Can you be insensitive and not be an "-ist"? (2 Viewers)

[adonis]

No. 

Too bad, i like pianists.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I think overall a big problem is that all the focus is now on how the person feels vs. the intent of the statement or action.   I bump into somebody by accident, that's not a big deal because, well, it was not intentional.  I post something that offends somebody, that's a big deal because even if I might have been ignorant about what I posted, if they feel attacked, now it's a micro-agression or I am a ____ist, whatever.  

To answer the OP, yes you can be insensitive or ignorant and not be a ____ist.   It's just that today's call out culture really doesn't help in us taking a breath and thinking about the situation a bit as everybody hops on and calls for the person's job.  

 

[tonydead]

Exactly the Megan Kelly black face thread.  Stop taking things so seriously and you'll find a lot less -ists to be worrying about.

 

[Captain Cranks]

So you can be an accidental racist?

See, that just doesn't make sense to me.

You can be accidentally insensitive...which makes perfect sense.  But an accidental racist?

The dictionary defines racist as "a person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another."

Can you conclude that a person wearing black face feels discrimination, prejudice, or superiority over another race?  I don't think so.

Can you conclude that a person wearing black face is insensitive to how it makes others feel, either intentionally or unintentionally?  Yes.

Is Julianne Hough a racist because of this?  I doubt it.  

 

[Rove!]

I agree with the OP.  I would be hesitant to throw around accusations like that, but I think the age and life experiences of the transgressor needs to be considered.  I would cut a high school kid who Nazi salutes more slack than a 26 year old medical student in blackface  I would grant a transgression that occurred in a more ignorant time period more slack than somebody today... somebody calling somebody a “bundle of sticks” 30 years ago might have been common, but in 2019 it’s common knowledge how offensive and insensitive that is and pushes more towards the phobic label.

 

[ENIK]

Was it a racist act for the Wayan brothers in “White Chicks”, Eddie Murphy on SNL, or Dave Chappelle on “The Chappelle Show” to wear white face?  

 

[Dedfin]

Was it a racist act for the Wayan brothers in “White Chicks”, Eddie Murphy on SNL, or Dave Chappelle on “The Chappelle Show” to wear white face?  

Hello new poster! I look forward to reading more of your content.