# What do you think of interracial couples? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331 "2012-11-28T01:55:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/301 "2012-12-12T00:34:37Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > Which particular group do you belong to? Prefer not to say. > [@](#): > > How do you plan on preserving its identity in an American context? (1) Marriage with an individual from the same group; (2) Attempting to instill a sense of identity in any sons or daughters resulting from said marriage. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/302 "2012-12-12T00:42:03Z")
I’ll try a third time to ask **brazil84** my questions: Do you believe interracial marriage is morally wrong, or is it just an aesthetic preference for you? If you believe it’s morally wrong, do you believe it should be illegal? ---
**Author:** ![taskmgr.exe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@taskmgr.exe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taskmgr.exe)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/303 "2012-12-12T19:06:42Z")
@ **brazil84** , Even tough I voted “Yay! Cross-cultural acceptance!”, I liked the way you defended your opinion. And I think you have got a point. **Skald the Rhymer** just tried to deviate the argument. And people who are “trying” to debate with him is doing nothing more than forcing him to make a mistake which will cause him to be regarded as _racist_. There are interracial couples. There was interracial couples in the past. And, there will definitely be interracial couples in the future. Everyone will prefer what they like. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/304 "2012-12-12T19:43:39Z")
> [@taskmgr.exe](#): > > And people who are “trying” to debate with him is doing nothing more than forcing him to make a mistake which will cause him to be regarded as _racist_. Imagine thinking someone who wants to preserve the white race and who thinks that some races are superior to others is a racist. The nerve! ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/305 "2012-12-13T01:55:16Z")
> [@taskmgr.exe](#): > > @ **brazil84** , > > Even tough I voted “Yay! Cross-cultural acceptance!”, I liked the way you defended your opinion. And I think you have got a point. Thank you! By the way, I don’t care if people in this thread call me “racist” so long as they are clear and principled about their definition of racism. My views are what they are. By some definitions of racism, I would be considered racist. I do object if people misrepresent my position. For example, I did not assert that one race was superior to another. To make that kind of claim of superiority, you first need to specify criteria for ascertaining who or what is considered superior. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/306 "2012-12-13T03:15:54Z")
Yeah, we’ve been through that minefield of cow pies. The “dumber” race isn’t inferior because who knows? They might have an advantage in a dance or slam-dunk contest. I’m ready to lay my life savings on which race— and which advantage— you claim as your own, and why you’re so invested in keeping membership exclusive. Guess what: things aren’t going your way. Quite the opposite, in fact. Bet that _really_ eats at you. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/307 "2012-12-13T04:43:07Z")
> [@taskmgr.exe](#): > > I liked the way you defended your opinion. And I think you have got a point. **Skald the Rhymer** just tried to deviate the argument. Skald’s argument centers on the idea that there is no biological context for race (outside of the fact that we’re all human), though I think for arguments sake, it’s better served by reshaping and reestablishing parts of the discussion. However, to be fair, I don’t think it deviates from the topic, when compared to quotes like the one below: [ul] [li]_ **“In the Polar Bear example, one can imagine a situation a few generations before Polar Bears are completely assimilated and disappear. At that time, there will be a small number of Polar Bears; a large number of Brown Bears; and a medium number of mixed Bears. In your view, does that situation have more “actual diversity” than a situation where Brown Bears and Polar Bears are distinct, separate groups?”** _[/li][/ul] ^^ C’mon. 🙂 > [@](#): > > And people who are “trying” to debate with him is doing nothing more than forcing him to make a mistake which will cause him to be regarded as _racist_. We’re certainly not _forcing_ him to make “a mistake” (after all, his position is a preference, and that’s been my understanding). The problem is that there isn’t sound logic behind his reasoning; in itself, it’s not bolstered well by “counter-questioning” (in place of analytical discussion), because it eventually serves as a deflection. Then there is the problem of consistency. [ul] [li]_**“FWIW I disapprove of interracial couples. I see value in having a diversity of races and ethnic groups and interracial mating undermines that value.” […] “The value is that I like it.”**_[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]_ **“If somebody wants to make an argument rejecting racial distinctions, then they need to be explicit about their criteria for accepting or rejecting distinctions in general. Otherwise, they are just engaged in emotion-driven special pleading.”** _[/li][/ul] If we parse meaning from the second quote, and apply to the first, his stance falls into the category of _“emotion-driven special pleading”_. This is why support for his argument turns circular and comes across as bigoted (which he acknowledges, isn’t outside the realm of his ideas). ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/308 "2012-12-13T04:55:07Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > Me too. Early on in our relationship I had several acquaintances inquire what she was like. Were there any weird cultural things, what holidays do we celebrate, so on and so forth. They were usually pretty disappointed to discover there was zero cultural divide as her adoptive parents were of the same race and culture as me and my these acquaintances. 😕 Reaffirms my observations…most of the IR couples I knew, broke up. One, a female classmate, who was and still is IR marriage, wanted to have an affair with me, which nixes the old saying. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/309 "2012-12-13T05:20:32Z")
