I am a racist (and so are you).

[Cain]

I keep thinking the title of this thread should be "I am a racist (and so can you)."

[Kai]

I keep thinking the title of this thread should be "I am a racist (and so can you)."

I considered that initially, but I thought the subject was too serious for parody.

[LMNO]

That brings up an entirely different discussion.

[East Coast Hustle]

I keep thinking the title of this thread should be "I am a racist (and so can you)."

I considered that initially, but I thought the subject was too serious for parody.

no such thing.

[Reginald Ret]

That brings up an entirely different discussion.

I keep thinking the title of this thread should be "I am a racist (and so can you)."

I considered that initially, but I thought the subject was too serious for parody.

no such thing.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[BabylonHoruv]

UNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG.

This thread pisses me off to a horrendous degree.

Yes, I and many others may well have an instinctive reaction to skin colour. We are on many levels instinctive creatures, and sometimes may have to act on those instincts (the cop with a gun example from earlier).

Is the cop a racist if he is white and shoots a black man on instinct, just because he's black? No.

"Racism" implies a certain kind of wilful blindness, and a conscious discrimination.

For a counter-example; wanting, deep down, things to be fairer for all does not make one an immediate "Socialist", which implies a certain number of other things which include conscious choices.

An identification with people who are less alien than yourself is an entirely natural thing. I'm not saying that natural = good, of course, but to FUCK with anyone saying it's a bad thing.

The innocent black man is still dead.  Where he would not be if that cop did not have that built in predisposition.

If it is built in as deeply as Kai seems to be suggesting it is not going to be something that can be trained out, unfortunately.

[Faust]

If it is built in as deeply as Kai seems to be suggesting it is not going to be something that can be trained out, unfortunately.

I disagree with that, there are far stronger impulses that can be subdued. This is just a case of getting yourself out there and meeting lots diverse bands of people to get over the inbuilt impulse.
Genetic racism or 'hesitations towards the new' as it should more likely be called is a symptom of an insular lifestyle.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

If it is built in as deeply as Kai seems to be suggesting it is not going to be something that can be trained out, unfortunately.

I disagree with that, there are far stronger impulses that can be subdued. This is just a case of getting yourself out there and meeting lots diverse bands of people to get over the inbuilt impulse.
Genetic racism or 'hesitations towards the new' as it should more likely be called is a symptom of an insular lifestyle.

I agree. Just because we have some basic programming doesn't mean that we can't either change the programming, or add new programming to modify the basic systems bad effects.

[Kai]

If nothing else, I think it's funny how something I half assed gets five pages of comments and the combined "In those days" haven't reached that length.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

If nothing else, I think it's funny how something I half assed gets five pages of comments and the combined "In those days" haven't reached that length.

That's cause its a very good topic to discuss!   

[Mangrove]

If nothing else, I think it's funny how something I half assed gets five pages of comments and the combined "In those days" haven't reached that length.

Because Racism is also a hot issue. Start a thread about Abortion or Gun Control and watch what happens. All other threads, no matter how content filled will be left standing in the shade.

[Faust]

If nothing else, I think it's funny how something I half assed gets five pages of comments and the combined "In those days" haven't reached that length.

Its because the title inspires in the forums users a similar reaction to the one you described in the OP.

[Triple Zero]

If nothing else, I think it's funny how something I half assed gets five pages of comments and the combined "In those days" haven't reached that length.

Simply because there's not much controversy in those. They're good, and if a couple of people have already said that, and I have nothing new to add, I won't echo ...

[NotPublished]

Actually, here is one thing I noticed in me -

I don't feel comfortable with the idea of myself dating an Asian.

That is pretty racist. I know that everyone is pretty much the same (we're all freaking humans), but regardless I still don't feel comfortable.

[Elder Iptuous]

Actually, here is one thing I noticed in me -

I don't feel comfortable with the idea of myself dating an Asian.

That is pretty racist. I know that everyone is pretty much the same (we're all freaking humans), but regardless I still don't feel comfortable.

that's come up before here.  i don't remember what everyone's stance on that one is, but it was a contentious argument, i believe. 
I don't see why that would make you racist (depending on the usage of that term, i guess).
i would presume you are also an ageist is this respect?