Poll: Is Not Dating a Certain Race Racist?

[generals3]

It kind of depends why. If you just happen to find them unattractive because they have physical attributes you don't like (which you wouldn't like on someone of an other race too) than no. If it's because you think they're inferior (to go full supremacist) than yes. I mean, if we start judging people using "isms" based on their attraction to certain attributes than straight and gay people are sexist.

 

[Kaendris]

rac·ism [rey-siz-uhm]
noun
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.
a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.
hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

Read that, and then read it again if you think attraction to particular features is racist.

Can you even state that a person believes all other races they are attracted to are culturally or individually superior to the race they are not? Can you prove that the hate, or are intolerant of the race they are not attracted to? Can you prove that they want to rule this other race?

It is not racism, in any form, no matter how you try to twist it. This question is about preference. Just because a person does not find Asian women attractive does not mean that they believe that their race is superior and deserves to rule over all Asians. It does not make them hate Asians, nor does it make them intolerant of Asians.

Just... wow.

 

[Queen Michael]

Technically speaking, yes, it's racist. But I don't see anything wrong with it, apart from the fact that you'll miss out on a lot of great girls. It doesn't make you a bad person in my book, cuz hey, everybody's allowed to have preferences.

 

[Ariseishirou]

Dude, I read Jezebel and Reddit too, and the guy said he didn't date black women because it would be like "almost like beastiality". http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1n2sua/i_am_romeo_rose_ask_me_anything_92413_hope_to_see/

He's a racist fuck. Not wanting to date black women doesn't "make" him one - it's a symptom of being a racist fuck, not the cause.

Is it possible that you can not want to date members of a specific race simply because you don't find them aesthetically appealing? Sure. But that's not why this guy doesn't want to, and that's why Jez is taking him to task for being racist: he is.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

"I don't like black hair"

*All black people become included in this catagory*

Suck on it.

Side note: the picture I picked however, may be unintentionally racist given the subject matter.

No, it's ok... that picture is sexist not racist!

OT: That isn't racist at all... As long as you arn't alienating the race because of that. Are you refusing to date, but also refusing to befriend those people, and everyone else in their race? Because that's kinda racist.
If you just don't find them attractive, or find their stupidly large and boringly long family meals a turn off (Here's looking at you Italians!) then that is fine!

 

[Bertylicious]

It is racist on account of pre-judging someone as undatable based on their race. Additionally, stating the same thing about age could be construed as ageist although theoretically I think you'd be alright if you were to say this was due to a desire to father children and that the woman you date must be of child bearing age.

Does he say that though? Does he specify that pregnancy will be one of her specific duties? I'm guessing he doesn't so if he has mentioned an age range then that would be agesist and a case could be made against him, but perhaps we can give him the benefit of the doubt.

Clearly the answer is for all men and women looking to ask people out to create a full, 360 degree, competency framework of the skills and attributes they want in their prospective partner. Also a risk assesment should be carried out on the bedroom, hot tub and any other potential sex areas in order to prevent any injury from occuring. It almost goes without saying that full PPE should be worn at all times.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

This whole thread gives me a headache. You are either attracted to someone or you aren't. Races often carry certain physical characteristics and if you don't find them attractive, most of the time, you won't be attracted to members of that race. It doesn't mean you think the race is inferior, or that your race is better. You aren't spewing hatred in their direction. You are simply stating preferences regarding what you find attractive. It is NOT racism.

racism
rac·ism
[rey-siz-uhm]
noun
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.
a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.
hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

 

[dementis]

I just don't find the features of certain races attractive. I don't think finding certain features attractive makes you racist, hating someone for the features does.

 

[thePyro_13]

Sexual preference isn't racism. If you don't find something attractive, then it's just not for you.

Think about it this way, are you sexist against your own sex if you're straight? Are homosexuals sexist against women for rejecting them as potential partners? If you stretch out this logic to other things that can control sexual attraction, it's fairly easy to see why it's a silly notion.

Of course, you could be racist about it and explicitly reject them for a racist reason(as seen in the OP's anecdote, where the example person considers black people to be animals); but not being interested on its own isn't racism, and isn't indicative of any kind of bigotry, even if the reason is based on their race.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

No, attraction is a hugely intangible set of factors unique to each person.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

In and of itself, no. You're not homophobic because you're not into people of your gender, for example.

It's the reasons for your refusal that make up the important parts, but if it's a matter of attraction or aesthetics, you shouldn't feel badly about that; you like what you like. Not more complicated than that. It's important not to get hung up on it, though; you could always come across an exception that catches your fancy.

