Best of the Week
of July 28, 2002
Best of Week
Archives
Here are the most intriguing cross-cultural exchanges
either begun or advanced during the week of July 28, 2002, as
selected by Y? These postings, as well as "Best of the Week" entries
from previous weeks, also can be found by accessing Y?'s database
using the search form, or, in the case of
answers posted before April 24, 1999, in the
Original Archives (all questions
from the Original Archives have been entered into the database as
well). In the Original Archives, as well as in the database, you will
find questions that have received answers, as well as questions still
awaiting responses. You are encouraged to answer any questions
relevant to your demographic background, as well as to ask any
provocative question you desire. Answers posted are not necessarily
meant to represent the views of an entire demographic group, but can
provide a window into the insights of an individual from that
group.
First-time users should first make a quick stop at Y?'s
guidelines pages for asking and
answering questions.
The book
on Y? is here!
"Why Do White People Smell Like Wet
Dogs
When They Come Out Of The Rain?"
Order it here!
Read the
Associated Press story on "Wet Dogs"
Question:
I've worked with disabled children and 'normal' children from
low socioeconomic areas in public school settings. I often compare
the educational facilities provided for both groups, and the disabled
children certainly seem to receive the best educational resources and
most support. Unfortunately, many of the 'normal' children become
lost in the educational system, fall behind in their schoolwork and
develop behavioral problems. It's very disheartening to see potential
go to waste. I often feel it would be better if this situation were
reversed and the normal children received the 'special' education.
The achievments of the disabled children rarely amount to much, so
would it really matter if they received a substandard education?
POSTED 7/29/2002
K., Sydney, NA, Australia, 22, Female, Atheist,
White/Caucasian, Straight, Educator, 4 Years of College, Middle
class, Mesg ID 616200264703
Responses:
First, a lot of the money in the special education budget does go to
children of normal or even above-average abilities who happen to have
physical, behavioral or emotional disabilities. Two of my children
received services, although they are of normal intelligence. This
clearly differs from school system to school system, and we were
lucky. That being said, there is some merit to your question. Our
oldest son (who is physically disabled, by the way) is a special
education teacher, and in his first teaching job his major work was
to change diapers, wipe drool and touch the students with interesting
textures. One might well ask what, aside from eliciting the
occasional gurgle from one of his charges, was the point. I suppose
it comes down to compassion, which by definition doesn't have
well-defined boundaries.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Jerry S., New Britain, CT, United States, 54, Male, Jewish,
White/Caucasian, Straight, 4 Years of College, Upper middle class,
Mesg ID 729200215340
I cannot believe that you worked with special needs children and
still have the impression that their achievements don't count for
much. I know it wasn't the point of the question, but I was very
offended. I hope that my little brother's teacher doesn't hold the
same view as you do.
POSTED 8/1/2002
Julia, Arlington, VA, United States, Female, Mesg ID 731200215108
To
respond
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Question:
Why do young men and women choose to decorate themselves,
particularly their faces, with multiple piercings and tattoos? If a
person is very attractive, why mar the natural beauty with holes and
ink? If a person is not as beautiful (according to society's
standards) why draw added attention to their face and at the same
time permanently mark it? Isn't any consideration given to the future
problems one encounters when it comes time to find good
employment?
