Sure they do. That’s what makes them heterosexuals: not being attracted to people of their same gender. That’s the definition of the word. Just like the definition of the term “prejudiced against other races” involves “considering other races unattractive”.
That’s- that’s the thing with words. they have meanings. That’s what we are discussing here.
There’s a big difference between considering someone unattractive in general, and just not being attracted to them personally. Do you really not get that?
There are plenty of white guys I wouldn’t date who I consider more attractive than black guys I would date. So what now?
Then you are making a general judgement about those white guys based on their race. And it is your right, but that’s still what being prejudiced means. That’s what the word means.
They do and they don’t. People can and do point out attractive members of their own gender, all the time.
Not being sexually attracted, is what makes a person heterosexual, in your example.
Also, I think there are a few other things you have to account for, before you call an opinion of someone prejudiced. If you find someone unattractive, in itself, that’s not what I would called prejudiced-- you’re observing their outward appearance, and from what you see, you don’t like it. There isn’t much depth to outward appearances, and so aside from changing their clothes and combing their hair, you can determine within good reason if you’re attracted to this person, physically, or not.
Now if you decide that because they’re unattractive physically, that by extension they must also lack personality, and thus aren’t worth talking to, then you’re passing a judgement on something which you’ve had no experience with, and so that more closely fits the definition of the word.
In many cases they can go hand-in-hand, but it’s not a circumstance where prejudice is proven 100% of the time. It really depends on the social setting and environment, etc. There are legitimate distinctions.
Yeah, obviously sexual attraction was the point.
Again, the context of the thread is racism, therefore prejudice against whole subsets of people who share racial features. If you want to add the word prejudice to opinions about individuals, this discussion will never get anywhere.
The way the question was worded, it wasn’t obvious. If your sexual orientation is already heterosexual, why would OleOneEye then ask if members of the same sex can find each other attractive?
I read it as more of a rhetorical question (though he/she can correct me if I’m wrong). Does the exclusion of a gender, based strictly on sexual attraction, qualify as prejudice? Would the same hold true for race, in place of gender? If so, how are we defining prejudice, as opposed to a preference?
That last question is key and lends to whether or not we are leaning towards racism.
Respectfully, this doesn’t address what I’ve stated. I’m not questioning the link between prejudice ideas against subsets of people, ultimately defined as racism. I’m questioning the difference between a preference and prejudice, since the former doesn’t necessarily exclude subsets of people, in the way you’re labeling it. I used an individual POV as an example, in order to illustrate that point.
In my first example, the appeal of a person both started and stopped at the physical, outward appearance. That, to me, is fine and normal, because you’re only judging what you’re able to observe.
In the second example, it took the physical, outward appearance and used it to also assume/associate other attributes and qualities about the person. That, to me, is irrational, and thus, in line with prejudice. By this logic, depending on the motivations, it can be one of the blocks of racism.
In short, the thread topic doesn’t have a simple answer. We’d have to really overextend the meaning of some words, to give it one.
I voted no, but it’s not quite that specific. Personally, I find some races more or less attractive, but it’s not because of the race itself, per se, but rather certain features that tend to be more prominent. In that sense, its not any different that prefering blondes over brunettes, taller people over shorter people or whatever. So, really, for me at least, it’s not even race at all, it’s just the features I prefer and then noticing a pattern to those features. Also, precisely for those reasons, even of races I’ve found have that pattern of not having features I find attractive, there are plenty of examples of women that I do find attractive.
What makes it racist, in my opinion, is if one might find someone attractive but specifically denies it because of their race or specifically seeking out someone of a certain race, perhaps because one assumes they all have certain personality traits. Both of those are racist rather than preferences precisely because the basis of the logic falls back on their race specifically, rather than just particular features.
If you are attracted to specific features, that’s just a normal preference. But there are very few features that can only be found in one race- for example, if you like slim, medium light skinned people with epicanthal folds, you can find that in East Asia, but you can also occassionally find Native Americans, Latinos, white people and black people with those features. If you would date one of those but not the rest, that’s a little hinky because then it does become about the race rather than the features.
That works if you like “medium” features. If you like translucent-skinned redheads, you like white people, not people of any race who happen to have those features.
Albinos.
That can be BASED ON racism but in itself is not. If I only want to grow plants with flowers does it mean I hate plants without flowers?
In this case, both are the same type of plant, it’s just that you like a shade of the flower’s colour over any other shade.
Please tell me you’re kidding.
And? What is the appropriate non-hinky way to handle the situation - how should this impact dating choices?
And is it just as hinky to turn down a tomboy that meets your other criteria if you’re into guys?
But that’s the point: heterosexuals don’t date other genders than the opposite gender not because they are interested in some sort of criteria mostly associated with one gender, but because of the one single fact that the people they are attracted to are part of said gender.
Just like racists don’t date outside their race just because they happen to like some random feature or other, but because of the race.
Whether you want to classify heterosexuality or racism as hinky or not, that’s up to you. That still doesn’t make it the same thing.
I dunno- some honest introspection? At least being quiet about your prejudice in polite company?
Again, I am referring to situations where you are actually attracted to someone, but would “lose” that attraction or refuse to date them if you found they weren’t the race you were expecting.
But the question wasn’t whether it’s polite to advertise that you won’t date blacks, or whatever, but whether it’s racist not to be attracted to people of certain races. We’re talking about the most private of decisions.
Is there much utility in introspecting on why you’re not attracted to someone? I still don’t understand what the goal is. It seems inescapable that people are supposed to reason themselves into being attracted to someone. There’s a lot of people in the world - it would be easier just to find one you feel comfortable with, that you don’t have to talk yourself into liking.
But gender is associated with certain traits and behaviors that can be found in both sexes. I really don’t think gender is as different from race as you do.
And race has huge cultural implications that have nothing to do with the belief that races are superior or inferior. For example, my partner often defers to my judgment on certain matters. But he’s the same race as me; if he were black, I’d always be wondering if he felt in a one-down position from me. I don’t think I could ever be completely comfortable around a black man - I’d always be aware that they used to hang from trees for looking at white women. That’s a huge responsibility that I just don’t want in my private life.
what the fuck.
An albino will meet the “translucent-skinned” part but not the “redhead” one, except with assistance from Clairol.