@JuinnWong yep, we are a disappointing species

At the same time we are pretty amazing though, just look at how far weve advanced. The methods now with 8 billion people on this planet and tools and weapons of mass destruction and rampant divisiveness...etc etc etc...yeah im a misanthrope but i just wanna point out that overall its pretty cool.

@MortalsWrath some of your experiences mirror my own, I have run training programs for Aboriginal Cultural Interpretation Rangers, taught bush skills to kids who identify as indigenous and am often on the receiving end of racial prejudice because I am NOT black yet if you will pardon a racist term, I am quadroon significantly more aboriginal than many of those who carry more of the accepted characteristics. @irascible Yes, the term racism is most often used when race is used to demean. Given so few people on this planet are of one ethnicity are the classification at all tenable? I did word my question harshly deliberately, certainly not to cause offense, but to get people to take the thought process an extra step.

I read an article by a doctor who stated that cold is the one thing the humans have not biologically adapted for. From what I understand an Eskimo`s body is more more suited to survive than mine. Culturally of course it wins hands down but if for example an Eskimo baby were to be adopted and brought up in a temperate climate. They would fair no better or worse in severe cold than any other.

Kudos to you for recognizing that in yourself. It seems that when people talk about an injustice they've lived through a lot of people write them off a being dramatic. The idea seems to be "well that's not been my experience,so that can't really happen as often/to the extent you say because I haven't seen it".

@273kelvin I hear Eskimo's sweat less to retain heat.

But can we or should we still identify or be identified by race? Should 1/4 of me blame 3/4 of me for the stolen generations? I do not believe we should continue to use these classifications. I must be an australcaucasoid.

BUT the existence of different races does not exist. Genetically two people of different "races" are just as likely to share most of their genetics as two people of the same race.

ok, this is my take on the issue: in theory races can exist without racism developing out of it. racism, on the other hand, can only exist if there are races to begin with. as it seems that races genetically do not exist in practice, we can not call the discrimination of people of various skin colour, facial features, hair, etc. racism. i would have liked to have the option to vote "no, i am no racist, but i do perceive the diversity in people's natural appearance", @Rugglesby. that's my position anyway.

@Blindbird, by saying that different races do not exist you are also stating that racism does not exist. racism can only exist if there are different races. i acknowledge the difference in people's outer appearance. does that make me a racist? i do not judge or discriminate people for their outer appearance. does that make me a racist? as long as we need to emphasize the fact that "all humans shall be treated equal" there is obviously some discriminating ism going on. only when we learn to realise the difference between discrimination & distinction can we free ourselves from the centuries-old shameful attitude of racism, sexism, genderism & all the other isms that have held our potentially promising species in blindness for each other's beauty.

@walklightly nope. That is false. Race does not have to exist genetically to exist in some peoples minds. I can absolutely state that race is not a thing genetically AND that racism exists socially . Your argument is nonsensical.

yes, @Rugglesby, i agree, the classification "race" is truly outdated, & with it the term "racism", as the latter originated from the first. so what are we squabbling about here?

excellent points, I have thought on the tribalism angle a lot. Speaking of tribe, the Noongar people of Western Australia are close blood relatives of mine, my mother refuses to acknowledge this as she was adopted and raised by British parents, she is even fairer than I am. She has many arguments, bottom line is she is racist claiming she only takes after the other side of the family.

yes, brilliant. thank you.

you had me Gnarloc until I read the 'lady' analogy. In these days of gender diversity, I don't even know where the word lady sits in 2018. Is a lady someone who doesn't swear or spit in public? Someone who doesn't have a tattoo, someone who crosses her legs and sits up straight? Is it a compliment or not?

Hear Hear well said!!

@MsDemeanour It is related to an old joke by a comedienne. In which she relates that if you have to say you are a lady, you aren't a lady. The context of that day was what you are describing, someone with manners and from the 'upper crust' of society. Too true, as you point out, that in today's world it doesn't hold the same meaning.

I agree with what you say in that we choose our "own" in preference to "others" I just personally consider the term "race" spurious. Just wait until I get onto speciesism.

race is just the only word I can think of my friend

Chimps have been filmed raping and attacking other groups of chimps and also filmed attacking and eating other species of smaller monkeys. Sea otters have been filmed attacking and killing other animals such as baby seals. Humans are simply another animal species. Humans feel safe and or secure in similar type groups and very few are comfortable with groups outside of their similarities. It's how we are taught and very few go against that teaching, unfortunately, be it other races, religions, or another sex.

indeed pretty much what I said so we haven't really evolved mentally with our big brains and civility and we live in unnaturally huge colonies.