11 Nov 07
Been having an insane argument with a person on Flickr over a “racist” picture of me and Bronwen.
Are people really this asinine? I really don’t want to believe it, but it’s kinda hard when they repeatedly go beyond all sense of logic.
There goes my faith in humanity.
Please, please, please, let this be a joke.
>Are people really this asinine?
not usually in real life but with an anonymous online convenient vent space, an odd individual by moments.
I think this self-declared Asian lad is having a spout, looking for a bout, putting out bait. You’re right to call his overgeneralization of one instance to a poltical agenda of centuries for all moments of life, for all people of each categorical colors. It’s rot.
Fighting his gut fire with logic…well, may not go so great but I do like yr reasoning of by that logic of overextension, to not be demonstrably dating a man, makes a guy homophobic.
My initial instinct wasn’t this that person was looking for a fight, but has some kind of superiority complex, as he quickly wanted to point out how he had dated blacks and Latinas.
A Taoist saying is “modesty that parades purity isn’t genuine”, and it would appear that this person is trying to show off how “open-minded” he is by this action.
>Are people really this asinine?
Yes they are. I see it all the time, a lot of it over the Internet, but I see it in real life too.
They are thankfully a minority, the asinine folks that is. People are still totally worked up over interacial couples. That guy is a loser, and is taking out his frustrations on you because he can’t get his own white girl :p j/k
Hahahah…I like your jealousy theory. I guess I hang out with open-minded people so often (well…I try to at least), that it surprises me when bigotry rears it’s ugly head.
Funny dude. It must be a joke. Maybe it’s someone who knows you.
That’s the downside of living in Ottawa, I felt like I was so sheltered living in a place where open-mindedness is common and multiculturalism was promoted. It made me think that the world was progressing forward.
Boy was I in for a surprise when I moved to California… California of ALL places!
Pearl, that’s funny, I thought of the same thing as I was reading the post, about homophobia being inferred from not dating men.
I took the bait and responded. I can’t believe someone would make such an asinine comment. There was a lot more I wanted to write, but I know it could easily turn into an all-out flame war.
ah flamewars…, takes me back to usenet days where the countryside was littered with trolls and Billy Goat Gruff was King.
@Causalien — I agree that this person’s reasoning is so poor that it must be a joke. But I don’t know anyone whose English is so poor.
@Sophia — I guess you could say that the open-mindedness of Ottawa spoiled you! Admittedly, things like this take me by surprise too, because my friends (the circle I rarely venture out of) are so kind and generous, I expect everyone to be like them. Then I’m let down when I discover they’re the exception. I still see it as a good thing though.
@Jason — Yeah, I’ve decided that it’s best not to respond anymore because I said as much as I could. Obviously, it’s not getting through to this guy. Totally awesome rebuttal you made though.
@Pearl — Holy crap, I remember reading that story when I was younger, and I didn’t think of it until you mentioned it. Trolling behaviour would excuse this guy’s logic.
What is up with those Asians who are prejudiced against their own? That person was really ignorant.
When I was growing up in CA, I never encountered such stupidity.
I’m sorry you had to deal with him.
But I, however, over the last few weeks am probably one of the people that would make you lose faith in mankind. See my most recent post. I need some serious emotional/mental spanking into shape.
Step 1. Write him an apology note.
I thought your complete analysis and rebuttal is a waste of your time. However, I do understand why because of the same complete nonsense that was posted on my own blog. I am guilty too.
Maybe one day, I can be kind enough to forgive and try to help the person instead.
My analysis and rebuttal was an attempt to help the person (see the second last paragraph of my long comment). I don’t think that trying to enlighten someone, regardless of how little chance you have of changing them, is a waste of time.
At the very least, I can say that I tried to give someone a better, healthier way of seeing the world.
And I don’t need to forgive him cause there’s nothing to forgive. The guy didn’t do anything wrong. He simply has a different (albeit rather stupid) opinion.
Ah, I stopped reading after a few paragraphs so I get the impression that you were pissed.
Actually on later thought, I think i have the belief that logical rebuttals never work. Maybe the deed has to be done through the emotional side. Which leads to a new question. How best to enlighten people.