White people: Are you purposely arrogant or oblivious to it?

Question

I am an American who has done alot of international traveling. I notice one thing for sure in every single country I have visited and lived in; White ppl from all over have a very arrogant ethnocentric attitude.
In the USA its obvious to any American, all over Africa Europeans demand 1st class status, and have forcibly put the native ppl in a 2nd class, in Australia the aborigines have been displaced, and are in a constant struggle for simple human rights on their own land. I currently live in the UAE, and I always hear white europeans say things like, 'the natives need to change their culture', and that "we (the europeans) need to be given citizenship", and all the benefits that come with it but have no respect for the ppl of this country and their way of life, and are not shy about saying it. I find it quite perplexing and crazy. Is this something that is taught from generation to generation, or is it just how you think? Please do not respond out of emotion, I really want to know

Answer 1

Funny that I been in international logistics for a decade and have seen nothing similar to what you say you've observed. In fact, I have been suprised to find much more racism and arrogance in non-white non-Americans that I would have expected in my youth....totally debunking the silly thought many have that only the white American can be an arrogant racist.

Perhaps in your travels you are looking for something that reflects negatively on your own people....a side effect of the self-guilt and self-loathing instilled in many white folks by liberal and biased public education systems and a wrongly apologist society. If you were making a similar comment about black people, most black people here at Y!A would even say you were not black, but rather a white imposter trying to cause trouble. Seeing how your account is rather new, I would put a few bucks in that slot that pays out for the black imposter of a white guy. (To some degree, that last part is some humor geared towards those who repeatedly respond to criticism in this manner....but hey, if the shoe fits I can play that silly game too.)

So.....to answer your question.....your observation is not an example of the norm, as myself and many others will attest from their own observations. It is rather arrogant of you to assume your experiences, assuming you are being truthful, are proof enough to generalize the entire world....don't ya think? If you are the average white guy your name indicates....then apparently you are arrogant yourself according to your theory....be it purposely or obliviously. So maybe you should answer the question for us...?

Qwerty - answers you don't like or agree with do not equate anyone being upset. You're looking for something that isn't there to prove something that doesn't exist, something you want to believe. Also...of the answerers here, I can't recall any questions they have asked that stereotyped black people....so, again, you are inventing things that are not true to prove something you want to believe. That is disappointingly typical of today's society, particularly from non-white people commenting on white people...but I know you are much more intelligent than that. I'm sure you are oblivious to what you are doing....as you say...many with racist tendancies are in denial. Oblivous arrogance and oblivoius fabrication are pretty equal as far as character flaws go.

Answer 2

I'm really surprised no white person has seriously answered this question. Allow me to enlighten you all. First and foremost, tanning lessens the negative effects of the sun when it comes to getting burned. The darker your skin, the longer you can be exposed to the sun without getting a sun burn. If I go out in the sun looking like casper, I'll go from ghost to lobster in 15 minutes. I get a nice tan, I can lengthen that period of time, and if I do get a sun burn, it won't be that bad. Secondly, a tanned skin means you actually leave your house. As a software engineer, my skin is a love shade of textbook paper white. It's pretty obvious I don't go in the sun if I were to go to the beach. I'm not muscular in any way either, so basically I look like someone who doesn't take care of themselves and never sees the light of day (exactly every woman's hottest dream). At least if you have a tan people won't immediately assume you're a shut in. I don't take pride in my skin color. I don't think anyone really should. Your skin is your skin, your hair is your hair, your teeth are your teeth. They shouldn't define who you are, what's underneath your skin is what should defines you.

Answer 3

It might be that if we compare 100 white individuals,born Europe & 100 African born black we distinctly feel on the majority our comparison of interlectial capacity due to heritage, Im very pleased to stand up tall in my work,in my thoughts and say I have a better understanding of life overall because of our way of life , It is I who have travelled extensively and have lived in Darwin Australia with a Senior position ,U hear about the great ploy of the aborigines in Australia but its a fate choosen by , on the majority of the aborigines for lack of adaptability to their individual requirements, Anyhow Aborigenes already own more than 50 % of Australian natives forest and a vast majority of rural Australia ( So Get Real )

Answer 4

They are just arrogant. They are denying it because they don't want to look bad to others.

Answer 5

No, it is not how I think. It is certainly not how I was taught and it is something I do not do. While you have obviously thought about this a great deal, and do indeed make somewhat of a point, you dilute your statement by teh stated and implied generalization. Applying a trait to an entire race either by implication or direct statement is not a mark of intellect. Sadly, with your question this is exactly what you are doing.

Answer 6

It's hilarious how everyone's getting upset about questions that stereotype white people but these same people ask questions that stereotype all black people. I saw a bit of arrogance in a few of your answers.

I'm not white but I'd be happy to answer your question. First I would like to say that I don't personally know any white people who are purposefully arrogant. My husband, who is white, and his side of the family are not arrogant at all. However, I have met a few white people who seemed oblivious of their arrogance. They think that their culture is the "norm" and that whatever they say or do is right as opposed to what people of other cultures are saying and/or doing. This is why they call themselves "civilized" and designate other countries as "third world" or "developing" countries.

For the most part I think that they are oblivious of their arrogance. It's not uncommon for racists to be in denial about their true selves.

Answer 7

It is left over from a history of colonization. All of those places you just named were colonized by European nations at one time. And they did have a policy to change the natives' cultures, get them to speak English and either "wash them white" or eradicate them. It's a sad, sad part of our human history, and very ignorant of them. It's even sadder that those attitudes are left over today. It's the same thing that gave rise to the Nazis and to white supremacists in America.

Answer 8

i don't know, i can't say i've ever come across a white person with that kind of attitude - thank god. I'm in Ireland.

Though i can't stand that type of arrogance. There's no need for it this day and age.

Answer 9

Whether they are oblivious to it, which is highly doubtful, or if they are just arrogant and feel superior because of the way they were raised and their skin color doesn't make a difference. They are responsible for their actions and will suffer for their pride. God hates pride above every other sin and will hold those people responsible for their actions.

Answer 10

I am not arrogant. I don't go around thinking or saying "I'm white so I'm better." I treat everyone the same. My husband and I own a remodeling business. We have three employees. One is white and a friend of the family, one is Mexican, and one is Puerto Rican. They are all paid the same exact salary. My husband even picks up all three of them because they don't have cars. He has even hung out with them. So, again, NO, not all whites are arrogant.