Am I a racist?

[davelj]

[quote=jpinpb][quote=davelj]The bottom line is that we all discriminate to some degree on the basis of culture – we like to hang with folks that share a similar value system, and I think this goes well beyond race.[/quote]

Wouldn’t racism be different than discrimination. Racism denotes making judgement solely on someone’s race. Discrimination takes into consideration other factors.[/quote]

Yeah, I’d agree with that. I suppose that racism is kind of a sub-set of overall discrimination. All racists discriminate (by definition), but not all folks who discriminate necessarily do so on the basis of race (could be gender, religion or a bunch of other factors).

[NotCranky]

[quote=davelj]

So, I doubt it’s a racial issue so much as a cultural issue (but since I don’t know you I could be wrong). Now… this is where some folks jump up and down and say, “Discriminating on the basis of culture is just veiled racism!” To which I’d respond (as EconProf pointed out), “Talk to Jesse Jackson about that and then get back to me.”

[/quote]

Discriminating on the basis of “culture” is probably closer to “snobbism” in most instances. Sometimes it passes pretty well for common sense, but not when it is habitual or rigid.

[NotCranky]

[quote=davelj]

So, I doubt it’s a racial issue so much as a cultural issue (but since I don’t know you I could be wrong). Now… this is where some folks jump up and down and say, “Discriminating on the basis of culture is just veiled racism!” To which I’d respond (as EconProf pointed out), “Talk to Jesse Jackson about that and then get back to me.”

[/quote]

Discriminating on the basis of “culture” is probably closer to “snobbism” in most instances. Sometimes it passes pretty well for common sense, but not when it is habitual or rigid.

[NotCranky]

[quote=davelj]

So, I doubt it’s a racial issue so much as a cultural issue (but since I don’t know you I could be wrong). Now… this is where some folks jump up and down and say, “Discriminating on the basis of culture is just veiled racism!” To which I’d respond (as EconProf pointed out), “Talk to Jesse Jackson about that and then get back to me.”

[/quote]

Discriminating on the basis of “culture” is probably closer to “snobbism” in most instances. Sometimes it passes pretty well for common sense, but not when it is habitual or rigid.

[NotCranky]

[quote=davelj]

So, I doubt it’s a racial issue so much as a cultural issue (but since I don’t know you I could be wrong). Now… this is where some folks jump up and down and say, “Discriminating on the basis of culture is just veiled racism!” To which I’d respond (as EconProf pointed out), “Talk to Jesse Jackson about that and then get back to me.”

[/quote]

Discriminating on the basis of “culture” is probably closer to “snobbism” in most instances. Sometimes it passes pretty well for common sense, but not when it is habitual or rigid.

[NotCranky]

[quote=davelj]

So, I doubt it’s a racial issue so much as a cultural issue (but since I don’t know you I could be wrong). Now… this is where some folks jump up and down and say, “Discriminating on the basis of culture is just veiled racism!” To which I’d respond (as EconProf pointed out), “Talk to Jesse Jackson about that and then get back to me.”

[/quote]

Discriminating on the basis of “culture” is probably closer to “snobbism” in most instances. Sometimes it passes pretty well for common sense, but not when it is habitual or rigid.

[davelj]

[quote=walterwhite]Davelj nailed it and I’m gonna use that word. I’m not racist I just don’t want my kids hanging out with substantially lower class people. Culturist. I like that.

Although now that I think about it my kids have some pretty broke kind if lower class friends. Ah well.[/quote]

And obviously this goes well beyond simplistic notions of “economic class” as well. To use an extreme example, you probably have more in common culturally with a taiwanese immigrant that came to to the US 30 years ago and stresses independence, work and education to his kids, but may not have much in the way of financial resources, than you would with some dirtbag that won the lottery. I would say that “values” trump finances in how we go about discriminating.

[davelj]

[quote=walterwhite]Davelj nailed it and I’m gonna use that word. I’m not racist I just don’t want my kids hanging out with substantially lower class people. Culturist. I like that.

Although now that I think about it my kids have some pretty broke kind if lower class friends. Ah well.[/quote]

And obviously this goes well beyond simplistic notions of “economic class” as well. To use an extreme example, you probably have more in common culturally with a taiwanese immigrant that came to to the US 30 years ago and stresses independence, work and education to his kids, but may not have much in the way of financial resources, than you would with some dirtbag that won the lottery. I would say that “values” trump finances in how we go about discriminating.

[davelj]

[quote=walterwhite]Davelj nailed it and I’m gonna use that word. I’m not racist I just don’t want my kids hanging out with substantially lower class people. Culturist. I like that.

Although now that I think about it my kids have some pretty broke kind if lower class friends. Ah well.[/quote]

And obviously this goes well beyond simplistic notions of “economic class” as well. To use an extreme example, you probably have more in common culturally with a taiwanese immigrant that came to to the US 30 years ago and stresses independence, work and education to his kids, but may not have much in the way of financial resources, than you would with some dirtbag that won the lottery. I would say that “values” trump finances in how we go about discriminating.

