# Is it racist to not be attracted to people of different races? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726 "2013-09-26T15:18:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/21 "2013-09-26T16:29:11Z")
Perhaps you can launch a scientific societial method to alter people’s sexual drives. That always goes well. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/22 "2013-09-26T16:30:00Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m attracted to women regardless of their race. However, I’m _only_ attracted to women. Men do not arouse me at all. > > Am I sexist or homophobic? That makes you a sexist pig!! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/23 "2013-09-26T16:32:33Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > That makes you a sexist pig!! So are you referring to bacon now at the expense of ham? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/24 "2013-09-26T16:37:44Z")
Are there really (otherwise normal) people out there who aren’t attracted to specific races? As in, “there is not one single human being of that race I have ever been/will ever be attracted to”? I find that very hard to believe, and would consider a person making such a claim a racist. Sexual preferences are a different story (i.e. if a person is mostly attracted to black guys, but wouldn’t turn down a hunky Latino). I wouldn’t go around advertising those preferences, though; it seems tacky. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/25 "2013-09-26T16:42:52Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > But there are races for which I can count on one hand the number of men I’ve been sexually attracted to. Yeah, I count on one hand too when I see a woman I’m attracted to. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/26 "2013-09-26T16:47:46Z")
Every race has plenty of people one should find date-able. If not, the person is racist. To think of dating in terms of race n not people is racist. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/27 "2013-09-26T17:00:02Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Yeah, I count on one hand too when I see a woman I’m attracted to. Excellent.😃 ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/28 "2013-09-26T17:17:49Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I’m Mexican/Irish and was stabbed by my black/German ex-girlfriend. Which race should I blame? That’s a no brainer. Obviously the English. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/29 "2013-09-26T17:27:35Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I think if you are never attracted to anyone not of your race you might want to look at yourself a little bit. I think you raise a good point: there’s a difference between a _preference_ (such as preferring people of a particular race), and not being attracted at all to anyone of the “wrong” race. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/30 "2013-09-26T17:37:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m attracted to women regardless of their race. However, I’m _only_ attracted to women. Men do not arouse me at all. > > Am I sexist or homophobic? No, you’re in denial. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/31 "2013-09-26T18:53:54Z")
Having a preference is absolutely not racist. Putting “No blacks” or “whites only” on your personal ad for dating or hookups or whatever is absolutely racist and offensive, because you ARE actively denigrating someone by implying they are not good enough for you. Now if you say something like “I’m typically only attracted to hispanic and white men…” that’s one thing. It’s all about how you say it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/32 "2013-09-26T18:55:49Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Now if you say something like “I’m typically only attracted to hispanic and white men…” that’s one thing. > > It’s all about how you say it. Where’s all the white wimmin at? ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/33 "2013-09-26T19:54:37Z")
What I dislike is when I indicate I’m seeking Asians, and I receive replies from East Indians, stating they are Asian. (Are they?) I am geographically retarded so I could be wrong in thinking they are not. That aside, when I say Asians, I mean the ones with light, hairless skin and slanted eyes. ---
**Author:** ![DeweyDecibel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DeweyDecibel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeweyDecibel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/34 "2013-09-26T19:59:44Z")
No. It’s racist to say that you **would never** date someone of another race. However, to say you’ve never been attracted to a black/white/asian/latino/whatever person, that’s just a preference. If you’re single and interested in dating, there’s always the possibility that you will meet a person of the race you aren’t normally attracted to and find that individual attractive. In that circumstance, to refuse to date them due to their race would be racist. I am white and have never dated a black man. I don’t generally find black men attractive, including celebrities who are know for their attractiveness. Idris Elba would be the exception here 😉 In real life, were I single I would certainly date a black man (or man of any race) if I found him attractive and he had the personality factors I look for. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/35 "2013-09-26T20:09:36Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Lol, what do you mean by “discriminatory?” This is a valid question, and I’m still unsure in what sense the OP really means ‘racist’. It’s a word that sounds like it would always be a bad thing, but why? And ‘discriminatory’ is worse still - I’m being discriminatory when I choose chocolate ice cream over vanilla (or vice versa). So… if ‘racist’ means ‘being discriminatory in an unacceptable way’, some people’s answers to the poll will be different than if it just means ‘discriminatory in the sense of expressing a preference’ ---
**Author:** ![DeweyDecibel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DeweyDecibel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeweyDecibel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/36 "2013-09-26T20:10:05Z")
Missed edit: Think of it this way. I’m brunette. If a man said didn’t want to date me because he wasn’t attracted to me, well that kind of sucks, but it’s life. That’s part of the whole dating game. But if he said he didn’t want to date me because he only dates blondes, I’d be pissed. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/37 "2013-09-26T20:11:58Z")
I discriminate against all women who don’t want to sleep with me. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/38 "2013-09-26T20:18:56Z")
> [@want2befree](#): > > What I dislike is when I indicate I’m seeking Asians, and I receive replies from East Indians, stating they are Asian. (Are they?) I am geographically retarded so I could be wrong in thinking they are not. That aside, when I say Asians, I mean the ones with light, hairless skin and slanted eyes. Of course we are Asian. :mad: :mad: :mad: Look at the subcontinent. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/39 "2013-09-26T20:43:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I discriminate against all women who don’t want to sleep with me. It’s not discrimination if it applies equally to everyone. (Just kidding!) ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726/40 "2013-09-26T20:49:44Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > It’s not discrimination if it applies equally to everyone. > > (Just kidding!) ZING! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-not-be-attracted-to-people-of-different-races/669726.md?page=3)