POSTED 7/29/2002
Pattya, Springville, CA, United States, Mesg ID
6162002115256
Responses:
I can agree with you in terms of why people decide to decorate
themselves, facial or otherwise, with piercings and tattoos. I am not
a fan of tongue piercing because it just doesn't look right. I have
tolerated it and just ignored it when I see it on other people. Then,
of course, there is also the argument of being an individual and
standing out among the crowd, and doing your own thing. Well, if you
are getting ink done or having something pierced to stand out, it's
going to look like nobody is unique, because a good majority of
people, male and female, have ink and have piercings. It's not what
the tattoo looks like or where you got it pierced, it's the principle
of the act. I have no ink done, nor anything pierced, because as I
get older, I will realize that what I had done in my youth was
disgusting and wild and crazy. Imagine an 80-year-old lady with a
whole bunch of holes in her ears, face, etc., and faded ink on
wrinkling skin. Now see if your grandchildren don't bug out when they
see that. Regarding people who mark their faces: again, no need to
speak of freedom and individuality because everyone else has
something pierced or tattooed as well. For my age I am somewhat old
school when it comes to the way someone looks. I don't like the whole
one million dragons, old English letters of a last name, and other
figures scrawled all over the human body. Although I do understand it
is what makes the personality of the person, doesn't the character of
that person make them who they are? In terms of the whole employment
thing, I doubt these people with their noses pierced and chains
connecting it to their nipples, ears, etc., are looking into working
in the arena of corporate life. They will have to settle for jobs
that allow such things as that
POSTED 7/30/2002
Chris, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 25, Male, Asian, Sales
Rep., 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID 729200251540
As far as tattoos on the face, unless you are a tattoo artist, I
can see where that might be looked at as a little strange, but
regarding tattoos on the rest of the body, this is something that
been done for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. You make
assumptions about people's motivations to get them ('to stand out')
without really having any idea of what their motivation is. There are
a million reasons someone might get a tattoo: to memorialize someone,
to express something or simply because they like them. I am 27 and
have what would be considered by most a lot of tattoos, especially
for a female. I have a college degree, am working on my master's and
am a research scientist. I have never had problems finding a job, and
I wear a business suit every day to work. I don't take drugs, I'm not
a criminal, I'm not a deviant ... I just happen to like tattoos. To
me, they are a way of accentuating beauty. If you don't like them,
don't get them.. But I don't see what it is that YOU need to
'tolerate' because of a piercing or tattoo that someone else has. Why
should you care?
POSTED 8/1/2002
Danielle, Southern, NJ, United States, 27, Female,
White/Caucasian, Over 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
730200255133
It's all a matter of personal taste. I was attracted to my
girlfriend in part because of some body piercings she has. She is in
a career field that allows her to make an excellent living with a
couple of piercings, so it is not an issue there. This same debate
was probably had at some point when people first pierced their ears.
POSTED 8/1/2002
Jackie, Adams, RI, United States, 29, Male, Computer Related, 4
Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID 730200281833
I'm not so sure about the 'individuality' thing anymore. The
majority of my friends are marked up and strolling through Hollywood
and elsewhere, and half of everyone and their cousin have tattoos and
piercings in some form or another. And have you noticed many
similarities? Dragons, Kanji lettering, barbed wire, stars (half the
kids in Hollywood have a star on themselves somewhere), 'tribal'
designs (uh,what tribe was that, again?); it's beginning to get
cliched. I think some originality is in order. In some cases
tattooing can enhance the body's beauty by accentuating it. However,
some tattoos just look like crap because they're cheaply done or
ill-thought-out. If done properly and kept up, they'll be maintained
in age, providing that the person follows proper skin care guidelines
and goes in every several years for a touch up. I suggest that
'timeless' or 'highly unique' designs are the best bet, because that
ultra-trendy floral armband you got as a sorority girl is going to be
a laughing matter in 20 years. Also, if you don't want it to affect
your career choices, make sure it can be covered up with a
shortsleeve t-shirt. People who get full sleeves and mark up their
hands and necks are pretty much 'black-marked' for life. As for
piercings, I've bounced a few mosh pits and have witnessed or been
told about many a fight, and that would be why I'll never get any.
POSTED 8/1/2002
Dan, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 23, Male, Pentecostal,
Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Student, 4 Years of College, Lower
middle class, Mesg ID 7312002113927
To
respond
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Question:
Why do women talk so much? I've been all over the world and
this seems to be a common denominator of all women. Especially when
they talk to other women. I don't think men could ever understand it.
Also, do women think that sometimes their talking is annoying to
others who happen to be nearby, such as on a train? Do they think
that when they talk everybody thinks their conversation is
interesting?
POSTED 7/29/2002
Chetan, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 30, Male, Asian, Mesg
ID 726200271728
Responses:
Women bond by
communicating, whereas men tend to use speech only to exchange
information. We are also more interested in finding similarities with
the people we are talking to. We want to be like the people we are
talking to. The people I'm talking to do find what I'm saying
interesting, or they wouldn't continue to talk to me. And I find them
interesting. On a train or bus or something, it doesn't matter who
you're sitting next to, you're not going to be interested in their
conversation, so I generally try to keep the volume low and go on
with my business. What's my other option, to sit in bored silence and
wait until I have a deserted area to talk to somebody?
