Comments on: A question of race http://www.sephyroth.net/2007/08/question-of-race/ Header images in 39 flavors! Thu, 17 May 2012 22:47:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Cugat http://www.sephyroth.net/2007/08/question-of-race/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Cugat Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:34:00 +0000 http://www.sephyroth.net/?p=282#comment-347 Yes, there are many biases at work in society. I remember weight being an issue as well (didn't Tyra do a show where she dressed as a fat person? Yes she did!)<br/><br/>I know a woman who is very tall and beautiful and she insists that the world is a wonderful place full of polite and interesting people who are always eager to help.I have no doubt that if she looked a bit different this would change for her. Fortunately I'm hunky so things always work out the way they're supposed to. Yes, there are many biases at work in society. I remember weight being an issue as well (didn’t Tyra do a show where she dressed as a fat person? Yes she did!)

I know a woman who is very tall and beautiful and she insists that the world is a wonderful place full of polite and interesting people who are always eager to help.I have no doubt that if she looked a bit different this would change for her. Fortunately I’m hunky so things always work out the way they’re supposed to.

]]> By: Julie Pippert http://www.sephyroth.net/2007/08/question-of-race/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Julie Pippert Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:02:00 +0000 http://www.sephyroth.net/?p=282#comment-346 Sephy, this is great. Your honesty and openness about where you are from, who you are and how this affects how you think and speak is tremendous. You bring a lot of value to the table.<br/><br/>Plus, you open up discussion about affirmative action, which is a big consideration. A sociology class I took in college lo these many many years ago tackled that topic for two straight weeks.<br/><br/>I'm not sure about the question of obligation to reveal background. It's complicated.<br/><br/>Very thorough and thought-provoking post...thanks!!!<br/><br/>Julie<br/><a HREF="http://theartfulflower.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Ravin' Picture Maven</a> Sephy, this is great. Your honesty and openness about where you are from, who you are and how this affects how you think and speak is tremendous. You bring a lot of value to the table.

Plus, you open up discussion about affirmative action, which is a big consideration. A sociology class I took in college lo these many many years ago tackled that topic for two straight weeks.

I’m not sure about the question of obligation to reveal background. It’s complicated.

Very thorough and thought-provoking post…thanks!!!

Julie
Ravin’ Picture Maven

]]> By: Aurelius http://www.sephyroth.net/2007/08/question-of-race/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Aurelius Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:57:00 +0000 http://www.sephyroth.net/?p=282#comment-345 Why would a blogger being of Chinese descent make you respect them more?? Why would a blogger being of Chinese descent make you respect them more??

]]> By: Sephyroth http://www.sephyroth.net/2007/08/question-of-race/comment-page-1/#comment-344 Sephyroth Thu, 09 Aug 2007 03:38:00 +0000 http://www.sephyroth.net/?p=282#comment-344 RaJ - I think that there are times when the differences matter, specifically when you're looking at things like public behavior. For example, in the city, if a crime happens, generally the assumption is made that the perpetrator is of one race or another. Most of that is based in statistics that say that certain groups are more predisposed to commit crimes than others. Is that racist? I don't think so - it's just analyzing the information you have. If it appears to be racist, then maybe the perspective of the observer might be of interest. That use of the differences between groups of people goes a long way to show why the Internet can be the great equalizer; it doesn't matter what color or creed you or, or how you look, if you are a good writer, or good photographer, or have some talent that is appreciated, people will come to your support, no matter any external factors.<br/><br/>Cugat - Like Snos said, there are other biases than race that people do have. Sure, Affirmative action may take away some bias based on skin color and ethnicity, but there are a lot of other biases that someone could have, and still have a legitimate excuse for not giving a person a position. As far as AA working or not, there is something to be said if you've been denied a position to a minority, but I've never been in that position, so I wouldn't be able to speak to that.<br/><br/>Snos - I agree that weight is a major thing that people have a bias against. I remember also hearing something a while back where someone who wasn't the most attractive person went in for an interview, and wound up not getting the job in deference to someone who was, essentially, a promo girl.<br/><br/>I'd love to read that whole article; you wouldn't happen to have a link to it, would you?<br/><br/>Thanks y'all ;) RaJ - I think that there are times when the differences matter, specifically when you’re looking at things like public behavior. For example, in the city, if a crime happens, generally the assumption is made that the perpetrator is of one race or another. Most of that is based in statistics that say that certain groups are more predisposed to commit crimes than others. Is that racist? I don’t think so - it’s just analyzing the information you have. If it appears to be racist, then maybe the perspective of the observer might be of interest. That use of the differences between groups of people goes a long way to show why the Internet can be the great equalizer; it doesn’t matter what color or creed you or, or how you look, if you are a good writer, or good photographer, or have some talent that is appreciated, people will come to your support, no matter any external factors.

