I don't hate "this", but...

[Torrasque]

The argument style "I am not sexist/racist/etc. but..." has always amused me. Most of the time, the person using it, is actually not sexist/racist/etc. and are just trying to express their opinion about a subject. The reason these people include the "I am not ____, but..." intro, is because their opinion could seem to be hateful when that is not their intention.
These people are fine. I have done this a few times, and the reason I do it is to reassure people that I am not a hateful douche ranting about something. As I am sure you know, there are many touchy subjects that can break out into flame wars if you are not careful.

The other group of people using this argument intro are using it to deliberately throw up a flame shield to protect them from the people who have a problem with their argument. Of the times I have seen this, it seems about 50% accidental, 50% intentional. The accidental cases are usually a flaw in logic, or not tempering their argument well enough to fit into a social forum. These accidental offenders usually fix their mistakes quickly so a rational argument can be carried out and their position discussed. An example of this, was a time a few weeks ago in my Philosophy clads where a guy said "I don't hate kids, but I don't understand people who like them". His logical flaw, was assuming that we all knew what he meant (he meant 14-18 year olds that he finds "annoying as shit"). The intential cases are just jerks using it to cover their asses. These people will use the "I don't hate X, but..." as a defense to fall back on when people call them out for being a dick. The most notable case I can think about for this one, was where a guy said he wasn't sexist, but then went on to say men were physically superior to women in every way...

To sum up, this argument function is useful for setting up well thought arguments about touchy subjects, but if used wrong, you'll do the opposite and just look like a dick.

So, for discussion value, what are some "I don't hate "this", but..." cases that you have seen? What ones have you used?
Feel free to discuss any actual positions brought up, but I want to focus on this logical function rather than any positions someone may have.

 

[Lucem712]

Eh, I don't really bother with the whole "I'm not racist, BUT..." because, I am racist, everyone is. Everyone has preconceived notions, as long as you don't act on it. Or at least ,we're all prejudice, at the very least

 

[DoPo]

When I use it it's because I realise my opinion can be taken to mean that I am X. People tend to see things very black and white when it comes to a debate and often I don't support either side.

But I have seen it used "for evil". A lot, in fact. It's a bit like the IMO shield but it's even more stupid and more abusable.

 

[smearyllama]

When talking about Starship Troopers with my sister, the subject of the use of corporal punishment by the military in the novel came up. I had to use a bit of a "I'm not a horrible human being, but...." prefix for it, since I agree that it can be an effective tool when used in a way that doesn't permanently harm the offender, like in the novel.

So, yeah, I have had to use that once before.

 

[krazykidd]

Eh, I don't really bother with the whole "I'm not racist, BUT..." because, I am racist, everyone is. Everyone has preconceived notions, as long as you don't act on it. Or at least ,we're all prejudice, at the very least

I will agree that everyone is prejudice , that is a given . But i disagree that everyone is racist , to be ( consiently )racist you have to single out an entire race, which not everyone does and is quite easy not to do .

You also have to realize being racist and actually discriminating against a race are two different things . There nothing wrong with being racist as long as you do not discriminate . Read that sentence again to make sure you understand it . How i see it there are three levels . Prejudice , racism( or sexism )and discrimination . The first two levels are harmless without the third . I assume everyone understands what discrimination means so i won't bother to explain .

 

[Torrasque]

The problem now when using it is that the person immediately accuses you of being that thing. It's essentially an unusable phrase unless you are among friends who will actually listen and not jump to conclusions.

I like to imagine that whenever I post something here on The Escapist, it is among comrades who will listen to what I have to say before they throw poo at me
Unless they play Pokemon... Then they'll throw poo at the first chance they get.

People tend to see things very black and white when it comes to a debate and often I don't support either side.

"You have a moderate opinion about something, that is not extreme in any way, and must be taken apart piece by piece before it can be acted upon in any kind of logical way?! OH NOEZ. GET OUT THE TL;DR CANNON NOW. I CANNOT ARGUE AGAINST THIS AND MUST TROLL INSTEAD"
- what I imagine from people who see things in black and white.

 

[Torrasque]

Eh, I don't really bother with the whole "I'm not racist, BUT..." because, I am racist, everyone is. Everyone has preconceived notions, as long as you don't act on it. Or at least ,we're all prejudice, at the very least

I will agree that everyone is prejudice , that is a given . But i disagree that everyone is racist , to be ( consiently )racist you have to single out an entire race, which not everyone does and is quite easy not to do .

You also have to realize being racist and actually discriminating against a race are two different things . There nothing wrong with being racist as long as you do not discriminate . Read that sentence again to make sure you understand it . How i see it there are three levels . Prejudice , racism( or sexism )and discrimination . The first two levels are harmless without the third . I assume everyone understands what discrimination means so i won't bother to explain .