POSTED 7/30/2002
Kerry, Ventura, CA,
United States, 32, Female, Wiccan, White/Caucasian, Gay, Stagehand,
Over 4 Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID
729200241350
To
respond
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TOP
Question:
To men: Why do some of you make an attempt to cover your
balding heads with a 'comb-over'? This style does not fool anyone,
and you all would look much more attractive if you would get a decent
haircut. My current gentleman friend reacted like I asked him to cut
off his you-know-what when I suggested he would look much better if
he changed his style.
POSTED 7/19/2002
Jo, Ft. Wayne, IN, United States, 53, Female, White/Caucasian,
Straight, Programmer, 2 Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID
7192002121026
Responses:
We all want to look our
best, and at our age (over 50) most of us have come to the conclusion
that 'we can't please everybody, so we please ourselves.' If you love
him, don't ask him to change. If you don't love him, why should he
change for you? Love him for who he is on the inside. My
'combed-over' husband also wears tan shorts, white socks and a gray
shirt on a typical trip to the store. I try laying out matching
clothes, but when he says 'these are good enough,' I just smile and
put my selections back in the closet.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Carol S., Mountain
Home, AR, United States, <edg_org_ar@hotmail.com>, 58, Female,
Believe in a Higher Power, White/Caucasian, Straight, semi-retired
seamstress, 2 Years of College, Upper class, Mesg ID
725200265015
To
respond
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Question:
Regarding the recent Arizona forest fire: I saw on the news an
Indian spokesperson describing the devastation to the Navajo nation.
The spokesperson demanded the culprit be caught and brought to trial.
As we now know, a member of the Navajo nation intentionally started
the blaze. A second fire, a signal fire started by a woman lost in
the wilderness, later merged with the first fire. Here is what
bothers me: After it was reported that a member of the Navajo nation
started the first fire, another Navajo spokesperson begged for
understanding and sympathy for the tribe member. A few days later,
these same people went public wanting the woman who started the
signal fire charged with a crime. If I were lost and dying of thirst,
I'd start a signal fire. What are these people thinking? If they want
sympathy for a tribe member who started a fire out of greed, where is
the sympathy for a desperate and very thirsty white woman?
POSTED 7/29/2002
Tad B., Fairfield, OH, United States, 47, Male,
White/Caucasian, Middle class, Mesg ID 728200295107
To
respond
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Question:
Why do some people with physical disabilities get offended when
I try to help them with a task I think they might struggle with? It
upsets me when they get all offensive and mad at me for being
nice.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Vanessa, Chicago, IL, United States, 20, Female, Catholic,
Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Straight, student, Mesg ID
5202002101352
To
respond
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Question:
What is it with teenagers not being able to behave in a public
place, be it the train (jumping around and making noise), the theater
(trying to see who can be the last to clap when applause for a song
is over) or a store (making fun of all the merchandise)? Is the peer
pressure to act cool and daring that strong now?
POSTED 7/29/2002
Sarah C., San Francisco, CA, United States, 24, Female,
Agnostic, Asian, Over 4 Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID
76200231801
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Question:
Why is it that Corporate America seems to have given the edge
to hiring minorities over white males? Everywhere you look, there is
a disproportionate number of minorities being represented by
Corporate America.
POSTED 7/21/2002
Adam R., North Chicago, IL, United States, 42, Male, Catholic,
White/Caucasian, Bisexual, Accountant, 4 Years of College, Middle
class, Mesg ID 720200262820
Responses:
Yep, and it's a damn
shame, too! I think that all the hype over Affirmative Action in the
'90s opened the way for people to sue companies because they thought
they didn't get hired 'because of their ethnic background,' so rather
than getting slapped with a lawsuit, many companies are biting the
bullet and hiring too many minorities who might be un- or
under-qualified. This also is happening in the academic community. A
friend of mine was passed over for a placement in a PhD. program
because she wasn't black. She was even told that they chose the other
woman because of her color. The sad thing is that these two women
were friends and knew each other's scores. My friend's were higher,
yet they chose the black candidate. Personally, I would feel slighted
if I were given a position within any setting because they were
trying to fill a quota.
