OK, we have expressed so many different viewpoints on racism and prejudice in almost every social aspects there is. Integration in the workplace, slavery, mixed relationships, stereotyping and even segregation.
It is very evident that most such "sensitive" discussions are usually emotionally charged and will sometimes invoke anger and even division amongst individuals that would otherwise share mutual opinions and respect on other topics of interest.
So with all the talk about racism in all its forms, let's now talk about "talking about racism"....

Why do you think that the outcome of such discussions often end in anger, hostility and greater division amongst the racial lines?

Do you believe that its because the participants lack the ability to keep their emotions in check and as such incapable of mature meaningful debates?
OR.
Do you think that sufficient resepct and sensitivity is not being expressed by the participants for one to another, thus resulting in the hostility?
OR
Do you think that such discussions can never be dealt with without tension and therefore should be avoided at all cost?

Attached Images

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Just sayin........

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I believe that the greatest enemy to meaningful, hostility-free discussions on racism is people's reluctance (not inability) to see the issus from both sides of the color lines.
Yes, we often pay lip service by saying that we understane the other's point of view but 5 sentences after, we often quickly "show" our real intolerance for the other 'side' by speaking our minds.

We often have some degree of pre-concieved resentment that we bring into the discussion and inorder to make our points, we sometimes get lost in it. I believe that though we claim to be, we often are not looking to debate, per se, that is, to exchange points of views, but rather to use the thread as a means to vent our own personal feelings on the other side, becuase they fall in the category, or they don't share our own views.
I dont believe that such debates should be avoided and I do believe that they can be conducted in a hostile free environment.

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True loves comes quietly without fanfare or flashing lights. If you hear bells, go get your ears checked.

My suggestions to help in such debates are as follows:

• Never take the 'attitude' from one thread and throw it into another. If you got upset about something in a previous unrelated thread, be willing to leave that attitude at the doorstep of that said thread before entering another.
  
  
• Don't make references to circumstances that are knowingly personal to those involved in the debate.
  
  
• If someone in the debate refer to their own personal circumstances, even if you don't agree, dont be critical of it. Respect it, make little or no reference to it and move on. If you must respond to it, be respectful and sensitive in your response and get back to debating the general issue at hand.
  
  
• If you sense that the other "side" is getting personal and offensive, clip it in the bud by stating clearly but politely that the last statement (for example) hit close o home and as such felt offensive.
  
• Be willing to admit that your last statement/post may have been harsh and (especially if someone clearly and politely claims offense,) if you genuinely meant no harm, be openly willing to apologise. It cost nothing.

We all (me included) have been guilty of running afoul of the "courtesy laws" of debates often enough and if we can begin by recognizing these errors, we may one day achieve our objective of a harmonious forum.
What do you think?.

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Im bored with this topic, its like religion, people are never going to agree.

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I feel offended that rather than just to ignore the thread and not post, you would make such (what I feel to be) a negative statement .

Wouldn't you say that it is such response that contribute to the very same hostility and tension that I mentioned above?

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True loves comes quietly without fanfare or flashing lights. If you hear bells, go get your ears checked.

I thought about it, but then u asked again! lol...did i say something wrong? Why do u feel hostility, rather than hopelessness?

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Yes <sniff>
You offended me <sniff>

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True loves comes quietly without fanfare or flashing lights. If you hear bells, go get your ears checked.

OH PLEASE FORGIVE ME CAPITAN, im sooooooo sorry! Is that betta?!

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Yes <sniff> thats bettah.

NOW!
What would YOU suggest as a meaningful way to discuss racially charged (or even religious) issues without it turning into a disaster?

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True loves comes quietly without fanfare or flashing lights. If you hear bells, go get your ears checked.

There is no way unless people can put aside personal emotions and feelings and discuss it intelligently. Unfortunately....many people in our world do not lack the control to keep emotions in check...or the ability to see it from others perspectives. If you find a way to get people to discuss this without it ending in disaster...you will probably also have found a way to created a deeper understanding amoung people..and possibly end a whole lot of ignorance!

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I guess what turns me off is the holy-er than thou attitude, rather than respect for different beliefs when it comes to religion and the whole, we should all get along crap when it come to racism...Yes, in a perfect world, we would all get along and not judge eachother, but, unfortunately, thats the way the world goes round and other than offer real solutions,which i really don't think there is, at least not until everyone is mixed...but yet everyone wants to talk about how it should be, rather than how it is.

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I just get ticked off by hypocrites...people that complain about one thing that's racially done to them and then do that same thing different forms to another person of another race. I am slowly learning I need to keep my mouth shut on this topic...because it doesn't take much to set me off on it either. And perhaps lbelly is right...there is no real solution. Or rather there is...but the human race will never make it possible to implement!

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Nope, racism is personal, either what u've been taught, expierienced, or learned...no one can tell u how to feel about personal beliefs, or personal ignorance...

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