racism

[SliK]

Person X is in an argument with an African American man, and the African American is frustrating Person X to the point that Person X feels very angry and dislikes this man (solely based on the argument and nothing to do with colour). Person X wants to hurt this man because he hates him, so he says the most hurtful thing he can to disparage this individual, so he makes a racial slur. Let's just say he uses the word nigger.

Person X is using a racial slur to hurt this man, but does that make him racist?

In my opinion it does not. There is a big difference between saying something horrible in the heat of the moment (Michael Richards) and having the belief that one colour or creed is superior/inferior to the rest (Hitler).

Person X certainly used a racial slur as a racist comment, but was it racism?

[Willy]

Agreed. You are trying to evoke a response.. it has nothing to do with actually being a racist. My roommates are saint-like but have the habit of screaming "nigger lover" during basketball games.

[Kill You]

Yeah, making racial slurs doesn't make you a racist lol. Actually feeling hate for that race is racism. Feeling hate for an individual person isn't.

[SajN]

I don't look at that as racism. Maybe it's offensive, but not racist.

In the situation you described, I think it's pretty pathetic to make a racial slur just because the argument isn't going well, and the skin color is different. I've never liked these kinda comments.

[Trimss]

I don't know if it should be considered as racism, but even if it's not exactly that, it could be associated to it. If it's the first thing you really thought of to hurt him and it slips out of your mouth, it's maybe because you were already thinking about it.

But if you're saying it on purpose, it doesn't mean you're a racist, just a jackass lol.

[tadpole25]

Everyone's racist. It's just a matter of extent.

Evolution decided that solidarity is an important part of life. We prefer people who are like us, most of the time.

[Willy]

^Yep

[EminemBase]

Of course it doesn't.

We say "I'll kill you" or express thoughts which imply we want to seriously kill people or loathe them all the time, does that make us all serial killers or psychopaths...

Only if - you really feel that a race is X thing because of their race or prejudge them solely on that basis or use it as a reliable or meaningful basis for anything other than reference - then, you are.

If your friend or someone who annoys you is really fat and you're having an argument with them, you may resort to calling them "a fat cunt", doesn't mean you're prejudice against fat people, or women; it's just an obvious characteristic and shortcut to abuse.

We all notice each others differences (skin colour, height, weight, attractiveness) whether we admit it or not, which we should, as it's not wrong to notice or be conscious of difference, it's actually false and vomit-worthy, and deceitfully cowardly to pretend we don't have differences. But it's not racist to exploit that difference, even for abuse; that's just an obvious shortcut of provocation.

All depends about what you really feel, and why you say things. In the example you gave:

1. you feel angry.
2. you say 'that' to try and provoke, and hurt that person.

(no racist thoughts are involved there. The slur is an arbitrary provocation)

Remove the race aspect out of it and provoking and aiming to scold is what we do ANYWAY, so it's a mistake to give special credence or notice TO race, but people do because it's been more of a constant in history and tension. And a difference of which none of us control at all.

[SliK]

Well said, EmBase.

I was having this argument with someone in real life and she was arguing that someone who was truly not a racist wouldn't even have those racist thoughts. She said "I've never felt the need to bring race into an argument" (and lets face it, she is the benchmark of perfection ).

I don't think it's unnatural to think those things sometimes, I do think it makes you an asshole if you say them, despite whether or not it is technically racist.

[EminemBase]

Well said, EmBase.

I was having this argument with someone in real life and she was arguing that someone who was truly not a racist wouldn't even have those racist thoughts. She said "I've never felt the need to bring race into an argument" (and lets face it, she is the benchmark of perfection ).

I don't think it's unnatural to think those things sometimes, I do think it makes you an asshole if you say them, despite whether or not it is technically racist.

Was she black though? Because all blacks are stupid.

Only thing I despise more than a racist is a black person.

[SliK]

I don't make friends with coloured people.

[Hansen]

Nah not racism but still a bit edgy. I mean does 'X' absolutely have to use words involving somones race to provoke them though. I'm sure theres plenty of other more hurtful words in his vocabulary.

[CrashBand]

But, if you are saying "you fat cunt" / "you ugly cunt" as an insult, you may not have a prejudice against fat/ugly people. But by using it as an insult (negative connotations) you are virtually agreeing that it is "bad"/worse to be fat/ugly.

And the same for a racial slur. By saying it as an insult you are kind of "being okay with" the arbitrary negative connotations.

[AbramIsaac]

You're using a race-based slur. The term itself is racist, but that doesn't make you a racist. Granted, you are using hurtful terms with racial connotations as a tool, but that doesn't mean that you actually dislike people based on their race.

Racism as a tool. Much like slave owners used a race as a tool. 'Sall good is the point.

[CrashBand]

Surely if you are okay with using it as a tool you are somewhat racist.