POSTED 7/24/2002
Mary, Philadelphia, PA,
United States, 28, Female, Methodist, White/Caucasian, Straight,
social work, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
7242002113458
Corporate America (and
colleges) are representative of a society that has decided that the
problem of hiring/admitting on the basis of race and gender can be
rectified by hiring on the basis of race and gender (affirmative
action/pro-diversity/quotas) Unfortunately, many white males with
talent may get overlooked, and minorities/females with talent may be
viewed as tokens. As a female who could 'benefit' from such policies,
I find it disgusting that any success that comes from all my hard
work and dedication will be viewed solely as a result of preferential
treatment. I don't want to be denied employment because I am female,
but I definitely don't want to be hired because I'm female. I think
ability, experience, character and education should be the only
determining factors for employers.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Jay, New York, NY,
United Kingdom, Female, White/Caucasian, Middle class, Mesg ID
723200271037
I am heavily involved
in the diversity push at the global electronic giant I work for. I
find your premise without support in my company. There is plenty of
diversity in the lower levels of 'corporate,' but that mix does not
extend to the upper echelons. The diversity 'glass ceiling' is still
firmly in place. The only goal at this company is to have a mix that
is representative of the available work force, no quota system. Seems
fair enough to me. I would theorize that you are seeing a mix of
ethnicity and gender where there used to be none at all, so any
change seems drastic. The 'white male hegemony' is going the way of
the Jurassic Age.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Mark B., Dallas, TX,
United States, <civic-si@swbell.net>, 41, Male, Christian,
White/Caucasian, Gay, financial analyst, 2 Years of College, Lower
middle class, Mesg ID 724200220209
I think this situation
is overstated and false. Whites face far more competition from other
whites than from black people. There are relatively few of us (12
percent of population), and we are also under-represented in
colleges. But I think the most obvious proof that affirmative action
is not giving blacks an unfair advantage is that we still have a
higher unemployment rate and we're still under-represented in
academia. Affirmative action has benefited white females more than
any other group (look up education and employment stats from 1960 to
present on this site: http://w3.access.gpo.gov/eop/ca/index.html) So
people should question who's the real target with the attacks on
affirmative action.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Tola, Silver Spring,
MD, United States, 23, Male, Catholic, Black/African American, 4
Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID 724200283324
I agree with Mary's
response. Affirmative action has made businesses nervous. What a
shame that people seek every opportunity to 'sue' to gain something
for nothing more then hurt feelings. What ever happened to 'the best
person qualified'? I guess prejudice got in the way of good sense on
both ends of the spectrum. White Man's Burden, a movie from some time
ago with John Travolta, is worth watching. It could make a white boss
really take a new perspective of his own character.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Carol S., Mountain
Home, AR, United States, <edg_org_ar@hotmail.com>, 58, Female,
Believe in a Higher Power, White/Caucasian, Straight, semi-retired
seamstress, 2 Years of College, Upper class, Mesg ID
725200281400
I assume you are
referring to affirmative action in Corporate America. Fundamentally,
the intent of affirmative action was to depress the tightly
controlled networks of privileged white males who monopolized the
good jobs and influential positions in U.S. society. That being said,
arbitrary racism and exclusion that is institutionalized in
education, health care, housing and employment cannot be overcome by
affirmative action. The legacy dwarfs the policy by far. So what are
you crying about? That African Americans might struggle to reach 10
percent representation on major college campuses and corporations?
That is far from a black takeover.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Jarrett, Chicago, IL,
United States, 20, Male, Black/African American, Straight, student, 2
Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID 7252002112610
Yeah, and look what
happened at Enron, World Com and Arthur Anderson because of all them
damn minorities they hired!
POSTED 7/29/2002
E.D., Kansas City, MO,
United States, 46, Female, Black/African American, Mesg ID
725200250219
Your post is a perfect
example of how in the United States today subtle racism is
encouraged. No. 1, why should you care if minorities are getting
hired more than whites? If you view them as human beings first and
not people who happened to have different physical features than you,
it shouldn't matter. There shouldn't even be a thought to
'disporportion' in comparison to how many white males are hired.
