RateItAll: The Opinion Network

I've never experienced this.

I do mix outside my race/ethnic group.

And I'm better for it.

Many things that we come across in life are learned rather than instilled at birth. So, saying that, it should be a personal choice. I don't know if one day people will start being "color-blind" and unfortunatelly there's always someone out there who won't understand.

If it is indeed a conscious, willing choice that's inspired by hatred, ignorance and prejudice, which would seem to be generally understood to be a pretty solid definition of the term, then it's, at best, hypocritical to claim you're not.

The key word there is "choice." We should be held accountable for our choices. If it's merely by default, obviously you shouldn't be called racist.

If you actively choose not to mix outside your race/ethnic group, then that is racist. I am sorry, but let's call a spade a spade. On the other hand, if you do not meet people outside your ethnic group, it does not imply you are racist. As an example, I met and spoke to a black person for the first time at the age of 17 or 18). That is just because I grew up in a country that was predominately white, to put it mildly. Even in multiethinic societies, there are strata where you will be more or less likely to meet people outside your own ethnic group. If you do not choose to move beyond these strata, then I do not think it automatically makes you a racist either. Perhaps you lack time or interest in diversifying your base of friends. Also, I conceed that people tend to be most comfortable with people who are from similar backgrounds, which usually also means ethnic backgrounds. You may find yourself more actively pursuing friendships with people from those backgrounds. Understandable - there is that easy rapport there - a little unadventurous maybe, but that is it. But when the word 'choose' comes into play (as unothename pointed out), then in my mind, you have crossed the line from 'unadventurous' (or lacking in opportunity if you like) to 'racist'. You want to take this sense of unease that you have with what is strange to you, and rather than deal with it in a constructive way (or even ignore it, if your circumstances preclude you from meeting people from other ethnic backgrounds), you want to formalize it as a 'value' for yourself. You can feel as self-righteous as you like about it, you may not like the label, or wear it with pride, but 'racist' is a pretty good fit.

I don't think I should be obligated to go out and find a black guy to hang out with just so I don't look like a racist. There is nothing wrong with being more comfortable with people that are more like yourself, no matter what color you are. I have some casual black friends, but my closest friends are all white. I am white, so that should come as no shock, and it shouldn't mark me as a racist.

What usually makes a friend a friend is something you have in common or ideas that make you two able to relate to each other. For instance, I prefer my soda to not have ice in it; most of my friends don't like the ice either. Now in a world with billions of people I'm sure I could find others all around the planet who don't like ice in there soda, but I'm not going to go out of my way just to create an ethnically diverse group of people who don't like ice. Don't get me wrong, I share a lot more in common with my friends (some white, some black, some a little of both) than that but I don't see the logic in calling someone a racist because they don't comb the world just so they can say they have a Mexican friend. To me, that's racist.

Everyone has prejudices. My prejudice is against attractive people. I am white. I am not better than ANYONE else based solely on that fact. If I know a man who is similar to me (ie. same age, similar ideology, physical condition , etc.) but he is African American, it would be racist of me to think that I'm better than he is, simply because I'm white. Its important to remember that all men are CREATED equal. This does not necessarily mean that they STAY that way. Some days, I'm even better than myself, (and some days, much worse). Its called the human condition. Freedom of association is so basic that it never even dawned on the framers of the Constitution to bring it up. We can celebrate our differences all we want; its what we have in COMMON that forges friendships and builds great nations. And ultimately,determines where we will spend eternity .

They key word here is choose. You might end up hanging with the same race because of where you grew up or whatever but choosing is the key word. I think if you choose to and make a conscious decision to avoid other races, yeah, your a racist, but the word is used so often these days, who cares ? As far as hiding behind the disguise of 'racial superiority', in my experience, racism is about an inferiority complex, not a superiority one. Flatbooty, I fail to see how being afraid of a huge 6 2 muscular black men, as you have commented before, has anything to do with a superiority complex ? Most racists I've met regardless of their complexion are always living in great fear, grappling onto feelings of superiority as a way to disguise their weak egos.

I think this one is phrased wrong, really. I don't think anyone is labeled as racist simply because they choose not to mix outside their group, I think it depends more on WHY you choose not to mix outside your group. I have very few friends, all of whom have been chosen carefully, and treasured for years. It takes a lot to break into my group, but it has nothing to do with what color you are, or what background you come from. It's all about who you are. Anybody labeling me a racist because of my friends doesn't know me very well at all.

Not going to happen.I have close friends of every type.I have had long term interracial relationships,and although you get dirty looks from the ignorant and sub-human- Love is Love,and well worth any resistance from morons.

I'm more than willing to mingle with anyone -- no matter what ethnicity or race they are. People are people, and emotions are all the same. I don't know about anyone else, but skin color does not matter to me!

For me, I live in Greece, NY a suburb with about 95,000 people, 93% of them white, just outside Rochester. This is the 3rd whitest major metropolitan area in America (after Pittsburgh, PA, and nearby Buffalo, NY). My wife amd her mother's side of the family are the only people of another race that I really get the chance to come in contact with. I will be friends with anybody of any race as long as they are a good person that has some of the same intrests I do. The only reason I don't have a lot of minority friends, is because I don't live near a lot of minorites.

I don't limit my relations to other people to any sort of group, except basically what we find in common within ourselves. However a few times black people have looked at me, since I am pretty much white as paper, blonde hair, green eyes and assume that I look like a typical racist and treat me as one, which hurts very deeply. I don't like it at all. If they were to come right out and call me racist or any worse names, I would most likely cry. Pathetic aren't I?

This one I'm not okay with. A prefernce is a preference. Some people just are not attractive to others. Like me, I'm not sexually attracted to Mongolian women. But it has nothing to do with what I think of their people as a whole. Now, if you wont mix with a particular group because you dislike them as people, that IS racist.

I'm the minority here in this country. I don't know many Chinese people that I'm not related to over here. Pretty much ALL of my friends are a different race than me.

I'm not sure exactly how to rate this item but... people naturally mix with people who they identify with- that's just natural. I have a few friends- all of them of different races- but we all generally have similar interests. If your life experiences don't bring you in contact with people of different races who have similar interests that doesn't automatically make you a racist- unless of course your interests are black or white power rallies.LOL

Absolutely not. There is nothing wrong with feeling comfortable with your own kind- it's human nature. Racism and prejudice are seperate concepts that people often casually throw together. Besides, there's nothing more irritating than those who believe they are somewhat advanced and sophisticated because they are 'friends' with this-or-that particular ethnic group. What crap.

If I'm a racist because I have primarily white friends, who is not a racist? I'd know what to label the person so labelling me.

Grr. I'm okay with like minded people. Color is of zero importance, but I gotta with people who mix at least a bit well.