Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JacktheCat]

What exactly is the difference making a generalisation and being racist?

I, and others, have made generalisations about Koreans and been pounced upon as "racist."

To me, racism is saying something that is patently false and using it for negative reinforcement.

Am I being a racist if I say:
Koreans like gimchee and soju, and most hate Japan.
Canadians like to blame America, and are overly fond of cannabis.
British like self-deprecating humour, and most are heavy drinkers.
Americans are bombastic, and overly patriotic.

[thebum]

This is what I think of when I hear the word racism:

"The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others."

I don't think what you said makes you racist. I think that those are a bunch of stereotypes (stereotypes are useful and time-saving, but also problem-causing), and I believe many of the things you said are true, for the most part.

[Zenpickle]

Generalization: Koreans like kimchi.

Racism: Koreans like kimchi because they don't know any better.

[weatherman]

[Blind Willie]

[Mashimaro]

I read somewhere once where it is ok to constructively criticise society but not culture.

[Paji eh Wong]

[skinhead]

[korian]

i highly doubt blind willie will offer anything. the irony of blind willie is that despite his desire to portray himself as a knowledgeable and objective observant of korea, his posts, as brief and inane as they usually are, show him to be little more than arrogant, smug and ignorant.

you can always rely on him to contribute a useless one-liner that's seldom on topic or in any way objective.

see a post from blind willie, move on.

as to the OP, i think in its simplest terms, the biggest difference between the two is the context and the way comments are used. as one poster said, generalisations are often easy and convenient but fraught with danger. racist comments are easily identified as they endeavour to belittle a race or person because of race. generalisations don't necessarily do that.

[Paji eh Wong]

[korian]

as i said it depends on context. it's a generalisation but where do gen. usually come from? at their heart they often have an element of truth to them.

of course ppl would come out and say 'all jews are good with money?' is what you're saying a euphemism for jews rip you off? etc etc and therein lies the inherent danger of making a generalisation.

but given the context and the nature of the comment it could be a gen. or made as a racist remark.

people tend to buck up when a comment is made that isn't necessarily seen as harmless, despite how much truth it may or may not hold. to say aussies like vegemite or indians love curry is generally true and generally harmless so ppl don't feel much about it.

but to say jews are good with money suddenly takes on a more serious note because of many reasons. it may be as true as the comments about indians or aussies but it doesn't get glossed over as flippantly.

it could still be classed as a gen. though.

[indiercj]

Why do you think Koreans are racists?

Are they just generalizing?

[korian]

are you asking me? if you are, see the above about context etc

[Blind Willie]

[korian]