By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
silicon on 31 January 2013
Edit Thread
Immortal said:
silicon said:


I think this argument is a good example of why racism is wrong.

Regardless of the facts, racism and sexism is wrong because it invokes the feeling of being treated unfairly. This negative feeling is often felt when others are treated unfairly or when oneself is being treated unfairly. These co-called facts of life are irrelevant. 


Where do we draw the line though? You're saying that I shouldn't call blacks less smart (even under the hypothetical situation where this is truth) because it hurts their feelings. I'm guessing I'm not allowed to tell people who have black skin that they have black skin either. Next thing you know, I'm not allowed to say anything to anyone because it "hurts their feelings". Are we really okay with that?

"John, you're wearing a blue shirt today."

"How could you say that? This is making me feel bad. You didn't tell anyone else the color of their shirts. It doesn't matter if it's a fact; I'm not taking this from you."

@Kantor:

I don't intend to harm anyone with my words. Sure, I'm well aware that what I'm saying will offend people, but shouldn't I be allowed to say it if it's true?

Also, you're taking my example far too literally. I personally detest IQ Tests and don't consider them a reliable measure of anything. I know that such a perfect study would be borderline impossible. All this was basically leading to this point, though: what if blacks were, for a fact, not smart? How does that affect the morality of calling them not smart?

For your last comment, I'm leaving that alone, but it's just because I don't think it's worth it starting a completely irrelevant historical argument here. Rest assured, though; I completely disagree with your insinuation and have piles of evidence to back me up. :P

Well it's for nature to decide right?

Just as there are distributions of intelligence among the human race, there is a distribution of the propensity toward being racist. How this effects and interacts with society as a whole, I have no idea. However, through discussion and gossip humans as a society come to a concensus as to what is acceptable behaviour. In North America, maybe we have to be sensitive towards the feelings of others but that's a lot better than being bombarded by missles as in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. These are much different lines. 

Also, something can be wrong, but it doesn't mean you are not allowed to do it. We can debate whether murder is wrong, yet terrorists kill themselves for a righteous cause. In their mind it's right, and for those who suffered as a result it's wrong. In both cases who is right is defined by the feeling of indignation.

The same is true for racism. You can benefit from it, or see that you're in the right, or you can still be morally wrong but be racist anyway. However, when someone feels as though they have been treated unfairly they feel they've been wronged. I'm not sure why anyone would want to live their life knowingly hurting others, but people do it all time. Like in your hypothetical situation, what's the point of saying black people are less intelligent? Regardless of whether or not it's true.