Cugat - Like Snos said, there are other biases than race that people do have. Sure, Affirmative action may take away some bias based on skin color and ethnicity, but there are a lot of other biases that someone could have, and still have a legitimate excuse for not giving a person a position. As far as AA working or not, there is something to be said if you’ve been denied a position to a minority, but I’ve never been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to speak to that.

Snos - I agree that weight is a major thing that people have a bias against. I remember also hearing something a while back where someone who wasn’t the most attractive person went in for an interview, and wound up not getting the job in deference to someone who was, essentially, a promo girl.

I’d love to read that whole article; you wouldn’t happen to have a link to it, would you?

Thanks y’all ;)

]]> By: Snoskred http://www.sephyroth.net/2007/08/question-of-race/comment-page-1/#comment-332 Snoskred Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:16:00 +0000 http://www.sephyroth.net/?p=282#comment-332 But Cugat - race is not the only thing people are biased against. Weight is a major one - even more so because it is somehow OK to be biased against people based on weight! I read an article just yesterday about it. <br/><br/>"Across the board, overweight people make 1 percent to 6 percent less than their thinner counterparts, and those in service professions earn fewer commissions and tips… In psychological experiments set up to resemble job interviews, the “bosses” consistently pick thin would be employees over fat ones with identical resumes. The psych lab mirrors the real world. Numerous studies show that overweight and obese people, particularly women, are less likely to score jobs for which they’re well qualified. And even if you’re thin, you can undercut your chances of getting a job merely by showing up at the interview with an overweight companion… “I had one guy tell me there was one kind of person he absolutely wasn’t going to hire–a fat girl. And the punch line is, this guy was overweight himself."<br/><br/>Snoskred<br/>http://www.snoskred.org/ But Cugat - race is not the only thing people are biased against. Weight is a major one - even more so because it is somehow OK to be biased against people based on weight! I read an article just yesterday about it.

“Across the board, overweight people make 1 percent to 6 percent less than their thinner counterparts, and those in service professions earn fewer commissions and tips… In psychological experiments set up to resemble job interviews, the “bosses” consistently pick thin would be employees over fat ones with identical resumes. The psych lab mirrors the real world. Numerous studies show that overweight and obese people, particularly women, are less likely to score jobs for which they’re well qualified. And even if you’re thin, you can undercut your chances of getting a job merely by showing up at the interview with an overweight companion… “I had one guy tell me there was one kind of person he absolutely wasn’t going to hire–a fat girl. And the punch line is, this guy was overweight himself.”

Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org/

]]> By: Cugat http://www.sephyroth.net/2007/08/question-of-race/comment-page-1/#comment-331 Cugat Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:53:00 +0000 http://www.sephyroth.net/?p=282#comment-331 Affirmative action is, I think, a good thing since it's been shown time and again that not everyone has your understanding of race. It surprises people who aren't racist that there are employers whose bias affects who gets hired. Yes things should be equal, but they're not. And affirmative action does not give an unqualified minority a place where a qualified white person would be. It ensures that an equal number of qualified minorities get a fair chance. A misconception about AA is that it gives someone a job or a place in college based on their race. It actually gives them a place only if they're qualified. (Or it's supposed to. Whether or not this is how it's actually done I don't know.)<br/><br/>Cugat<br/>http://www.vegetative.net Affirmative action is, I think, a good thing since it’s been shown time and again that not everyone has your understanding of race. It surprises people who aren’t racist that there are employers whose bias affects who gets hired. Yes things should be equal, but they’re not. And affirmative action does not give an unqualified minority a place where a qualified white person would be. It ensures that an equal number of qualified minorities get a fair chance. A misconception about AA is that it gives someone a job or a place in college based on their race. It actually gives them a place only if they’re qualified. (Or it’s supposed to. Whether or not this is how it’s actually done I don’t know.)

Cugat
http://www.vegetative.net

]]> By: Radioactive Jam http://www.sephyroth.net/2007/08/question-of-race/comment-page-1/#comment-328 Radioactive Jam Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:18:00 +0000 http://www.sephyroth.net/?p=282#comment-328 The internet does seem to open doors for a better understanding of how much people have in common, regardless of background, location, and even beliefs. Do differences exist? Yes. Do they matter? Each person has to decide, I think.<br/><br/>Good, thought-provoking post!<br/>:) The internet does seem to open doors for a better understanding of how much people have in common, regardless of background, location, and even beliefs. Do differences exist? Yes. Do they matter? Each person has to decide, I think.

Good, thought-provoking post!
:)

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