# Bias against ghetto dwellers **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 25, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857 "2003-01-25T14:40:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/181 "2003-01-26T17:28:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \* > \*\*Why are opinions based on life exreriences stupid? You’re really behaving childish. \*\* Your “opinions” carry as much water as my grandmother’s depends. You are grouping a whole race of people based on, what? Your neighborhood? Don’t you think that’s a little close minded? ---
**Author:** ![magog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@magog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magog)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/182 "2003-01-26T17:34:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \* > If I only have time to see one of two applicants with equal resumes, and one is black ,one is white, it’s a great reason to disqualify the one who is black. To put it bluntly, this practice is illegal in the US (with some exceptions which vary from state to state - I think in California you need to employ at least 15 people or something like that). You need to find some non-racial method to distinguish the applicants, or show a non-biased way to choose applicants (flip a coin, call both and see who calls first, etc.). Cite: [http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/2000e-2.html](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/2000e-2.html) Morally, how would you like to be treated like this? Judged not by your actions, but by something you have no control over? Because that is what you are doing - judging someone not on his/her actions (and you admit that there can be African-Americans that can be “one of the good ones”) but on their names. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/183 "2003-01-27T04:01:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Morally, how would you like to be treated like this? Judged not by your actions, but by something you have no control over? I explained this earlier when I wrote of my eperiences when I was a young man with long hair. Read again if you need to. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/184 "2003-01-27T04:09:00Z")
X-ray: you had no control over your long hair…? ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/185 "2003-01-27T06:13:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Mace \* > \*\*X-ray: you had no control over your long hair…? \*\* 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/186 "2003-01-28T00:52:51Z")
Of course I did, but at the time I really didn’t want to cut it. The point isn’t that I can cut my hair, but black people can’t change thier skin color. The point is if you belong to a group (by choice or not) and that group is known for certain traits, expect to be pre-judged. Now if you’re reading this and you’re thinking your to good to be like that, I think you’re full of it. All of us pre-judge people all the time based on stereotypes, and it is because alot of stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. The reason isn’t because some ignorant fool made it up; the reason is because different groups of people behave differently. Does anyone think all cultures behave the same as the next? Please. Of course they don’t. Does this mean all Jews are cheap? No, of course not. All blacks lazy? No. But from what I’ve seen in all the years I’ve been alive (and like I’ve said, many, many other people who I’ve talked to) is that blacks on the whole are lazier and less motivated than whites. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/187 "2003-01-28T01:18:58Z")
Who do you think you’re schooling? Not a black person born in this country doesn’t know that people will unfairly prejudge them. We are taught that the moment we step out into the world and some ignorant ass calls us a “nigger”. But strangely, I don’t think white people are given this same lesson. I wonder what would make me think this. Good people know that prejudging people is bad, even though it may or may not be “natural”. Fools don’t see this. Even bigger fools prejudge people and act on it. The biggest fools base their actions on prejudice and try to justify it by saying “everybody does it”. The whole world knows which group you belong to, **x-ray**. I wonder if you do. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/188 "2003-01-28T03:16:43Z")
That grouping would be called **everyone**. We all do it. Most people just don’t want to admit it, even to themselves. ---
**Author:** ![magog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@magog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magog)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/189 "2003-01-28T05:10:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \* > That grouping would be called **everyone**. We all do it. Most people just don’t want to admit it, even to themselves. Well, duh. First, again, this is illegal. If you’d be kind to enough to verify that, yes, you’ve discriminated because of race, then there’ll be a few guys in Armani suits who’d be happy to talk with you. Second, there’s a difference between having thoughts and acting on those thoughts. Third, there **is** a difference between cultural groups you willingly join and cultural groups that you are forced to join. In other words, if you dress as goth, that’s a group you willingly choose. Race, gender, and orientation aren’t willingly chosen. And finally, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. By focusing on race and ignoring the really important things (like work ethic, skills, etc.), you are limiting your business. ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/190 "2003-01-28T05:19:35Z")
\>We are taught that the moment we step out into the world and some ignorant ass calls us a “nigger”.\< Gee, I learned from experience that the moment I step out the front door, some ignorant “nigger” will act like an asshole. Maybe it’s just Philadelphia. Of course, the “white trash” act the same way. You have to take people one at a time, as individuals. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/191 "2003-01-28T12:52:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monstro \* > \*\*Good people know that prejudging people is bad, even though it may or may not be “natural”. Fools don’t see this. Even bigger fools prejudge people and act on it. The biggest fools base their actions on prejudice and try to justify it by saying “everybody does it”. The whole world knows which group you belong to, **x-ray**. I wonder if you do. \*\* I totally agree Monstro. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/192 "2003-01-28T12:58:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by x-ray vision \* > \*\*That grouping would be called **everyone**. We all do it. Most people just don’t want to admit it, even to themselves. \*\* I would say that everyone prejudges people. That does not mean that everyone prejudges people on race, or that everyone acts on it. You seem to think that it’s alright to have prejudices. I don’t think it is, and I have made efforts to try to eliminate my own prejudices. You do not seem to be making a similar effort. It would appear that you seem to think it’s okay for you to discriminate people based on your inadequate knowledge of “race”. You know, race is more of an artificial term than you seem to give it credit for. I find it very ignorant to group “most” of one type of people (in this case, race) into a category. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857/193 "2003-01-28T13:01:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mothchunks \* > \*\*\>We are taught that the moment we step out into the world and some ignorant ass calls us a “nigger”.\< > > Gee, I learned from experience that the moment I step out the front door, some ignorant “nigger” will act like an asshole. Maybe it’s just Philadelphia. Of course, the “white trash” act the same way. You have to take people one at a time, as individuals. \*\* I think you missed **Monstro’s** point. Not to mention you are filling in his paragraph with your own preconceived notions. **Monstro** did not mention “white trash”, nor did he elude to a specific race. IMO, **Monstro’s** point was that, as an African-American, experiencing prejudice and hearing “nigger” are an unfortunately all-to-common experience. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-against-ghetto-dwellers/150857.md?page=9)