# Racial discrimination? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571 "2012-12-30T15:11:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/21 "2013-01-01T22:15:27Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > Jesus, I never thought of that, but duh! If I’m a racist, I assume they’re thieves. Hell no do they get a seat close to the door, in an empty section! However, do note that prior to the arrival of these black customers, all PREVIOUS (white) customers had been seated far from the door, so as someone participating in racist discrimination versus black people I can clearly not trust them to disrupt my more preferred customer’s dining experience, and I will seat them as far from my other diners as possible. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/22 "2013-01-01T22:30:07Z")
On a second reading…“we noticed two very tall and burly, young-looking African American males entering the establishment. (I personally did not perceive their appearance as potentially dangerous in any way, but then again, what do I really really about that?–just an observation.)” > [@](#): > > “Very tall and burly, young-looking African American males…” Who actually speaks like that?` ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/23 "2013-01-01T22:55:49Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Who actually speaks like that?` The burly part threw me off a little. Did they look like lumberjacks? Because only lumberjack-looking men can rightfully be described as burly. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/24 "2013-01-01T23:31:38Z")
i don’t see it as racial discrimination to seat them near the door. it shows they didn’t suspect a ‘dine and dash’. ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/25 "2013-01-01T23:33:43Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Yes. It is racial discrimination. You obviously have problems with the European-American community, in that you are troubled with them being ‘lily-white’, or having a culture that isn’t to your liking. Have you considered that they may have had a reason, or a thousand reasons, other than some ingrained bigotry? Actually, no, I myself am about as lily-white as they come and I really don’t have any problems with the European-American community. After having read the response to this thread, I have been dispelled of my ignorance of misinterpreting this situation and am grateful of that. I read much too much into what I perceived but have learned my lesson. Buds? ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/26 "2013-01-01T23:35:34Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > On a second reading…“we noticed two very tall and burly, young-looking African American males entering the establishment. (I personally did not perceive their appearance as potentially dangerous in any way, but then again, what do I really really about that?–just an observation.)” > > Who actually speaks like that?` Well, I personally don’t speak like that but I do write like that on occasion. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/27 "2013-01-01T23:37:05Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Truly I don’t see that there’s any way to determine whether the restaurant employee had either conscious or unconscious discriminatory motives for seating those guys near the door. (Which is not necessarily a bad place to sit; I’m white and it wouldn’t bother me. And if it did and if there were other options, I’d make sure I was seated where I wanted to be.) Not without interrogating the employee, anyway. agreed ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/28 "2013-01-01T23:38:08Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > The burly part threw me off a little. Did they look like lumberjacks? Because only lumberjack-looking men can rightfully be described as burly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/29 "2013-01-02T00:17:31Z")
> [@Hilary\_Algar](#): > > Actually, no, I myself am about as lily-white as they come and I really don’t have any problems with the European-American community. > > After having read the response to this thread, I have been dispelled of my ignorance of misinterpreting this situation and am grateful of that. I read much too much into what I perceived but have learned my lesson. > > Buds? Aw… I wanted to go a few more cycles through the _Princess Bride_ conversation. But, okay, I guess. _mutters_ ---
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/30 "2013-01-02T01:12:10Z")
This thread ain’t over until the MeanOldLady sings. Also…paging monstro, you with a face, and Nsinger Saeed for their input. Haha, I’m joking. God knows if that was racial discrimination or not. Table sections can be arranged in all kinds of strange ways that may appear totally illogical to guests. On the other hand, remember that the restaurant industry is the same industry that has a code name for blacks…Canadians. I would not be surprised to hear about any instances of racial discrimination in restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/31 "2013-01-02T08:02:59Z")
> [@Hilary\_Algar](#): > > Actually, no, I myself am about as lily-white as they come and I really don’t have any problems with the European-American community. > > After having read the response to this thread, I have been dispelled of my ignorance of misinterpreting this situation and am grateful of that. I read much too much into what I perceived but have learned my lesson. > > Buds? Count on it! 😃 BTW, while I was at work, I thought 'They may have asked the manager “Hey, can you seat us at the best place to see the white women coming in?” ’ I like my brain. It keeps me amused. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/32 "2013-01-02T09:05:13Z")
I guess it’s also possible that they may have had a reservation (which may, or may not have specific seating policies) or they may be regulars and it’s understood that particular booth is their preferred table? It is also not beyond the bounds of possibilities that there is some sort of policy at the restaurant that young guys in general are seated away from families? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/33 "2013-01-02T13:53:16Z")
Nearly twenty years ago, myself, three Anglo-Jamaicans and our two (white) American drivers stopped at a Dennys in Arizona. We were told by the woman who presumably ran the place that it was closed, due to the cookers being broken, though we could see food still being served. My response of "If we leave _them_ on the bus can _we_ come in was met with a frosty stare. ---
**Author:** ![Saraya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Saraya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saraya)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/34 "2013-01-02T16:36:22Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > Stop concerning yourself with imagined slights toward people you don’t even know, and just live your life. No..you mean… no…no you couldn’t mean.. no I just can’t believe you mean… MINDING YOUR OWN FU\*\*ING BUSINESS? :GASP: Really what would white apologist liberals do all day besides watch the Rosie show? Come on now..use your head. > [@mascaroni](#): > > Nearly twenty years ago, myself, three Anglo-Jamaicans and our two (white) American drivers stopped at a Dennys in Arizona. We were told by the woman who presumably ran the place that it was closed, due to the cookers being broken, though we could see food still being served. My response of "If we leave _them_ on the bus can _we_ come in was met with a frosty stare. Cute. I was in a movie once with some black kid I knew. The film was showing some savages running around doing savage stuff. I assumed they were speaking savage (for whatever language that is). I turned to the kid and said ‘hey what are they saying’ (I didn’t even think about what I was saying). He laughed really loud and said ‘chickee I have no idea.. I don’t speak Swahili or whatever savage shit they’re sayin’ For years afterwards we always called it ‘savage shit’ when people spoke something we don’t understand… good times. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/35 "2013-01-02T16:57:18Z")
> [@Saraya](#): > > No..you mean… no…no you couldn’t mean.. no I just can’t believe you mean… MINDING YOUR OWN FU\*\*ING BUSINESS? > > :GASP: > > Really what would white apologist liberals do all day besides watch the Rosie show? > Come on now..use your head. We’ve exceeded our quota of jerks for the year, so knock it off. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/36 "2013-01-02T17:02:03Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > We’ve exceeded our quota of jerks for the year We work fast around here! ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571/37 "2013-01-02T17:43:54Z")
Sounds like they were more concerned with how quickly they were seated than where they were seated _shrug_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-discrimination/645571.md?page=1)