I dont mean to be funny but...
I'm not racist...i have a black friend
lol why do people say these things at the beggining of a sentence and then go on an say what they wanted anyway...is it to make them feel better?
Or even this one "You dont mind me asking but..."
without the person even hving a chance to say...yes i do mind you asking
2007-09-24 08:50:25 · 31 answers · asked by Northville07 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
they are racist
2007-09-24 08:54:28 · answer #1 · answered by Maxi Robespierre 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Sometimes when people start a sentence with "I'm not a racist, but ..." it means they actually are a racist and they're saying it to make themselves feel better, as you suggest. However, sometimes it does not. Sometimes it may be that they realize something they are about to say might SOUND racist to some people, but it not actually be so.
Therefore, I would suggest that you take a person at their word: if they say they're not a racist assume that they are not, until you have reason to think otherwise. Usually you can tell within a sentence or two.
2007-09-24 08:56:51 · answer #2 · answered by Gary B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree completely with Willsy - some people want to express an opinion about a person but are worried it will sound racist purely because they are not white.
We dare not have an opinion about anyone coloured because any comment we have people can call racist even if the comment is not stereotyping a race and is purely an observation of the way someone behaves.
eg. Am I allowed to complain that Indian call centers can be frustrating when you have a complaint. - The language barrier can make repeating yourself over and over again very frustrating when you are already wound up!!!
To me that is not racist... but I would be scared to say this in case someone jumped down my throat.
2007-09-28 00:17:34 · answer #3 · answered by trishaxolotl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What they mean is "I am not being funny(not being racist)but I am about to say something that is going to offend you".Happens everytime.I am amother of mixed race children and when i hear that i will not allow the person to continue.If they insist then go on to make a racist comment they never get a second chance with me.They are outa here.It never ceases to amaze me how people feel it's okay to be racist to me because i am white.I defend my children against racism all the time.The worse one's are those that spout racism not realising my children are mixed race then try to redeem themselves by making stupid statements such as "my neighbour is black and they are lovely" or "Aren't black people good dancers"Cringeworthy or what!.They never know when to quit.Keep digging i say and soon the hole will be big enough for them to fall in.
2007-09-24 09:16:25 · answer #4 · answered by Niamh 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it is because people are so afraid to make an opinion on anything as you are then accused of being racist, rude etc. People have to stop being so p.c. and just say what they want to. It is actually possible to have an opinion on another race without being a paid up member of the BNP, others have to be less sensitive to other points of view.
2007-09-24 09:31:49 · answer #5 · answered by willsy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes they feel they are on slippy ground and for good reason or no reason at all they are asking a quuestion with which they do not wish to offend but ae concerned that inadvertantly they may do so.
Actuall most times pepole are reasonably tolerant of what appears to be to them anyway a stupis question
2007-09-24 10:56:08 · answer #6 · answered by Scouse 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You missed the best one - being Jewish I've had this said to me hundreds of times -
"Some of my best friends are Jewish " or even worse, if they have said something racist about the Jews and I then tell them that I am one, I get a "Oh - but you're different!"
I always have great pleasure in telling them "Oh, I can assure you I'm not - or at least I hope I'm not"
2007-09-24 09:00:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hear the phrase "I'm not racist, but..." every day. I work for a company that works closely with Indian call centres and people always have to protect themselves with that statement before they whinge royally about the incompetence they claim they experience with Indian call centres.
I speak to my Indian colleagues every day and find them to be every bit as competent as myself and my colleagues in the UK. It makes me feel ashamed to be British sometimes.
2007-09-26 09:26:09 · answer #8 · answered by cara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question !
Because they KNOW, that what ever they are going to say, may well cause offence, and they are preparing the ground to give it anyway. We have all done it at some time or other.
2007-09-24 09:16:16 · answer #9 · answered by SUPER-GLITCH 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure what your question is but people say those things so its more acceptable to ask the question. If you dont want to answer, then don't.
2007-09-24 08:55:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love you BUT i don't like you
I don't mean to offend you BUT you stink
I think thats a good idea BUT i'm gonna do it my way
a general rule of thumb...in a situation like that everything before the "but" is a lie.
2007-09-24 09:02:57 · answer #11 · answered by kellyoribine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