What are some questions about race that "society" says we shouldn't ask?

Question

Yesterday in my history class two of my female students were talking. One is a Black and one is Hispanic. They were not talking to me, but while taking role I overheard this interesting exchange. The Black student asked the Hispanic student why so many Mexican girls are named "Maria"? The Hispanic girl was stunned at this innocent question and told her she shouldn't ask that because it was racist. The Black girl wrinkled her nose and said, "It is? What is racist about asking that?" The Mexican girl was stumbling to explain how it was racist. She never could tell her.

Of course there was NOTHING racist in the least about that innocent question, but it got me to thinking. What are some legitimate questions about race that "society" says we shouldn't ask because they are improper, rude, or racist? I don't plan to answer these questions, I would just be curious (hence my name) about what some of these taboo questions are.

Answer 1

If you ask that question here in Mexico it would be a good question and an interesting one and of course it is not a racist question. I think that girl didn´t know why and she is very young, so that was the only answer that she had.

I can tell you why. But first, Maria is a nice name, but not so many girls here in Mexico have that name, there are so many names. Guadalupe virgin is also Maria virgin(Mary virgin) , the mother of God for catholic peple. In Mexico there are so many catholic people and they often go to church and prey and worship not only to God, but in a very special way to the virgin. So many times they choose Maria together with other name for their girls, they consider it a blessing and a privilege. Sometimes also when a mother thinks that her baby may die or be sick she prays and promise to the virgin that if she helps her baby, she will call the baby Maria or Guadalupe. Guadalupe is either a boy or girl name. So that´s why If you are a mexican mother you will think that Maria or Guadalupe could be a good name and one full of blessings and good things for your baby. (Some babies don´t think so when they grew up)

When people from other countries come here to Mexico I never expect that they will have the same way of doing things, so they sometimes do weird things or say something bad or dress funny.
And they ask questions about us or our country, but nobody is offended, some questions are weird but what can we expect if they don´t live in this country. If they say something wrong or offensive or bad, people have to understand that it could be normal in their country, so we have to explain that it´s not a good idea here. People who get offendef it´s because they have never been in another city or country and had never say something wrong for others.

I think is the way that you are asking what may be ofensive and not the question. Ask anything you want, just be polite.

I have a japanise friend, and I wanted to know why do japanise people like Jackie Chan movies so much, but I didn´t want to offend her, so I try to make my question in the better possible way. So I found out why and then I asked it to many asian people that I know. Nobody was offended, but the funny thing is that I got the same answer of all of them and they are not related.
I didn´t like Jackie Chan movies, but now, after asking I really like them.
I also want to know if european people don´t take a shower every day as we do, becasue that´s what we hear about them, but I haven´t find the way to ask it and don´t offend people

Answer 2

well it seems that comparisons of the average intelligence of each race is a good way to get the PC club on the head.

any sort of acknowledgment of a link place of birth/origin to crime is another .

those are the two big ones even if that person was looking at the subject without the slightness intent to cause trouble but instead was going about finding the answers in the most scientific manner possible the big PC club has come out and will come out
and bang the guy on the head

any question it seems that is why do .... people is a question that gets the PC club swinging even though the ask er hasn't the slightness prejudice bone in his body .

in time i think the PC club will be put away even burned as it has come to be a thing that is much similar to a witch hunt now.

Answer 3

My impression is that when people say that "society" tells them not to ask a question, they're just using that to preface a question that may be offensive.

It should be clear from this website that there are no questions that can't be asked and that aren't asked. Nothing is off limits. I think what people really are saying is not that certain questions shouldn't be asked, but that questions that may be offensive should be asked in as inoffensive a manner as possible if the purpose is really to garner information or exchange ideas and not simply to offend or smear.

In your example, if the black girl had said she noticed that many Mexican girls are named Maria just as many Italian women are and wondered whether it had anything to do with the their shared Catholic faith, since that name seems to be popular in groups that are Catholic, the question may not have seemed as offensive.

But any question that comes across as "why do you people do this or that" is much more likely to be perceived as offensive, if only because of its tone.

Answer 4

well all kinds of stuff offend us, i get offended when people ask me do i eat because im so skinny those kinds of questions are more rude than anything else in my eyes!!!!!

also maria is hispanic name thats like asking why are so many americans named ashley or britney, or why are so many white girls names ann marie or why black people have "ghetto" names

Answer 5

it'll have affected Jr , however hes a racer and is aware of the risk of the game that horrible tragedy will have to have given him motivation to win and bring on his dads identify, however to evaluate the careers of those two men isnt fairly reasonable Kyle remains to be alot more youthful than dale was once while he obtained into cup and can probally have alot extra years within the sequence so it wont fairly be a reasonable evaluation

Answer 6

Great insite! I think we have become so conditionally defensive in society because of all of the ignorance that exists. We are almost waiting for someone to insult us and our race and/or culture. Blacks are particularly defensive because of situations in American's history, and more recently I think Mexicans have become defensive because of their recent major immigration issues.

Answer 7

Actually, I really do want to know, why are so many Hispanic girls named Maria?

Answer 8

i think because we haven't had a real debate about how we perceive each other, that people get defensive or angry. because we haven't had experience in communicating with other groups openly, honestly, and respectfully

Answer 9

if you asked about the weather ,, some mexicans would call you a racist,

i live in so cal

Answer 10

Excuse me! I'm so sure that you have enough common sense to know what to ask and what not to ask! You didn't just crawl from up under a rock and I'm sure or hoping that your parents taught or at least discussed this topic with you at the dinner table. My Goodness! You see this is where I can't display patience! I have none anyway! But certain questions on this site is just too left field for me! Common Sense! Use Common Sense! And the rest will come easy!