# Is there a word for "falsely inferred prejudice or racism"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975 "2006-11-27T19:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/1 "2006-11-27T19:52:01Z")
I was sitting at my work cafeteria with a couple of friends about an hour ago, about to eat a personal pizza. As usual, I have to sprinkle on ample amounts of garlic powder and crushed red pepper. But these items were locked up and the cafeteria manager with the keys was still on vacation. So I was screwed. Then I looked over to the condiment counter and noticed a bottle of Sriracha Chili Sauce. I love that sauce and it actually works great as a pizza topping. So I squeezed a good amount onto my pizza. I came back to the table and one of my friends asked me what the hell was on my pizza. I told him it was Sriracha Chili Sauce. He had never heard of it. I was a bit surprised. I thought everyone had it in their homes. The other friend also loves the sauce and had it in his home. We were sitting immediately outside of the area where people pay for their food. So I proposed a bet that at least 50% of the next 10 people that we know would agree that they have the sauce in their homes. It wasn’t for money, just a gentlemen’s wager. I saw that my friend Helen was just coming out of line. So I asked her if she has the sauce at home. And she responds: “Why? Just because I’m Asian?” I should be clear that she wasn’t serious, and that it was all in jest. But knowing her pretty well, I think that she would take offense if a complete stranger asked her that. But there was no prejudice. She just happened to be the next person I knew on line. Is there a term to describe this incorrect assumption? By the way, Helen had the sauce at home. But she was the last person that we polled, since the conversation turned to a discussion about whether there was a term for “falsely inferred prejudice”. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/2 "2006-11-27T19:58:46Z")
Asshole? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/3 "2006-11-27T20:12:07Z")
“Umbrage” is pretty close to the word you want. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/4 "2006-11-27T20:13:36Z")
[QUOTE=Jackknifed Juggernaut] I told him it was Sriracha Chili Sauce. He had never heard of it. I was a bit surprised. I thought everyone had it in their homes. The other friend also loves the sauce and had it in his home. [/QUOTE] One more thing – where do you live? I’ve never heard of that sauce here in SE Louisiana. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/5 "2006-11-27T20:16:04Z")
How about “racisn’t”. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/6 "2006-11-27T20:17:06Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] One more thing – where do you live? I’ve never heard of that sauce here in SE Louisiana. [/QUOTE] I’m in New Jersey. My guess is that in Louisiana, you probably have numerous home grown substitutes. Please see this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=397852) . ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/7 "2006-11-27T20:34:00Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] “Umbrage” is pretty close to the word you want. [/QUOTE] This is as close as I could think of. It’s offense at a perceived (rather than real) insult or slight. Aside from it not being race-specific, it’s exactly what the OP wants. How about “melanumbrage?” ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/8 "2006-11-27T20:44:08Z")
It seems kind of similar to “playing the race card”. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/9 "2006-11-27T20:46:15Z")
[QUOTE=Jackknifed Juggernaut] I’m in New Jersey. My guess is that in Louisiana, you probably have numerous home grown substitutes. Please see this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=397852) . [/QUOTE] You’ve got me curious … I’m going to look for that Sriracha Chili Sauce in the local groceries. Just want to see if it’s even available around here. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/10 "2006-11-27T21:15:51Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] You’ve got me curious … I’m going to look for that Sriracha Chili Sauce in the local groceries. Just want to see if it’s even available around here. [/QUOTE] It’s really good, and pretty different from the typical Louisiana (cayenne + vinegar) or Mexican hot sauce. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/11 "2006-11-27T23:01:21Z")
But to the person it’s not false. How does that make them an asshole? ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/12 "2006-11-27T23:31:00Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] But to the person it’s not false. How does that make them an asshole? [/QUOTE] Maybe the person looks for occasion to be offended. That’s one of the biggest possible asshole qualities in my book. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/13 "2006-11-27T23:42:21Z")
[QUOTE=Shalmanese] It seems kind of similar to “playing the race card”. [/QUOTE] I’d say that’s [spot on](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=race+card) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/14 "2006-11-28T03:07:38Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] You’ve got me curious … I’m going to look for that Sriracha Chili Sauce in the local groceries. Just want to see if it’s even available around here. [/QUOTE] Or order online from the [source](http://www.huyfong.com/no_frames/sriracha.htm). **gigi** There is a group of people out there that will take offence at any question or remark someone makes. Making a question about ownership of Chili sauce into a racist rant is assholish IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/15 "2006-11-28T03:25:26Z")
By the way, I seriously doubt you would have won your bet. Don’t know how to demonstrate it though… -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/16 "2006-11-28T03:32:20Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] It’s really good, and pretty different from the typical Louisiana (cayenne + vinegar) or Mexican hot sauce. [/QUOTE] Is that the stuff with the rooster on the bottle? I have some friends who just call that ‘Rooster Sauce’. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/17 "2006-11-28T04:02:14Z")
Clear bottle, green cap, rooster. That’s the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/18 "2006-11-28T04:32:59Z")
[QUOTE=The Sonoran Lizard King] Is that the stuff with the rooster on the bottle? I have some friends who just call that ‘Rooster Sauce’. [/QUOTE] Heh. My friends and I always jokingly referred to it as “Cock Sauce”. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/19 "2006-11-28T12:57:46Z")
You’re talking about the type of person who can see racist undertones in even the most innocent comment or situation, right? I agree that “playing the race card” describes such a person, although “asshole” is a perfectly valid description too 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975/20 "2006-11-28T13:29:49Z")
But how do they know it’s innocent? There’s no way to know if it’s falsely inferred, since the original commentor can play it off as innocent whether it was or not. I can’t blame people for being vigilant when there is real prejudice out there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-falsely-inferred-prejudice-or-racism/381975.md?page=2)