> [@cougar58](#): > > Reaffirms my observations…most of the IR couples I knew, broke up. One, a female classmate, who was and still is IR marriage, wanted to have an affair with me, which nixes the old saying. Well, most of the interracial couples I know are happily married with kids. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/310 "2012-12-13T05:41:39Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > Well, most of the interracial couples I know are happily married with kids. My classmate has kids, and as far as her IR husband knows, is happily married Another couple in florida, he was one of my best friends, but cheated on her every chance he got…this guy was a magnet…and he always went for white women. I just found out this month they divorced. He was the life of any party…easily could have made it big in Hollywood…semi pro singer and dancer, quite the conversationalist. And the young pretty girl i mentioned in another OP that im dating from Chicago…shes white, had 2 girls, from 2 black guys, only one married her…now divorced. By the way i was amazed to hear her say she hates obama and voted for mitt. In fact, right now, i know of no IRs that are still happily together, if they are at all. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/311 "2012-12-13T05:54:00Z")
> [@cougar58](#): > > My classmate has kids, and as far as her IR husband knows, is happily married > > Another couple in florida, he was one of my best friends, but cheated on her every chance he got…this guy was a magnet…and he always went for white women. I just found out this month they divorced. He was the life of any party…easily could have made it big in Hollywood…semi pro singer and dancer, quite the conversationalist. > > And the young pretty girl i mentioned in another OP that im dating from Chicago…shes white, had 2 girls, from 2 black guys, only one married her…now divorced. By the way i was amazed to hear her say she hates obama and voted for mitt. > > In fact, right now, i know of no IRs that are still happily together, if they are at all. So what? Does your limited personal experience lead you to believe that interracial couples are all doomed to failure? ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/312 "2012-12-13T06:17:09Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > So what? Does your limited personal experience lead you to believe that interracial couples are all doomed to failure? Each were in different states, different circumstances, albeit a small sampling size, …but then, so are the Neillson Ratings. However, i do know one odd IR couple, still going at it, in a way…she was married to white guy #1, while banging the black guy…divorced #1, married white guy #2, and is still having the affair with the black guy…she now has a 2 yr old from #2…my family has known her for yrs, in person she and i act as if we are strangers…but on facebook private msgs, she has been confiding in me for 5 yrs, thru it all, including her having an affair with a white woman…she finally asked me this month when we were going to get together…so yeh, i guess you could say they have stayed together as an IR couple all these years…ps, no i haven’t…call me old school, but i am still in shock from her asking me. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/313 "2012-12-13T06:34:01Z")
> [@cougar58](#): > > Each were in different states, different circumstances, albeit a small sampling size, …but then, so are the Neillson Ratings. I hardly think that the number of people you know is comparable to the number of people polled for Nielsen ratings. The fact that you know a lot of unhappy interracial couples doesn’t mean anything beyond the fact that you know a lot of unhappy interracial couples. I’m sure other people would say they know a lot of happy interracial couples. Interracial couples don’t all deal with the same kinds of problems. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/314 "2012-12-13T10:10:11Z")
> [@cougar58](#): > > Reaffirms my observations…most of the IR couples I knew, broke up. One, a female classmate, who was and still is IR marriage, wanted to have an affair with me, which nixes the old saying. Statistically, black woman/white man couples are _significantly less_ likely to divorce than single race white couples. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/315 "2012-12-13T14:02:56Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > The fact that you know a lot of unhappy interracial couples doesn’t mean anything beyond the fact that you know a lot of unhappy interracial couples. I’m sure other people would say they know a lot of happy interracial couples. Interracial couples don’t all deal with the same kinds of problems. I’d have to agree. Last I read, the divorce rate in the US was as high as 50%? Regardless, not enough interracial married couples exist in this country, to account for a large portion of that number. Sounds like it greater reflects the social landscape, where people are being people, for any number of reasons. That said, I do think it’s fair to say that race (to include anything associated), can be a factor. I know of one couple in specific, who had some challenges related to their interpersonal relationship. In this occurrence, it was due to their families conflicting with each other (which in this example, was an extension of culture/faith). Their families inability to co-exist, lead to struggles for the two in the actual relationship, though to this day, they persevere. In fact, this more highlights what takes place when exploring cultural-shift; they’ve moved away from the more conservative ideas of their families, and sought to preserve those which benefited them and their child. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/316 "2012-12-13T15:58:56Z")
Doesn’t even ping my radar. Mind you, I think the UK is a lot less touchy about race than some areas. I don’t think inter-racial couples have been noteworthy in this country for as long as I can remember (say, since the 1980s at least). ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/317 "2012-12-13T16:40:05Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > What’s your group? How do you define its boundaries? > > And where do you live? Not Brazil, presumably, which is one of the most gloriously mixed nations on earth. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/318 "2012-12-13T16:46:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Statistically, black woman/white man couples are _significantly less_ likely to divorce than single race white couples. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/319 "2012-12-13T18:03:03Z")
> [@Invisible\_Chimp](#): > > Cite? I already did earlier in the thread, but [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interracial_marriage_in_the_United_States#Black_and_White) it is again. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331/320 "2012-12-13T18:52:47Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Doesn’t even ping my radar. Mind you, I think the UK is a lot less touchy about race than some areas. I don’t think inter-racial couples have been noteworthy in this country for as long as I can remember (say, since the 1980s at least). Yep. In South London where I live, interracial couples are ridiculously common (usually - but hardly exclusively - black male/white female). Nobody cares apart from the racist fringe, and nobody cares what the racist fringe think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-interracial-couples/642331.md?page=17)