Minorities are no less deserving of a position in Corporate America
than any white man. Second, you seem to not be very realistic. Most
companies in the United States are predominantly white because our
country is predominantly white. And companies that are more lenient
to hiring more minorities usually find non-white human beings that
are of high quality. For example, Asian Americans are entering
Corporate America in higher numbers, but their intelligence and work
ethic are often higher than many white males. This is also the case
for African Americans seeking jobs in Corporate America. The media
wants to stereotype blacks as getting certain jobs because of their
skin color, but it isn't true. Check out the resume of a minority
employee (especially a black person) in Corporate America, and you
most likely will see outstanding credentials. Affirmative action
helps get many (especially blacks) through the door for an interview,
but their own merits get them hired. Those who think differently
struggle with subtle racism and cannot judge a minority in an honest
light because they are clouded by their own misguided perceptions.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Kristina, Washington,
DC, United States, <kfount500@aol.com>, 21, Female, Christian,
Black/African American, Straight, Transcriber, 2 Years of College,
Middle class, Mesg ID 7262002115551
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Question:
A classmate told me white people's butts are so flat because
during slavery they sat on them all day doing nothing, while black
people worked all the time. I agree, but I want to know if any white
or black people have ever heard of this.
POSTED 7/22/2002
Lisa, Brooklyn, NY, United States, 16, Female, Catholic,
Black/African American, Straight, Less than High School Diploma,
Middle class, Mesg ID 722200295009
Responses:
What I have heard has
nothing to do with the flatness of white people's butts, but rather
why they look flat compared to black people's. As I understand it,
the larger black butt is due to the fact it was used as a water
storage location needed to sustain life in the harsh hot climates of
Africa. It is left over from that. With respect to white butts: yeah,
I guess white people have had more opportunity to sit down and work
while the labors of slaves was that of hard field work, very physical
in nature. Also, not all whites have flat butts. It just depends on
the genetic background.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Matthew, New York, NY,
United States, 43, Male, Middle class, Mesg ID 7232002102811
Director's Note:
After 40,000 postings, Y? thought it had seen and heard it all until
receiving this question and response...
Talk about a blatantly
provocative post. I assume you are aware that the majority of white
people didn't own slaves? That the majority were poor and worked
their asses off as much as anyone else? Obviously, having their
freedom, their situation was infinitely better than that of enslaved
people, but please, you really think that every single Caucasian in
the States at that time was a wealthy landowner whose only exercise
was to occasionally arise from his chair to beat his slaves? You do
neither yourself nor those who share the same heritage any favors by
spouting ill-informed revisionist 'history' around the place.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Iteki, Smalltown, NA,
Sweden, 26, Female, Recovering Catholic, White/Caucasian, Lesbian, 2
Years of College, Lower middle class, Mesg ID 7232002110958
How did racist tripe
like this appear on Y? Forum? I've had albeit divisive but
nonetheless genuine questions 'moderated' out, and yet overtly
provocative racism like this passes muster? Why?
POSTED 7/23/2002
Blammo, Ipsilate, MI,
United States, Mesg ID 7232002111050
Director's Note: As
our long-time users are aware, Y? occasionally posts submissions that
fall outside our general guidelines, to keep all of us taking part in
this experiment honest. Rather than risking our users (and us)
becoming lulled into the false sensibility that everyone submits
"perfect" questions or is ready to engage others in a civil manner,
we aren't averse to shaking things up a bit from time to time with a
submission such as this. Usually, questions that aren't posted are
either repetitive, or simply have not been viewed by the (lone)
Director, as Y? receives hundreds of submissions per week.
Are you trying to live
up to the ignorant black stereotype? You sure seem to make a good
argument for it.That is like saying your lips are so big from sucking
on watermelon seeds and chicken bones.
