# Characterizing arguments as racist - OK? If not, it should be

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characterizing-arguments-as-racist-ok-if-not-it-should-be/941527>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [May 6, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characterizing-arguments-as-racist-ok-if-not-it-should-be/941527 "2021-05-06T14:28:37Z")\
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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2021, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characterizing-arguments-as-racist-ok-if-not-it-should-be/941527/58 "2021-05-11T13:44:32Z")

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> [@UltraVires](#):
>
> My issue with “that argument is racist” is that it turns into a hijack.

Of course, it doesn’t have to. If I said something that I didn’t realize was racist (let’s say that I said, “wow, that eBay seller really gypped you”) and someone came in and said, "you know, that’s a pretty racist thing to say – it’s a derogatory reference to the Roma people, “gypsies”, it’s perfectly fine to just apologize (“wow! That connection never occurred to me. I won’t do it again”) and just move on.

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