 

[Caiphus]

rac·ism [rey-siz-uhm]
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

I suppose it would depend on whether you considered giving me a semi[footnote]http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=semi[/footnote] to be an individual achievement.

So almost certainly yes not.

 

[Amaror]

No. It's not racist. Unless preference in the looks of your mate is somehow discriminatory now. Hasn't been for thousands of years at least.

Yes it IS. Choosing or not choosing SOLELY because of RACE is the very definition of RACISM.
It's just that maybe it doesn't matter that much. He can date whoever he wants. Primitive way to go about it, but hey, it's his private life.

It's not a choice made based on race. That race just happens to have physical features he(hypothetical dude) finds displeasing.

And it's not really primitive. It's how pretty much everyone picks who they date.

Depends. He can mean that he doesn't date girls with black skin. That's simply a preference in physical features.
Or he could have meant he doesn't date black girls, because all black girls are x.
That's racist then.

 

[Dogstile]

No, its not. Think of features that people of colour commonly have? Are you attracted to those features? No? You probably won't date one any time soon, go you.

 

[krazykidd]

Nope . I'm black and have never dated/had sex with a black chick . Iv'e done white , asian , indian , but not black , because i don't find black chicks attractive in the slightest . However , by that logic , homosexuals are sexist , which is clearly false .As long as we are strictly talking about not wanting to date someone due to their race , it's not racist .

 

[not_you]

I took this topic to my group of friends over skype...
The resounding response: Technically yes, but I can't blame you for it...

If you say something like "I don't find Chinese people attractive" Then sure... that's personal preference and you're entitled to it...

However, an answer like "I don't date black people because they're all gold diggers" IS a racist response...

Note: I don't have either of these views, they are just examples...

So; my answer to OP is "Sometimes" depending on what reasoning you put behind your choices...

 

[Abomination]

It most certainly is racist... but it's also benign racism.

Just how straight people are sexist... but it's also benign sexism.

Just how homosexuals are sexist... but it's also benign sexism.

Nobody is entitled to your romantic affections for whatever reason. You can romantically pursue who you want for whatever reasons you want.

But I answered "No" on the poll because I get the feeling it's asking if there's something morally wrong about it or not, not if it lives up to the literal definition of racism (which it does).

 

[Abomination]

Technically speaking, yes, it's racist. But I don't see anything wrong with it, apart from the fact that you'll miss out on a lot of great girls. It doesn't make you a bad person in my book, cuz hey, everybody's allowed to have preferences.

You, sir, in all possible humbleness, are the most history-ignorant person on the board today. Racism is NOT making you a bad person? It was NOT racism that started the riots in capetown? It was NOT racism that made slaves out of men and women and after they were freed still had to suffer for decades from restricted education and people rights? And then there was germany.
So. Next time you little piece of manga addiction get to history lessons, HEAR what the teacher actually says. And ask him about holocaust and the root of evil that is racism.

I didn't know that the riots in capetown, slavery of Africans and the Nazi's obsession with eliminating Jews was caused by some dude not wanting to bang a chick of one of those races.

But hey, I guess I better go out and bang a chick of every ethnicity just to ensure I don't inadvertently start another racial catastrophe.

Should I bang some dudes too, while I'm at it? Just to make sure I don't cause a homosexual repression regime to spring up?

 

[Yopaz]

No, it's not racist on its own. It's perfectly possible to be against dating a certain race because you're racist though.

In general I'm not attracted to black girls. I don't think it would be fair to the girl I'm dating if I weren't attracted to her because that would make the relationship kinda uneven. Because of that I would in general not date a black girl. Not because I'm a racist, but because I'm a shallow asshole.

Sexual preference isn't racism. If you don't find something attractive, then it's just not for you.

Think about it this way, are you sexist against your own sex if you're straight? Are homosexuals sexist against women for rejecting them as potential partners? If you stretch out this logic to other things that can control sexual attraction, it's fairly easy to see why it's a silly notion.

Of course, you could be racist about it and explicitly reject them for a racist reason(as seen in the OP's anecdote, where the example person considers black people to be animals); but not being interested on its own isn't racism, and isn't indicative of any kind of bigotry, even if the reason is based on their race.

I didn't see this before I was done writing my post, but I really agree with this. It MIGHT be racist, but it doesn't have to be.

 

[NoeL]

It's racist if you refuse to date them because of their race, but not racist if you're simply not attracted to prominent physical features common to that race. I think that's where the confusion lies.

To give an example, I'm not particularly attracted to Australian aborigines - dark skin and big noses isn't my thing. That said, if there was an aboriginal girl I found attractive (and I've seen a couple) I wouldn't not date her because she's an aborigine.

"I don't date X." = racist.
"I'm not attracted to X's features." = not racist.