POSTED 7/23/2002
William, Columbia, SC,
United Kingdom, 38, Male, Methodist, White/Caucasian, Straight,
sales, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
722200230746
C'mon Lisa. You can't
possibly be serious. I have never heard of this theory before,
neither in earnest nor in distasteful jest. Even if the greater
likelihood of white people to have 'flat' bottoms could be researched
and quantified well enough to be called a biological fact, the
evolution of such a trait would have taken thousands of years, at
least. So the slavery idea is impossible as well as silly.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Jennifer, St. Paul, MN,
United States, 31, Female, Christian, Black/African American,
Straight, Non-Profit, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
722200243032
Surely that is a joke
(and on a surface level, a bit funny). Only a small percentage of
'whites' have ever owned slaves (I'd venture to say, historically
speaking, more had probably been on the slavery end; just look at
early European history). Hell, German companies have paid reparations
for using Polish slave labor during World War II, and I don't see any
difference in the size of their butts. So that doesn't make a whole
lot sense. Also, slavery is not entirely a 'white' vs. 'black' issue;
history is awash with stories of people enslaving each other, of all
cultures and races.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Vittrad, Chicago, IL,
United States, 35, Female, Christian, White/Caucasian, Straight, Over
4 Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID
722200250557
I am a black female and
am embarrassed by the tone of your question. It is so ignorant and
racist. I'm sure you already know there are many differences between
the races and that Europeans and Africans have different body
structures, hair textures, etc. However, your question reads more
like slander than a question seeking an intelligent response.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Alea, New York, NY,
United States, 22, Female, Christian, Straight, student, Lower middle
class, Mesg ID 722200273450
Lisa, That is THE
dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. You are just mocking
whites, this site, and showing what an incredible waste of resources
a good education is on you. Spare your teachers. Drop out and go get
pregnant now. Maybe your children will redeem you.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Jesse R., New york, NY,
United States, Mesg ID 722200282237
I have to admit, I've
never heard of this, though it did give me a giggle. Take my word for
it; I've seen many white women with enormous rears. And by the way;
not all whites have slavery in their past. My family, though white,
were poorly treated servants. Slaves, no. But they certainly didn't
sit on their keesters. Just thought I would clarify.
POSTED 7/23/2002
Laura, Small Town, AZ,
United States, 24, Female, Christian, White/Caucasian, Straight,
Technical School, Lower middle class, Mesg ID 7222002113218
If this were true -
that a way of life 300 years ago would manifest as physical changes -
then wouldn't African Americans' brains be underdeveloped,
considering the lack of 'work' their brains were required to do
during slavery? The statement could also be reversed - that white
people work so hard that they burn off all excess body fat, whereas
African Americans do so little work that they retain all of their
body fat. These, of course, are riduculous statements, to mirror you
ridiculous question
POSTED 7/23/2002
Jay, New York, NY,
United Kingdom, Female, White/Caucasian, Middle class, Mesg ID
723200272433
Before anyone else
comments on this message, let me say I do not agree with what my
classmate said. I just wanted to know if anyone else had heard of
that theory. I am sorry if it offended anyone.
POSTED 7/24/2002
Lisa, Brooklyn, NY,
United States, Female, Mesg ID 723200225451
Do the black slave
owners in Africa today have flat butts?
POSTED 7/24/2002
Ridley S.,
Chambersburg, PA, United States, 22, Male, Agnostic, White/Caucasian,
Mesg ID 7232002102215
After reading some of
the other responses to this post, I think Lisa was unfairly accused
of trying to start trouble because she stated a fact of U.S. history
that some just deny. The truth is many whites did own blacks as
slaves to avoid doing arduous labor. So this statement I do not have
a problem with. However, one cannot say they developed flat bottoms
solely on this premise. The size of one's bottom is due to genes and
racial 'evolution.' U.S. blacks have been a suffering and starving
people, so their bodies began to store extra fat wherever it could to
help protect itself during tough times. Notice how I said U.S.
blacks. I have noticed that African blacks seem to be skinnier than
black Americans. Their bottoms still seem to be bigger than the
average white person's, but they are definitely smaller than African
Americans. So diet is also a factor to keep in mind.
POSTED 7/24/2002
Kristina, Washington,
DC, United States, <kfount500@aol.com>, 21, Female, Christian,
Black/African American, Straight, Transcriber, 2 Years of College,
Middle class, Mesg ID 7242002105745
If your comment had any
merit, there would be a large percentage of black Africans who would
have flat butts. There are many more blacks in Africa today who own
black slaves than there were whites who owned slaves.
POSTED 7/24/2002
Mary, Philadelphia, PA,
United States, 28, Female, Methodist, White/Caucasian, Straight,
social work, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
7242002112451
No question is a dumb
question, but Lisa, yours is ludicrous. As someone pointed out in one
of the responses, there is a scientific explanation: evolution. What
shocks me the most about this post is the responses by the grown men
and women of the forum. Adults are supposedly the wisest and most
mature of the human population, yet they have unjustly vilified a
16-year-old high school student for asking a question, one that has
an uncanny resemblance to those of her white counterparts at Y?