[davelj]

[quote=walterwhite]Davelj nailed it and I’m gonna use that word. I’m not racist I just don’t want my kids hanging out with substantially lower class people. Culturist. I like that.

Although now that I think about it my kids have some pretty broke kind if lower class friends. Ah well.[/quote]

And obviously this goes well beyond simplistic notions of “economic class” as well. To use an extreme example, you probably have more in common culturally with a taiwanese immigrant that came to to the US 30 years ago and stresses independence, work and education to his kids, but may not have much in the way of financial resources, than you would with some dirtbag that won the lottery. I would say that “values” trump finances in how we go about discriminating.

[davelj]

[quote=walterwhite]Davelj nailed it and I’m gonna use that word. I’m not racist I just don’t want my kids hanging out with substantially lower class people. Culturist. I like that.

Although now that I think about it my kids have some pretty broke kind if lower class friends. Ah well.[/quote]

And obviously this goes well beyond simplistic notions of “economic class” as well. To use an extreme example, you probably have more in common culturally with a taiwanese immigrant that came to to the US 30 years ago and stresses independence, work and education to his kids, but may not have much in the way of financial resources, than you would with some dirtbag that won the lottery. I would say that “values” trump finances in how we go about discriminating.

[briansd1]

It’s all about comportment and demeanor, IMO.
When a potential roommate comes over, you have to quickly determine two things: 1) will he pay on time, without being asked, 2) will she be clean and keep your house in good order.

Act like a detective. Is the person dressed neatly? Does she have good personal higiene (eg cleam fingernails and complexion)?

I’ve noticed that certain people have problems bending down and picking up things. So if they drop things on the floor, or spill liquid, they will have difficulty cleaning. Can you live with that?

People who are clumsy are likely not clean. They are likely to slam cabinet doors and break things. etc…

Is the person likely to party and make a mess?

I’ve observed a lot and I think that I’m pretty good judge of character. It’s not race. Money and education help, but not always. I would say that, just for ability to pay, there should be a minimal income level, but beyond that, it makes no difference. It’s about personal lifestyle.

I agree with jp that foreign grad students are good bets, but you must live near a university.

[briansd1]

It’s all about comportment and demeanor, IMO.
When a potential roommate comes over, you have to quickly determine two things: 1) will he pay on time, without being asked, 2) will she be clean and keep your house in good order.

Act like a detective. Is the person dressed neatly? Does she have good personal higiene (eg cleam fingernails and complexion)?

I’ve noticed that certain people have problems bending down and picking up things. So if they drop things on the floor, or spill liquid, they will have difficulty cleaning. Can you live with that?

People who are clumsy are likely not clean. They are likely to slam cabinet doors and break things. etc…

Is the person likely to party and make a mess?

I’ve observed a lot and I think that I’m pretty good judge of character. It’s not race. Money and education help, but not always. I would say that, just for ability to pay, there should be a minimal income level, but beyond that, it makes no difference. It’s about personal lifestyle.

I agree with jp that foreign grad students are good bets, but you must live near a university.

[briansd1]

It’s all about comportment and demeanor, IMO.
When a potential roommate comes over, you have to quickly determine two things: 1) will he pay on time, without being asked, 2) will she be clean and keep your house in good order.

Act like a detective. Is the person dressed neatly? Does she have good personal higiene (eg cleam fingernails and complexion)?

I’ve noticed that certain people have problems bending down and picking up things. So if they drop things on the floor, or spill liquid, they will have difficulty cleaning. Can you live with that?

People who are clumsy are likely not clean. They are likely to slam cabinet doors and break things. etc…

Is the person likely to party and make a mess?

I’ve observed a lot and I think that I’m pretty good judge of character. It’s not race. Money and education help, but not always. I would say that, just for ability to pay, there should be a minimal income level, but beyond that, it makes no difference. It’s about personal lifestyle.

I agree with jp that foreign grad students are good bets, but you must live near a university.

[briansd1]

It’s all about comportment and demeanor, IMO.
When a potential roommate comes over, you have to quickly determine two things: 1) will he pay on time, without being asked, 2) will she be clean and keep your house in good order.

Act like a detective. Is the person dressed neatly? Does she have good personal higiene (eg cleam fingernails and complexion)?

I’ve noticed that certain people have problems bending down and picking up things. So if they drop things on the floor, or spill liquid, they will have difficulty cleaning. Can you live with that?

People who are clumsy are likely not clean. They are likely to slam cabinet doors and break things. etc…

Is the person likely to party and make a mess?

I’ve observed a lot and I think that I’m pretty good judge of character. It’s not race. Money and education help, but not always. I would say that, just for ability to pay, there should be a minimal income level, but beyond that, it makes no difference. It’s about personal lifestyle.

I agree with jp that foreign grad students are good bets, but you must live near a university.

[Author]

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