The dangers of false accusations of racism

[Presti35]

Is this a real problem in society?

Have you ever been accused of being racist, wether it be at work, at school, in a social situation, or wherever?

I just worry that the term is being thrown around by some who dont understand what racism actually is, or use the term to get someone in trouble or get something they want. That isn't right. Are young people educated on racism and the dangers of falsely accusing someone?

I understand this is a very sensitive subject, and I'm not condoning real racism or looking to start an argument. I just believe that no one should be accused of something they are not.

Nothing can undo the years of wrongdoing in the past. 100s and 100's of years, and we know Australias history on this is not very good either. But this is 2022. Yes things can be better. Yes there is still a lot of work to do. Yes there's still a lot of pain. Yes there's still a lot of anger. Yes there's still a lot of learning we all need to do. I just think a part of becoming better is not using the term for the wrong reasons.

Mods if you feel the need to delete this, I understand.

[stui magpie]

You raise an interesting question. I have no doubt that the term is being misused, I also have no doubt that we still have a lot of work to do as as a society.

I reserve the right to sleep on it and come back with more later.

[David]

[stui magpie]

Firstly on the Rioli thing, I don't think there was anything inherently racist in Kennet's crack about the ripped jeans, it was more generationalist. He likely would have said the same thing to a white woman, he's of the generation where ripped or patched clothes was a sign of poverty not a fashion statement. I queried my daughter a few years back when she bought a pair of jeans like that.

However, it doesn't matter what I think, the Rioli's interpretation of the remarks coming from their experiences is perfectly valid as are the choices they made.

Personally, I do think the word "Racist" is over used, particularly when combined with finger pointing and accusations at a person who may have made a racist remark but actually isn't a racist person.

We've come a long way, I can still remember some of the off hand comments made by people in the office when I first started work at 19 and cringe, we still have a way to go.

This is where more education and less finger pointing comes in, particularly around "casual racism". It can be common for people to make off the cuff remarks that are not intended to be racist, but can be interpreted that way depending on the culture or background of a person.

The best way to deal with those kinds of things are to call them out in the moment and not by pointing and shrieking "Racist" but by a conversation.

Hey mate, do you realise that what you just said, a person from X background/culture, could construe that as demeaning or racist for these reasons?

[#26]

If you're the type of person who generally finds dealing with people a pain in the ass, it complicates things when people, from historically oppressed groups, interpret it as bigotry instead of misanthropy. So spare a thought for the poor old misanthropes.

But seriously, as a cis gendered, heterosexual, white man, I've had to learn to be more empathetic, which is at odds with the me, me, me society we live in these days.

I used to be more flippant towards work colleagues and would think that if women, or people from other historically oppressed backgrounds, thought I was acting like that towards them because of "their identity" they were wrong because that's just how I was to everyone. But then I realized I was viewing the interactions from my perspective and not putting myself in their shoes. So if a woman, who has had to put up with sexism, interprets my flippancy as sexist condescension, it shouldn't be surprising if I practice empathy and see things from her perspective.

Looking at the Kennett issue, he said he spoke to Rioli's partner like he spoke to his children. But Jeff, she's not one of your children.

[roar]

^^ Great post!

[David]

100%. And one shudders to think how a pompous old bully like Kennett would speak to his kids, so it doesn't really make things better.

What seems clear to me from the exchange as reported is that, racist or otherwise, he intended it as a putdown at the very least. And merely cracking the joke would have been bad enough, but actually getting the money out of his wallet and mock-offering it to her really doubles down on the insult. So even if it had nothing to do with race, I totally understand the Riolis being seriously pissed off with the guy.

[eddiesmith]

He sounds like 90% of boomers who say the exact same thing about people with ripped jeans. Couldn't afford the rest of them is pretty common from that generation.

But the OP is right that racism is thrown around anytime anything negative is said about people of a different race or colour. It's not new, I grew up with kids who every time they got in trouble at school they'd cry racism.

[think positive]

100%. And one shudders to think how a pompous old bully like Kennett would speak to his kids, so it doesn't really make things better.

What seems clear to me from the exchange as reported is that, racist or otherwise, he intended it as a putdown at the very least. And merely cracking the joke would have been bad enough, but actually getting the money out of his wallet and mock-offering it to her really doubles down on the insult. So even if it had nothing to do with race, I totally understand the Riolis being seriously pissed off with the guy.

is that what hew did???

omg they should put that out there, thats beyond disgusting


earlier in the year on HWONY a black lady was carrying on like a 2 bob watch, and someone said your a very angry woman (to say the least!!! and she says "so im an angry black woman" no i said your an angry woman.

ok so maybe that was a thing, but what are you suposed to say? not have conversations? not pull people up,

its not fair that she stuck the word in there

because the first statement was very true

[Presti35]

My OP is not influenced by the Cyril/Kennet story that is currently in the news. It's been on my mind for a very long time.

[David]

In that case, apologies for presuming otherwise (and sending the thread off on a different track)! What are some examples you’d point to of what you’re thinking of here?

[#26]

Here's one https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.co ... index.html

[David]

[stui magpie]

^^

Good article.

David, I think you mis read part of it, it wasn't a bystander who passively filmed it and posted it online, it was one of the men being asked to pay before being served.

The online furore was entirely predictable and the references to confirmation bias spot on.

I'll reserve judgement on the employer, we don't know whether they did any form of investigation, you'd think that just speaking to the co workers should have cleared it up, but US labour laws are different to ours and they may have just acted the same way regardless.

The most concerning part for me is not just that people believe what suits them and pile onto an alleged perpetrator, but the horrible remarks they can make that they think for some reason are appropriate

[stui magpie]

Back to the Rioli case, his Uncle Michael Long has a different take on the whole situation.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... d5de26b5f0

It seems Cyril has been estranged from most of his family and friends for several years. Reading between the lines, my view is his wife is the source of the problem. Emphasis, my view.