Forum. For instance, white people have asked 'dumb' questions like:
why are all black people afraid of dogs, why are all black people in
gangs, why do black folks riot when they don't get their way, how
come they are afraid of water and why do they all shake their heads
and snap their fingers when they talk? In my opinion, these are the
most foolish questions asked in the entire race/ethnicity section. In
spite of such ignorance, I have never responded by telling those who
posted them to drop out of school and get pregnant!
POSTED 7/24/2002
Jarrett, Chicago, IL,
United States, 20, Male, Black/African American, Straight, student, 2
Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID 7242002113656
Obviously the person
who told you that must be on some type of drug. What they fail to
realize is the size of behinds of any people relates to genetics of
the parents. Where the idea about white slave owners sitting on their
rears all day while the slaves worked in the fields comes from I have
no idea. What you need to do is clear up the facts with whoever told
you such an absurd notion. Before you inquire about such things as
what this person told you, ask other people to see if they
agree.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Chris, Los Angeles, CA,
United States, 25, Male, Catholic, Asian, Student, 4 Years of
College, Middle class, Mesg ID 724200280629
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Question:
I would like to
understand the caste system in South Asia (India, Pakistan,
Bangladash). I have come across numerous references in books
referring to Brahmin, etc., and just wanted a better
understanding.
POSTED
6/26/2002
Kenya E., Atlanta,
GA, United States, 25, Female, Christian, Black/African American,
Straight, Over 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
6262002120414
Responses:
What is strange is that India was and is a melting pot of races, and
yet Hinduism has one of the most elaborate racist systems called the
caste system. First, in most places there are four castes and the
Outcastes. The first caste was the Brahmin. This was the priestly
caste, the top caste. Only they had access to the holy books. They
normally tend to be fairer and taller (depends upon the region).
Second, we have the Ksatriyas, who were the warrior class (the class
I belong to). They were the kings, generals, ministers of state.
Third, we have the Vaishyas, the merchants, artisans. And the lowest
castes were the Shudras. The shudras tend to be darker. They were the
lowest servants. Finally the Outcastes. They stayed outside cities.
In some regions like Rajasthan, Gujrat (people whose ancestors came
as Scythins from Russian Crimea during the time of Alexander the
Great), interracial/ethnic unions are normally opposed by our ancient
holy books (one of the oldest in the world). The upper castes tended
to be cruel - cruelty which would put a slave owner in the South to
shame. If a lower-caste person would touch an upper-caste, the
upper-caste (Brahmin, Ksatriyas) would have to take a bath. If a
Shudra would try to marry an upper caste, he/she would be tortured
(including putting nails down their throat, etc). Today Shudras who
are behind economically have been helped by the government in jobs
and education, which many people in the upper castes consider unfair.
Many Shudars (25 percent of South Asia, a huge number because more
people live in India than the United States and Africa combined)
converted to Christianity or Buddhism to escape the caste system. I
have no idea about the racial origins of this. The Hindu nationalists
like the VHP, RSS, etc. say we are all the same race, maybe so it can
justify themselves in some way. Many studies have shown that the
upper castes were nearer to Europeans especially Eastern Europeans,
while the lower castes were similar to Australian
Aboriginals/Papuans. One study in a state called Andhra Pradesh found
that some lower-caste groups were related to Africans. Another claims
Indians have a lot of similarity to East Asians and that India is the
buffer zone between Caucasoids and Mongoloids. The Nazi concept that
the invading Aryans were completely blond, blue-eyed Nordics is been
refuted in most places, though green/fair eyes are present among many
Brahmin communities and in Afghanistan/North Pakistan. Besides,
blond, blue-eyed mummies were found in the Indo-Tibetan border. But
again, many Brahmins were shown as dark-haired. But because my
knowledge of this is limited, I cannot surely say, but it is safe to
say that Indians as a whole have a lot of similarity with Caucasians,
and most Indians consider themselves Caucasians (but not white
Caucasians). However, the caste system has kind of disappeared. I
hope it is confined to history and that Hinduism can forget this bad
past. In some backward places it is still strong, but I hope that
will not be for long.
POSTED 7/29/2002
Ajay, Anand, NA, India, 31, Male, Hindu, East Indian, Straight,
Govt Service, Over 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
717200264715
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