Reply #152: Yes, Snarkturian Clone's opinion is much more valuable than Karenina's

[fishwax]

after all you already know he agrees with you.

But seriously, India3--step back for a moment and think about how some of the things you've posted might sound to others. You started off by dismissing black culture as lousy. I think it's no surprise that some posters would respond by saying that suggestion is racist, and clearly some people were offended by it.

You later said that this assessment was "probably a little too harsh," a statement which acknowledges the inaccuracy of your initial post, but seems entirely unwilling to deal with the offense that this inaccuracy caused. Indeed, while discussing the issue with one particular poster who was offended at the statement, instead of acknowledging that your slightly too harsh (to adopt your sense of understatement ;)) dismissal of Black culture might have impaired the discussion, you say his attitude is the one really at fault here. In fact, your accusation that his attitude was at fault came in the very same post that you "acknowledged" perhaps being too harsh. I think that might be ironic :)

What happens next is not at all unusual. Stung by suggestions that your blanket dismissal of black culture as lousy might be racist, you suggest that the issue of racism--not racism itself, but the issue of racism--interferes with the dialogue. It's not racism that gets in the way, it's when people actually talk about or point out or suggest the appearance of racism that things break down.

"Nobody wants to be called a racist," you said. "It's one of the worst things you can call somebody." Many posters, I'm sure, would disagree. (Some might even say that having their entire culture called "lousy" might be worse ;) ) But I think when you make such a comment, when you (even unwittingly) paint yourself as the courageous or victimized one, you can probably expect responses along the lines of Karenina's post #133.

These are things worth thinking about, India3, and I'm not saying these things to be a jerk. I'm saying these things because I think your comments in this thread reveal some very real blind spots in your approach to this issue. In her earlier post, Karenina tried to point out that these blind spots are not unusual--they are in fact, very common and very treatable. You just have to, to borrow your earlier suggestion, take some personal responsibility in recognizing them. :)