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If you've ever lived in a very religious town where you're one of the few not showing up for worship, it's also very obvious. Or in general if you're a stranger in a smaller community. And you'll feel it too. I've been in those situations too. Can't speak to gender or sexuality discrimination much but I figure they're the same, especially if we're talking about the place you live.
I get what you mean though, but I'm asking questions because race is probably the most abused characteristic to explain social phenomena.
Also, I don't think that race differences is why US service workers are overtly nice to you. Comforting small-talk is a cultural thing, I'd assume that it is originated both by a shared principle (being excellent) and by the dependency on gratuity, but I can very well be wrong about that because I've never worked in the service industry in the US.
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race is probably the most abused characteristic to explain social phenomena
I agree. I am worried that it becomes, or already became, self-referential.
Also, I don't think that race differences is why US service workers are overtly nice to you
Yes! I didn't feel that way at the time; I only started to consider it because of this video. But I'm not that white or that black that I have to seriously consider it.
But that's also related to what I meant by self-referential: now that I'm more aware of it than before, I'm considering it (ever so slightly) more, so it could have more impact on my behavior, which could cause other people to also consider it more, so it could also have more impact on their behavior, and so on ...
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Hmm I think that the reach of influencers is much wider now, and there are many more of them, so there is more reinforcement of concepts pounding on your senses now than there was a decade ago. I think all social change/justice is at least somewhat self-referencing. Doesn't need to be bad always, it is good to be aware of those around us and at least not make every interaction unpleasant; some awkwardness is useful, I think.
But I also like to be alert that not every little social feature becomes defined by racial/gender differences, or even cultural ones. The world has much to offer and it would be great to share and learn instead of judge. And for that you'd need 2 parties willing to interact.
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every raceeveryone has insecurities, which might also come from fear of losing your job, and we don’t want to accidentally cause a conflict, so we tend to overcorrect for niceness.