Is this racist or logic or both?

[Glitterbopeep]

I've just watched a YouTube video of funniest ever gameshow answers and in one ancient clip (of some random American show which I don't recognise) a contestant is asked the question 'which country has the highest ratio of doctors per population?'

The contestant immediately answered 'the country with the most Jews, I would say Israel'. He then elaborated with some stereotypes 'there's a doctor in every family, couple of specialists' etc

As it turns out Israel was the correct answer (at the time, according to Google it's now San Marino).

This got me wondering was that a racist just getting lucky or was it logic which was just communicated in a racist way?

...According to DH I sure know how to suck the fun out of funniest videos.

Sounds like dodgy stereotyping for sure.

Israel isn't even in the top ten for most drs per population though.

"This got me wondering was that a racist just getting lucky or was it logic which was just communicated in a racist way?"

Bit of both.

Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. How can it be racist when there was nothing derogatory in the statement?

I didn’t see the racist part?

sideways I'm inclined to agree as he seemed surprised (and a little smug) when the answer was revealed. The clip was ancient, looked like the 70's/80's, so they may not be top 10 now but must have been number 1 year ago.

It wasn’t derogatory.
And he was right...
Not racist.

Do people actually think something has to be derogatory to be racist?
Seriously?

So If a question was asked 'which country has the most crime per population?'

One person answers 'the country with the most Blacks, I would say Nigeria'

Another person answers 'the country with the most Latinos, I would say Mexico'

The correct answer incidentally is Mexico so suddenly one person is racist and the other isn't? No.

Just logic, surely? If I was asked that question I would probably say Indian or Pakistani because I've had a lot of doctors from that background considering where I live so I would deduce that's there is a higher amount of doctors in that population. Why would that be racist? Being a doctor is generally considered to be a good thing.

Oh I've seen this video!

I thought it was ill phrased logic.

Wow. I'd actually say that 430West's comment is worse than the one in question, if we're talking derogatory!

Agree completely CaoNiMa.

Interesting isn't it, 430West that being a racist always feels justified, eh?

That is how it happens.

Something doesn't have to be derogatory to be racist. Being racist is simply about noticing patterns amongst groups. So in this case that many Jews work in the medical profession and/or such careers are highly valued in the Jewish community. You're not supposed to notice this group characteristic and if you do you certainly mustn't comment on it. Another example would be noticing certain patterns of high performance in athletics for example. Also not derogatory but definitely racist.

Being racist is simply about noticing patterns amongst groups

Don't be ridiculous.

Racism is defined as Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

I don’t think saying lots of Jews are doctors fits that bill. Unless you think being a doctor is a negative thing, I suppose.

@430west
Judaism as a religion is one thing. Being Jewish as a racial group or ethnicity is seperate.
(Their are athesist Jews for example, ir religion is seperate from race.)
I've not known Jews to identify as white. Just as White Irish is seperate on forms. I'd say 100% Jews are a race. Im suprised it even needs explaining.

Being racist is simply about noticing patterns amongst groups.

No it isn't.

I'm Ashkenazi Jewish. I had genetic tests for the Ashkenazi Jewish diseases - negative for Tay Sachs and Canavans but a carrier of Gaucher's disease. I'm atheist by belief but my genetics reflect my Jewish heritage. These diseases aren't found in the Sephardi Jewish community, so it's not tied to the religion but the ethnicity

The Equality act replaced all of the 'Ism' Acts. Under that Act people of a shared Heritage or Cultural background is covered.

"Being racist is simply about noticing patterns amongst groups."

No, that's Sociology and it studies patterns of behavior and thinking.
The athletic point, is studied by Medical professionals. It's nowhere near the classification system used to justify Eugenics or Holocausts/Ethnic cleansing etc.

Whether it is racist depends on the individual thought process. I'd assume it was logical at that time, people were more likely to fit into Stereotypes. Stereotyping is wrong so we shouldn't do it, in our day to day lives, but it was a unique situation in a different time.