Questions for white people

[Questionspandemic]

Why are white people offended by black people talking about racism?

Obviously not all white people are racist and name changed - in case of gaslighting.

If you move it from London streets to customs at air ports you tend to get a less politically charged issue

@Itisbetter

In my opinion, every crime should be profiled and those who fit the offender profile should just suck it up for the good of society as a whole.

Yuck. I’m n my opinion NOBODY should just have to accept that there life is harder because they aren’t white and those making it harder should be working damn hard to bridge that gap.

Where did I mention 'if they aren't white'?

Colour is immaterial. If they fit the offender profile then they should be questioned more closely.

Colour is immaterial. If they fit the offender profile then they should be questioned more closely.

Nobody is going to question all white males for a rape.
Or just in case one has raped someone.

@Lweji

Colour is immaterial. If they fit the offender profile then they should be questioned more closely.

Nobody is going to question all white males for a rape.
Or just in case one has raped someone.

Not all, but if the rapist is white and between 20/40 and that is all they have to go on, then all those who fit that profile in the relevant area should be questioned. Just as if the rapist is black/Asian etc then all those who fit that profile should be questioned.

Not all, but if the rapist is white and between 20/40 and that is all they have to go on, then all those who fit that profile in the relevant area should be questioned. Just as if the rapist is black/Asian etc then all those who fit that profile should be questioned.

First of all, that's highly impractical.
And which one do you think is more likely to happen?

Nobody is going to question all white males for a rape.
Or just in case one has raped someone.

Well, in certain circumstances they do. I've seen it in documentaries where every male fitting the profile is asked to provide a DNA sample for example.

But secondly, are you saying that all black men are questioned in case one has committed an offence? I'm assuming you are saying that because otherwise your comment doesn't really make sense.

@PatricksRum

"No.

Only if one says ALL white people are they including all white people.

Eye roll"

So when it says Black Lives Matter then it means only some black lives matter ?

Some people are offended. Some people react defensively. A difference.

Isn't it mostly about that awful, but apt, expression "lived experience"? No matter how I might try to educate myself, have black friends etc. I haven't "lived that experience". So I know that when my ds and his best friend are in an Apple outlet together, and the friend gets asked to leave, and he is black, we know that is bad etc. But we are not him. No matter how we might try to empathise etc.

Everyone has their own "lived experience" which will limit our understanding of others.

"I was pointing out that sweeping "you as a white person need to be tackling racism whenever you see it" statements ignore the realities that many white people face."

On a thread like this:

There are people who identify themselves as white who challenge other people's racist, ignorant outlooks.

Then there are people who identify themselves as white who moan and complain that white people are called racist, and it's not fair on them, because they're not racist.

It doesn't matter that they're not racist. They're clearly demonstrating just by posting those comments and ignoring everything else around them that they are not anti-racist. They seem to only care about themselves.

Waking up every day in a safe environment is privileged. Being able to communicate online is privileged. Regardless of the colour of that privilege, why not do something good with it and help to shine a light on an issue that people need clarity on? Instead of moping around expecting sympathy?

The question was "why are white people offended by black people talking about racism?". And yet over the course of a few hundred posts it's become about how bad white people really have it. This is what always happens on this site, and so many people pretend not to notice, but it's obvious and really makes people look bad. It's embarrassing to be honest. And disappointing, because I enjoy talking to and debating with educated people, not closed minded selfish bigots.

White people having it bad (discrimination, intra-white ethnic xenophobia, class, poverty, ) is a reason why some of them get offended when asked to talk about racism. It’s a valid answer to the question.

As a person who is neither white or black, this has been an interesting thread.

Nobody is going to question all white males for a rape.
Or just in case one has raped someone.

I watched a programme on the Yorkshire Ripper. Iirc, they questioned thousands of presumably white men.

I think people should stop calling everything privilege. This vocabulary just doesn't work. Everyone is privileged and lacks privilege. But telling people in certain situations "but your x privilege" will just piss them off. And in my opinion rightfully. Sometimes it sounds like people should feel guilty that they have x and y unlike some others. Change the vocabulary, people will respond better.

To illustrate.
Telling a white person who has been discriminated against because their face, name and accent clearly show they are from Eastern Europe, that they have white privilege, will never god own well, will it.

I agree Schrodinger.

The privilege argument is obviously one that isn’t working, yet people keep on trying to push it.

Yup. And it usually goes with "well you don't have to worry about getting beaten up on a street just because your skin colour". Face. Eastern Europeans were attacked on streets because they look obviously EU.

Both is shit and shouldn't happen! But there are many things one cannot change about their look they will get attacked by thundercunts hating on different people for and it's not just skin.

@DarkMintChocolate

*Nobody is going to question all white males for a rape. Or just in case one has raped someone.*

I watched a programme on the Yorkshire Ripper. Iirc, they questioned thousands of presumably white men.

But they don't routinely stop men on the streets or assume any white male could be linked to the last reported rape by a white male.

But secondly, are you saying that all black men are questioned in case one has committed an offence? I'm assuming you are saying that because otherwise your comment doesn't really make sense.

Not all, exactly, but yes, black men tend to be stopped more because of the assumption that crime is higher among black men, regardless of what that particular black man is doing.
Certainly in the US, but also the UK according to data. Being a white female I have no direct experience.

I think what annoys me most about it is the implication that I'm racist because I'm white. Well I treat people as I'd like to be treated irrespective of colour/sex/gender/preference or whatever your favourite terms are. If I'm going to labelled as racist anyway I'll just get on with my life trying to resolve any issues I can actually affect.

Racism needs to be tackled but it shouldn't be tackled by accusing everyone indiscriminately. People who are so keen on society tackling it need to have ideas that help and don't alienate people.

black men tend to be stopped more because of the assumption that crime is higher among black men, regardless of what that particular black man is doing.

I think in some b places, crime IS higher among black men.

But the causes of that statistic need to be investigated and addressed too.

@PlanDeRaccordement

White people having it bad (discrimination, intra-white ethnic xenophobia, class, poverty, ) is a reason why some of them get offended when asked to talk about racism. It’s a valid answer to the question.

As a person who is neither white or black, this has been an interesting thread.

Let's not pretend there isn't a high level of racism against black people by many Asians. I speak as an Asian woman.

Waking up every day in a safe environment is privileged

Who says any individual poster on here wakes up in a safe environment every day? Yet posters have no issue with telling individuals that they must go out and challenge racists?

I was just reading a thread on black Mumsnet from a poster whose son is at public school (paying full fees, not scholarship) and both her and her husband went to private school - sorry, but they are many, many times more privileged and will have more clout in society than the majority of white people in this country. Anyone telling them it's their responsibility to challenge racism wherever they see it?

"Anyone telling them it's their responsibility to challenge racism wherever they see it?"

Why would somebody have to tell them, when they're busy deflecting it every day? Their parents tell them from as young as possible. You can't honestly believe that black people on the whole attending private school have smooth, trouble free experiences, same as their white counterparts? I can tell you from first hand experience that that isn't the case. Even a black person marrying into the royal family isn't spared. I really don't enjoy rehashing old, stale arguments, I have better things to do with my time. Have fun with the others here.

Any person who is in a position of influence has a responsibility to make society a better place.

Oh ffs, is this yawn of a thread still going, with the most idiotic opening question of all time?

AMemeByAnyOtherName

That wasn't my question. Are they challenging racism wherever they see it? They have to be in a more privileged position than a Bolton of the rung white person, so should it be up to the white person to challenge a senior colleague?

@Stripesgalore

Any person who is in a position of influence has a responsibility to make society a better place.

Thank you