I think what Lucem712 meant, was that everyone will look at someone that is different from them and say "hey, you are different from me", which is true. That is just simple observation.
The difference between observing that difference and acting upon it, is huge. It is one thing to say "hey, you have darker skin that me, you must be slightly different" and a very different thing to say "hey, you have darker skin than me, you must be an idiot or a criminal" which is what racism is defined as (at least what I think it is).

So yes, every person on Earth can look at someone else with visible differences and say "hey, you are different", but not everyone will actually act on that.

 

[Lucem712]

Eh, I don't really bother with the whole "I'm not racist, BUT..." because, I am racist, everyone is. Everyone has preconceived notions, as long as you don't act on it. Or at least ,we're all prejudice, at the very least

I will agree that everyone is prejudice , that is a given . But i disagree that everyone is racist , to be ( consiently )racist you have to single out an entire race, which not everyone does and is quite easy not to do .

You also have to realize being racist and actually discriminating against a race are two different things . There nothing wrong with being racist as long as you do not discriminate . Read that sentence again to make sure you understand it . How i see it there are three levels . Prejudice , racism( or sexism )and discrimination . The first two levels are harmless without the third . I assume everyone understands what discrimination means so i won't bother to explain .

Well, I'm not gonna argue that every single person is racist (that's lumping a-lot of people together) but, I will confess that I have racial stereotypes that I don't act on. (I'm not sure if you're still speaking to me in the discrimination part, so I'm not going to address that)

 

[krazykidd]

Eh, I don't really bother with the whole "I'm not racist, BUT..." because, I am racist, everyone is. Everyone has preconceived notions, as long as you don't act on it. Or at least ,we're all prejudice, at the very least

I will agree that everyone is prejudice , that is a given . But i disagree that everyone is racist , to be ( consiently )racist you have to single out an entire race, which not everyone does and is quite easy not to do .

You also have to realize being racist and actually discriminating against a race are two different things . There nothing wrong with being racist as long as you do not discriminate . Read that sentence again to make sure you understand it . How i see it there are three levels . Prejudice , racism( or sexism )and discrimination . The first two levels are harmless without the third . I assume everyone understands what discrimination means so i won't bother to explain .

Well, I'm not gonna argue that every single person is racist (that's lumping a-lot of people together) but, I will confess that I have racial stereotypes that I don't act on. (I'm not sure if you're still speaking to me in the discrimination part, so I'm not going to address that)

Oh i wasn't talking about you personally , just talking in general . As long as you don't "act" on it , it's not really a problem .

I'm not sure what you mean by racist stereotypes , i might still count that as prejudice . It would depend if you judge them and put them in a certain category , or if you don't like them ( or hate them ) . The latter is in racism territory, but it isn't really a problem if you don't act on it ( discrimination). It is everyones right to like , not like , love or hate anyone for any reason , as long as they don't act in a negative way towards said person.

Again not really condeming you or anything , just discussing my opinion on the matter in general .

 

[Thaluikhain]

I don't usually come across innocent examples of it. If you feel the need to preface a statement with "I'm not ____, but", you probably are going to say something that proves you wrong.

If what you are saying sounds racist/whatever, but isn't what you mean, you need to explain that, not just deny it.

 

[Lucem712]

Eh, I don't really bother with the whole "I'm not racist, BUT..." because, I am racist, everyone is. Everyone has preconceived notions, as long as you don't act on it. Or at least ,we're all prejudice, at the very least

I will agree that everyone is prejudice , that is a given . But i disagree that everyone is racist , to be ( consiently )racist you have to single out an entire race, which not everyone does and is quite easy not to do .

You also have to realize being racist and actually discriminating against a race are two different things . There nothing wrong with being racist as long as you do not discriminate . Read that sentence again to make sure you understand it . How i see it there are three levels . Prejudice , racism( or sexism )and discrimination . The first two levels are harmless without the third . I assume everyone understands what discrimination means so i won't bother to explain .

Well, I'm not gonna argue that every single person is racist (that's lumping a-lot of people together) but, I will confess that I have racial stereotypes that I don't act on. (I'm not sure if you're still speaking to me in the discrimination part, so I'm not going to address that)

Oh i wasn't talking about you personally , just talking in general . As long as you don't "act" on it , it's not really a problem .

I'm not sure what you mean by racist stereotypes , i might still count that as prejudice . It would depend if you judge them and put them in a certain category , or if you don't like them ( or hate them ) . The latter is in racism territory, but it isn't really a problem if you don't act on it ( discrimination). It is everyones right to like , not like , love or hate anyone for any reason , as long as they don't act in a negative way towards said person.

Again not really condeming you or anything , just discussing my opinion on the matter in general .

Uh, things like "All black people like kool-aid" or something very broad, or all Mexicans have 50 kids. Just things not based in fact, that you don't necessarily believe but can colour your first impression of a person. It is a prejudice, just based around people of a certain ethnicity or colour.