4 ms·

I've seen very few countries of note (aside from the US) that use "race" as any kind of indicator. This has a very good reason: It's not a clear biological sepa

I've seen very few countries of note (aside from the US) that use "race" as any kind of indicator. This has a very good reason: It's not a clear biological separation and it also otherwise has little bearing on reality. It's an old, obsolete carry-over that was kept from the days when racism was still an accepted practice and it needs to die the death that it deserves as soon as possible.

hopler 8y ago
For the purposes of CRISPR, races exists when defined as "people carrying a certain genetic marker". There are various genes that are highly correlated to racial/ethnic groups (like Tay-Sachs disease),and mass murderers generally don't worry about collateral damage.
- krageon 8y ago
  Any response I can make to this will just read like me saying "no" when you say "yes". In this case, I think it might suffice to say that the burden of proof lies with you: The person making a large claim that is not (as far as I understand it, which admittedly could be better) something that everyone knows to be true beyond a shred of doubt.
skolsuper 8y ago
I'm really struggling to understand your first sentence. Are you saying people generally aren't racist outside the US? Because my experience has been very, very different (and that's as a white male)
- throwaway9d0291 8y ago
  There's certainly racism in other countries but it's not based on skin colour like in the US. For example some people in the UK have an aversion to Eastern Europeans, who are white but have no problems with black Britons.
- lm28469 8y ago
  I think he references the fact that in the US you get official forms from the gov that asks (as far as I remember): Race: - white - black - hispanic - other Like when you get your driver license or open a bank account. Coming from Europe I was surprised by such a question. Racial issues run very deep in the US.
  - krageon 8y ago
    This is what I was referring to.
    - skolsuper 8y ago
      Ah, I understand now. As some anecdata: here in Singapore (a country I think is renowned for it's multiculturalism, but correct me if I'm wrong), practically every important form, from opening a bank account to renting a condo to filing taxes with the government, requires me to select my race from a list of "Chinese", "Malay", "Indian" or "Other". In Thailand, it's normal for people to specify their race and religion on their resume.

hopler 8y ago

For the purposes of CRISPR, races exists when defined as "people carrying a certain genetic marker". There are various genes that are highly correlated to racial/ethnic groups (like Tay-Sachs disease),and mass murderers generally don't worry about collateral damage.

krageon 8y ago
Any response I can make to this will just read like me saying "no" when you say "yes". In this case, I think it might suffice to say that the burden of proof lies with you: The person making a large claim that is not (as far as I understand it, which admittedly could be better) something that everyone knows to be true beyond a shred of doubt.

skolsuper 8y ago

I'm really struggling to understand your first sentence. Are you saying people generally aren't racist outside the US? Because my experience has been very, very different (and that's as a white male)

throwaway9d0291 8y ago
There's certainly racism in other countries but it's not based on skin colour like in the US. For example some people in the UK have an aversion to Eastern Europeans, who are white but have no problems with black Britons.
lm28469 8y ago
I think he references the fact that in the US you get official forms from the gov that asks (as far as I remember): Race: - white - black - hispanic - other Like when you get your driver license or open a bank account. Coming from Europe I was surprised by such a question. Racial issues run very deep in the US.
- krageon 8y ago
  This is what I was referring to.
  - skolsuper 8y ago
    Ah, I understand now. As some anecdata: here in Singapore (a country I think is renowned for it's multiculturalism, but correct me if I'm wrong), practically every important form, from opening a bank account to renting a condo to filing taxes with the government, requires me to select my race from a list of "Chinese", "Malay", "Indian" or "Other". In Thailand, it's normal for people to specify their race and religion on their resume.