[Pete Svarrior]

And then there's this asshole.

[Thork]

I do find all the 'upholding of freedom of speech' a bit rich. Nick Clegg today said

"people have to be free to offend each other".

Which I agree with. Of course if someone makes a racist tweet, he's the first to get offended and demand arrest.

British politics is so hypocritical. You are free to offend whoever you like, as long as it isn't on their long list of exceptions.

[Pete Svarrior]

Literally no one takes Nick Clegg seriously. Just leave him to his antics. Even UKIP has more support.

[Thork]

Even UKIP has more support.

Are you trying to push all my buttons today?

[Pete Svarrior]

Are you trying to push all my buttons today?

Why, I'd never :^)

[Hoppy]

America doesn't negotiate with terrorists... we just try not to offend them.

Actually we just try to bomb them, and anybody else who happens to be close.

[Rama Set]

And then there's this asshole.

Someone on the CBCS said they would not dare reproduce any Hebdo cartoons because it is offensive to Muslims. Well mass-murder is even more offensive and they were playing the video of the police officer being executed.

[Pete Svarrior]

I'm quite pleased to see that many more people than usual seem to be siding with what would normally be viewed as the "right-wing" view on this situation. Perhaps this will be the tipping point at which we'll say "yes, you're welcome to live in our countries, but you have to play by the rules".

I really hope that'll happen at some point.

[Saddam Hussein]

Perhaps this will be the tipping point at which we'll say "yes, you're welcome to live in our countries, but you have to play by the rules".

And that isn't the case currently?  I'm not trying to be sarcastic or anything, but I'm just wondering how you'd describe the situation with Muslim immigrants over in Europe.  From what I've seen in discussions on the Internet, there do seem to a couple of genuine, non-racist issues that deserve attention, but they always immediately turn into arguments about racism nevertheless.

[Pete Svarrior]

And that isn't the case currently?  I'm not trying to be sarcastic or anything, but I'm just wondering how you'd describe the situation with Muslim immigrants over in Europe.

A tiny group of Thorks makes bad arguments for why we should get rid of Muslims, and they get media attention. The dominant view is "omg evil racism why do you bully poor Muslims?"

arguments about racism nevertheless.

Islam is not a race.

[Rushy]

Islam is not a race.

[Pete Svarrior]

Islam is not a race.

le meme

Well, it's true. White Muslims are just as likely to partake in extremist activities as black or brown Muslims. The issue is not that of race, it's one of culture and dogmatic belief.

[Rushy]

Well, it's true. White Muslims are just as likely to partake in extremist activities as black or brown Muslims. The issue is not that of race, it's one of culture and dogmatic belief.

Race is not exclusive to skin color and can be attributed to things such as culture and beliefs. If you can take a group of people and say "literally all of these people have X attribute" then you've just defined a race of people.

[Rama Set]

Well, it's true. White Muslims are just as likely to partake in extremist activities as black or brown Muslims. The issue is not that of race, it's one of culture and dogmatic belief.

Race is not exclusive to skin color and can be attributed to things such as culture and beliefs. If you can take a group of people and say "literally all of these people have X attribute" then you've just defined a race of people.

No. What is happening is you are redefining race to mean a group that share an attribute. You are saying Christian and homosexual are also races. You could probably make an argument for it, but what is the utility when no one else shares the definition?

[Rama Set]

I'm quite pleased to see that many more people than usual seem to be siding with what would normally be viewed as the "right-wing" view on this situation. Perhaps this will be the tipping point at which we'll say "yes, you're welcome to live in our countries, but you have to play by the rules".

I really hope that'll happen at some point.

Me too. I am sick of people accepting behavior regularly considered abhorrent in the name of pluralism as if it is so lofty a goal that it should trump human rights, dignity and safety.

[Ghost of V]

Sand people is the more accurate term, actually.

[Rushy]

No. What is happening is you are redefining race to mean a group that share an attribute. You are saying Christian and homosexual are also races. You could probably make an argument for it, but what is the utility when no one else shares the definition?

I'm using the term exactly how it has been used in the past. If you think race only pertains to physical traits then you are the one who is mistaken.

Also, Christians and homosexuals can be defined as a race. Plenty of people say "the Christians do this" or "the gays do that." They are referring to them as a singular group, or otherwise known as a race.

[Rama Set]

No. What is happening is you are redefining race to mean a group that share an attribute. You are saying Christian and homosexual are also races. You could probably make an argument for it, but what is the utility when no one else shares the definition?

I'm using the term exactly how it has been used in the past. If you think race only pertains to physical traits then you are the one who is mistaken.

Also, Christians and homosexuals can be defined as a race. Plenty of people say "the Christians do this" or "the gays do that." They are referring to them as a singular group, or otherwise known as a race.

So every segment of people that can be defined as a group sharing a trait are a race.  So the TFES are now a race?  The New York Yankees are a race?  Alcoholics are a race?  I think that when you sit down and think about it, you will find that this definition is not useful.

[Rushy]

So every segment of people that can be defined as a group sharing a trait are a race.  So the TFES are now a race?  The New York Yankees are a race?  Alcoholics are a race?  I think that when you sit down and think about it, you will find that this definition is not useful.

How is it not useful to have a strict word for defining a group of people with a specific trait? Also, I'm not sure you could define any of those three as a race without being really vague. For example, one can be a member of TFES without actually believing the earth to be flat. You can't define a group as being part of that group. e.g. I can't say Christians are a race because they are Christian, I have to say Christians believe Jesus is their savior or some other more specific attribute.

Why does this bother you so much? Are you just mad you weren't aware what a race is?

[Pete Svarrior]

I'm using the term exactly how it has been used in the past.

Luckily, we have lexicographers who work very hard on identifying and recording how words are used and were used in the past, so we don't have to take your word for it.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/american-english/race
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/race?searchDictCode=all#race-2
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/race
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/race#Noun_2

Oh.