To think that no racist ever admits they are a racist

[Sweetiedarling7]

“I’m not a racist but…”
I hear this so often. Does any racist ever come out and say they are a racist?
I don’t think so.

Yeah. It's because she was saying there must be something wrong with people who don't despise/have prejudice/fear against 'illegal immigrants'. Most of whom are actually asylum seekers and not illegal anything.

To me there's 'something wrong' with people who say things like that as it sounds racist.

Do yeah, you've pretty much hit the nail on the head.

@MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack Also it was her opener of saying 'racism as a word is overused'. Or something similar.

That's also exactly the kind of thing a racist would say and kind of proves the entire point of the OP.

I hear the "I'm not racist but" but I'm hearing " I think. ... And I don't care if that makes me racist.

The term " racist" has been overused by some disingenuous people to shut down an arguement they are losing, but this devalues and has devalued the reality of the term.

As regards the definition being " if the person to whom the comment is made feels it is, then it is " will lead to possible bias in reporting incidents, but what is a better way?

Fear of the different is a reasonable anxiety and the allocation of asylum seekers has been more impactful on certain communities far more than other more privileged and more able to articulate their position than those who are living with said asylum seekers.

A person claiming asylum could be from any race, black, brown or white. All races are suffering somewhere.

People's feelings are generally due to misconceptions, but some are based on a personal experience.

Those convinced of race hate crimes such as those from last year's riots - have their been indoctrinated out of their racism whilst in prison? Or do they still feel what they did to get themselves convicted but with more ginger due their perceived treatment?
And what can be done about it?

Isn't that a bit like someone saying "there's not a lot of witchcraft around these days" being exactly something that an actual witch might say?

I don't think witches exist do they? And don't see what they've got to do with racism?

@MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack
"Re the 12.06 post, I can't really comment on why the poster said that @Netcurtainnelly sounded racist to her- @BillieWiper would need to explain that for herself."

Well i didnt say that you should be able to, but you did ask for specific examples.

That poster said "have concerns" and you changed that to "despise". Why was that?

That your comment that anyone stating that the word racist / racism is being overused or that actual racism is less prevalent than assumed is something that a racist would say is clearly incorrect.

In your view to even question the level of racism in society is in itself evidence of racism.

It's a medieval mindset where anyone questioning the level of witchcraft in society is in itself suggestive of evidence of witchcraft by that person.

No I just think that poster sounded racist and I've said my reasons why.

That statement coupled with 'there must be something wrong with you' if you don't hate/fear/feel prejudice against 'illegal' migrants sounds racist to me.

The comment 'actual racism is less prevalent than assumed' has no validity unless it is made as a result of a study that objectively evidences:

1. The assumed prevalence of racism
2. The actual prevalance of racism
3. That 1 is greater than 2.

As far as im aware, there is no such study. Therefore anyone making this statement is basing it on nothing but their own belief that 'racism isn't as bad as its made out to be'. Racism minimisation, or denial if you will. I struggle to see what motive a person would have to minimise racism that isn't...racist?

That makes you a racist.

FFS.

If I was wrong, you would have engaged in this discussion in an entirely different way.

I’m not engaging with you at all, because it’s not a discussion. It’s a rant by you accusing me of things I never said or did. Making assumptions about me due to my skin colour. Telling me what I think about things I’ve not even made comment on and calling me a racist.

I can’t be bothered with it.

'have concerns' about an entire group of people you never met en masse just because they're from a different country or race sounds like to me she's not fond of them. Sorry I forgot the exact words she used.

@BillieWiper

So OK - in your view does the following statement sound racist to you :

Since 1990 the UK population has increased from 57 million to 70 million by 2025 (an increase of 22%.

This has led to an increase in pressure on existing infrastructure (roads, water, education, healthcare, housing , environment etc etc ) and the economy.

The increase has been driven primarily by high net migration and, to a lesser extent, natural change (births minus deaths) and increased longevity.

Whether the migration is legal or illegal is irrelevant, the skin colour / ethnicity of the migrants is also irrelevant. What is relevant is the net migration numbers and whether those (including their families) migrating to the UK are net tax contributors or net beneficiaries.

Your post reminded me of things I have seen on TV about whole communities in US that are made up entirely of gun toting racists. I may have misremembered but I’m sure that even in that situation where they have segregated themselves and would shoot to keep it that way, they don’t admit they are racist. They use words like patriot etc but refuse to use that word

There is a thread that has been running for many years on Mumsnet of witches talking to other witches 😊 I think it was started by a Mnetter who asked 'Any other witches on here.' And it turns out there were LOADS. I know a couple of witches too and have done in the past too.

Its nature based religion.

Ok fair enough. I'm not racist against them either, I hope!

My point about people saying 'racism is overused' is that most people who say that have never actually experienced racism. It would be like a man saying 'misogyny is overused'. It's like well if it doesn't affect you in a negative way then you may not think it exists or minimise it. Doesn't mean it isn't a major issue for those suffering from it.

They've also had nothing to say about the centuries old disadvantage of white working class people until they realised their circumstances could be weaponised to support a racist agenda.
Until the last few years, I've not heard a peep of concern for white people living in poverty in horrible neighbourhoods from 'the right'.
If young men couldn't find work then until very recently it was their own fault for not trying hard enough. If young mums were raising their children in sub standard accomodation in dangerous neighbourhoods, then they should have 'taken responsibility' and made better choices.
Now all of a sudden poor white people have had a rebrand and become the victims of immigration policy, and its of paramount importance that we 'listen to them'.
Makes a change I suppose from blaming them and crossing the road to avoid them, but the hypocrisy sickens me nonetheless.

That's disingenuous.
Having concerns about immigration doesn't entail having a personal dislike for potential immigrants, any more than objecting to a housing development in your village requires a hatred of the people who might move there.

No but the poster I said sounded racist didn't say anything like that. She said there was something wrong with people who weren't 'concerned about illegal immigrants'.

Nope. The poster was correct. You really do think you're superior.

You actually denied their very existence though

The correlation might well be there, but you’re failing to understand or even consider why, why do you think that correlation exists?

I reckon a lot of the concerns around a housing development in a village would be about the people who might live there. Whether they admit it openly to the planning process or not. Above and beyond concerns that there are enough services to support the newcomers, and that building work is noisy and disruptive.

That one post we keep referring back to sounded racist to me and I've explained why seemingly multiple times.

I've answered that already in my second paragraph. Perhaps you're failing to understand what I said? I'll try again.
Disadvantaged people do not have enough resources to enjoy the life they would like. This means they are more likely to be concerned about where the resources they need are, and how they could get more of them than advantaged people.
Sometimes this leads them to question things like wealth inequality and lean to the left. However sometimes they can come to believe that the scarcity of resources isn't because the wealthy have them, its because other groups (immigrants) are taking them away from them. Then they may move to the right.
Where education comes in is two fold.
Firstly the better the persons education the greater the liklihood they can elevate themselves to a better life, where scarcity of resources impacts them less.
Secondly, their education is likely to have honed their critical thinking skills, so they are more likely to take a wider view of a situation. For example, to question whether getting rid of immigrants is really going to be life changing, particularly when the price to pay for a party who promises this is a further reduction in resources they may need, such as health and welfare provision.

OK - I'll put my head above the parapet and state that there is something wrong with people that aren't concerned that a 22% increase in UK population since 1990 largely driven by immigration has created a problem in the UK.

Note: it doesn't matter if it's legal or illegal and it doesn't matter where the migrants come from - all that matters is numbers and whether they are net tax contributors or net tax beneficiaries.